On the bright side, I bet Pop is relieved the streak is over. He kept saying how much he hated it. He emptied the bench with 8 minutes to go and the game within reach, so I bet Pop felt the team needed a kick in the ass to keep them focused.
2013-14 San Antonio Spurs thread
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Last: 11 yr ago by Sher Thing
Meh, OKC coming off of 4 days rest, the second night of a back to back, sitting Ginobili, not playing parker down the stretch? Didn't really mean much.
I do feel that the circumstances of the scheduling of this game kind of makes the outcome a wash.
However, there is concern for the way we have played against OKC since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2012 WCF. I feel an advantage the Spurs have over OKC is the ability to play in the half court. If the Spurs slow it down a touch and limit the turnovers it minimizes OKC's transition game, where they can't be stopped.
It seems that the 1st half of these games go one way and the 2nd goes another.
1st half: Spurs play better half court O and limit OKC in the break. The Spurs have a single digit lead.
2nd half: The game speeds up. OKC comes with a strong sense of urgency and the Spurs can't quite hang.
My thought is to basically do this: Keep OKC in the half court. This allows us to use Kawhi on Durant, where he does a really good job. Keeping OKC in the half court also keeps Westbrook off of the break. Westbrook in the half court offense takes some low % shots and also keeps the ball out of Durant's hands some.
It will be very tough to get back to the WCF to play OKC. But if the Spurs can do that, I feel like we have a good shot of beating them in a 7 games series, where there are no scheduling differences and hopefully we are healthy.
Go Spurs.
However, there is concern for the way we have played against OKC since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2012 WCF. I feel an advantage the Spurs have over OKC is the ability to play in the half court. If the Spurs slow it down a touch and limit the turnovers it minimizes OKC's transition game, where they can't be stopped.
It seems that the 1st half of these games go one way and the 2nd goes another.
1st half: Spurs play better half court O and limit OKC in the break. The Spurs have a single digit lead.
2nd half: The game speeds up. OKC comes with a strong sense of urgency and the Spurs can't quite hang.
My thought is to basically do this: Keep OKC in the half court. This allows us to use Kawhi on Durant, where he does a really good job. Keeping OKC in the half court also keeps Westbrook off of the break. Westbrook in the half court offense takes some low % shots and also keeps the ball out of Durant's hands some.
It will be very tough to get back to the WCF to play OKC. But if the Spurs can do that, I feel like we have a good shot of beating them in a 7 games series, where there are no scheduling differences and hopefully we are healthy.
Go Spurs.
quote:
Well, all good things must come to an end. Although I'm sure he hates to lose, you know that Pop is happy that the win streak is over and all the extra talk and attention that comes with that.
Some thoughts and observations form our first loss since February.
-Turnover, turnover, turnovers. Spurs turned it over 18 times leading to 30 Thunder points. During the win streak, we faced some excellent defensive teams with a lot of length, but no one with the quickness that OKC posses. They were able to be aggressive on playing passing lanes and still recover, which leads me to my next point.
-over passing. OKC gambled in the passing lanes and their help side defenders would rotate pretty far to the strong side. Against most teams the Spurs would kick that ball around the three point line and get a wide open look because the opponent couldn't rotate fast enough. OKC has the quickness to get away with this, so I really think we needed our guys to attack whenever they got a lane.
-OKC did a really good job of running our shooters off the 3 point line. Green was still able to knock down a few shots, but his lack of any kind of driving ability was glaring. Belinelli can do more with the ball in his hand, but was just off tonight; couldn't shoot, made poor passes, got lost on D. Mills was the instant offense that we needed him to be, but it's hard for him to carry the load on his own against OKC.
-My previous two points about driving and OKC running shooters off the line is where Manu would really be effective. In a series, his ability to get in the lane and open up shots for others will be critical.
-Duncan and Splitter missed a lot of shots around the rim that they should, and have been, making. Perkins and Ibaka are a pretty good defensive front line, but they still shouldn't struggle nearly as much as they did tonight.
-Kawhi and the team defense on Durant was very good. KD scored 28 on 26 shots. Not very efficient from the leagues top scorer. They crowded him on all of his jumpers, collapsed into the paint any time he tried to drive. The only real success KD had was during the second half turnover barrage and he was able to get out and get baskets in transition.
-Free throw differential. Call it poor defense and reaching or poor officiating or both, but it's hard to win games when the opposing team shoots twice as many free throws. Cutting down on the turnovers and limiting fastbreaks would be the easiest way to help this. Don't let Durant and Westbrook run at you with a full head of steam.
The Thunder outplayed the Spurs tonight and had better energy. They're a tough matchup for the Spurs, but there are some things that can be fixed for a playoff series.
Overpassing and a lack of finishing around the rim sums it up fron my perspective. Thats what happened in 2012, passing up open shots will kill you against the thunder. The problem is it goes against the spurs philosophy of good to great. Pass up good shots for great shots. I really think they need to always take the first decent look against okc.
I still believe that the Spurs can win it all and go through OKC to do it. The question will remain whether the team can outplay the refs as it's clear the chosen matchup is Durant vs LeBron.
We had leads up to 11 last night before Kendrick Perkins was allowed to man handle Duncan and we were getting called for barely touching guys. If we made our shots then the refs couldn't stop us.
We had leads up to 11 last night before Kendrick Perkins was allowed to man handle Duncan and we were getting called for barely touching guys. If we made our shots then the refs couldn't stop us.
