Game Blog: Thunder @ Spurs - Jan. 1

[Obstructed_View]

I expect a great start pop was not please last game
I expect spurs to come out and make a point to their coach

Credit for calling it. Extra credit for holding down the shift key when you pressed I.

[Fundamental]

Great job Spurs! Can't wait for NY on Tues. :flag:
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2: :downspin: :lobt2: ???

[janetcn12]

Great game...but Thunder is not our challenge.

[Ice009]

maybe Ibaka will be one of those who goes for character over money

Well with 17 siblings wouldn't he want some extra money? ;).

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter always look better and better as the game progresses, this game is no different. I fully agree with Sean in that were going to need Splitters size and more importantly talent for the a deep playoff run.

Agreed. Bottom line, Splitter has talent. Hopefully Pop can change his ways and not wait until next year. The future is now. Look at the great game TD had tonight. We don't have the luxury of putting things off until next year.
Play jazz, Pop!

[GSH]

But he doesn't look OK to me at all.

I am really concerned about his energy, not his sickness whatsoever.

He seems to be flat out these days.


It's not his energy. He's getting boards, and steals, playing defense, and penetrating well enough. It's his stroke that's off.

[justinandimcool]

The last seven halves the Spurs defense has held to 42, 38, 44, 38, 46, 47, and now 36.

Most consistent D we've seen all year this week.


Make that 8 straight halves, holding OKC to 38 in the second half.

Held teams to 37%, 35%, 43%, and 33% shooting the last 4 games.

Easily the best week of basketball this season!

[frodo]

durant was manacled the whole game that was the key to the W imo

[BoricuaCJA]

Nice dominate win for our Spurs. Great defense and offense. We are still undefeated when scoring over a 100 pts. Everyone played well and all our big 3 under 30 minutes. Parker played the most minutes and Duncan shot was money tonight.

I'm liking that pop is not playing Mcdyess much these last few games, it gives more time for Splitter to play and really shows our depth. Could this be the deepest team we ever had?

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Every Spur that checked into the game tonight has scored, from Duncan (21) to Udoka (1)

[Spurs Brazil]

OKC only 33% FG

[blkroadrunners]

Great win.

[Crookshanks]

Nice dominate win for our Spurs. Great defense and offense. We are still undefeated when scoring over a 100 pts. Everyone played well and all our big 3 under 30 minutes. Parker played the most minutes and Duncan shot was money tonight.

I'm liking that pop is not playing Mcdyess much these last few games, it gives more time for Splitter to play and really shows our depth. Could this be the deepest team we ever had?

No, we're not. We lost to the Magic 123-101.

[angelbelow]

It's time for Spurs fans to realize that the team is playing legitimate defense now. The last 3 games (before tonight) they have given up 80, 82, and 93. And the Mavs only got over 90 because of garbage time. We're not blowing a lot of rotations like we did earlier in the season, and we still have guys getting a lot more steals than we used to.

Swarming defense in the 1st half. I couldn't catch the 2nd half until the very end of the 4th quarter but judging by the score we played great D there too.

[frodo]

duncan will retire sooner or later just as everyone else. dirk is about the same age as tim and he's still their only reliable guy, and hes currently injured due probably to overuse. playing w/o dirk the mavs are struggling against the 12-18 milwaukee now. they will turn pure shit once dirk retires while the spurs will continue to win things in the post-duncan era. spurs squad looks 100x more sustainable than mavs tbh

[BoricuaCJA]

No, we're not. We lost to the Magic 123-101.
Totally forgot about that game(well the score). Well at least we have a great record when we do.
Thanks for the correction.

[spursfaninla]

duncan will retire sooner or later just as everyone else. dirk is about the same age as tim and he's still their only reliable guy, and hes currently injured due probably to overuse. playing w/o dirk the mavs are struggling against the 12-18 milwaukee now. they will turn pure shit once dirk retires while the spurs will continue to win things in the post-duncan era. spurs squad looks 100x more sustainable than mavs tbh

Duncan is almost 3 years older than dirk.

[Crookshanks]

Totally forgot about that game(well the score). Well at least we have a great record when we do.
Thanks for the correction.

I can understand forgetting about that game - I want to forget it too! :lol Stupid Magic ruined our streak!

[EricB]

Udoka's best game as a spur. Bonner pretty damn solid. Gary Neal with a big reality check game.

