No Perkins = big trouble for Spurs?

[Basketball Power]

Serge
Durant
Thabo
Harden
Westbrook


That gave spurs hell in gm2 and if the thunder use that lineup and go small ball for extended periods of time that spurs could be in deep shit

[DesignatedT]

The Spurs would kill the Thunder inside with that lineup. Either with Duncan or with constant layups. Half of which would be goaltended.

[Budkin]

:lmao

[Basketball Power]

The Spurs would kill the Thunder inside with that lineup. Either with Duncan or with constant layups. Half of which would be goaltended.

Duncan had a lot of trouble going one on one with serge

[Obstructed_View]

Duncan had a lot of trouble going one on one with serge

Um, when was this?

[capek]

Meh, Thabo played 31 minutes in game 1, and Ibaka played only 6.5 less minutes than Perkins. Thunder still lost. The Thunder didn't "discover" anything in game two that they didn't already try in game 1. Just the media looking for something to say when the Spurs are shutting up all the doubters, and making a sweep look more than possible.

[CosmicCowboy]

It's kind of a push...they are better defensively with Perkins out but they will miss his screens on offense.

[ChumpDumper]

Um, when was this?Game 2 -- but I think he can adjust a bit and if he's able to play a lot with Diaw against small ball, they could dominate. Plenty of lineup options if they don't.

[Dr Cox]

Duncan will eat them up if they run that lineup longer than 8 min in the 4th like in game 2.

[Basketball Power]

Game 2 -- but I think he can adjust a bit and if he's able to play a lot with Diaw against small ball, they could dominate. Plenty of lineup options if they don't.

That would mean Diaw guarding Durant which he can't do

[Agloco]

Serge
Durant
Thabo
Harden
Westbrook


That gave spurs hell in gm2 and if the thunder use that lineup and go small ball for extended periods of time that spurs could be in deep shit

OKC switching on the PnR is what gave them fits. They figured it out late in the fourth though.

[ChumpDumper]

That would mean Diaw guarding Durant which he can't doEh, we'll see. It's not like the Spurs went exclusively small to counter them. Your takes are usually pretty bad anyway tbh.

[Basketball Power]

Eh, we'll see. Your takes are usually pretty bad anyway tbh.


You thinking Diaw could guard Durant exposes your lack of knowledge

[turkish spurs fan]

ginobili killing this small 5.

[Basketball Power]

ginobili killing this small 5.

The success of our pick and roll offense had a lot to do with how terrible Perkins is in guarding it

[ChumpDumper]

You thinking Diaw could guard Durant exposes your lack of knowledgeWell, he was out there last night and they won. What does that say about your knowledge?

[CGD]

That line up got OKC back in the game. They were content with having Duncan beat them as opposed to death by pick and roll. Because TD isnt the post player he was back in the day, its actually a good approach.

The obvious counter is for the Spurs to play Boris, and beat the hell out of Durant on the offensive end with some good old high-low action. On D Spurs can hide Boris on the wildly overrated Thabo. Boris is just too talented of a passer to worry about the flow of the offense being disrupted tbh. The problem is when Boris picks up dumb fouls as was the case yesterday.

I honestly think this strategy dangerous considering OKC's amazing length at seemingly each position. However, it plays into the Spurs' hand since it taxes Durant, and encourages Westbrook and Harden a higher percentage of the shots.

[Basketball Power]

Well, he was out there last night and they won. What does that say about your knowledge?

Diaw wasn't guarding Durant, are you truly this stupid or are you just trolling me?

[Nathan89]

You thinking Diaw could guard Durant exposes your lack of knowledge

You not knowing that Diaw could guard Thabo exposes your lack of knowledge.

[baseline bum]

I don't get all the Perkins hate from the media. Tim was coming off a red-hot series vs the Clippers and yet Perkins has held him to 31% shooting. I honestly think Perkins has been amazing this series in keeping Tim from being any kind of reasonable option in the offense these first two games. If Thunder fans get what they wish with Perkins on the bench I think Tim is going to really go off. And Perkins is such a great screener. You take Perkins away and you're going to see lots of Westbrook isos.

