Interesting stuff on last year's WCF series

[thunderup]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/28498/how-did-the-thunder-finally-stop-the-spurs

After giving up 101 points in Game 1 and 120 points in Game 2, the Oklahoma City Thunder needed to change their defense if they were going to beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3. They've had no trouble scoring — posting 98 and 111 points in Games 1 and 2 — so containing the Spurs' highly efficient offense was key. Luckily for them, they found a way to limit the Spurs to just 82 points on 39.5 percent shooting last night.


The Thunder made adjustments that prevented the Spurs from attempting their preferred shots. When I looked at the Spurs' offense after Game 2 (http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/28187/the-san-antonio-offensive-clinic), I noted that they always want to take layups and corner 3-pointers. Here's the Spurs' shot chart from those games:
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd10_sy_576.jpg
They attempted 42.2 percent of their shots from the paint and 14.3 percent of their shots from the corner. Essentially, 56.5 percent of all the shots the Spurs took in the first two games of this series were by definition from the two most efficient spots on the court. Now look at the Spurs' shot chart from Game 3:
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd11_sy_576.jpg
Only 32.9 percent of their shots were in the paint and only 13.2 from the corner 3 spot. This wasn't an accident. Rather, this was by Scott Brooks's design.
So what did the Thunder do differently? First, they contained Tony Parker in pick-and-roll situations with the strategy they employed in Game 2: They corralled him (http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/28187/the-san-antonio-offensive-clinic) so he wasn't able to reset when necessary or play off of multiple screens. This fourth-quarter adjustment worked so well in the previous game that they came with it right off the bat.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_thunderD1_576.jpg
Another crucial difference was that Thabo Sefolosha was guarding Tony Parker. Sefolosha is a longer, better defender, and maybe more important, he can exert more energy on defense than Russell Westbrook because he isn't integral to Thunder's offense. Here, Sefolosha is matched up with Parker as Boris Diaw sets a screen for Parker:
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_thunderD2_576.jpg
Sefolosha doesn't work around the screen to stay in front of him. Rather, he's playing him on the top side, knowing that Serge Ibaka (Diaw's defender) is defending the paint. As this is happening, Duncan comes up and sets a ball screen for Parker.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_thunderD3_576.jpg
But the Thunder don't allow Parker to use Duncan's screen. Sefolosha directs traffic, letting his bigs know where he is sending Parker. Kendrick Perkins steps up and shades toward Parker, keeping him out of the paint.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_thunderD4_576.jpg
Parker is now forced to pick up his dribble near half court — that's a win for the defense. He passes to an open Duncan, as the three defenders behind him are zoning up.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_thunderD5_576.jpg
Once Duncan makes the catch, Serge Ibaka stunts toward Duncan, but doesn't remain aware that there is a cutter behind him to cover while Perkins recovers on Duncan. Meanwhile, because Parker made his pass far from the basket, Sefolosha can attempt a steal because Parker isn't a threat.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd_sy_576.jpg
The result? Duncan hesitates at the top of the key, allowing Sefolosha to get his hands on the basketball and force a turnover. Here is the play in real time:

QdJWcUJPVa0
The Spurs are visibly uncomfortable, a stark juxtaposition with their demeanor in Games 1 and 2. This is all a result of the Thunder's defensive strategy. By keeping Parker out of the lane, the Spurs' offense is vastly limited, relying on less effective isolations. In fact, after using just 20 isolations in the first two games, the Thunder forced the Spurs into 18 in Game 3 according to Synergy Sports.
The Thunder have decided to concede some options to the Spurs if it means keeping the ball away from some of the best scorers. Their rotations were sharper, overhelping on Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd7_sy_576.jpg
As Parker brings the ball up, Sefolosha is already telling his teammates which way he will send Parker.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd8_sy_576.jpg
Parker comes off of a Duncan screen looking to split it as Perkins hedges out. As that happens, the Thunder have two help defenders getting involved. Kevin Durant is in the paint, ready to help on Duncan's roll to the rim, and James Harden is at the elbow, ready to help stop Parker.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd9_sy_576.jpg
The result? Parker can neither get into the lane nor hit Duncan on the roll because Durant is there. Durant is "tagging" him: He touches Duncan to reset the defensive three-second count, which allows Durant to be in the paint longer. Eventually, because Parker doesn't have a lane, he isolates and settles for a jump shot off the dribble. Here is that play, with a few others:

