OKC game predictions

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Would be awesome if Kawhi or Sjax would be back for this game. OKC has been resting since Friday and the Spurs will most likely be without Manu.

Hopefully Pop starts Tiago and Duncan together again.

Spurs probably won't win, but would be nice to steal one in their arena.

[spursmartyr]

I believe/hope we will see Kawhi. There's a decent chance, at least.

As much as I want Jackson to play to get more revenge against the team that he bitterly hates (especially in an arena where the baskets are like bathtubs to him) I don't see it happening. Would be awesome though, and I know Jax feels like he's well enough.

Getting either (or better, both) of them back would render Manu worthless, tbh. We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

[FkLA]

We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz165/Reajeasa/Watsonfacepalm.gif

[freetiago]

another made thread
predict tim goes down for the season
has to retire since its a pretty bad one

[sananspursfan21]

We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

Hope not serious

[Johnsyounger]

Neal said in postgame interview that Jax be back next game or two. Already full contact practicing.

[CitizenDwayne]

I predict a loss, which will then send many members of the board into suicide watch.

[Malik Hairston]

I hope Duncan sits, but I doubt it, tbh..

The Spurs have no chance without Ginobili, Jackson and Leonard, and Tim has looked worn out the past 2 games, I'd like to see him sit..

[Boomersgold]

We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

Is that what they call "trolling"?

[Sean Cagney]

I hope Duncan sits, but I doubt it, tbh..

The Spurs have no chance without Ginobili, Jackson and Leonard, and Tim has looked worn out the past 2 games, I'd like to see him sit..

Yes Tim has looked very tired the last two games, leaning on him too much early and this schedule is just flat out rediculous.

[JRHernandez88]

Our chances of winning have to be pretty tiny but idk, you never know with this team. I can't doubt what they can do now that I've seen them take Miami to the wire with just the bench... But yeah I doubt we come out of that arena with the W.

[KenziE]

Neal said in postgame interview that Jax be back next game or two. Already full contact practicing.
u got link ?

[JRHernandez88]

Now that Jacks coming back our chances just got better. Now we have another body to throw at Durant, Cooool. I wonder if Duncan's getting rest tho?

[Johnsyounger]

u got link ?
was postgame interview with Neal after Boston game on NBA tv

[howbouthemspurs]

The Spurs will win by 32. Book it!

[Darkwaters]

We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

http://thegeekwriters.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/picard-facepalm2.jpg

[SpursRock20]

I say that if Duncan returns to form (he's looked off the last couple of games) and Durant decides to not go off we have about a 40% chance of winning.

[BillMc]

was postgame interview with Neal after Boston game on NBA tv

Yeah, I saw this interview too. Surprising really that Jack will be back before Leonard.

[Fireball]

Chances to win are pretty slim - regardless who plays or who is not. Spurs are still tired after all these road trips and need time to refocus. Now they have to get on the road again for a b2b after 1 day of rest and play a Thunder team which is rolling (although their recent competition was not that good) and which is sitting at home for days. If we win this game I would call it quite an upset ...

[KenziE]

Do you guys honestly think OKC can beat the spurs by double digits ?

considering kawhi still out and TD looks tired .....

[DapDaGenius]

Thunder by 30....afterwards I'll cry a little bit, until I see my signature on here again...in which I will beat off to and I'll be okay after that.

[Rummpd]

Spurs 100 - Thunder 96

Lot of negativity on this board - Thunder a fine team but won the playoff series 8 on 5 and if called fairly Spurs a great road team can win this game and should.

[Fireball]

Spurs 100 - Thunder 96

Lot of negativity on this board - Thunder a fine team but won the playoff series 8 on 5 and if called fairly Spurs a great road team can win this game and should.

If all Spurs were healthy and both teams had the same schedule the weeks before I would give the Spurs good chances, but since that not the case I find it premature to expect the Spurs to win this game

[KenziE]

so OKC wins by 5 tbh ?

[thunderfan]

Prior to the 4 consecutive wins by OKC in the WCF last year, SA completely owned us. SA was something like 10-2 against OKC prior to those 4 games (during those seasons OKC was a playoff contender). SA is still a team I never feel confident about OKC beating.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

Pop will pull out Tim, Tony, Danny and Tiago. Book it!


