Spurs vs. Thunder - 2012 Western Conference Finals

&$&# Manu Ginobili.

 

I still don't get how people still think the Spurs are an inside-out team. This team is like a more team-oriented version of the Heat -> much better offensive team. They do a lot of pick and roll, depend on dribble penetration, and fastbreak. And they're elite at 3s, with Duncan playing a Bosh role.

 

Refs were letting them play at first including letting SA get away with a lot, but then they kept letting the Spurs play and started calling a lot of ticky tack fouls on OKC. Not sure why Brooks didn't play Ibaka more either, because OKC's defense was mediocre, especially in the 4th. The series should get even more interesting the next game after seeing what kinds of adjustments both teams make.

 

Sefolosha has to be on the floor when Manu is on the floor. James Harden can't stay in the same zip code with Ginobili defensively. Westbrook should be able to contain Parker, and Fisher will always need help when he's in.

 

Okay. I'm not sure how that changes the fact that OKC has to rely solely on contested jumpshots when SAS tightened up the D

 

Smarter team won this one... the OKC need to play their own game and avoid playing to the spurs game...

 

So okc usually balls in close games, but they didnt do it tonight? And u just think thats a coincidence? Pop is a master, he put Leonard on durant all game ( he did a decent job ) but in the fourth quarter he changed to captain jack and he got durant out of his game.
WB is a guy who can shoot u out of a game, and the spurs make him drive all game long. He is deadly from mid distance, but if he cant dunk he is really bad at finishing because when help defense comes, he dosent have the court vision other pgs have.
Manu showed the beard how is it done from the bench... great game!

 

Tiago Splitter posted up a few times during that stretch when he willed the Spurs back into the game.

That's right. Tiago mf-ing Splitter.

 

Yup Hubie Brown on the radio said the refs swallowed the whistle in the 4th on Jackson. Brown stated 2-3 instances where Jackson blatantly held KD and thus KD couldn't get the ball in his spots.

 

Sure the Spurs players didn't play good but it's not like Oklahoma City was playing good.

 

The Spurs beat you because everyone can pass and they have incredible spacing and chemistry. This is not the 94 or 95 rockets where Hakeem opened up threes for everyone else. The Spurs go as Parker and Manu go. You have to keep them from being able to probe the defense and get into the lane. Once they get in the lane, it's going to open things for everyone else.

 

Wait, was there actually a post up? I am pretty sure those were all uncontested layups, because Collison lost his man repeatedly.

 

I thought OKC's perimeter defense would be better than this. In fact, it was through 3 quarters. Then I guess they stopped playing defense. Even Gary Neal got straight to the basket twice unimpeded.

OKC has the athleticism/speed to control the Spurs' perimeter attack, and that was how they took the lead through 3 quarters and force the Spurs into a lot of TOs as they played the passing lanes very well.

It's going to be an awesome series though. Both teams didn't play well or at their best. We'll see a much better game in game 2.

 

Most were layups from a cutting Splitter, but IIRC there was at least one or two where they actually dumped it into Splitter in the low post. He made a quick move into the paint and got hacked. I think it suprised the hell out of OKC.

 

"Barkley Sucks!" in the background

 

I still say OKC in 7

 

I agree with you. I was just pointing out how the Spurs play to people that actually think they have a post presence. This is why Memphis would have given them a much tougher series than the Clippers.

 

would people (they're saying it on tnt now) stop acting like it's crazy that parker wasn't on the 1st team and stop saying he should be an mvp candidate. the 44-4 record in his last 48 games notwithstanding, he had 18 ppg and 7.7 apg with a whopping 53.9 TS% (so he wasn't even crazy efficient). this wasn't even his best statistical year (he had a 22/7 on 50.6% shooting 3 years ago). he's a star, just like duncan and ginobili (when healthy). and the spurs have incredible role players and an even more incredible coach. the credit for their season is spread over a lot of different people. stop trying to drop individual credit on to players for team accomplishments.

someone like chris paul scored more, assisted more, turned it over less, was way more efficient shooting, and led the league in steals. that's better than tony parker.

 

I love WestBrick missing shots. It makes me happy in life.

 

Durant and Westbrook want to dress like Steve Urkel?