i0XzkrOiEbE
These pre-rotations are essential for two reasons. First, they dissuade Parker from even attempting to get in the lane. As we saw in Game 2, the Spurs' offense thrives on forcing the defensive collapse, then kicking it out. If the defense is already there, they can react better.
Scott Brooks drew up a great defensive game plan. His adjustments were terrific and well executed by his team. How can the Spurs counter now? The most obvious answer is that Tim Duncan has to be ready to make plays from the top of the key. In some of the clips above, we saw a hesitant Duncan, but there were some possessions in which he took the shot quickly and knocked it down:

0O3hs7CQTus
Here Duncan is left open because the Thunder are focusing on getting the ball out of Parker's hands. This will likely happen again, so Duncan has to do exactly what he did here: make quick decisions to take advantage of the Thunder as they recover. Popovich can design plays that begin with Duncan getting the ball at the top of the key, with his teammates cutting off of the ball — perhaps coming off of a flare screen.
The Spurs also need to keep using Parker off of the ball. They did this while Westbook covered him in Game 2, and it was very successful. It also worked for them in Game 3, but it just wasn't run as frequently:
75JREcYji-8

Sefolosha may be an excellent defender who is accustomed to chasing talented offensive players, but the Thunder's bigs remain mediocre at defending Parker as he comes off of curls. By not playing Parker off of the ball, the Spurs are bailing out guys like Perkins and Collison.
This series highlights the importance of coaching in the playoffs. At first Popovich and the Spurs were on the attack with their successful offense. Brooks and the Thunder countered with a new defensive strategy. Now, it's up to Popovich to respond. The coach that wins will advance to the finals.

[Brunodf]

Yeah, Diaw/Bonner PnR sucks. Luckily Splitter is starting

[lil'mo]

:lmao :lmao :lmao thunder fan desperate to prove finals appearance wasn't bullshit :lol
sorry thunderfan but we all saw the same series, refs/stern got you there.

[Clipper Nation]

The real adjustments:

http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/images/11/2008/07/Donaghey.jpg

http://loubegacalledhewantshisfedoraback.files.wordpress. com/2011/06/referee-2.jpg?w=284&h=300

[Brazil]

:lol

[thunderup]

:lmao :lmao :lmao thunder fan desperate to prove finals appearance wasn't bullshit :lol
sorry thunderfan but we all saw the same series, refs/stern got you there.

:lol the "refs" excuse
:lol losing a 18 point lead, then making the "we lost because of the officiating" excuse
:lol Bulls fan
:lol Derrick Rose
:lol gangbanger
:lol ACL's

[thunderup]

The real adjustments:

http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/images/11/2008/07/Donaghey.jpg

http://loubegacalledhewantshisfedoraback.files.wordpress. com/2011/06/referee-2.jpg?w=284&h=300

:lol the NBA forum's most pronounced conspiracist comes into the thread offering his usual shitty irrelevant non-basketball takes

:cry the officiating

[lefty]

Thunderup really thinks it wasnt rigged, because he doesnt understand the NBA'S most basic rules


Dont blame him guys, its not his fault :lol

[thunderup]

The fact is we were better last year.

Pop couldn't counter Scotty's coaching move of putting Thabo on TP. As the article states, we changed up the defense and gave Parker and the Spurs a different look. It's Pop's fault he couldn't counter.

[lefty]

Good luck winning the West without Harden TBH

[td4mvp2k]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A6qyGhhCAAAmC1q.jpg:large

[td4mvp2k]

:lmao :lmao :lmao thunder fan desperate to prove finals appearance wasn't bullshit :lol
sorry thunderfan but we all saw the same series, refs/stern got you there.

:lol

[ElNono]

Pop couldn't counter Scotty's coaching move of putting Thabo on TP. As the article states, we changed up the defense and gave Parker and the Spurs a different look. It's Pop's fault he couldn't counter.

