Stephen Curry didn’t even have full control of the ball. Trying to execute a crossover, he lost the handle for a second and the ball rolled to his left. Curry, a step inside the 3-point line, picked it up and immediately hoisted at three. And there was no doubt in his mind it was going in.

CURRY: “I was feeling good. The easy answer say I practice that over the summer … Ask the coach to throw a bunch of bad passes, or in a drill just mess up a dribble move and pick it up.”

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Warriors All-Star forward David Lee will be active during the San Antonio series. That in and of itself is a feat.

He is supposed to be out for the year. His right hip flexor was completely torn after an awkward land in the fourth quarter of Game 1. But not even two weeks later, he was back on the court. How is that possible?

Mark Jackson calls it a miracle. Stephen Curry calls it inspirational. David Lee calls it him doing whatever he can for his team. Many others will call it a reason to be mad at Derrick Rose. Here are the details, so you can call it what you want.

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Admittedly, I underestimated Stephen Curry in the Denver series. I also overestimated the Nuggets. But I picked Denver in six mostly because I figured Curry could get 30 points and the Warriors still lose. It’s happened before.

What I didn’t account for was the impact stars make in playoffs series, good and bad. Their ability to change games, seize momentum, do the prolific, it matters so much more in the postseason. It’s not that Curry can score, it’s that he impacts nearly every single aspect of the game: how the opposing defense responds, the amount of pressure on the opposing offense to score, the confidence of the supporting cast, the looks they get, the adrenaline and feel good that helps on the defensive end, the momentum they create.

That’s what stars do in the playoffs. And Denver didn’t have that.

Such is factored into my prediction for this series: Spurs in 7.

My first impulse was to say San Antonio in five games. But I can’t shake the feeling the Warriors will win one in San Antonio. Why? Because that’s the type of thing stars pull off. And if the Warriors win one in San Antonio, this isn’t the route many are expecting. In the first meeting here, on Jan. 18, the Warriors trailed by 4 inside of three minutes – without Curry (Spurs didn’t have Manu Ginobili). In the second matchup at San Antonio, March 20, Golden State trailed by 4 inside of four minutes left. So both games were close. It’s not like this Warriors’ team can’t win in San Antonio.

Golden State is 2-0 against San Antonio in Oakland. Andrew Bogut didn’t play in either game, and Oracle wasn’t the ridiculously raucous arena it has been for the playoffs. Still, San Antonio is good enough to get one in Oracle. Especially if the Warriors steal one of the first two in San Antonio and put the Spurs in must-win mode. But will their role players be as good in such an environment?

Even if the Warriors lose the first two in San Antonio, I can certainly see the Warriors going 2-0 at Oracle and heading back to San Antonio for a pivotal Game 5.

Another reason I think this series will be close: Manu Ginobili is not the same Ginobili. He’s good enough to torch the Warriors for a big game. But over a seven-game series, his injuries and age might get the best of him. I certainly see the Warriors being able to manage him. If so, who’s the third scorer for the Spurs. It could be one of five people. But if the Warriors stay home, not fall into trapping and doubling so much, those extra guys can be held in check. After Ginobili, they’re relying on Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Gary Neal for offense. So if Bogut can guard Tim Duncan and keep the Warriors’ defense honest, and Klay Thompson can hold his own against Tony Parker, the Warriors are not in bad position.

Here is an in-depth look at the match-ups:

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Golden State Warrior beat writer Marcus Thompson II will host a live chat from San Antonio as the Warriors prepare to take on the Spurs in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals.

Clear here for all of the new renderings.

By Marcus Thompson II

mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com

OAKLAND — It might’ve taken all the defibrillators in the Bay Area to revive the nearly 20,000 fans at Oracle Arena whose hearts stopped Thursday.

Golden State nearly squandered an 18-point lead, and another star-like performance from point guard Stephen Curry — who changed the tide of the game with another big third quarter before his home crowd. But in the end, after a compilation of turnovers, guard Jarrett Jack made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the 92-88 win over the Denver Nuggets, clinching the riveting first-round upset, 4-2.

The sixth-seeded Warriors advance to the second round against the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs. Game 1 is Monday in Texas.

“When we were down in the first half,” coach Mark Jackson said. “I pulled him aside and said, ‘There’s going to be a point in this game where you’re going to take over because you’re the best player on the floor. And what will happen is everybody else will follow you. And sure enough …”

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He had a torn hip flexor muscle. Was done for the season. And then Thursday night at Oracle Arena in a crucial Game 6, there he was. Lee wasn’t much of a factor in his one minute of play, missing his only shot. But he certainly stirred the emotions of a fan base hungry to close out the Nuggets.

According to multiple team sources, the Warriors initiated extension talks with guard Jarrett Jack back in January. But Jack shut down such talks before they got rolling, looking to focus on the season and wanting to experience free agency.

Jack, who drew interest from multiple teams during the trade deadline, is in the last year of his contract paying him $5 million this season. He is expected to be a fairly well sought after this offseason, especially with the postseason he’s having, as multiple teams are looking for a point guard. Multiple teams are looking for point guards — including Utah, Charlotte, Toronto and possibly Milwaukee (since Brandon Jennings is a restricted free agent). Plus, Jack has proven to be a difference-maker off the bench, which has intrigued multiple teams that already have a point guard, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

Jack has been an integral part of the Warriors’ success this season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 assists off the bench in 29.7 minutes off the bench. He is a respected voice in the locker room and has proven a capable option when starter Stephen Curry out of the lineup.

But will Jack turn down a lucrative offer from another team? Will the Warriors be be able and willing to match or compete?

Money, however, isn’t the only obstacle. Golden State will have to determine if it wants to commit so many minutes to Jack. As it stands now, Jack is playing minutes in the fourth quarter at the expense of rookie forward Harrison Barnes. A bigger role for Barnes would probably mean a smaller roll for Jack (since sitting Curry or second-year guard Klay Thompson is not an option).

Warriors general manager Bob Myers declined to comment until after the season.

“I believe everything will work out,” Jack said in a previous interview. “I want to be here and if they want me here, it will work out.”

The NBA announced Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has been fined $25,000 for making public comments in an attempt to influence the officiating.

The fine, levied by Stu Jackson, the NBA executive vice president basketball operations, were based on comments Jackson made after the Warriors lost Game 5 at Denver.

Jackson said the Nuggets were roughing up point guard Stephen Curry. He was especially upset that in the first quarter, Denver forward Kenneth Faried tried to trip Curry — which Jackson took as an attempt at Curry’s oft-injured ankles.

It is widely believed, and obviously the NBA thinks so, that Jackson was setting the tone for Game 6. Curry, despite Denver’s physical play, didn’t get to the free throw line once in Game 5.

Is the league out of line for this fine, or did Jackson earn it?