How can Spurs beat Thunder in playoffs

[downunder]

It is interesting that Pop is adding a legal zone defence to his options. I dont think he wants to show his hand to Thunder but it is obvious that one aspect of his D is the failure to blockout by his defensive players when their opponent take a shot. The instinct to look for the lane of the opponent , block his move to the ring in anticipation is simply missing. I think Thunder are also susceptible to the fast break but that tactic is completely forgotten and needs to be revived before playoff time.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

How do we beat the Thunder? Do everything we did yesterday with two minor modifications: make two more chip shots that we missed and guard one 3 point attempt from fisher, durant (or really anyone on OKC) a little bit better so they miss.

Oh and maybe throw in Splitter for improved interior defense. Maybe throw in Green for improved perimeter defense.

[benstanfield]

Very easy.

1. Be healthy. Green and Splitter (along with Kawhi) plus Diaw will be crucial in defending the Thunder PnR.

2. Give Sefalosha and Perkins the Tony Allen treatment. I see why Pop would be hesitant to do so in the regular season, but if you recall, last year against the Grizzlies in the playoffs we totally caught them off guard by ignoring their two perimeter players, Prince and Allen; neither of them was going to take more than 10 shots per game, and those shots just weren't going to be efficient. Thabo has a reputation as a 3pt shooter and defender, but this year he's only taking 2 threes a game and making them at a paltry .311%. Even if he can make them at a higher rate, every open shot for Sefalosha will be a shot taken out of the hands of two of the best scorers in the game. Same goes for Perk, but he will never make them at a high rate. In this way we can totally clog the lane and turn the Thunder into the inefficient jump-shooting team they are at heart.

3. Put TD on Ibaka. I know you are all having flashbacks to Ibaka turning into Lamarcus Aldridge in the WCF, but I think this strategy makes sense for two reasons. Perkins is by a wide margin the Thunder's best screener. He is almost always the guy setting screens for Durant and Westbrook. However we saw last night how incapable TD is of guarding that play. By putting Splitter, our best PnR big, on Perkins, it forces the Thunder to choose: either set screens with Ibaka to exploit TD or set screens with Perk and face the much better Splitter. In the first case, see above^^. If Perk isn't setting the screens we can basically ignore him and stick Tiago right at the rim both to ease the pressure on KD drives and make it so Tim can get out to Ibaka on the jumper. In the second case we can rely on Splitter to do at least a serviceable job guarding the Durant PnR while freeing up Tim for help D and rebounding. Kick outs to Ibaka will be a problem but again, against the Thunder anything is preferable to Durant or Westbrook with the ball in their hands.

4. Re-think our strategy about guarding Durant. I was saying this yesterday, if Green/Manu can at least make Durant work for the buckets he's going to score anyways, it makes a lot of sense to stick Kawhi on Sefalosha so he can basically play rover. At least for stretches. Putting Parker on Sefalosha is an okay idea because it hides him on defense, but I don't think this will be a big problem against Westbrook. If there is any area of defense Parker is horrid at it is contesting 3pt shots, and it really hurt him against the (apparent) sharpshooter Jackson. But Westbrook is barely shooting threes at 30% this year. He is a great driver but a largely inefficient shooter. If you put Kawhi on Sefalosha, though, he can rotate and help on a lot of Westbrook and Durant's drives. He excels at getting in passing lanes, and neither Durant nor Westbrook are even good passers. I feel like I'm repeating myself, but either of their two stars kicking out to a marginally open 30% three-point shooter I will absolutely accept. Leonard would create havoc if he could basically play free-safety while guarding the defender Sefalosha.

5. Start Manu or Bellinelli for Green. We've seen what Jackson can do. We can't let him turn into another Harden in the playoffs. Green is our best guard defender, and if you take away Jackson the Thunder's second unit is basically inept offensively.

I really think the Thunder are a flawed team in that they give big minutes to one-dimensional players like Perk and Sefalosha. There will be times when we just can't get a stop because of their star power, but there are also ways we could give them different looks in order to prevent this. The refs will certainly give the Thunder at least a game or two, but as of right now if both teams are healthy I'll take the Spurs in 5 or 6 games.

[spurraider21]

starting Green and Splitter would go a long way

[Chinook]

Play Green, Leonard and Manu the bulk of the minutes at the wing. With the Thunder going small so much, they should each average at least 32mpg. Beli should only play if Mills doesn't.