That's like saying Phillibeaner outcoached Scotty, who outcoached Pop... makes no sense. Thunder were slightly better last season, enough to move on to the Finals. Harden was a good part of that. Ibaka/Perkins hitting every jumpshot was also fluke as hell.

We'll see how it looks this season.

[thunderup]

That's like saying Phillibeaner outcoached Scotty, who outcoached Pop... makes no sense. Thunder were slightly better last season, enough to move on to the Finals. Harden was a good part of that. Ibaka/Perkins hitting every jumpshot was also fluke as hell.

We'll see how it looks this season.
So if it isn't outcoaching, then what do you call Scotty's adjustment to put Thabo on Parker and give him fits (which had a profound effect on offensive execution) to which Pop couldn't counter?

[racm]

That's like saying Phillibeaner outcoached Scotty, who outcoached Pop... makes no sense. Thunder were slightly better last season, enough to move on to the Finals. Harden was a good part of that. Ibaka/Perkins hitting every jumpshot was also fluke as hell.

We'll see how it looks this season.

Harden's less of a factor.

Manu's also missed both games against OKC this season so far, and KL missed the game at OKC... :hat

[racm]

So if it isn't outcoaching, then what do you call Scotty's adjustment to put Thabo on Parker and give him fits (which had a profound effect on offensive execution) to which Pop couldn't counter?

It's called "realizing you have a lockdown defender on your roster". When Pop decided LeBron was to be guarded by Bowen the 2007 Finals was over before it even began.

[thunderup]

It's called "realizing you have a lockdown defender on your roster". When Pop decided LeBron was to be guarded by Bowen the 2007 Finals was over before it even began.

Scotty knew well before the series that Thabo was capable of guarding Tony. When we faced players similar to Parker, he would put Thabo on them. He only felt compelled to make the adjustment after Parker played out of his mind in game 2. Pop had 3 games after game 3 to make a counter adjustment and couldn't.

[ElNono]

So if it isn't outcoaching, then what do you call Scotty's adjustment to put Thabo on Parker and give him fits (which had a profound affect on offensive execution) to which Pop couldn't counter?

Define 'give him fits'? Thabo is a much better defender than Russ, no doubt about it. Yet, he still dropped 20 pts on him on the pivotal game 5... we just didn't have an answer for KD back then, and Harden killed us with some timely 3s...

That's the game that changed the series. Spurs were not going to win in OKC with the reffing there.

[Richie]

Good article, and the most infuriating thing is that the guy says what needs to happen. He said Duncan is going to get open looks at the top of the key and he needs to take them, which he does. Unfortunately, Diaw didn't.

Diaw would constantly catch it wide open at the 3 point line and hold it on to it. Boris' passivity on offence basically had us playing 5 v 4 at times. They'd completely ignore Boris on D and he would just stand there with the ball waiting to pass it while wide open. Infuriating.

[ElNono]

Spurs also had Danny Green and Bonner 3 pointers magically dissappear. Splitter also couldn't play much due to the hack-a-Splitter.

We're much improved defensively this season, and Splitter freebies are not longer an issue. KMart also has a fame of choking on the playoffs. If we were to play this season, I think we could take them.

OKC is still a solid team, and it's arguable KD can be contained.

[Cry Havoc]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0601/grant_g_thunderd9_sy_576.jpg

Hilarious that your highlighted photos involve an obvious foul on Duncan that went uncalled. :lmao

[MI21]

Harden is what beat the Spurs, tbh.

:lol Kevin Martin

[thunderup]

Define 'give him fits'? Thabo is a much better defender than Russ, no doubt about it. Yet, he still dropped 20 pts on him on the pivotal game 5... we just didn't have an answer for KD back then, and Harden killed us with some timely 3s...

That's the game that changed the series. Spurs were not going to win in OKC with the reffing there.

Thabo is an athletic defender standing at 6'7 that has the team responsibility of being the "lockdown" defender. He didn't shut down Tony by any stretch of the imagination but he disrupted the offensive execution. Starting from game 3, Parker encountered an entirely different defensive philosophy from us. Scotty gameplanned to keep TP and Manu from driving to the hole at will and it worked. Parker and Ginobili's ability to drive into the lane and cause chaos opens up possibilities for other things to happen on offense. Putting Thabo on Tony essentially disrupted Parker's ability to run the offense.

