San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has a simple game plan for his Australian point guard Patty Mills and the rest of the NBA team to follow against the Golden State Warriors.
"Pray," Popovich told reporters on Saturday.
Popovich is known for his dry one-liners, but the injury-stricken Spurs may need divine intervention to topple the red-hot Warriors.
Game one of the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals will be played at the Warriors' Oracle Arena on Sunday (Monday 5.30am AEST).
The Warriors are led by four All-Stars - Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green - and enter the conference finals with a perfect playoff record.
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They swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 in the first round and did the same to the Utah Jazz, featuring Australians Joe Ingles and Dante Exum, in the second round.
The Spurs have had a rockier playoff road with 4-2 series wins against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets to set up the Warriors' clash.
"This is a totally different animal," Popovich, asked how the Warriors differ to the Rockets, replied.
Canberra's Mills was elevated from his usual bench role to starting point guard after veteran starter Tony Parker's season ended with a leg injury in game two against the Rockets.
Mills has been outstanding, with 14 points and seven assists in their series clincher against the Rockets on Thursday and 20 points in game five.
The Australian faces the ultimate point guard test when he goes head-to-head with the Warriors' Curry.
The X-factor in the series is the health of the Spurs' best player, forward Kawhi Leonard, who sat out the final Rockets game with an injured ankle.
Popovich said Leonard would play in game one.
Curry laughed when told about Popovich's "praying" game plan.
He is aware of the mind games Popovich, a wily tactician, likes to play.
"Gamesmanship," Curry laughed.
"I love it."