[ChumpDumper]

Diaw wasn't guarding Durant, are you truly this stupid or are you just trolling me?Who said he was?

He was out there alongside Duncan against the small ball lineup and the Spurs won.

Did you watch the game, or was the basketball power out?

[Basketball Power]

You not knowing that Diaw could guard Thabo exposes your lack of knowledge.

Diaw is too slow to guard thabo

[thunderfan]

Tim Duncan's one on one low post scoring is the least of OKC's worries. I'm not diminishing his importance and I realize he contributes in other ways, but he hasn't scored more than 16 pts in a game against OKC all season and went 2-11 last night, with at least a fair amount of trouble scoring on Ibaka one-on-one. Having said that, I think if you're OKC you stick with this lineup and see if you can reproduce the good stretch you had in Game 2.

[Nathan89]

Diaw is too slow to guard thabo

:lmao Knowledge exposed.

[Basketball Power]

Who said he was?

He was out there alongside Duncan against the small ball lineup and the Spurs won.

Did you watch the game, or was the basketball power out?

Yes the spurs won, I'm glad you saw the final box score, but the spurs lead was built on Perkins being in the lineup

[Aztecfan03]

Didn't we have our bench in like bonner and neal when they were killing us in the 4th.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't get all the Perkins hate from the media. Tim was coming off a red-hot series vs the Clippers and yet Perkins has held him to 31% shooting. I honestly think Perkins has been amazing this series in keeping Tim from being any kind of reasonable option in the offense these first two games. If Thunder fans get what they wish with Perkins on the bench I think Tim is going to really go off. And Perkins is such a great screener. You take Perkins away and you're going to see lots of Westbrook isos.Maybe, it's just that Perkins gets so consistently pantsed by the PnR, his individual D doesn't really matter. Duncan can just float back to the perimeter to be open for a jumper since Perkins will freeze in no man's land.

If Perkins can actually get his head out of his ass and his feet moving in reaction to the PnR, he can stay out on the floor.

[ChumpDumper]

Yes the spurs won, I'm glad you saw the final box score, but the spurs lead was built on Perkins being in the lineupSo you didn't watch the game.

No problem.

[Aztecfan03]

That would mean Diaw guarding Durant which he can't do

Or he could guard Thabo. let jax or kawhi get durant.

just saw others say same thing.

[TimmehC]

Or he could guard Thabo. let jax or kawhi get durant.

Logical post is logical.

[tesseractive]

Diaw is too slow to guard thabo

You can probably stick Diaw on Thabo, then have Boris play 10 feet off him so he can provide help defense inside. If the Thunder think they can beat us with Sefalosha, I expect they're in for a rude awakening.

Also keep in mind that they don't move the ball around nearly as well as we do, so most of the time we can probably just cover the passing lane without bothering to cover Thabo himself.

[ChumpDumper]

And as has already been said, there is no reason to stick with that lineup if it isn't working.

lol power outage

[fotan2]

Diaw is too slow to guard thabo

Diaw can guard half of the point guards in the league. You obviously never seen him play against the smaller guys.

[Manu-20]

It wont make much of a difference the spurs will adjust if anything brooks may of shot himself in the foot using this lineup in game 2 instaed of the start of game 3 as the spurs adjusted to that lineup late in the 4th. Another factor they tried hack a splitter didnt really kill us it was that 4th quater lineup and if danny hits his open shots that we were given we wouldn't even consider this lineup as a factor. Bottom line is it was more of what the spurs did wrong that what the thunder figured out in game 2 twoards the end.

[thunderfan]

Diaw can guard half of the point guards in the league. You obviously never seen him play against the smaller guys.

You can't be serious

[ViceCity86]

If Green or Jackson are not up to par,I would play Diaw and Duncan while they downsized.

