Spurs vs. Thunder Oct. 20-Game Blog

[Blackjack]

What an incredible piece of good fortune that Blair fell to the Spurs. That much talent, combined with great coaching and mentoring, and a gigantic chip on his shoulder bodes very well for the Spurs and the fans.

Yup.

And I really think it was a godsend that Blair landed with the Spurs.

Had he landed with a bad team or with a lesser coach, he could have very well developed into a stat-padder and defensive-liability whose game didn't necessarily translate into winning.

There's no guarantee that he'll be the complete player and winner we hope he'll be, but I doubt there was a better environment for him to develop the right skills, mentality and habits.

Again..

37th pick.

[duncan228]

I'll update this when they do.

Finley’s 3-pointers leads Spurs over Thunder
By Jim Vertuno

Michael Finley( made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in 17 minutes to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-102 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

The Spurs (3-2) made 14 of 19 3-pointers with Finley perfect from long range. Matt Bonner was 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, while George Hill was 3 of 6.

Jeff Green( scored 24 points and Kevin Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead Oklahoma City (2-4).

The loss spoiled a homecoming for Durant, who played at Texas. He played 35 minutes on the court where he swept national player of the year honors as a freshman in 2006-2007.

Although the game was a “home” contest for the Thunder, Austin is only about 75 miles north of San Antonio.

[Mel_13]

We can decline to pick up his option next week though...
That would save 3 million if I'm not mistaken...

He's guaranteed for this year, the option is for 2010-11. The savings in salary+tax would be about 3.5M next year.

[picnroll]

I'll bet heavily Spurs don't pick up that option.

[ElNono]

He's guaranteed for this year, the option is for 2010-11. The savings in salary+tax would be about 3.5M next year.

Thanks

[Riverwalkman]

We can decline to pick up his option next week though...
That would save 3 million if I'm not mistaken...

We can but not this year...next year.

[Mel_13]

I'll bet heavily Spurs don't pick up that option.

I'll bet some SpursTalk Cash that they do pick it up. Though I wouldn't put any real money on that proposition.

[Blackjack]

George Hill interview:

Last year gave him more confidence. Chip really helped his shot.
Veteran group and a hall of famer to play with are great. TP is amazing to learn under. Looked up to Jacque and his work ethic.
Blair is a beast and a steal in the draft. Calls Blair a diamond in the rough.
In Indiana he will visit his home and looking forward to it.

I was actually surprised to here that Robert Vaden was his cousin.

I liked Robert in college and thought he could find a niche and become an eventual player in this league, he's just real deceptive, but I either forgot or hadn't heard their relation before.

[coyotes_geek]

Yup.

And I really think it was a godsend that Blair landed with the Spurs.

Had he landed with a bad team or with a lesser coach, he could have very well developed into a stat-padder and defensive-liability whose game didn't necessarily translate into winning.

There's no guarantee that he'll be the complete player and winner we hope he'll be, but I doubt there was a better environment for him to develop the right skills, mentality and habits.

Again..

37th pick.

It's a perfect situation for Blair and a perfect situation for the Spurs. Blair won't win ROY, but without question he's going to be the rookie making the biggest contribution for a championship contending club this season.

[picnroll]

How'd I get $17,850 in Spurs cash? Is that in some interest bearing CDs?

[Manufan909]

Oh my! Blair continues to destroy teams. The floor is littered with arms! Oh the humanity. The towel boys are not used to sweeping up limbs...

Ok...has it been established that Blair is a ing BEAST!!!!!?????

If not...then there, I said it.

He goes by Meast here.

[EricB]

What did ian do tonight that is all of a sudden "bad"

[Chomag]

What did ian do tonight that is all of a sudden "bad"

Well you can say he had a perfect game.

[Samr]

Contrary to popular belief, I absolutely hate to over-hype players. However, Blair might really see some meaningful minutes this season. That guy might actually, honestly, be the real deal. Damn. I know we all wanted him to become this kind of player eventually, but who honestly thought he would... immediately?

[Pauleta14]

All in All a great game. Only player that seem to have a hard time was K.Bogans. Almost 10 minutes 0-0 shooting!!! wow...

He did have 2 steals though.

He just doing what's been asked to him!!

"don't need to score, just play D!"

[duncan228]

Spurs 119, Thunder 102 - preseason
By Joe Alexander

The Spurs got hot early shooting from the outside and George Hill and DeJuan Blair carried them through the second half of a 119-102 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Austin.

The Spurs' starters were a combined 10 of 10 from 3-point range. Michael Finley was 5 of 5 on 3-pointers and 6 of 7 overall to lead the starters with 20 points. Richard Jefferson was 2 of 2 on 3-pointers and had 13 points and Matt Bonner was 3 of 3 on 3-pointers and had nine points.

Tony Parker had 13 points and four assists and Tim Duncan had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Blair sat the first half, then put up 17 points and 10 rebounds in 15 minutes in the second half. Hill had 16 points in 18 minutes.

Fourth quarter

The Spurs are outscoring the Thunder 43-29 in the second half. The Spurs lead 108-85 with 5:31 left in the game.

Third quarter

DeJuan Blair recorded seven points and six rebounds in six minutes of the third quarter and the Spurs finished the period with a 96-74 lead. George Hill leads the Spurs' bench with 16 points.

DeJuan Blair has five points and two rebounds in his first three minutes in the game. The Spurs lead 86-71 with 2:47 left in the third quarter.

Michael Finley is 5 of 5 from 3-point range. The Spurs outscored the Thunder 9-2 to start the second half and lead 74-58.

