The Golden State Warriors cruised past the San Antonio Spurs 113-92 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup, and Gregg Popovich had no excuse for the poor performance.
After the game, per Melissa Rohlin of the Bay Area News Group, Popovich said the Spurs looked like a deer in headlights.
Pop said the Spurs looked like “a deer in the headlights.” He said he thought they were ready to go and well-prepared — but he was wrong.
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) April 14, 2018
Aided by a torrid start from JaVale McGee — yes, you read that correctly — Golden State jumped out to a 28-17 edge through the first quarter. The lead expanded to 18 by halftime and 25 after three frames.
The Spurs had trouble dealing with Golden State’s length on the perimeter, spending much of the afternoon unsuccessfully trying to get into the paint. Plus, when San Antonio actually attacked the rim, the team struggled to finish.
Not only is that a losing combination, it’s a simple recipe for what Popovich called a, um, butt-kicking.
At least his sense of humor is still intact.