We just may not be good enough to beat the Thunder with any regularity.

Tim Duncan is too old to contend with a ridiculous number of trees and Tony Parker's "run faster than everybody else" tactic isn't going to get the job done against elite athletes. Guys like Neal, Bonner and Green are likely to shrink away when the games REALLY matter.

So...what do we do? What is/are our trump card(s) against them?

What will be our saving grace against them (and Miami/New York)?

Dude were 1-1 against them and we're without Manu and Leonard right now, chill.

Spurs were missing 2 of their top 5 players, but I would agree for the most part..they are a young team that will probably get homecourt advantage, and the Spurs wouldn't be able to buy a call in their arena..

Shit thread

We're gonna need Kawhi to get healthy and develop his skills further. He'll have to pllay more aggressively and make opposing athletes account for him and defend him. We have to have another weapon.

Its on Pop to counter what the Thunder are doing to Parker

To be fair, season series is 1-1 without Manu playing either game

Step of the ledge we can still get homecourt against these guys and once we get ginoibili back and kawhi back lets see were we are as a team playing these guys just dont judge things based on this one game man.

OKC is a great team. You're not going to consistently beat great teams. The best you can hope for is to draw even with them.

lets just wait till the spurs get blown out while there healthy to hit the panic button tbh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by weebo

OKC is a great team. You're not going to consistently beat great teams. The best you can hope for is to draw even with them.

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The BEST you can hope for is to be even with a great team? I would think the best you can hope for is to beat them because you're greater than them.

I'm not talking about the season series, I'm talking about the Thunder's ability to get a 7-10 point lead on us fairly easily. It's like they have another gear we don't have.

I'm thinking we should play De Colo more to see if his passing ability can lead to more easy buckets and really pray for Kawhi to step his game up. Not really worried about Manu. What we get from him will be extra.

The Spurs didn't play their best defender, their secondary playmaker, and play in an arena where it's been notorious for blatant home cooking and unsurprisingly lost.

The Spurs can beat the Thunder if they are 1. fully healthy and 2. they don't play in OKC.

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Originally Posted by Stabula

The BEST you can hope for is to be even with a great team? I would think the best you can hope for is to beat them because you're greater than them.

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OKC is a great team for a reason. You can't expect the Spurs to beat them every single time they face them. If they can play .500 against a great OKC team, they've done well.

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Originally Posted by Richie

Its on Pop to counter what the Thunder are doing to Parker

To be fair, season series is 1-1 without Manu playing either game

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Which he couldn't do against the Grizzlies the year before either.

4 OKC with 19 or more points.

Spurs destroyed on the boards.

Spurs -12 FT pts

Spurs with no player with more than 14.

As we saw WCF, OKC is the better team, esp over 7 games.

Manu needs to be the difference maker against them. If they want Sefelosha on Parker, then Martin will have to be on Manu which should give us a big edge.

The Thunder are undoubtedly the favorites. That's been obvious since last season.

But I'm not sure how much you can take from this game when two of San Antonio's four most important players against OKC didn't play. And Jack, who is either the fifth or sixth most important player against these guys, was returning from injury.

Tbh, that first matchup didn't really count because Martin was new to OKC. I don't think this game told us anything either.

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Originally Posted by boutons_deux

4 OKC with 19 or more points.

Spurs destroyed on the boards.

Spurs 12 FT pts

Spurs with no player with more than 14.

As we saw WCF, OKC is the better team, esp over 7 games.

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We only got destroyed on the boards because we waived the white flag in the 2nd half. OKC only had 2 offensive boards at the half.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

The Thunder are undoubtedly the favorites. That's been obvious since last season.

But I'm not sure how much you can take from this game when two of San Antonio's four most important players against OKC didn't play. And Jack, who is either the fifth or sixth most important player against these guys, was returning from injury.

Tbh, that first matchup didn't really count because Martin was new to OKC. I don't think this game told us anything either.

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Only the third match this season should tell us anything. Cue bad luck by it being a game which Manu misses again. :depressed

I would like to have another dominating big man next to Duncan in the post. It seems that everytime he touches the ball, people swarm all over him from every direction. I like Splitter but he has no jump shot.

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Originally Posted by SpursRock20

I would like to have another dominating big man next to Duncan in the post. It seems that everytime he touches the ball, people swarm all over him from every direction. I like Splitter but he has no jump shot.

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In order to do that the Spurs would need to ship out one of their core pieces or Jackson. I'd be okay if Jax were traded for a low post scorer with a J.

