Leave it to the Spurs to out-choke the chokiest team in the NBA...

[TDfan2007]

NBATV just put up stats for our 4th quarter offense this series, and here they are:

20.6 pts 35.3% FG 26.9% 3FG

Those are just disgusting numbers. When it's been money time, the Spurs have looked like utter dogshit. Bricking open shots, missing free throws, and giving up offensive rebound after offensive rebound. This is like the 2002 series vs the Lakers on steroids. Play decently for 3 quarters, get a solid lead, then watch it all disappear. What makes this situation more sad is that those Lakers were historic, while this Thunder team is extremely flawed and undisciplined. They just want it more than we do, sadly, and are playing with much more confidence than we are.

Almost no lead is safe with this team, as they seemingly can't handle prosperity. Not sure how we went from having the heart of champions to be chronic chokers, but something changed between June 2014 and November of 2014. The Spurs haven't been the same since, tbh...and it's even more magnified now that our best big-time players (Tim and Manu) look like zombies on the floor.

[Keepin' it real]

We didn't make shots.

:pop:

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Pop's inability to realize it isn't 2014 is the biggest problem. Yes what he did was amazing, but since then he hasn't adapted or adjusted at all.

[adidas11]

Two words....Lamarcus Aldridge.

[J_Paco]

NBATV just put up stats for our 4th quarter offense this series, and here they are:

20.6 pts 35.3% FG 26.9% 3FG

Those are just disgusting numbers. When it's been money time, the Spurs have looked like utter dogshit. Bricking open shots, missing free throws, and giving up offensive rebound after offensive rebound. This is like the 2002 series vs the Lakers on steroids. Play decently for 3 quarters, get a solid lead, then watch it all disappear. What makes this situation more sad is that those Lakers were historic, while this Thunder team is extremely flawed and undisciplined. They just want it more than we do, sadly, and are playing with much more confidence than we are.

Almost no lead is safe with this team, as they seemingly can't handle prosperity. Not sure how we went from having the heart of champions to be chronic chokers, but something changed between June 2014 and November of 2014. The Spurs haven't been the same since, tbh...and it's even more magnified now that our best big-time players (Tim and Manu) look like zombies on the floor.

You answered your own question, buddy. The old "Big 3" has regressed tremendously since the team's last championship. They also lost key players (Belinelli, Joseph and Baynes) that helped hide the warts. To compound that issue they have a lot dead weight or unusable players (Bonner, Miller, Martin, Simmons and Marjanovic) occupying roster spots.

This team was carried by a historically great defense but without a serviceable Duncan - to rebound and protect the rim - that goes out the window. The saddest part is that Green has apparently finally come out of his season long shooting slump but now everything else is falling apart.

[J_Paco]

Pop's inability to realize it isn't 2014 is the biggest problem. Yes what he did was amazing, but since then he hasn't adapted or adjusted at all.

Huh?

Some of y'all just reach so badly with your takes. He did adjust this season by playing a slower pace and emphasizing defense. That sadly can't work without a functional NBA - level center and no interior size.

His relying on a 39 year old going on 40 all season to anchor his defense was his fatal mistake. Needed to find Timmy an adequate backup but instead wasted the season away with a one dimensional sideshow act (sorry Boban lovers) and a old ass 6'9" power forward forced to play out of position.

[Harry Callahan]

OKC is stupid and undisciplined enough to let the Spurs right back in this thing.

Unfortunately, if SA somehow finds a way to win the next two, their tank will be EMPTY.

Durant and WC are at their physical peaks, and even though they are both losers that generally make stupid plays when it matters, the Spurs have been unable to exploit them well since game one.

Never has there been a bigger collection (outside of maybe the Clippers) of pampered, whiny, ref baiters as there is in OKC. And yet they get away with all kinds of shit in their screening and defending. NBA officials are not uniformly qualified for their jobs. Some of them suck and some of those guys were in SA tonight.

Hopefully, the Spurs can beat the odds now and figuratively spit in the disfigured, contorted face of WC.

[spursistan]

Yep, people aren't realizing the magnitude of this disgraceful exit...

Fuckin' getting bounced by Billy Donovan, Dion Waiters, two moustached faggots and, Cam chihuahua Payne :lmao..

In Tim/Manu last season?

[Darius Bieber]

Yep, people aren't realizing the magnitude of this disgraceful exit...

Fuckin' getting bounced by Billy Donovan, Dion Waiters, two moustached faggots and, Cam chihuahua Payne :lmao..

This. Outside of Westbrook and Durant, OKC's roster looks like a DLeague team.

[Harry Callahan]

Yep, people aren't realizing the magnitude of this disgraceful exit...

Fuckin' getting bounced by Billy Donovan, Dion Waiters, two moustached faggots and, Cam chihuahua Payne :lmao..

They still have a couple of talented MBallers that could put together just enough tainted plays to get to the finish line these last 2 games. I hate the Supersonics guts to be honest. If I wanted to watch rugby, I'd pay for the Rugby channel.

[J_Paco]

This. Outside of Westbrook and Durant, OKC's roster looks like a DLeague team.

