Watching this game against the Thunder. The Spurs are just killing them. Yes, the Thunder played last night and they are on the road, so their game is a little off. It's the end of the third and the Spurs have already put them away. And not working too hard to do it. Richard Jefferson is a serious upgrade from Bruce Bowen. He's a pest defensively, a great 3 point shooter, and on top of that, he can handle and take it to the rack and finish. Watching him and Parker/Manu operate on the perimeter playing total unselfish basketball is a thing of beauty. Duncan and Blair are dominating the paint and they aren't even going to Duncan in the post that often. Duncan is taking it easy and basically coasting as the team gels and builds unselfish chemistry among the other players. Their defense is incredible as everyone moves their feet, challenges every pass, every shot, and when anybody over 6'4" puts the ball on the floor, there are Spurs hands all over the place bothering the dribble. They have created almost 20 turnovers through three quarters playing against Durant/Westbrook/Green and have broken down the Thunder's offense so thoroughly that the Thunder are just throwing up shots at this point. Parker/Manu/Jefferson total pests defensively, making Westbrook and Durant look very average, doing it with team D, challenging the dribble, switching, doubling. They're great. Totally unselfish offensively, very challenging defensively, great bench play with George Hill, Matt Bonner, Gary Neal, Udoka. At this point, Splitter has a difficult time even seeing the floor but by the time the playoffs roll around, I wouldn't doubt if he was getting 25 mpg or so as the thrid big behind Duncan and Blair. I can't say enough good things about this team right now. They look like true challengers to the Lakers barring injury. And if they get to the Finals, I'd love to see them match up with the Celtics with Rondo/Garnett and everyone healthy. The ball movement on both ends would be incredible to watch.
They could possibly match the Bulls 72 win season. This new look Spurs team is scary, but sadly I think if we had Yao it would be no contest, we could beat them.
As a true basketball fan, I would love to see a Spurs/Celtics final, after the Rockets of course. Duncan vs. KG. Parker vs. Rondo Ginobili vs. Pierce Jefferson vs. Allen Pops vs. Rivers Too bad Stern and the casual NBA fan would want a Heat/Lakers final. which is the sexier matchup.
We could beat them w/o Yao if we were to just get a shotblocker down low and a upgrade at the wing at the deadline.
The Spurs brought their "A" game tonight, but the game is mostly about OKC not showing up. From the very beginning, the Spurs inspired defense choked OKC's offense unconscious. But the Thunder made so many poor decisions in the open court with dumb TOs it's like they barely cared. On the other end of the floor, the number of open shots and layups the Spurs got was ridiculous. OKC had a chance to jump back into the game in the 3rd quarter, but Westbrook played totally out of control and blew it for them. Scott Brooks didn't help by keeping Jeff Green in the game even though he was playing like a dog (which he always does against DeJuan Blair). If Westbrook had his head on straight and Ibaka had replaced Green early in the 3rd quarter, it "might" have been a game. All of your comments about the Spurs are correct. They are maximizing their talent right now and can't play any better. The key is for them to do this when the playoffs begin. You don't win championships in December and I'm afraid they are peaking at the wrong time. They don't have the talent of a 29-4 team and have no chance to finish 72-10. That is nonsense. If they finish up the season 43-6 (or better), I'll leave Clutchfans for 6 months.
I won't go as far as to say "no contest" but our bench unit did have them on the ropes. Manu, RJ and TP are playing at a VERY high level and their offense has been taking to a new gear this season. I still think a healthy, focused and determined Laker team will take them out but still a fantastic season for them.
Even with that, in a 7 game series I don't think so. If we had an enforcer like lets say... Ron Artest, maybe. That's a big maybe. We would need Duncan to not get the calls, Chuck Hayes would have to be back to 100%, and AB would have to be back to his old self. Who knows, come trade deadline we could make a move for an enforcer and have a chance...
Only thing I take from this is the Thunder are 4/5th in the West and only would be 4 games ahead of us if they go on to lose this.
The scariest part of LA is that nobody really beats them, LA lets you beat them. That team is loaded with talent and they have a coach who is unmatched. It's not like the Heat, Celts, or Spurs who drop games because of a mismatch, or a player is on fire and they can't stop them, or their respective big 3 don't show up. Hell, the entire Lakers team could take the night off and Kobe Bryant can will that team to win. Regardless of LA's record, they scare me more than cancer, heart disease, and al qaeda combined...
You guys are crazy if you think we could beat them if Yao was healthy. Their defense is suffocating. And then on the offensive end, they move the ball like a chunk of hot butter sliding around a fry pan. Their ball movement is sick. I love our team but we got to bet a lot better. And we simply DO NOT have it on the defensive end. There is no scheme because we have no big stoppers in the paint. We have no defensive scheme.
Without Yao and a 4 game losing streak we lost to San Antonio on what were fluke missed free throws. How is that homerism?...
you're pointing to ONE GAME this year. and throughout this rivalry, EVERY rocket-spur game is close. you take parker and manu out and we have yao, it probably would still be a close game. that's just the way games go when we play the spurs.
Well, I think that was the point. IF we can acquire a Camby type center then we have a shot but still be pretty serious underdogs. I will say, their defense isn't as good as it has been and they have no shot blocker in the middle, so the Rox could live in the paint against them.
I gotta to admit, I never expected this from the Spurs. I think Pop's management of playing time esp. Duncan's plus a healthy Manu, an improved RJ and TP focused on playing now that he has signed a new contract has catapulted the Spurs to the front. This Spurs are not the glam team that LA or Miami or Orlando or Boston are but they are consistent winners.
6 months tells me you think they have a chance. Think about the injuries the other contenders are facing. The Spurs can win against any of those teams on the road, unless its a back to back. They may not get to 72, but with good health, the high 60's in wins is highly probable.