I think the Thunder have too much athleticism on the boards and just too much athleticism generally. That is very demoralizing to a disciplined team like the Spurs. :(

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Originally Posted by racm

In order to do that the Spurs would need to ship out one of their core pieces or Jackson. I'd be okay if Jax were traded for a low post scorer with a J.

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Jax is one of my favorite players but if it means getting Al Jefferson, David West, or KG (really doubt it) I would be for it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

The Thunder are undoubtedly the favorites. That's been obvious since last season.

But I'm not sure how much you can take from this game when two of San Antonio's four most important players against OKC didn't play. And Jack, who is either the fifth or sixth most important player against these guys, was returning from injury.

Tbh, that first matchup didn't really count because Martin was new to OKC. I don't think this game told us anything either.

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My thing is, even with Kawhi out there, the flow of the game is almost always in favor of OKC. There's never a moment with them where we can say "oh if we can get this next score and a stop afterward, we close them out." There is never a moment when momentum is decidedly on our side and that is more troubling than any stat or injury.

As for Parker, the thing is that he is just straight speed. There are games when his mid-range goes bonkers and he's hard to beat, but when defenses are stout, he finds it near impossible to finish his shots once he's at the rim. This causes him to push harder, outrunning his guys and going 1-on-3 or 4 at the rim, exacerbating the problem.

I'm a natural worrier, but when we play OKC it feels like we have to play perfect ball just to have the slightest chance to finish the game with a lead. Something's got to change and I dunno what it is. Manu being in the game doesn't really change that. That's why I feel like it's on Kawhi.

We were always gonna need exponential growth from our young guys (Kawhi) and a miraculous rebirth from TD. We're getting one of those things.


Kawhi Leonard and maybe De Colo (lord help us) will have to be our trump card (s).

We need to make a move to have a chance against them.

You can only take so much from any regular season game. Not having Kawhi I think changes things quite a bit. And don't tell me Pop and the players were not thinking about tomorrow night against Denver. That game is a lot more winnable than this one was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

The Thunder are undoubtedly the favorites. That's been obvious since last season.

But I'm not sure how much you can take from this game when two of San Antonio's four most important players against OKC didn't play. And Jack, who is either the fifth or sixth most important player against these guys, was returning from injury.

Tbh, that first matchup didn't really count because Martin was new to OKC. I don't think this game told us anything either.

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Probably true - only differnce is it took a game winner at the buzzer during their "off time" while they beat the Spurs down during "their off time". But I agree, OKC is by far the favorites still especially if Pop/TP can't figure out a way to beat what we know will happen - Thabo on TP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

But I'm not sure how much you can take from this game when two of San Antonio's four most important players against OKC didn't play.

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tbh, does it matter when one of those guys have to defend KD? I mean, I think KD didn't even break a sweat today and we quit by the 3rd quarter...

This thread Is the reality of it all, if the spurs can get to that pt(wcf against okc). And missing Manu isn't that uncommon really. They got lucky with him last year but I'll me more surprised if he's healthy, come playoffs, than if he's injured. Unfortunately that's what's realistic these days. The spurs did NOTHING to avenge their 4 straight losses to okc, last year(personnel wise). Pop must just figure they'll make more shots this time around.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richie

Its on Pop to counter what the Thunder are doing to Parker

To be fair, season series is 1-1 without Manu playing either game

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I thought given the roster availability he did a decent job, but the turnovers man, Its like we have 5 Mark Sanchez's ballin' nightly. Are turnovers are nearly up 2.5 from last season. Thats insane.

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Originally Posted by Budkin

We need to make a move to have a chance against them.

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I agree with this here.

Unfortunately I have the same impression as I don't feel the comeback of Kawhi and Manu can change the flow of the game. They are just super athletic from 1 to 5. What is more worrisome is that, other than the speed advantage, they are actually overpowering us as well.

I ain't buying we need to make a move. I think we can beat them just the way we are. Our team still hasn't gotten everyone on one page and Tim looked worn out tonight. Kawhi & Jack switching off on Durant will make a difference too. The Thunder are still going to be the favorites but give this team some more time to get clicking with Splitter & Duncan, and everyone healthy. We'll be alright.

Try nab Dalembert and Luc-Richard from the bucks... Do whatever it takes without trading the big 3 + Leonard. Then we'd be ready to rumble with the best of them.