Start Diaw, but play Splitter heavily for Duncan unless Tim has his offensive game going. By far the most exploitable part of the team's defense.

Last year's Spurs would have beaten this year's Thunder. They need the Core Six to get back to last year's level. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel with Beli. He will end up playing Neal's role anyway, and there's no reason to treat him differently. The only potential room in the playoff rotation is spot minutes for a defensive forward.

[KawhiLeonard]

Pray Durant ruptures his Achilles or tear his acl

[r0drig0lac]

Pray Durant ruptures his Achilles or tear his acl

[Sean Cagney]

Very easy.


No it's not, really.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

No it's not, really.

We lost by 6 points.

[Sean Cagney]

We lost by 6 points.So losing by 6 ponits means it's going to be easy to beat them in the playoffs? What about the other times? 0-3 this year. It will not be easy to beat that team in the playoffs and if any of you think it is then you are delusional.

[tim_duncan_fan]

How can we fit Shaq in a Scion iQ?

[cjw]

5. Start Manu or Bellinelli for Green. We've seen what Jackson can do. We can't let him turn into another Harden in the playoffs. Green is our best guard defender, and if you take away Jackson the Thunder's second unit is basically inept offensively.

You're leaving out the fact that Green wouldn't be there to start the game on Westbrook then.

[justinandimcool]

LeBron defense on Westbrook, pray Kawhi is healthy vs Durant, Grizz sag on shooters, pray Jackson doesn't blow up

[RichieW]

So losing by 6 ponits means it's going to be easy to beat them in the playoffs? What about the other times? 0-3 this year. It will not be easy to beat that team in the playoffs and if any of you think it is then you are delusional.

First game: Fully healthy and held them to only 94 points. 88-94.
Second Game: Kawhi, best perimeter defender out. 100-113.
Third Game: Green and Splitter out, Kawhi injured. 105-111.

Nothing there makes me think the Thunder are unbeatable. Health is the biggest factor.

[Sean Cagney]

First game: Fully healthy and held them to only 94 points. 88-94.
Second Game: Kawhi, best perimeter defender out. 100-113.
Third Game: Green and Splitter out, Kawhi injured. 105-111.

Nothing there makes me think the Thunder are unbeatable. Health is the biggest factor.
They are no way unbeatable, but right now I don't think we beat them in a 7 game series unless they show me in the 2nd half they can beat a good team. I will wait until they are ready in the 2nd half and on a little roll to judge where they are at though.

BTW how come I answer someone else and a different account with little posts in here keep answering me back on this thread? I know the answer but come on now man keep one account to answer shit trolls. :hat

[Mikeanaro]

Duracne was not in comfort zone with Beli guarding him, I dont want manu guarding that Pimple face he could get injured OKC is full of cheap shots.

[therealtruth]

So losing by 6 ponits means it's going to be easy to beat them in the playoffs? What about the other times? 0-3 this year. It will not be easy to beat that team in the playoffs and if any of you think it is then you are delusional.

Exactly. Most of the games we lost in 2012 WCF were by just a few points iir.

[therealtruth]

Pray Durant ruptures his Achilles or tear his acl

Or hope Westbrook reinjures his knee and they face the Grizzlies in the playoffs.

[Horse]

How do we beat the Thunder? Do everything we did yesterday with two minor modifications: make two more chip shots that we missed and guard one 3 point attempt from fisher, durant (or really anyone on OKC) a little bit better so they miss.

Oh and maybe throw in Splitter for improved interior defense. Maybe throw in Green for improved perimeter defense.

Don't forget hit our free throws

[Horse]

I dont' even know how perkins starts that guy just sucks all he does is foul and shoot airballs. Ignoring him is a great idea.

[BacktoBasics]

Duracne was not in comfort zone with Beli guarding him, I dont want manu guarding that Pimple face he could get injured OKC is full of cheap shots.Nothing says clueless better than thoughtless smack.

[The_Coyote]

Pray Durant ruptures his Achilles or tear his acl

I hope both of these things happen to you, you classless mouth-breather.

[Baam]

They simply can't unless Jeffers pulls a Berveley on Durant.

[tlongII]

First you would have to play them. Which won't happen since the Spurs will lose in the 1st round.

[tmtcsc]

Watch film of how Memphis did it last year. I'm sure it involves playing good, physical defense and making them earn everything they get. Plus, put Jackson in his place and watch Westbrook steal Durant's shots. But yeah, be healthy.

[tmtcsc]

First you would have to play them. Which won't happen since the Spurs will lose in the 1st round.