[Crookshanks]

On NBA.com right now: •San Antonio makes quick work of Oklahoma City in 101-74 laugher

OUCH!

[Spurs Brazil]

Udoka's best game as a spur. Bonner pretty damn solid. Gary Neal with a big reality check game.

Udoka was very good today, his D was solid

[Spurs Brazil]

Dallas will lose another one

[Ice009]

When do the Spurs have to decide whether or not to make Ime's contract guaranteed for the rest of the season? Can they release him and sign him to a 10 day contract?

[Spurs Brazil]

When do the Spurs have to decide whether or not to make Ime's contract guaranteed for the rest of the season? Can they release him and sign him to a 10 day contract?

January 10th and yes

[TiMMeH*faN*frOmNY]

Nice dominate win for our Spurs. Great defense and offense. We are still undefeated when scoring over a 100 pts. Everyone played well and all our big 3 under 30 minutes. Parker played the most minutes and Duncan shot was money tonight.

I'm liking that pop is not playing Mcdyess much these last few games, it gives more time for Splitter to play and really shows our depth. Could this be the deepest team we ever had?

Definitely agree bro, just one error though, we lost to orlando and we scored 101 points.

[ducks]

Credit for calling it. Extra credit for holding down the shift key when you pressed I.

thanks:king

[ducks]

OKC only 33% FG

was 29% went up to 33 in the 4 with third string in

[Ice009]

January 10th and yes

Thanks.

Also, isn't it two 10 day contracts max and then you have to guarantee the player for the rest of the season?

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs 101, Oklahoma City Thunder 74: That team defense looked sort of familiar (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

I get the impression that Kevin Durant has the capability to score 80 points all by his lonesome, sort of like Kobe Bryant a few seasons ago. So for the San Antonio Spurs hold Durant and his Oklahoma City Thunder under 80 points in a 101-74 win for the Spurs, well, that’s a big deal.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-101-oklahoma-city-thunder-74-that-team-defense-looked-sort-of-familiar#more-12166)

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

Some day, some day, George Hill will hit the roll man when he’s running the pick-and-roll. And when he does, all the land will rejoice and throw parties in his honor.





:rollin

[duncan228]

Post-Game Video

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169501

Quotes

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169500


Spurs hand Durant’s Thunder worst loss of season (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011010124)
By Paul J. Weber

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich recently emphasized to his players just how unacceptably average they were defensively.

Maybe the NBA-leading Spurs got the message.

The Spurs held Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City to its worst-shooting game this season, while Tim Duncan scored 21 points as San Antonio won its fourth in a row, 101-74 over the listless Thunder on Saturday night.

It was the best defensive effort yet for the Spurs, who allowed their fewest points in a game this season while improving to 29-4—one of the 10 best starts in NBA history.

“I hope it’s an indication that we’re getting better at (defense), because it was impressive tonight,” Popovich said.

Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, matched to a season low with 16 points. The Thunder began the game 4 for 24, were already trailing by double-digits barely midway through the first quarter and absorbed their most lopsided loss this season.

Oklahoma City set a season-low for points, field goal percentage (32.9 percent) and committed 19 turnovers. Playing after a New Year’s Eve victory over Atlanta, the Thunder sat their starters for the entire fourth with the game far our of reach.

“It was just one of those games that was sloppy,” Durant said. “Everything we did—fumbling passes and not finishing layups; missing opportunities on the defensive end to help the team in transition to get easy baskets.”

Tony Parker had 14 points and 10 assists and George Hill had 16 points for the Spurs. Duncan added nine rebounds and turned in another strong performance after scoring just two points and going 1 for 7 in a victory over the Lakers earlier this week.

But defense was all the Spurs really cared about.

Swingman Richard Jefferson said Popovich used a film session four or five games ago to remind his team where it stood defensively, numbers-wise. San Antonio entered Saturday’s game ranked 16th in opposing field goal percentage (.457) and 13th in average points allowed (97.4).

Duncan said the improvement just comes down to focus.

“I don’t think we’ve changed anything specifically,” Duncan said. “We just come out, good focus, good game plans and just execute them. That’s the kind of team we’re going to need to be.”

San Antonio has won 14 of 15 and will hit the road to face New York and East-leading Boston, continuing its toughest stretch so far this season.

Not that Oklahoma City put up much of a fight. Serge Ibaka had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and James Harden had 12 off the bench.

