I think Pop made a strategic error n this series. After game 2, it was obvious to most observers that physical play was going to be "allowed" and OKC has dominated the glass since game 2 (we shot 70% in game one so rebounding wasn't relevant).

Pop, imo, should have put an enforcer in game 3 early and let him get pushed by OKC"s Adams and Canter and then after a few rounds of battling underneath he should have picked a very hot fight with Adams. Two good things vs one bad thing would have happened. One is Adams being ejected for retaliating, but more importantly the refs would have been forced to "tighten up" their loose calls underneath which would have benefitted the Spurs more. Adams and Canter are literally shoving the Spurs out of the way for rebounds.

May be too late to save the series, but Pop trying to have his team adjust to these refs who let everything go on rebounds is killing the Spurs, sometimes instead of adjusting to the refs a coach should take some actions to force the refs adjust to the players!!!

PS. I love Duncan, but he needs to start the game and come out at the first stoppage of play. He is not helping us n this series. Also, when you go into a scoring slump STOP shooting from 15 ft and out! Take it hard to the rack and force the refs to call some fouls to get to the line!

WE NEED THAT MANU
WE NEED THAT INTENSITY

We need a huge game from either TIMMY or MANU
Patty needs to knock down some 3's as well DANGIT
Come on Spurs

Adams is incredibly sneaky, he is the master of the dark arts of basketball. But to suggest a 7'+ muscled up human only gets boards because he is fouling is...well that's peak Spurs fan

Good luck tonight, should be a good one, and Thunder Up

Yes, I'm calling for the Spurs to do exactly that. Put in someone who isn't playing in this series and have the pushing with Adams build into a fight. That's exactly what I want. After a fight, refs are forced to "get control" of the game.

Not sure I understand your position on this one. What do we care if a Scrub gets tossed and OKC shoots a couple of free throws if it cleans up some terrible non-calls Nader the basket. Call me a purist, but basketball should not resemble football or hockey from a physical contact perspective and I'm tired of seeing the blatant over he back and shoving that goes n n the NBA with no calls.

I'm not suggesting anything - I'm STATING it as fact. OKC is much more physical than us in the paint. So, I'm recommending drawing an OKC big man into a fight to force the refs to call the game tighter. In my head it is a very sound strategy when the other team is killing you on the glass, my man!

Can't really explain it, but I've made a complete 180 on how I felt about this game in the morning.

Spurs know what's at stake. This team won 67 games. Everybody knows this is the last hurrah for Timmy and Manu.

We win tonight. Go Spurs go!

If Adams would get in a fight you might have a point, but he won't. He does all that stuff to goad other people into losing their cool, and then when they lash out he leans back with his arms out so there won't be any mistake that he is fighting. Then the other team has to deal with the refs thinking they are shoving and fighting.

You might as well suggest sending Durant to the free throw line to miss free throws... as stated it works, but there is a fatal flaw in the assumptions.

I think you are mssing the point. It doesn't matter which big we get into a fight with. Adams would be a good one, and he doesn't have to respond in kind. Just have the Spur take him out! Shove him into the crowd under the baseline and throw a slap like a girl on his pony-tailed head for all I care. All I want to see is the reaction from the refs which is VERY predictable. The refs will start calling more fouls underneath the rim and you know that if you watch bball enough.

GO SPURS GO

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Even THEN we couldn't get a call!!!

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If Adams would get in a fight you might have a point, but he won't. He does all that stuff to goad other people into losing their cool, and then when they lash out he leans back with his arms out so there won't be any mistake that he is fighting. Then the other team has to deal with the refs thinking they are shoving and fighting.

You might as well suggest sending Durant to the free throw line to miss free throws... as stated it works, but there is a fatal flaw in the assumptions.

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Agreed

Another rough start on offense. We need someone to drop 30+ tonight.

Good defense on both sides of the court so far

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Good defense on both sides of the court so far

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Been that way since game one

We have so many isolation shots now. I don't get why we went away from the beautiful game. I get that we have better individual talent now with Leonard and Aldridge, but moving the ball and taking open shots is still a better option, IMO.

Bank is open tonight.

Duncan!

So mcuh more patience

Duncan isnt even being guarded and they are making them pay

Huge no call on the blatant hold of Aldridge works out for us.

aldridge is looking really tired and slow

(EDIT) I SAY THAT AND HE KICKS ASS

ALDRIDGE sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WORST PLAYER!!!! EVER!!!!!!!!!!

He looks 90 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LA already has 8 points and 7 boards

Timmy with 6 points.

Slow and steady wins the race. Remain patient on offense, and keep it up on defense.

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aldridge is looking really tired and slow

(EDIT) I SAY THAT AND HE KICKS ASS

ALDRIDGE sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WORST PLAYER!!!! EVER!!!!!!!!!!

He looks 90 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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More like methodical. Spurs need to make thunder play their game.

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aldridge is looking really tired and slow

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Why do you say that? He looks active and focused on getting to the hole to me. He's never been a fast player. Especially off the dribble

Duncan is in OKC tonight.

West has been so disappointing this post season.

And the bench gives away another lead.

And our bench unit can't do anything right.