Harden cancelled Ginobili and Kevin took us to the Finals with his brilliant play.

[Richie]

Spurs also had Danny Green and Bonner 3 pointers magically dissappear. Splitter also couldn't play much due to the hack-a-Splitter.

We're much improved defensively this season, and Splitter freebies are not longer an issue. KMart also has a fame of choking on the playoffs. If we were to play this season, I think we could take them.

OKC is still a solid team, and it's arguable KD can be contained.

Hack a Splitter was so irritating last year because he hit 69% during the regular season, then collapsed to 37% in the playoffs. Just gotta hope he doesn't choke again this year, because that's what it was from Tiago. Choking.

Speaking of choking, lets not claim Bonners 3's 'magically' disappeared. It's Bonner. Nothing magic about it.

As for containing KD, there's only one guy who can do it. And his name is Russell.

[HI-FI]

:lolletting Harden go
:lolkeeping Westbrook

[thunderup]

Spurs also had Danny Green and Bonner 3 pointers magically dissappear. Splitter also couldn't play much due to the hack-a-Splitter.
That's what happens when you rely on scrubs. I'm not that worried about Green and Bonner, they will disappear most likely when it matters. Splitter and Leonard are players that worry me.



We're much improved defensively this season, and Splitter freebies are not longer an issue. KMart also has a fame of choking on the playoffs. If we were to play this season, I think we could take them.
I think the defensive improvement has more to do with putting Splitter in the starting rotation. It's essentially a twin tower look that we haven't seen since playing the Lakers the last couple of years. I will hold my expectations on KMart, like Green and Bonner, he is essentially a scrub role player. A Thunder-Spurs series will no doubt go 7 games this time around.



OKC is still a solid team, and it's arguable KD can be contained.
The combination of Leonard and Jackson will give him fits. That said, Kevin will still get his and then some.

[ElNono]

Thabo is an athletic defender standing at 6'7 that has the team responsibility of being the "lockdown" defender. He didn't shut down Tony by any stretch of the imagination but he disrupted the offensive execution. Starting from game 3, Parker encountered an entirely different defensive philosophy from us. Scotty gameplanned to keep TP and Manu from driving to the hole at will and it worked. Parker and Ginobili's ability to drive into the lane and cause chaos opens up possibilities for other things to happen on offense. Putting Thabo on Tony essentially disrupted Parker's ability to run the offense.

Not really. Again, Game 5, Parker drops 20 and Manu 34. That's actually more than normal production from those guys. Duncan had 18, but nobody else stepped up.

Game 6 Parker drops 29 pts. But a 10+ freebie differential on the road is difficult to overcome.

Spurs didn't have a problem scoring, dropping 99+ on 5 out of the 6 games of the series.

The Spurs simply had a defensive problem, and the role players didn't step up when it mattered (Game 5). The average defense gave the team a slim margin of error.


Harden cancelled Ginobili and Kevin took us to the Finals with his brilliant play.

Harden was great. More than volume scoring, he was timely in making shots. Ibaka shooting lights out was also a timely fluke.

OKC was the better team throughout the series. I'm a firm believer that a winner of a 7 game series is the better team.

[spurraider21]

That's what happens when you rely on scrubs. I'm not that worried about Green and Bonner, they will disappear most likely when it matters. Splitter and Leonard are players that worry me.


I think the defensive improvement has more to do with putting Splitter in the starting rotation. It's essentially a twin tower look that we haven't seen since playing the Lakers the last couple of years. I will hold my expectations on KMart, like Green and Bonner, he is essentially a scrub role player. A Thunder-Spurs series will no doubt go 7 games this time around.


The combination of Leonard and Jackson will give him fits. That said, Kevin will still get his and then some.

Bottom line is the Thunder aren't as good this year as they were last year due to the loss of Harden. Martin is a nice fill in but in late game situations I'm sort of relieved that Westbrick will be your only decision maker.

On the flip side, the Spurs are better than they were last year. Duncan has been playing better than he has in the 3 seasons prior to this, Parker is somehow outdoing last season's MVP caliber year, Splitter is finally getting big minutes (played about 10 mpg in the WCF last season) and Kawhi Leonard has improved by virtue of no longer being a rookie.