If in 0.000000001 chance he won't, Spurs win this by 3.

[thunderfan]

Pop will pull out Tim, Tony, Danny and Tiago. Book it!


If in 0.000000001 chance he won't, Spurs win this by 3.

You think those 4 guys will be in street clothes?

[Rummpd]

Prior to the 4 consecutive wins by OKC in the WCF last year, SA completely owned us. SA was something like 10-2 against OKC prior to those 4 games (during those seasons OKC was a playoff contender). SA is still a team I never feel confident about OKC beating.

A smart fan - Thunder are a very good team, but really without James Harden; and if Pop, who finally seems to have come around to the obvious as far as the Spurs bigs; sticks with Splitter and Duncan why the negativity? Sure Spurs have a right to be tired but this game could easily go either way among the two best teams in the conference.

[Splits]

was postgame interview with Neal after Boston game on NBA tv

Here's the Neal interview on NBATV after the Boston game where he talks about Jack and Whi:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/12/16/20121215-alink-neal.nba

[racm]

OKC have played a lot of games at home and they're one of the best teams in getting favorable officiating at home (aka "home court advantage").

KD averages an even 10 FTAs a game at the 'Peake and "only" 8 FTAs a game in their 8 road games. :depressed

[KenziE]

Here's the Neal interview on NBATV after the Boston game where he talks about Jack and Whi:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/12/16/20121215-alink-neal.nba

thanks :)

[thunderfan]

A smart fan - Thunder are a very good team, but really without James Harden; and if Pop, who finally seems to have come around to the obvious as far as the Spurs bigs; sticks with Splitter and Duncan why the negativity? Sure Spurs have a right to be tired but this game could easily go either way among the two best teams in the conference.

I truly feel this OKC team is better than they were last year. I'm not suggesting that's because of Martin, but rather in spite of losing Harden. One theory on this is that OKC has had to make adjustments. It was ugly at first. I think they realized they were without a big playmaker and RW tried to force everything. The adjustments that were eventually made were much, much better passing than any of OKC's teams in the past. Look at OKC's team assist stats, as well as KD and RW's this year compared to last. They've been forced, in a way, to be a better passing team to create offense that they lost with Harden. I still don't feel too confident about beating SA. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised at beating SA, but there's a lot of history over the last 3 years of basically getting beat every time out by SA to feel too confident yet.

[thunderfan]

RW:
2012-13: 8.7 assists, 3.3 TO
2011-12: 5.5 assists, 3.6 TO

KD:
2012-13: 4.2 assists, 3.3 TO
2011-12: 3.5 assists, 3.8 TO

OKC:
2012-13: 22.4 assists, 15.3 TO
2011-12: 18.5 assists, 16.0 TO

[silverblackfan]

I would like to see the Spurs grind this one out, but it will take near perfect execution to win without Ginobli, Jax, and Leonard. OKC is full of long limbed athletic guys who can really disrupt passing lanes. Unfortunately, we need those passing lanes to win this game. Ginobli can usually find an open lane regardless, but without him only De Colo really shows that ability.
It would be nice to get Ibaka in foul trouble early, but the Thunder are at home.

I think OKC will win this. I just hope for a close game or a blow out and the bench gets some serious learning experience.

[bklynspursfan]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN (https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN)
Post-shootaround, Pop says all the injured guys (Manu, Jack, Leonard) are out tonight in OKC.

[jiggy_55]

Pop says Kawhi, Sjax and Manu are all out tonight. Ummm WTF? Jackson said he'd play and it's about damn time Leonard returns. If he comes back tomorrow I'm gonna be really disappointed

[ace3g]

not that it means anything, but CJ going back to the Toros for some playing time

[Mel_13]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN (https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN)
Post-shootaround, Pop says all the injured guys (Manu, Jack, Leonard) are out tonight in OKC.

Pop's going to pull the plug early tonight and hope to have enough to win in Denver. Even if they lose both games, 19-8 (11-6 on the road) is a tremendous start after playing 17 of their first 27 games on the road. Especially considering the injuries to Leonard and Jack.

[Bruno]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN (https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN)
Post-shootaround, Pop says all the injured guys (Manu, Jack, Leonard) are out tonight in OKC.