[pgardn]

Tim Duncan's one on one low post scoring is the least of OKC's worries. I'm not diminishing his importance and I realize he contributes in other ways, but he hasn't scored more than 16 pts in a game against OKC all season and went 2-11 last night, with at least a fair amount of trouble scoring on Ibaka one-on-one. Having said that, I think if you're OKC you stick with this lineup and see if you can reproduce the good stretch you had in Game 2.

I would also. But as said earlier, it might be very wearing on certain players depending exactly how it is carried out.

The underestimation of Duncan by those who have not watched him this year is understandable:

Imo Duncan is healthy again and he eventually will figure it out offensively if required. Duncan has been packed and blocked by just about everyone in the league. But he is extraordinarily resourceful offensively, even at his advanced age. He does not take his deficiencies personally like Westbrook, he has patience. If he must score on Perkins or Ibaka, he will if not doubled. He will step out on Perkins, hit some jumpers, and step out and then in for layups. He will post and fake Ibaka into fouls, goaltending, and easy buckets if the situation presents itself and is required. Gasol or Bynum would be much tougher on Duncan.

Imo the longer the series goes, the better Duncan will get if he must score.

[Spursfan092120]

If they stay small and switch off pick and rolls, Parker will have a field day. There's nothing OKC can do that will spell Big Trouble for the Spurs.

[etbluffer]

Duncan had a lot of trouble going one on one with serge

What game were you watching??

[capek]

That would mean Diaw guarding Durant which he can't do

No, you put Diaw on Thabo, who he certainly can guard. Kawhi/SJax takes Durant. Easy peasy.

after reading through the thread, edited to add: :deadhorse :lol

[BackHome]

You thinking Diaw could guard Durant exposes your lack of knowledge

Why put Diaw when we can keep SJ or Kawhi on him...

[thunderfan]

What game were you watching??

The one where he shot 2-11.

[T Park]

Is this the same game he missed a couple wide open shots and layups.

Go ahead and guard him badly some more...

[Basketball Power]

The one where he shot 2-11.

And he struggled in game 1 also but not as bad

[Wild Cobra Kai]

Serge
Durant
Thabo
Harden
Westbrook


That gave spurs hell in gm2 and if the thunder use that lineup and go small ball for extended periods of time that spurs could be in deep shit

Hell? We won and they scored one whole more point in the second half than we did. Not exactly hell.

[Texas_Ranger]

Their small lineup worked just cause the Spurs played with bench players and Neal was really bad out there. When the starters came in it was over for OKC.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

That would mean Diaw guarding Durant which he can't do

Hide Diaw on Fish/Sefalosha. They've already done it with Bonner. Daiw could actually post up whoever they put on him and Tim could go to the high post.

[DesignatedT]

When the Spurs went "big" with Diaw and the Thunder were small, Diaw was guarding Derek Fisher

[maverick1948]

the question is not who the Spurs use to cover the Thunder, but who guards the Spurs players.

Ibaka on Duncan advantage Spurs
Durant on Diaw advantage none
Sefalosha on Parker Ginobili or Leonard advantage Spurs, Spurs, even
Hardin on Ginobili advantage master to student Spurs
Westbrook on Parker or Leonard if Parker advantage Spurs Leonard even

I still have yet to see the Thunder play true defense for more than 4 mins at a time. That doesnot work against the Spurs.

[dbreiden83080]

Right and Brooks needed 2 full games plus the reg season to come up with a formula that will kill the Spurs...

No....

[dbreiden83080]

The one where he shot 2-11.

He was out of rhythm. Duncan is not going to force up shots and break the rhythm of the offense to try and get his.. He didn't do that in his MVP days... If OKC goes small he will kill them...

[PÒÓCH]

NO PERKINS = NO PROBLEM

The mere fact that Oklahoma has to change their line up tells you that they're becoming desperate. This shows weakness and the Spurs will eat it up.:flag:
http://t.qkme.me/36ek3j.jpg

[duhoh]

funny. okc needs to adjust to SA's play, not the other way around.