[Mao Zedong]

Yay, let's post a 9 months old article about a even older series... :downspin:
It would actually make much more sense to troll Thunder fans about today's loss against the Jazz.

As for how the Thunder won, it's simple: "Durant/Lebron Finals" promo x (Thunder roleplayers playing perfectly + Spurs roleplayers sucking terribly) = Stern's Erotica

[ElNono]

That's what happens when you rely on scrubs. I'm not that worried about Green and Bonner, they will disappear most likely when it matters. Splitter and Leonard are players that worry me.

Last season we relied heavily on offense, because of an average defense. This season is a bit different, so we have more margin for some of those guys not to show up.


I think the defensive improvement has more to do with putting Splitter in the starting rotation. It's essentially a twin tower look that we haven't seen since playing the Lakers the last couple of years. I will hold my expectations on KMart, like Green and Bonner, he is essentially a scrub role player. A Thunder-Spurs series will no doubt go 7 games this time around.

You have to add Leonard progression also as a defender, and the fact we're relying much less on trotting out terrible defenders like Bonner out there.

Scrubs matter. Martin might be a scrub, but he gets hot and he can ruin your night. Green is the same. They're not consistently good like Harden.


The combination of Leonard and Jackson will give him fits. That said, Kevin will still get his and then some.

KD will get his. No doubt about it.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Yes, it was the refs' fault you were backdoor swept

[midnightpulp]

So if it isn't outcoaching, then what do you call Scotty's adjustment to put Thabo on Parker and give him fits (which had a profound effect on offensive execution) to which Pop couldn't counter?

Pop drives me insane sometimes with his retarded rotations and falling in love with certain players, but the most logical counter to Brooks' move was working through Duncan in the post. The Spurs tried it and it failed massively, stagnating the flow of the offense and stopping ball movement. Other than that, I see no other counters Pop could've made. Thunder are super quick and super long on the perimeter, and were the only Western Conference team that had the horses to disrupt the Spurs' passing game, which was being called "one of the best ever" prior to that series.

I don't think he got outcoached at all. Thunder simply matched up well with the Spurs, especially after the Thabo switch.

Plus, you have Kevin Durant. He's pretty good.

[KaiRMD1]

It's 2013 brah, we're all out of the past brah

[Richie]

thunderup with some surprisingly good takes in this thread.

[thunderup]

Not really. Again, Game 5, Parker drops 20 and Manu 34. That's actually more than normal production from those guys. Duncan had 18, but nobody else stepped up.

Game 6 Parker drops 29 pts. But a 10+ freebie differential on the road is difficult to overcome.

Spurs didn't have a problem scoring, dropping 99+ on 5 out of the 6 games of the series.

The Spurs simply had a defensive problem, and the role players didn't step up when it mattered (Game 5). The average defense gave the team a slim margin of error.

You're conveniently ignoring game's 3 and 4 where the defensive philosophy change came about. In game 3, Parker had 5 TO's, shot 6/12 and had a -13. I remember it being Thabo's guarding him that took him out of the game. In game 4, Parker shot 5/15 and played a little better with regard to turning the ball over. Nonetheless, Thabo still disrupted his ability to get the Spurs into comfortable sets. In game 5, Parker scored 20 points but 10 of those were on free throws (some of those calls were just blasphemous btw), he shot 36% on 5/14 shooting. I think Thabo had a lot to do with the subpar shooting. Game 6 is the only game I think Parker wasn't affected as much by Thabo. Parker was VERY aggressive in that game early on irrc.

The point I'm trying to make is Thabo had a lot more to do with the outcome of this series than you are willing to give him credit for.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Tbh they for got to also mention the flukishly hot shooting of okc's roleplayers, perkins and collison knocking down fluke 18 footers, hardens clutch 3s with Leonard all over him, freethrow parade in game 6 that helped okc get back in the game, spurs being a middle of the pack defense last year etc.