It looks a lot like Pop won't even try to win that game. His dream scenario for that game would be Spurs down by 20 very quickly to be able to keep Duncan and Parker on the bench.

[bklynspursfan]

It looks a lot like Pop won't even try to win that game. His dream scenario for that game would be Spurs down by 20 very quickly to be able to keep Duncan and Parker on the bench.

He'll probably get his wish then!

[crc21209]

Wow....so much for Jack being excited about playing tonight. :td Durant's going for 35+ points tonight, easy. We can't expect Green and Anderson to cover him. We also can't expect TP and TD to play 40 minutes, because that's the only way the Spurs will have a chance to win tonight...

[Southwest Texas Fan]

Pop says Kawhi, Sjax and Manu are all out tonight. Ummm WTF? Jackson said he'd play and it's about damn time Leonard returns. If he comes back tomorrow I'm gonna be really disappointed

That would suck. I wonder if Kawhi's tendonitis is worse than previously thought?

[Paranoid Pop]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/4242.png&w=350&h=254

Free this guy and unleash him on Durant tbh.

[cherylsteele]

I believe/hope we will see Kawhi. There's a decent chance, at least.

As much as I want Jackson to play to get more revenge against the team that he bitterly hates (especially in an arena where the baskets are like bathtubs to him) I don't see it happening. Would be awesome though, and I know Jax feels like he's well enough.

Getting either (or better, both) of them back would render Manu worthless, tbh. We don't really even need Manu anymore at all actually, the way Nando is playing

Nando is playing well....but not THAT well.

[BillMc]

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN (https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN)
Post-shootaround, Pop says all the injured guys (Manu, Jack, Leonard) are out tonight in OKC.

I'm really beginning to get worried abut Leonard. You hear so little about his recovery...

[Fireball]

I'm really beginning to get worried abut Leonard. You hear so little about his recovery...

Its just very hard to verify ... tendinitis can take months to recover from, but not for a young guy like Kawhi IMO ... everything points towards him returning soon, so I am not worried.

[Budkin]

I would say no chance of winning this game but we almost beat the Heat with our C team so who knows.

[Fireball]

I would say no chance of winning this game but we almost beat the Heat with our C team so who knows.

The Heat didi not take the game seriously because the Big 3 did not play ... Tim and Tony will play tonight so we will not catch OKC off-guard.

[lefty]

OKC by 6 or 8 pts TBH

[tmtcsc]

An ass kicking is on the way. Tim was gassed in the last game and if that continues I see us losing by 20+. They only way we win is if OKC takes us for granted without 3 of our best players. I thought Jack's return tonight was a bit premature.

[TampaDude]

What I'd like to happen: Parker does it again at the buzzer. Spurs win by 2.

What will probably happen: Thunder win by about 10-12.

[Splits]

Spurs are +5.5. Largest dog of the season I can recall (not incl Miami)

[KenziE]

oh man im in on the spurs for quite a bit i hope its a tight one even if they loose pls pls

[thunderfan]

I guess it looks somewhat favorable on paper for OKC - who really comes close to being able to defend KD at this point? However, I can assure you that the sentiment among most knowledgable OKC fans is - "yeah, but it's the Spurs". We'll see.

[bklynspursfan]

So Jack posted this about an hour ago?? (btw sorry I forgot how to post the tweets the cool way lol)

Stephen Jackson ‏@DaTrillStak5 (https://twitter.com/DaTrillStak5)
Pre-Game musik. Lets go. Glad to be back. Spurs vs Okchttp://instagr.am/p/TWwmKiRf-u/ (http://t.co/JQwaCnC9)

[SpurSpurSpurs]

You think those 4 guys will be in street clothes?

Not really good at sarcasm.

[Malik Hairston]

So, again, what was the point of playing Duncan?..he needs a rest and the odds of winning this game were slim..

Has Stern scared Pop, tbh?..

[KenziE]

lost $100 on the spurs not a good start for the week :(

[Sean Cagney]

lost $100 on the spurs not a good start for the week :(

LOL what the hell did you bet on this game for? I knew the Spurs would get their ass whipped tonight without Manu and Kawhi etc. There was no chance in hell they come lcose to winning that game tonight, bad bet for you.