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Theres nobody in the spurs roster that can stop Kevin Durant,
UNLESS POP FREAKING PUTS BOWEN ON HIM. but I doubt that.... we just have to wait and see
San Antonio (49-27) at Oklahoma City (21-55) Preview
Game info: 8:00 pm EDT Tue Apr 7, 2009
TV: FSSW, SPSO
By Dan Pieringer
After suffering their biggest loss in nearly three months in a matchup with the owner of the NBA’s best record, the San Antonio Spurs will try to bounce back against a team with one of the league’s worst.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, however, haven’t played like a lottery team against the Spurs lately.
The Spurs continue their battle for playoff position in the tightly packed Western Conference race Tuesday night when they visit the Thunder, winners of the teams’ last two meetings.
San Antonio (49-27) fell 101-81 at Cleveland on Sunday for its third loss in four games. It was the second-largest margin of defeat for the Spurs this season, behind only a 109-87 loss at Philadelphia on Jan. 16.
Tony Parker scored 24 against the league-best Cavaliers but didn’t get much help from Manu Ginobili or Tim Duncan. Ginobili scored four points and shot 2-for-9, and Duncan added six points on 2-for-7 shooting and didn’t score after the 2:56 mark of the first quarter. Duncan quickly left the arena without speaking to reporters.
The loss dropped the Spurs two games behind Denver for second place in the West and cut their lead over fourth-place Houston to a half-game. San Antonio has six games remaining.
“We have to play better,” Parker said. “We have to stay positive. That’s the main key right now.”
A meeting with the lowly Thunder (21-55) may look like a favorable way for the Spurs to get back on track, but Oklahoma City has played San Antonio well this season. After dropping the series opener 109-104 on the road Dec. 14, the Thunder took a 78-76 home win over the Spurs on March 16 and won 96-95 in San Antonio last Tuesday night.
Kevin Durant was Oklahoma City’s leading scorer in both wins, and he’s averaged 28.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in the season series. Fellow second-year forward Jeff Green has added 19.7 points per game in those three contests.
“I don’t know why we play so hard (against San Antonio),” Durant said after scoring 31 and shooting 12-for-19 in last week’s win. “I think we cause some matchup problems because we have Jeff Green at the 4 and he’s very versatile at that position. But it’s always fun playing the Spurs.”
The Thunder haven’t had as much fun playing other teams lately. Though they’ve won both meetings with the Spurs since March 11, they’ve dropped nine of their other 10 games in that stretch, including a 117-99 home loss to Indiana on Sunday night.
“That wasn’t the compe ive spirit I wanted to see out of our team tonight,” coach Scott Brooks said. “We have to play better and harder and with more spirit.”
Brooks was especially disappointed with his team’s defensive effort after it gave up at least 100 points for the fifth time in six games.
“Defense is all about pride. Pride about stopping your man,” he said. “We can’t play without defense. We can’t run up and down the court without defense. You have to stop the ball and keep the ball out of the lane, we didn’t do that tonight.”
Parker has been just as critical of the Spurs’ defensive struggles. San Antonio, third in the league in scoring defense at 93.5 points allowed per game, has given up an average of 111.0 through two games of a three-game road trip.
“It’s tough,” said Parker, averaging 20.3 points and shooting 52.1 percent against the Thunder this season. “We have to make stops. The bottom line is we have to make stops so we can get some transition, get some easy baskets.”
Notes
Spurs:
G Tony Parker scored 24 points but got no help from G Manu Ginobili (four points) or F-C Tim Duncan, who had just six and didn't score after the 2:56 mark of the first quarter. ... Down by 13 at halftime, the Spurs came out strong and pulled within 62-57 midway through the third period.
Thunder:
Rookie F D.J. White scored 14 points in his NBA debut after missing the first five months of the season following jaw surgery. White made 7-of-8 shots in 18 minutes. ... The Thunder were 1-of-8 from the arc. ... Oklahoma City's starters barely outscored its bench, 52-47. ... Oklahoma City failed to top 100 points for the 18th consecutive contest.
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Tony Parker SA 21.8
Kevin Durant OKC 25.6
Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 10.6
Nick Collison OKC 7.0
Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.9
Earl Watson OKC 5.6
Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
San Antonio 49-27 1st Southwest / 3rd West 97.0 93.5 Road 23-15 Lost 1 5-5
Oklahoma City 21-55 5th Northwest / 13th West 96.8 103.1 Home 14-25 Lost 2 3-7
Theres nobody in the spurs roster that can stop Kevin Durant,
UNLESS POP FREAKING PUTS BOWEN ON HIM. but I doubt that.... we just have to wait and see
Can we have a vbookie on how many points Durant puts on Finley? Because you know Fin is gonna be guarding him...
Spurs start strong. Up by ~15 pts at halftime. Scoring drought on the 3rd quater brings the Thuder back into the game. After exchanging leads for most of the 4th quater, Thunder pull away in the last 3 minutes and win by 5. Durant goes for 40+ on the new Spurs' defensive stopper Finley.
We're just a bad team these days
Didn't the Spurs used to be a team that could shut down 1 man shows.
I miss those guys.
Yes ! A new Finley vs Durant !
Durant for 50!
No mention of Manu being questionable or Timmy
Spurs win this one
We may not know anything until close to game time, when the roster has to be turned in.
I know, I was just thinking if we at SpursTalk already know something, you think you would hear something about it. Especially with how they have played and how the Spurs are fighting for playoff positioning.
spurs win this one easily. Cmon both those losses were 1 point or 2 point losses, i dont care if durrant scores 50, spurs win this one, with or without manu or duncan.
Durant will score 81 this time on Finley! He looks like he plays D in slow motion against young cats.
Bowen HAS to play on Durant after LeBron lit up Finley's ass yesterday. If the Spurs loss last time against these guys didnt piss them off, I dont know what will.
Parker has been just as critical of the Spurs’ defensive struggles. San Antonio, third in the league in scoring defense at 93.5 points allowed per game, has given up an average of 111.0 through two games of a three-game road trip.
“It’s tough,” said Parker, averaging 20.3 points and shooting 52.1 percent against the Thunder this season. “We have to make stops. The bottom line is we have to make stops so we can get some transition, get some easy baskets.”
I don't know if it's final, but Manu said he was not going to play this game since he was not cleared yet to play back to back (meaning he would be playing Portland). Obviously, a lot depends on the tests he gets done today, but looks pretty certain right now he won't be playing tomorrow.
If Tim doesn't play, who should start? Gooden or Kurt?
Last time Tim didnt start, Gooden did in the Atlanta game.
Spurs by 60
I am calling it now.
Udoka with >3 airballs.
I'm going to kill myself if we lose this game. The Thunder officially own us if they do, our Kryptonitye.
Sounds about right...Spurs start strong. Up by ~15 pts at halftime. Scoring drought on the 3rd quater brings the Thuder back into the game. After exchanging leads for most of the 4th quater, Thunder pull away in the last 3 minutes and win by 5. Durant goes for 40+ on the new Spurs' defensive stopper Finley
We're just a bad team these days
With Manu out, Finely will play 48 minutes book it! ok, I know im being a bit overly sarcastic here, well I at least hope Pop proves that I am.
One can only hope.
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