Strut out a defensive lineup of

Dalambert
Duncan
Luc-Richard
Leonard
Parker

The opposition would be in for a headache or two.

never gonna happen

lol @ Neal shrinking away from big moments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGnJ0uUgJIw

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Originally Posted by Juggity

lol @ Neal shrinking away from big moments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGnJ0uUgJIw

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wtf someone said that?? Gary Neal gots bulls nuts.

If the Spurs could get Milsap for Jackson (slim to none, but the Jazz need to trade either Jefferson or Milsap because Favors is just too good & has too much potential to sit on the bench), I'd be all for that, his jump shot could lure Ibaka await from the paint & he's a decent post scorer.

He's also got the ability to play the 3.

But I don't know what it is with Ibaka & even Perkins they just don't miss their J's against the Spurs?

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Originally Posted by JRHernandez88

wtf someone said that?? Gary Neal gots bulls nuts.

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Yeah the OP said:

Quote:

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Guys like Neal, Bonner and Green are likely to shrink away when the games REALLY matter.

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I should of stopped reading right there.

Maybe Kawhi will help but we need another offensive threat in the starting lineup. The fact the Green can't drive or create that well for others doesn't help our offense, especially with Tiago in starting line up. I would like to see what Anderson could do with some more minutes at the expense of green or Neal. Anderson had some solid moves tonight even if a couple did result in turnovers. He made a solid pass or two as well. We know what we have in Green and Neal. Anderson is still an unknown at this point and in his limited minutes has a higher player efficiency rating and assist percentage than both. I'm not saying he could be an all-star or anything, but if he can do what Green does ( defense / jumpers) but also drive and pass it would add another dimension to offense.

Is it me, or do the Thunder not really have a good bench? I mean it's OK, but when they're bench was in there is when the Spurs hung around the most and it wasn't until their starters came back in that they extended their lead toward the end of the 2nd qtr. Other than Martin and Collison, that's about it. Maynor only played 11 minutes which isnt shit really. Ibaka and Durant played 39 minutes, while Westbrook played 37. At some point, this shit HAS to catch up to these guys right? I was also pretty pissed that Brooks kept his starters out there for basically the last 7-8 minutes of the 4th when the game was well at hand. I saw it as a slap in the face to keep his starters out there against De Colo, Mills, Anderson, Blair, and Bonner. I wouldn't feel bad for them if one of their stars got hurt over the course of the season for doing that....

It's not just you. The Thunder don't have a good bench and they really don't need one when their stars can play over 40 minutes every night. Until one of them gets injured they will keep playing them a lot of minutes. One of the reasons I say start Manu against them is for that exact reason. Our bench outplays theirs with or without Manu.

The meltdown begins......

I'm sure Pop will find a way to beat OKC.

It's just a regular season game. Still too early.

The Spurs need to do something, im talking about a trade. We just cant expect that players like Nando and Anderson get better by the time we face them in the PO.
We need a guy that can rebound and block shots. They destroyed us yesterday...remember last year, 4 in a row...i dont forget and the Spurs shouldnt forget also.
I dont think Kiwi or Jackson can stop Ibaka, he is just too big, strong, fast, atheltic and he has a jump shot.
I like the idea of a big who can shoot, Ibaka cant be near the basket.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tim_duncan_fan

Tim Duncan is too old to contend with a ridiculous number of trees and Tony Parker's "run faster than everybody else" tactic isn't going to get the job done against elite athletes. Guys like Neal, Bonner and Green are likely to shrink away when the games REALLY matter.

So...what do we do? What is/are our trump card(s) against them?

What will be our saving grace against them (and Miami/New York)?

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Neal shrink?

Just stop. No Leonard and no Manu changes lots of things. Player rotations, combinations, etc. OKC took a step back when they lost Harden. It will all wash out in the playoffs. Memphis and San Antonio are more than capable of beating this version of the Thunder. We aren't even at the halfway point of the season. OKC is playing good basketball and we are in a tough stretch. The Spurs will get some home cooking soon and some rest and will get back to the top of the WC. I'm with Tony - If Ibaka's going to shoot that much, then you let him be the poison. He (no one really) can sustain what he did last night.

Hmmmm. The Spurs needed a last second buzzer-beater in order to defeat the Thunder in the first game. Now the Spurs, less Leonard and 6th man Ginobili, were blown out by the Thunder in OKC. Obviously having Leonard and Ginobili back in the fold can only make the Spurs better, yet it does nothing to address the glaring shortcomings that were exposed against a supremely talented and athletic team like OKC.