[apalisoc_9]

You're conveniently ignoring game's 3 and 4 where the defensive philosophy change came about. In game 3, Parker had 5 TO's, shot 6/12 and had a -13. I remember it being Thabo's guarding him that took him out of the game. In game 4, Parker shot 5/15 and played a little better with regard to turning the ball over. Nonetheless, Thabo still disrupted his ability to get the Spurs into comfortable sets. In game 5, Parker scored 20 points but 10 of those were on free throws (some of those calls were just blasphemous btw), he shot 36% on 5/14 shooting. I think Thabo had a lot to do with the subpar shooting. Game 6 is the only game I think Parker wasn't affected as much by Thabo. Parker was VERY aggressive in that game early on irrc.

The point I'm trying to make is Thabo had a lot more to do with the outcome of this series than you are willing to give him credit for.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75kQyEpEdFc/UB7Ic1LBfaI/AAAAAAAACIs/YUMSKeHUptc/s1600/tom-cruise-laughing.gif
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g365/gxp23/Nicolas20Cage20laughing20like20a20mad20man.gif
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http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/131/8/a/bi_in_fo_laughing_gif_by_kuro_kokoro-d4zdga6.gif

[Clipper Nation]

In game 5, Parker scored 20 points but 10 of those were on free throws (some of those calls were just blasphemous btw)


:cry the officiating

Self-contradicting, hypocritical faggot :lol

[Texas_Ranger]

I dont like facing the thunder....... with harden.

[thunderup]

:lol Clipper Nation with the same boring "i'm rubber your glue" shtick
:lol calling it hypocrisy when it's not something I blame losses on but rather a stat I'm using to make a point out of

[KaiRMD1]

You're conveniently ignoring game's 3 and 4 where the defensive philosophy change came about. In game 3, Parker had 5 TO's, shot 6/12 and had a -13. I remember it being Thabo's guarding him that took him out of the game. In game 4, Parker shot 5/15 and played a little better with regard to turning the ball over. Nonetheless, Thabo still disrupted his ability to get the Spurs into comfortable sets. In game 5, Parker scored 20 points but 10 of those were on free throws (some of those calls were just blasphemous btw), he shot 36% on 5/14 shooting. I think Thabo had a lot to do with the subpar shooting. Game 6 is the only game I think Parker wasn't affected as much by Thabo. Parker was VERY aggressive in that game early on irrc.

The point I'm trying to make is Thabo had a lot more to do with the outcome of this series than you are willing to give him credit for.

Seriously, you cannot call any refereeing bias blasphemous when your team is the f'n Thunder. Come on man, you're team lives on the free throw line ALL THE TIME. I'll admit, Thabo did do some good for the Thunder in the series BUT the shooting of Collison, Ibaka and Harden did more of the work than anything.

[ElNono]

You're conveniently ignoring game's 3 and 4 where the defensive philosophy change came about. In game 3, Parker had 5 TO's, shot 6/12 and had a -13. I remember it being Thabo's guarding him that took him out of the game. In game 4, Parker shot 5/15 and played a little better with regard to turning the ball over. Nonetheless, Thabo still disrupted his ability to get the Spurs into comfortable sets. In game 5, Parker scored 20 points but 10 of those were on free throws (some of those calls were just blasphemous btw), he shot 36% on 5/14 shooting. I think Thabo had a lot to do with the subpar shooting. Game 6 is the only game I think Parker wasn't affected as much by Thabo. Parker was VERY aggressive in that game early on irrc.

The point I'm trying to make is Thabo had a lot more to do with the outcome of this series than you are willing to give him credit for.

Games 3 and 4 are the games the Thunder were supposed to win, and games the Spurs didn't have the urgency to.

You could argue Parker had to adjust to the new defense in those games, but even if you do, that *did* happen (looking at Game 5 & 6).

Not trying to take anything away from Thabo or Scotty. The series was won by Durant, who was unguardable, and the fact that OKC had, overall, more talent. Better bench too with Harden and Collison playing extremely well, versus our bench which only had Manu sporadically playing well, and guys like Bonner or Neal who are turnstiles on defense. The other observation I would make is that guys like KD and Westbrook can play 40+ mins a game, and the Spurs stars can't. Over a physical 7 game series, that's something that can still be an issue even now.

[LarryDavid]

OP, you're about 6 months late in posting this article. Why now???

[Latarian Milton]

refs didn't hand them enough food stamps in the finals so they lost :lmao