Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Wednesday 24 May 2017

NBA finals trying to cover that. I think

Continued from page 17 we’ve been doing a great
job of that.”
The Warriors have shown The addition of David West
their strength by blasting and Matt Barnes has giv-
through the playoffs in the en the Warriors two more
normally rugged West. defensive-minded players
Golden State is shooting 50 off the bench to go along
percent from the field while with Andre Iguodala and
averaging 118.3 points in JaVale McGee.
12 playoff games. As good Still, Golden State coach
as the offense has been, Mike Brown knows better
it’s been the Warriors’ de- execution is critical in the
fense that has been key to finals.
their playoff dominance. “We feel like we can play
Golden State held San An- better,” said Brown, who is
tonio, Utah and Portland to filling in on the sideline for
102 points and averaged an injured Steve Kerr. “To
9.2 steals per game. get to our ultimate goal of
“I think our defensive inten- winning the whole thing,
sity has been amazing,” we’ve got to be better on
Green said. “Overall, I think both ends of the floor.” San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) signals to fans as he walks off the court after Game 4
we’ve done a great job As a 23-year-old playing of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, May
locking in on the defensive with the Thunder. Durant 22, 2017, in San Antonio. Golden State won 129-115. Associated Press
side, scrambling around, learned a heightened ef-
trying to take away team’s fort is needed in the Finals. rant that winning the West was 23-years-old, and it how much work you put in
No. 1 option. That doesn’t Oklahoma City celebrated is no reason to relax or cel- felt like the Western Con- to start the season. So, it’s
necessarily mean the play- advancing to the 2012 Fi- ebrate. ference Finals was almost a little different now, obvi-
er, just trying to make them nals only to be steamrolled “Yea, it’s a little different, like the championship. Just ously.
go to a second or third by Miami in five games. definitely. I can’t lie,” Du- getting to that point, you “I feel like we could defi-
option in the set and also Experience has taught Du- rant said. “I went when I know how hard it is and nitely be better.”q

Madison Keys aiming to kick

start her season at French Open

DANIELLA MATAR more and it’s such a beau- the world’s most promising
Associated Press tiful city to play in, so I’m young players, the 22-year-
PARIS (AP) — After a dis- very excited for the start.” old Keys burst through to
appointing start to 2017, In her first tournament the semifinals of the 2015
Madison Keys is ready to back, Keys reached the Australian Open while still
kick start her season when third round of the BNP Pa- a teenager and went on to
the French Open begins on ribas Open at Indian Wells make the quarterfinals at
Sunday. in March. But since then, Wimbledon that year.
Keys missed the first two the American has made The upward trajectory con-
months of the year after first round exits in Charles- tinued last season, with
undergoing surgery on her ton, Madrid and Rome — Keys reaching the Olympic
left wrist in the offseason. where she reached the fi- semifinals as well as making In this Monday, March 13, 2017 file photo, Madison Keys of the
“I’m fully recovered and nal last year. three finals and winning her US returns a shot to Naomi Osaka of Japan, at the BNP Paribas
Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif.
happy to be back on the However, Keys hasn’t gone second WTA title. Associated Press
tour,” Keys said in an inter- out in the opening round Moreover, Keys became
view with The Associated of a Grand Slam since los- the first American woman “I’m really just trying to kind also recently added Maria
Press on Tuesday. “Obvi- ing to Sara Errani at Roland to be ranked in the top 10 of get my match rhythm Sharapova’s former hitting
ously, I haven’t had the Garros in 2014. since Serena Williams in back and feel more com- partner, Dieter Kindlmann,
perfect start to the season, “I’m really just trying to 1999. fortable on the tennis court, to her team.
but really I’m just happy to have some good matches That success had Keys tar- so right now that’s kind of “It’s going well,” Keys said.
be back on the court and and looking at it that way geting the top five and a my main goal and focus,” “Lindsey and I have been
be pain free. and you know that’s all I’m Grand Slam. But following Keys said. working together for a cou-
“I’m very excited to play really concerned about,” her injuries, the No. 13 is Keys was reunited with for- ple of months now and I
in Roland Garros. I feel like she said. now taking it one match at mer coach Lindsay Daven- think the addition of Didi is
every year I love it a little bit Long considered one of a time. port in the offseason and really going well.”q