Pop focusing the defense around stopping both Durant and Westbrook is a good strategy, and it worked. However as we saw again, the Thunder supporting cast proved capable. Once again we were reminded that the Spurs simply have no one capable of even contesting Ibaka, much less stopping him. He does pretty much what he wants on both ends of the court. If you compound that fact plus the rate the Spurs struggle offensively against the quicker Thunder, the way they turn the ball over against this team and their continued failure to keep the Thunder off the offensive glass, I'd have to say that I agree with the OP. The Spurs, as currently constructed, are not good enough to beat the Thunder with any regularlity. Of course, this was the fear of every Spurs fan coming into this season. When the front office was touting "internal growth and development", there were many here that felt that the Spurs' weaknesses, which were exposed during last year's WCF, were still there. Thus far, there is no evidence to dispute that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spurs da champs

If the Spurs could get Milsap for Jackson (slim to none, but the Jazz need to trade either Jefferson or Milsap because Favors is just too good & has too much potential to sit on the bench), I'd be all for that, his jump shot could lure Ibaka await from the paint & he's a decent post scorer.

He's also got the ability to play the 3.

But I don't know what it is with Ibaka & even Perkins they just don't miss their J's against the Spurs?

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I like Millsap, but he still an undersized big. I just don't think he would give the Spurs any better chance of slowing down Ibaka - on both ends of the court.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richie

Its on Pop to counter what the Thunder are doing to Parker

To be fair, season series is 1-1 without Manu playing either game

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The counter is to cross match your best defender onto THEIR PG like they do on us. To score on Kawhi, Westbrook will have to totally ignore his team mates, and even then, it will be at low efficiency.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

Hmmmm. The Spurs needed a last second buzzer-beater in order to defeat the Thunder in the first game. Now the Spurs, less Leonard and 6th man Ginobili, were blown out by the Thunder in OKC. Obviously having Leonard and Ginobili back in the fold can only make the Spurs better, yet it does nothing to address the glaring shortcomings that were exposed against a supremely talented and athletic team like OKC.

Pop focusing the defense around stopping both Durant and Westbrook is a good strategy, and it worked. However as we saw again, the Thunder supporting cast proved capable. Once again we were reminded that the Spurs simply have no one capable of even contesting Ibaka, much less stopping him. He does pretty much what he wants on both ends of the court. If you compound that fact plus the rate the Spurs struggle offensively against the quicker Thunder, the way they turn the ball over against this team and their continued failure to keep the Thunder off the offensive glass, I'd have to say that I agree with the OP. The Spurs, as currently constructed, are not good enough to beat the Thunder with any regularlity. Of course, this was the fear of every Spurs fan coming into this season. When the front office was touting "internal growth and development", there were many here that felt that the Spurs' weaknesses, which were exposed during last year's WCF, were still there. Thus far, there is no evidence to dispute that.

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You forgot a BIG part. They're missing Harden, the one player that pushed them over the top.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richie

Manu needs to be the difference maker against them. If they want Sefelosha on Parker, then Martin will have to be on Manu which should give us a big edge.

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Manu is finished as a difference maker. He is a role player now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rascal

Manu is finished as a difference maker. He is a role player now.

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He hasn't been a difference maker this season, but I would attribute it to a cast of injury excuses before saying he's finished for good. The olympics were this past summer and he played well. I'm sure there isn't one team in the league that reads Manu as a role player in their scouting report either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tmtcsc

Just stop. No Leonard and no Manu changes lots of things. Player rotations, combinations, etc. OKC took a step back when they lost Harden. It will all wash out in the playoffs. Memphis and San Antonio are more than capable of beating this version of the Thunder. We aren't even at the halfway point of the season. OKC is playing good basketball and we are in a tough stretch. The Spurs will get some home cooking soon and some rest and will get back to the top of the WC. I'm with Tony - If Ibaka's going to shoot that much, then you let him be the poison. He (no one really) can sustain what he did last night.

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This.
Although I think OKC still has an advantage when playing their starting 5, I believe the Spurs can beat this team when healthy and ready. Pop just needs to work out some scenarios that disrupt their offense. Getting stops on them is a hell of a task, but the Spurs have the components when playing disciplined ball.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

I like Millsap, but he still an undersized big. I just don't think he would give the Spurs any better chance of slowing down Ibaka - on both ends of the court.

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He'd make him work on both ends of the court, something that nobody else at that current 4 spot has yet to make him do, either way it's disturbing how he seemingly never misses against the Spurs.