Lol, I hope we get Portland in the 1st round. Your nice little team will get bounced quick. Whole different ballgame in the playoffs.

[Beaverfuzz]

First you would have to play them. Which won't happen since the Spurs will lose in the 1st round.

To whom? Spurs have beaten everybody they could possibly play in the 1st round (Knicks are in the east and that's the only slip-up). I'd worry more about Portland which struggled with Denver last night...

[Skull-1]

So losing by 6 ponits means it's going to be easy to beat them in the playoffs? What about the other times? 0-3 this year. It will not be easy to beat that team in the playoffs and if any of you think it is then you are delusional.

[cd98]

Durrant must have a season ending injury. I don't hope for it, but it's the only way this current team beats Thunder 4 times in 7 games.

[TheGoldStandard]

If the standings stay as they are then the Spurs have a great opportunity to get to the WCF. We can beat Dallas over 7 games and I think we can beat GSW or Portland in 7 games.

OKC will have to play an athletic suns team that won't beat them but at least make it go 5 or 6. Then they would face Clippers or Rockets who would push them and I like Houstons chances with matchups plus Harden can negate all the ref love for Durant.

[cd021]

I dont' even know how perkins starts that guy just sucks all he does is foul and shoot airballs. Ignoring him is a great idea.

God forbid Scott Brooks realizes that Collision has been better than Perk for years. They could be even better.

[hater]

Spurs should be worried about getting out of round 1 and 2 first imo.

If Parker does not regain his MVP level and Kawhi doesn't play like an allstar we are out before even facing the Ethiopian and his monkeyball team.

So now let's assume, we get lucky breaks and Parker regains somewhat of a form and we do face the Thunder. Then we have 2 scenarios:
A) Thunder with healthy Westbrook. - Huge disadvantage for Spurs. Uphill battle. Parker NEEDS to play at his highest level ever and even then, we'd need the best playoff performance in Diaw and Splitter's careers. The Ferrari would have to carry the entire bench and Manu on his shoulders and show his true Italian Meatbolas. Tough, tough task, almost insurmountable.
B) Thunder with no WB or gimpy WB - We catch another lucky break and would still need A+++ Parker and A++ Kawhi. Oh and Spurs cannot allow scrubs like Fisher, Ibaka, Jackson and Lamb look like the 80s Lakers. In other words, still a tough task but the series would be a toss up.

[benstanfield]

You're leaving out the fact that Green wouldn't be there to start the game on Westbrook then.

Westbrook is a driver. Parker struggles contesting threes. If we clog the paint with whoever is guarding Sefalosha and Perkins, we don't need Green on WB except for key stretches. Taking the Thunder's only bench scoring is more important.

[benstanfield]

No it's not, really.

In the sense that it's not easy to beat any NBA team, sure, but the Thunder have a deeply flawed starting 5 being carried through the regular season by 2 superstars. These are things that are only really exposed in the playoffs. I think beating the Thunder will be easier than beating the Heat, Pacers, Blazers, and probably the Rockets. So in a relative sense, easy.

[Ginobili3]

When the Thunder space themselves, I just don't want us to sag too far in, we've been doing that for almost 30 games+ straight and then find ourselves careening towards the shooter. Also, when Westbrook or Jackson penetrates (or any other person for that matter), we have trouble when they simply drop it off to the big man waiting under the basket when one of ours tries to help (we had problems with this last year also with Miami; OKC and Portland have been killing us with this also).

[TheGoldStandard]

The Thunder are solid, rabbit won't come easy

[Sean Cagney]

In the sense that it's not easy to beat any NBA team, sure, but the Thunder have a deeply flawed starting 5 being carried through the regular season by 2 superstars. These are things that are only really exposed in the playoffs. I think beating the Thunder will be easier than beating the Heat, Pacers, Blazers, and probably the Rockets. So in a relative sense, easy.

Except they are not easier to beat than the Rockets and Blazers! I disagree there and I haven't seen those two win a playoff series yet so what are you basing that on? OKC right now is missing a star and still winning, they are not going to be an easy out by any means. They lost last year because a star got hurt, believe if they have him we are going to OKC for the WCF last year.
The Thunder are solid, rabbit won't come easy

You are correct.

[tmtcsc]

Lol, I hope we get Portland in the 1st round. Your nice little team will get bounced quick. Whole different ballgame in the playoffs.

Lol, tonight is sweet. I got a bunch of these I've been wanting to bump.