I don't want to take anything away from OKC's defense because they are quick, strong, and sound, but San Antonio has designed its offense for the NBA rule book. When the refs let OKC get away with hand checking and shoves, the Spurs aren't really set up to deal with it. Manu will help because he'll force the foul call where most of our players try to play through the contact and the Spurs have more tricks in the book, but it's going to be really tough to win a series playing by unofficial rules that benefit OKC's grabby, risk taking defense much more than San Antonio's funneling percentage defense (which again is designed for the NBA rule book that doesn't allow a lot of contact).
Hopefully Houston does us a solid tonight.
Looks like they'll need a great 4th Q to win.
Heck yes. Got our lead back in the west.
We never lost it. We were still 3 games ahead.
I meant the cushion.
It really sucks how that Mexico City game is coming back to haunt us. We would have three days off after the Memphis game tomorrow but instead have to fly to Minnesota to play a tough road game.
Spurs - Grizz 6PM CT
Amazing what a little rest will do for this team. The legs on everyone look incredibly fresh. Duncan in particular is very active on D moving his feet.
Parker done for the game with back spasms
Edit; Not that I expect it to matter.
[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 4/6/2014 6:45p).]
Edit; Not that I expect it to matter.
[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 4/6/2014 6:45p).]
Ugh just let him rest.
Kawhi had a hell of a first half.
Spurs magic number down to 3 after win over Memphis. Could go to 2 if Thunder lose to the Suns.
Kawhi
Kawhi went 12 of 13 for 26 points with no free throw attempts. How often do you see a player push 30 without a bunch of free throws? He also played just under 30 minutes and had 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Manu went 8-11 for 26 more.
I think I'd most like the Spurs to play the Grizzlies because I'm not sure the Grizzlies could win a game in 10 chances. The Spurs have got the Grizzlies thoroughly figured out. That said, they seem to give other teams some issues, so I'm willing to play the Mavs/Suns and let the Thunder deal with the Grizz.
I think I'd most like the Spurs to play the Grizzlies because I'm not sure the Grizzlies could win a game in 10 chances. The Spurs have got the Grizzlies thoroughly figured out. That said, they seem to give other teams some issues, so I'm willing to play the Mavs/Suns and let the Thunder deal with the Grizz.
Nothing's more satisfying to me than a first found sweep of the Mavs
Monster game from Kawhi. My only complaint was that he didn't get the ball enough. 12-13, he needs to be touching it every time down the court. He also showed off the growth of his offensive game; pull up midrange jumpers, finishing in the paint, scoring in transition, and a couple of heat check 3s.
As far as our first round opponent, I've stated for a while that I want to avoid Memphis. We definitely have them figured out, so I'm not worried about losing the series, but I am worried about the toll Gasol and Randolph would take on Timmy and Tiago down low. Also as has been stated, Memphis gives other teams a lot more trouble than they seem to give us. I'm still hoping they get the 7 spot and take on OKC. I'd rather play Dallas than Phoenix, because the Suns are more likely to steal a game or two IMO. And I agree that sweeping Dallas is always great.
As far as our first round opponent, I've stated for a while that I want to avoid Memphis. We definitely have them figured out, so I'm not worried about losing the series, but I am worried about the toll Gasol and Randolph would take on Timmy and Tiago down low. Also as has been stated, Memphis gives other teams a lot more trouble than they seem to give us. I'm still hoping they get the 7 spot and take on OKC. I'd rather play Dallas than Phoenix, because the Suns are more likely to steal a game or two IMO. And I agree that sweeping Dallas is always great.
quote:
I am worried about the toll Gasol and Randolph would take on Timmy and Tiago down low.
Yeah, but with Memphis they will probably get a bunch of time off between series to recover.
The amount by which I want to see OKC play Memphis over the next option is more than the amount by which I want the Spurs to play Memphis over the next option, but if I were only considering the Spurs... they have the Grizz cold turkey.
[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 4/6/2014 9:13p).]
OKC lost. SA just needs two more wins to lock home court throughout.
Good. Hopefully they wrap this up quickly so Pop can rest everybody as much as he wants to.
Hopefully LAC can catch up with the Thunder. They get to host OKC on Wednesday in LA, and if they win that game would have the tiebreaker over the Thunder for playoff seeding. And the Thunder have a much tougher schedule to close the season than LAC.
Any scenario that reduces the likelihood of OKC reaching the Western Conf Finals is good for the Spurs in my book.
[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/6/2014 11:06p).]
Any scenario that reduces the likelihood of OKC reaching the Western Conf Finals is good for the Spurs in my book.
[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/6/2014 11:06p).]
WhiWhi is a beast!
Don't even need two wins. Need 2 of any combination of spurs wins and okc losses. Let's get this thing over with.
Limit big 3 to 15 minutes from here on out. First seed's in the bag. Rest Tony so he's 100%. Health is the most important factor.
They can pretty much shut it down as long as they go 1-1 over the next two. If for some reason OKC wins out, there's always the last game against the Lakers to clinch HCA.
Tony scheduled for MRI today. No news yet. Pray it's nothing serious.
Tony with sprained facet joint. Out for Minnesota and Dallas for sure. After that, day-to-day.
Never heard of that injury. How serious is it? Can he be 100% for playoffs?
I'm thinking Pop sits him until then.
I'm thinking Pop sits him until then.
Tony won't play again during the regular season.
Just let him sit until playoffs. Playoffs start in 12 days.
Some info:
Some info:
quote:
Prognosis of a facet joint sprain
The recovery time for a facet joint sprain may vary from patient to patient depending on compliance with physiotherapy. With ideal treatment, patients may be pain free in as little as several days, although typically this may take 2 – 3 weeks. It is important to note, however, that injured tissue takes approximately six weeks to restore the majority of its strength in ideal healing conditions. Care must therefore be taken when returning to activity during this period.
http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/8339...back-sprai.htm
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