“We turned the ball over way to many times to stay in a game against the NBA’s best team,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

DeJuan Blair had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.

San Antonio can become the NBA’s first team to reach 30 wins Tuesday night at New York, when the Spurs begin a three-game road swing that includes Boston and Indiana.

Popovich has been loathe to discuss his team’s record pace. He remains disappointed in their middle-of-the-pack defense—the bedrock of their championship teams—and became exasperated before the game when asked if the Spurs would win 70 games.

Minutes later, Danny Ferry, the former Cavaliers general manager who now works in the Spurs’ front office, emerged through a nearby door. Popovich asked Ferry if the Spurs would win 70.

“If we don’t,” Ferry told Popovich, “it’s all your fault.”

NOTES: The Spurs have won five straight over the Thunder dating to last season. … Oklahoma City’s previous worst game this season was a 21-point loss to Utah in its third game.

[EricB]

Popovich has been loathe to discuss his team’s record pace. He remains disappointed in their middle-of-the-pack defense—the bedrock of their championship teams—and became exasperated before the game when asked if the Spurs would win 70 games.


But ive been told he's OK with the bad defense and wants to be all about offense...

[Dex]

Some day, some day, George Hill will hit the roll man when he’s running the pick-and-roll. And when he does, all the land will rejoice and throw parties in his honor.

Read more: http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-101-oklahoma-city-thunder-74-that-team-defense-looked-sort-of-familiar#ixzz19rDPGNjn

:lol

[duncan228]

Thunder notebook: Can the Spurs win 70 games? (http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-can-the-spurs-win-70-games/article/3528821)
By Darnell Mayberry
NewsOK.com

Can the Spurs win 70?

San Antonio walked into Saturday night's game against the Thunder with a league-best 28-4 mark, a 72-win pace which would tie the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the league's all-time best record.

Just don't ask Spurs coach Gregg Popovich about the 70-win plateau.

“No,” Popovich told a member of the visiting media when asked if the milestone has crossed his mind. “Are you still drunk from (New Year's Eve)?

“Now if we lose three in a row you're going to say, ‘Is it time to panic, do you think?' ... Come on.”

Popovich wouldn't even give the matter thought as to whether a 70-win season would be an achievement.

“I wouldn't even give it a moment's thought, now or ever,” Popovich said. “I just think it's a ridiculous thought.”

Moments later, Danny Ferry, the Spurs vice president of basketball operations, emerged from a black door but ran into Popovich's pre-game media session. Before Ferry could excuse himself and duck back in, Popovich stopped his former forward and presented the same question.

“Danny, there was a question about whether we'd win 70 this year,” Popovich said. “Would you like to answer that for me?”

“Well,” Ferry said, “if we don't it's all your fault.”

“If we get any coaching at all probably, right?” Popovich responded. “Thank you, Danny.”

WESTBROOK'S CONFIDENCE COMING THROUGH

When asked about the development of Russell Westbrook in his third season, Popovich pointed to the Thunder point guard's confidence as the leading factor for this year's improvement.

“He's playing big-time basketball. He's doing some wonderful things,” Popovich said. “He's also playing defense. He's not just scoring. So I think he's a wonderful young player and he's gained the confidence that one needs to step up to that next level where he expects to play a certain way night after night after night after night. That's what a lot of young good players never get. And it seems that he has figured that out. I think his time this summer with the U.S. team really helped him do that.”

POPOVICH PRAISES BROOKS

Prior to tip-off, Popovich retuned pleasantries about Scott Brooks moments after the Thunder's coach had just gushed over Popovich and the Spurs.

“He just continued from what he did last year,” Popovich said of Brooks. “He did a fantastic job last year. The guys respect him. He's consistent. He is who he is. He believes in what he's doing. He teaches it well. He's just continued that. He's got good discipline about what he does with the program and it's obvious in the way they play night after night.”

WHAT DEMISE OF DUNCAN?

Over the past few years, some fans and media members have consistently tried to write off Spurs forward Tim Duncan as washed up. And at 34 and the owner of career-worst averages of 13.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, it's become easy for critics to crop back up.

Brooks, however, isn't buying into the theory that we're seeing the demise of Duncan.