They still have three starting quality big men in their rotation which are all 6'10 or taller. While the Spurs currently feature just one big man playing at even an average level of a NBA big man.

You can have all the know how and craftiness in the world, but when the other team is more athletic and has a pronounced size advantage you're in deep shit.

[Harry Callahan]

Hell, Durant will probably break his foot in game one of the next round if he survives the Spurs.

[siraulo23]

so true :lol

[therealtruth]

The Spurs are the ones struggling to win 4th quarters when I thought that was the Thunder's issue.

[Kawhitstorm]

They still have three starting quality big men in their rotation which are all 6'10 or taller. While the Spurs currently feature just one big man playing at even an average level of a NBA big man.

You can have all the know how and craftiness in the world, but when the other team is more athletic and has a pronounced size advantage you're in deep shit.

The Spurs are getting pounded on the board like Spurs East:lol (Stay away from Horford)

[Sean Cagney]

They did it last year too to defy odds up 3-2 and at home up double digits to the choker LAC team... Now they buck odds of a 65 win team tied 2-2 going home and will make that 14-1 for teams with that circumstance and be the 1

[polandprzem]

Spurs are good at making history :)

[SpursforSix]

Pop's inability to realize it isn't 2014 is the biggest problem. Yes what he did was amazing, but since then he hasn't adapted or adjusted at all.

The Nutshell

[kobyz]

I logged into the game near the end with 88-84 lead for the Spurs, i know right there it's a loss, Spurs at close games...

[Mal]

OKC`s late run were made by
1. refs didn`t whistle 24 sec voilation, easy one on one fastbreak with 8 players standing and waiting of that whistle.
2. offensive rebounds

OKC had no opportunity to choke, to play stupid. Simple fast push, shot made or rebounded, follow by soft Spurs` jumper, or stupid Parker passing on shot he was supposed to shoot and then shooting everything when he shouldn`t. And fucking Pop didn`t use timeout on that possesion with 20+ sec to go. OKC lineup wouldn`t change after TO, defense was set eitherway. Offense wasn`t set.

[spurraider21]

its eerily similar to the 2011 grizz series. Duncan looks done (for real this time), and the spurs other bigs (blair/bonner/mcdyess then, diaw/west now) are getting obliterated in the paint by superior bigs (randolph/gasol then, adams/kanter now)

[Kawhitstorm]

its eerily similar to the 2011 grizz series. Duncan looks done (for real this time), and the spurs other bigs (blair/bonner/mcdyess then, diaw/west now) are getting obliterated in the paint by superior bigs (randolph/gasol then, adams/kanter now)

Except they would have won that series if MVP Manu was healthy & Porky didn't get locked up by Conley. Right now, Kawhi/LMA have been maxed out & the well has dried up.

[spurraider21]

Except they would have won that series if MVP Manu was healthy & Porky didn't get locked up by Conley. Right now, Kawhi/LMA have been maxed out & the well has dried up.
agreed. in 2011 manu was the offense

[BillMc]

Don't discount the fact that OKC is still capable of choking themselves. They may blow their golden chance at home (as we did).

[Gervin44Silas13]

Spurs playing like pre 1999 Spurs win in the regular season and shit the the bed in the playoffs

[Chillen]

Yep, people aren't realizing the magnitude of this disgraceful exit...

Fuckin' getting bounced by Billy Donovan, Dion Waiters, two moustached faggots and, Cam chihuahua Payne :lmao..

In Tim/Manu last season?

It seems people forget Durant/Westbrook have been to the Finals before (2012), they have plenty of playoff experience. Getting beat last year in the 1st round to the Clippers is worse than losing to OKC tbh. Spurs have to show up in game 6 and win, and bring it home for a game 7 or they are going fishing.

[NameLess Scrub]

The level of choke/bad luck in this team.

I wish there was a meter for it :lol

But really, if it comes ugly at the end, Thunder won't finish choking because this is the POs and the refs will come through for them. Spurs have to make shots and FTs. At that point I was almost sure Tony was going to miss at least 1 FT. That's how much we trust the Spurs in those situations.

And yes, Timmy's downfall is the Spurs downfall. The defense struggled without him during the RS, and OKC's bigs are too much. Sadly, the off-season moves had one clear flaw and it has come back to haunt the Spurs.

I don't expect it to change in game 6, unless shots start to fall like in game 1. Also, If Timmy and/or Manu decide to blow up themselves with a final effort, and they succeed, Spurs might have a chance.

Get ready for Draymond's trash talk fest, with the love of the media.

[Budkin]

Best season in franchise history down the fucking shitter. The only thing that makes this less painful is knowing that we have next to no chance to beat the Dubs.

[jjktkk]

Its crazy that this team won a franchise best 67 regular season games, yet look so ordinary against OKC. OKC has exposed the Spurs overall lack of athleticism. Where in this matchup with the Thunder, do the Spurs have an advantage? The Spur's bench is non existent. Manu, Diaw, and West always seem a step slow. Patty can't get open for looks, and when he does, he seems hesitant to shoot. LMA disappears. I think Duncan's hurt and not letting on, just trying to grind it out. Parker can really only play well in spurts at this point in his career. Looking for a miracle Thursday.