[therealtruth]

He was out of rhythm. Duncan is not going to force up shots and break the rhythm of the offense to try and get his.. He didn't do that in his MVP days... If OKC goes small he will kill them...

After seeing him go 2-11, OKC's smart move would be to dare him to beat them.

[SpursIndonesia]

You thinking Diaw could guard Durant exposes your lack of knowledge

With that line up, Diaw will be guarding Sefolosha, the stationary outside shooter -with tendency to sag more to the paint helping in defense rebounding, while Kawhi/Jax will still be tasked to guard Durant.

[dbreiden83080]

After seeing him go 2-11, OKC's smart move would be to dare him to beat them.

And if he can't Spurs still have tons of weapons... The days of Tim needing 25 to win a playoff game are gone...

[ElNono]

Ibaka is just as bad as Perkins defending the pick and roll... As a matter of fact, they gave Danny at least 2 wide open looks he couldn't knock down, or nobody would be talking how that small lineup "worked"... Spurs simply need to be more savvy with the fouling. That small lineup was more successful simply because they were shooting freebies at the other end on almost every other possession.

[ElNono]

Oh and TD was 2-11 mostly because Perkins was checking him. When Perk sat, TD only missed 2 jumpers and basically got himself to the line. In addition, he collected two huge offensive rebounds right at the end.

[Obstructed_View]

Game 2 -- but I think he can adjust a bit and if he's able to play a lot with Diaw against small ball, they could dominate. Plenty of lineup options if they don't.

See above post.

[hater]

Parker will probably go for 50+

[thunderfan]

I initially found the subject line to be kind of humorous. The Spurs have lost 2 games in the last 14 years and now all of a sudden we're talking about them potentially being in "big trouble".

[thunderfan]

Ibaka and Perkins are both horrible at defending the PnR especially against the pinpoint passing of the Spurs. Having Perkins out there at least provides a good one-on-one defender in the post and someone who can set screens on offense.

The problem with OKC, Collinson, Nzar, Ibaka, or Perkins can't beat you the inside. That is OKC main problem, they rely strictly on jumpshots and penetration from Durant, Harden and Westbrook. Spurs have insider Scorers in Duncan, Splitter, and sometimes Diaw. Blair is another but for some reason Pop isn't using him at this point.

They can't beat you inside with frontcourt players, but I still contend that our offense isn't really the issue in this series..it's SA's offense, and our inability to stop it. LIke I said in another post, our top 3 guys went for 88 pts on 56% shooting last game. Horrible shooting from the supporting cast, but if those guys play even mediocre offensively, you've got yourself a very nice offensive game at probably 120+ pts.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

After seeing him go 2-11, OKC's smart move would be to dare him to beat them.

Oh I really hope Scotty Brooks thinks so too.

[KaiRMD1]

The problem is whatever the Thunder miss with Perkins out, the Spurs will use that to their advantage and beat on the Thunder through that. So we'll just have to see how the Spurs combat whatever strength the Thunder get from having Perkins on the bench

[therealtruth]

They can't beat you inside with frontcourt players, but I still contend that our offense isn't really the issue in this series..it's SA's offense, and our inability to stop it. LIke I said in another post, our top 3 guys went for 88 pts on 56% shooting last game. Horrible shooting from the supporting cast, but if those guys play even mediocre offensively, you've got yourself a very nice offensive game at probably 120+ pts.

I don't think the Thunder can expect to average 110+ consistently. However, they can expect better offense at home and the Spurs will need a greater defensive effort.

[cheguevara]

90pts from big 3 and still lose????

pathetic

[thunderfan]

90pts from big 3 and still lose????

pathetic

You realize you just insulted your own team, right?

[Basketball Power]

No problem right?

[ChumpDumper]

Perkins was there.

[ElNono]

:lol Perkins played his normal minutes... our problem tonight was that 3/4 of the team didn't show up...

[KD4MVP]

Finally we go to the lineup with RW, James, Thabooo, KD, and Ibaka.

Absolutely no reason Fisher should play more minutes then Thabo.