“They use him when they need him,” Brooks said. “He's still one of the best bigs. He's still an All-Star. He's a great teammate. He could complain and (say), ‘Give me more touches.' Because 13 points, he could put that up in a half — still. But they figure out ways to win, and when they need him to join in on the party, they give it to him.

http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-can-the-spurs-win-70-games/article/3528821

[Bruno]

Even if Tim did it at each blowout, something I find amazing and will never get old is when Duncan wait on the court at the end of the game to great all the end of the bench guys. These are little details that show what kind of great leader Tim is.

[duncan228]

Even if Tim did it at each blowout, something I find amazing and will never get old is when Duncan wait on the court at the end of the game to great all the end of the bench guys. These are little details that show what kind of great leader Tim is.

:tu He's the Captain, and he's always led by example. He respects all of his teammates, and he shows it as well as speaks it.

Last night.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/2010-2011/1-1-11ss36.jpg

[TampaDude]

As I predicted, an easy win for the Spurs. NEXT!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[EricB]

Even if Tim did it at each blowout, something I find amazing and will never get old is when Duncan wait on the court at the end of the game to great all the end of the bench guys. These are little details that show what kind of great leader Tim is.

Wins or losses he does it.

Even in the losses with the guys that had sucked he gives them a hand slap and a dap on the head.

[Slippy]

What's Matt Bonner's caper? As captain Tim should give him a good clip around the ear. Bonner doesn't like to hi-five his teammates during freethrows or mind leaving them hanging .

[Dex]

Views from the Other Side, better late than never:



Spurs hand Kevin Durant's Thunder worst loss of season
By Darnell Mayberry, Staff Writer, [email protected]
Published: January 1, 2011

SAN ANTONIO — On paper, it was a matchup of two of the top four teams in the league.

On the court, it was nothing more than a mugging.

And by the time the Thunder walked out of San Antonio on Saturday night, it left as perhaps an example of the separation between the Western Conference's top three teams and everyone else.

The Spurs dealt the Thunder its worst defeat of the season in a 101-74 thrashing before a sellout crowd of 18,581 inside AT&T Center. The Thunder, which entered the game with the fourth-best record in the West, fell to 23-12. The Spurs bumped their league-best record to 29-4, winning for 12th straight time at home and moving to 19-2 in their own building.

It was just the second time this season that the Thunder has lost by 20 points or more. The Thunder fell by 21 at home against Utah on Oct. 31.

The Thunder's performance Saturday, though, was more frightening than anything seen on Halloween.

Oklahoma City suffered its worst offensive game in nearly every statistical category. The Thunder's point total was a season-low, as was its 32.9 percent shooting. OKC's 10 assists tied a season-low, and the team's 28 made field goals were one more than its season low.

The Thunder also turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 17 Spurs points.

“It was one of those games where it was just sloppy,” said forward Kevin Durant, whose 16 points led just three Thunder players in double-digit scoring.

The Thunder never led. The Spurs led by as many as 27.

“We're capable of playing better than that,” said Thunder forward Nick Collison. “It's disappointing how we came out. They're a good team, and if you don't come out ready they kind of put it to you rather quickly. And that's what happened tonight. They were all over us.”

The Thunder stared at a quick 24-10 hole after it started just 3-for-15 shooting from the field. San Antonio, meanwhile, made 11 of its first 17 shots and turned the game into a track meet by scoring seven quick points off the Thunder's first three turnovers. Oklahoma City had no answer for the Spurs in transition and watched San Antonio score 24 fast-break points. It led to a whopping 60-26 differential in points in the paint.

“We got beat by the best team in basketball,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “They handed it to us pretty fair and square.”

Brooks was most displeased with the offense, which was marred by over-passing, ill-advised shots and general carelessness. Oklahoma City trailed 31-17 at the end of the first quarter after making just four of 20 shots and committing five turnovers. It was mostly downhill from there. The Thunder shot just 29.3 percent in the first half, making as many free throws (12) as it had field goals and turnovers.

The 19 turnovers also were one shy of a season-high. Russell Westbrook, one night after a triple double, turned it over six times and struggled all night before scoring a season-low eight points on 3-for-11 shooting.

“We were going too fast,” Durant said. “We were in the fifth gear all night.”

Durant deemed it a lesson learned against the league's current juggernaut.

“We got a long way to go if we want to be as good as those guys,” Durant said.

Read more: http://newsok.com/spurs-hand-kevin-durants-thunder-worst-loss-of-season/article/3528817#ixzz1A5nSf3IT