Rip picks Thunder to win the West

Again, the Warriors don't scare me too much. They're obviously a great team and might have the best offensive numbers ever, but their interior defense is suspect and we have 2 guys tailor made to slow down (not stop, but slow down) the Splash Brothers. Spurs in 6 if Pop doesn't do some stupid shit.


On the other hand, the Thunder cost me $75 for a new bedroom door in early June 2012. I fear and hate them more than I fear and hate ISIS. They are the devil, they have the refs in their pockets, and they are a determined force to be reckoned with. If their shooters outside of Durant/Westbrook make shots they are impossible to stop no matter who you have. In the 90s they would have had 5 championships by now. I fear them above all.

Ethan Strauss said today that the Warriors want to maintain the #1 seed, it's important for them because if San Antonio gets #2 then they will most likely play the Thunder first not the Warriors. I just think OKC is a bad matchup for the Spurs.

Gonna be tough for the Spurs to make it out of the west tbh. Looks they either play GS or OKC in the 2nd round if the standings stay somewhat the same.

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Originally Posted by UNT Eagles 2016

I seriously hope LAC gets the 3rd seed if we get the 2nd, because GSW/OKC needs to play each other so one of them can be eliminated. Ultimately I think we can beat the Warriors in a long 6 game series, but will lose to the Thunder even with HCA. OKC is a huge matchup problem for anyone they face because of their 2 combustible iso nukes but maybe the Warriors' firepower is enough? Maybe not. But we all know the refs have a butt buddy relationship with both Durant and Westbrook and that's what makes them nigh impossible to beat over the course of a long series when they're both healthy.

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Missed that, best we can hope for is that OKC falls to 4th.

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Originally Posted by RD2191

Gonna be tough for the Spurs to make it out of the west tbh. Looks they either play GS or OKC in the 2nd round if the standings stay somewhat the same.

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i'd almost rather tank and get the 4 seed to get GSW in the second round, but that almost assures that we'd have a worse record than Cleveland which would kill our ultimate end goal. Also there's no guarantee OKC would lose before the WCF in that case, so it's a dumb idea altogether.

RIP still bitter over 2005.

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Originally Posted by UNT Eagles 2016

i'd almost rather tank and get the 4 seed to get GSW in the second round, but that almost assures that we'd have a worse record than Cleveland which would kill our ultimate end goal. Also there's no guarantee OKC would lose before the WCF in that case, so it's a dumb idea altogether.

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Might be worth considering tbh. No way in hell we beat both OKC and GS. We'd be drained physically and mentally if we get past OKC.

Not sure why any Spurs fan is afraid of the Thunder these days. The whole issue with that match up was Abaka scaring the shit out of Tony/Manu/the Spurs' drive-and-dish game. With the additions of LMA/West and the shift in offensive system the Spurs are no longer playing into his strengths. Defending Durant and Westchimp hasn't been much of a problem throughout the years.

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Originally Posted by Robz4000

Not sure why any Spurs fan is afraid of the Thunder these days. The whole issue with that match up was Abaka scaring the shit out of Tony/Manu/the Spurs' drive-and-dish game. With the additions of LMA/West and the shift in offensive system the Spurs are no longer playing into his strengths. Defending Durant and Westchimp hasn't been much of a problem throughout the years.

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In spite of all the press, the Thunder are a shell of that 2012 team. They are short one Harden, replaced by NOTHING on their current roster, and their best post and wing defenders in Perk and Thabo.

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Originally Posted by Robz4000

Not sure why any Spurs fan is afraid of the Thunder these days. The whole issue with that match up was Abaka scaring the shit out of Tony/Manu/the Spurs' drive-and-dish game. With the additions of LMA/West and the shift in offensive system the Spurs are no longer playing into his strengths. Defending Durant and Westchimp hasn't been much of a problem throughout the years.

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Would the league rather have a GS/Spurs WCF or a GS/OKC WCF? That's the reason I fear the Thunder.

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Originally Posted by RD2191

Would the league rather have a GS/Spurs WCF or a GS/OKC WCF? That's the reason I fear the Thunder.

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If both teams remain the clear two best teams, Dubs/Spurs.

The Thunder aren't winning shit... they don't even look as good as they were two years ago.

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Originally Posted by Robz4000

If both teams remain the clear two best teams, Dubs/Spurs.

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Idk, OKC still has star power and I'm sure they'd draw more ratings.

Non-issue

If what ex-NBA stars thought about the Spurs actually came true, we would literally have zero championships.....not FIVE!!!!

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Originally Posted by RD2191

Idk, OKC still has star power and I'm sure they'd draw more ratings.

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Not really. Everyone, the media, the fans, are already hyping up a GS-Spurs some of the media even calling it a "dream match-up" plus you cant go wrong with the past 2 champions angle also, kawhi vs curry, best defense vs best offense.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

OKC is a huge match-up issue for GS. I can honestly see the Thunder destroying the Warriors in a series. Forcing those teams to play in the second round would be a huge win for the Spurs.

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Unfortunately both ways this could happen (Spurs getting 1st seed, OKC getting 4th/5th seed) look pretty unrealistic at the moment. Then again we're only halfway through December so who knows.

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Originally Posted by Kool Bob Love

RIP still bitter over 2005.

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So is Chauncey Billups. Billups admitted it on ESPN. He said he had a respectable hate for the Spurs after losing that year.

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Originally Posted by RD2191

Idk, OKC still has star power and I'm sure they'd draw more ratings.

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that's why the best outcome is facing OKC in the semis, then facing us in the conference finals. ratings-wise imo

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Originally Posted by DenialTwist

So is Chauncey Billups. Billups admitted it on ESPN. He said he had a respectable hate for the Spurs after losing that year.

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I always sensed Greg Anthony hated the spurs also. Memorial day miracle shot probably still gives him nightmares.

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Originally Posted by bic50

I always sensed Greg Anthony hated the spurs also. Memorial day miracle shot probably still gives him nightmares.

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Greg Anthony has other problems. Like forgetting it's illegal to solicit and pay for sex...

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Originally Posted by RD2191

Might be worth considering tbh. No way in hell we beat both OKC and GS. We'd be drained physically and mentally if we get past OKC.

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truth bomb

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Originally Posted by Robz4000

Not sure why any Spurs fan is afraid of the Thunder these days. The whole issue with that match up was Abaka scaring the shit out of Tony/Manu/the Spurs' drive-and-dish game. With the additions of LMA/West and the shift in offensive system the Spurs are no longer playing into his strengths. Defending Durant and Westchimp hasn't been much of a problem throughout the years.

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It's not a problem until you breathe on them and the whistle blows.

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Originally Posted by houston spurs fan

Greg Anthony has other problems. Like forgetting it's illegal to solicit and pay for sex...

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True :lol

Richard Jefferson just killed the Thunder. Let that sink in.