Second quarter

Michael Finley has 15 points and Richard Jefferson has 12 to lead the Spurs to a 65-56 halftime lead. Finley and Jefferson combined to hit 6 of 6 from 3-point range. George Hill has 10 points and Matt Bonner had nine. Kevin Durant has 19 points for the Thunder.

Jeff McDonald: "TV" timeout. Spurs lead 53-50 with 2:23 left in the half. Sefolosha will be going to the line for OKC when we come back

Jeff McDonald: Timeout Spurs with 5:45 to go in the half. Thunder lead 44-40 behind 17 points for Durant, who is 8 of 11 from the field.

First quarter

The Spurs were 7 of 7 from 3-point range in the first quarter and finished the period with a 33-32 lead. Matt Bonner had nine points and George Hill had eight.

The Spurs are now 5 of 5 from 3-point range. Matt Bonner has nine points on three 3-pointers. Oklahoma City leads 22-21 with 3:56 left in the first quarter. Timeout Thunder.

The Thunder made five of their first six shots and lead 15-7 at the first timeout.

Spurs starters: Tony Parker, Michael Finley, Richard Jefferson, Matt Bonner and Tim Duncan.

[CGD]

I'll bet some SpursTalk Cash that they do pick it up. Though I wouldn't put any real money on that proposition.

I'm starting to think Spurs don't pick up Ian's option. Here's why:

1) The glut of bigs and the Spurs' desire to win now make developing Ian less of a priority (no matter what his raw tools may be).

2) Since he is such an unknown quan y, Spurs are in the best position to value him next summer. If they want, the Spurs have the option to pick him up in free agency next summer cheaper than if they extend him.

3) Spurs won't be paying a deep bench player at the time (a) Splitter (hopefully) comes next summer, (b) Blair emerges as a beast, and (c) Spurs (possibly) re-up Theo.

4) In a pinch, the Spurs can include Ian in a package before the trade deadline to get another player. The trade partner gets an expiring contract.

[portnoy1]

The rotation is tightening up, and who do we see in the starting lineup. Bonner and Finley. Thats burning me up considering we have Mason Jr. / Hairston / Blair / Mcdyess on the team. They said thier still tinkering, but if the same lineup you seen tonight is what they have on thursday then i am very concerned, cause most likely thats what youll be seeing for the start of the season. All that athleticism that we needed so bad last year is going to waste this year.

[Manufan909]

The highlights on nba.com are just a green screen. I wanted to see the Beast dunk!!!

[CGD]

The rotation is tightening up, and who do we see in the starting lineup. Bonner and Finley. Thats burning me up considering we have Mason Jr. / Hairston / Blair / Mcdyess on the team. They said thier still tinkering, but if the same lineup you seen tonight is what they have on thursday then i am very concerned, cause most likely thats what youll be seeing for the start of the season. All that athleticism that we needed so bad last year is going to waste this year.

It's not that serious. Plus it's about who closes the game. Pop is starting guys that know the system to start the season.

[Juanobili]

nice hilights Don


was hoping to see the Blair tomahawk jam

[Juanobili]

it's not that serious. Plus it's about who closes the game. Pop is starting guys that know the system to start the season.

+1

[duncan228]

Updated.

Finley’s 3-pointers leads Spurs over Thunder
By Jim Vertuno

Kevin Durant was having so much fun at his homecoming that even a loss to the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t spoil it.

The Oklahoma City Thunder forward toured the University of Texas campus where he spent one season in college, visited his old teammates and coaches and got to watch them practice.

Then he went out and scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 35 minutes on his old court, only to watch the Spurs hit 14 3-pointers as San Antonio rolled to a 119-102 preseason victory Tuesday night.

“It’s always good to see the people I love and call family,” Durant said. “I’m grateful we got to play here again.”

Before the game, Longhorns fans who came to see him called out his name for pictures and he was presented on the court with a “Kevin Durant Day” proclamation from the city.

When he was a Longhorn, Durant scored 20 or more points 30 times and scored at least 30 in 11 games in his one season and swept national player of the year honors as a freshman. Texas retired his No. 35—the same number he wears as a pro—last season.

“It felt good walking into the building and seeing my jersey up there in the rafters,” Durant said.

Durant made six of his first nine shots in front of a crowd that came out to see him but also to cheer for the Spurs (3-2). Although the game was a “home” contest for the Thunder, Austin is only about 75 miles north of San Antonio.

At one point in the second quarter, a group of Longhorns fans in the upper deck chanted “One more year!”

“My last game here, they chanted that too,” Durant said.

That was the fun part. The Spurs were all business in trying to prepare for the regular season and had the game under control by halftime.

Michael Finley made five 3-pointers to lead the Spurs with 20 points in 17 minutes. Matt Bonner was 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, while George Hill was 3 of 6.

“Every time we play them, we learn stuff from them. Tonight they did a great job of moving the basketball and getting everybody involved. That 3-point line can do it to you,” Durant said.

Tony Parker finished with 13 points in 23 minutes for the Spurs, Richard Jefferson added 13 and Tim Duncan had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Jeff Green scored 24 points to lead the Thunder (2-4) and James Harden scored 17.

Bonner made his 3-pointers in the first quarter and Finley had four in the first half as the Spurs took a 65-56 lead. Parker and Duncan scored all the Spurs’ points in an 11-2 run in the second quarter.

Finley made another 3-pointer in the third and the Spurs stretched the lead to 80-64 behind six straight points from Parker. Manu Ginobili and Hill made 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes of the quarter to put the Spurs up 96-74.

The Spurs shot 57 percent from the field and outrebounded the Thunder 46-35.

“They’re as deep as any team in the league. They make it all work,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

San Antonio shut down Durant in the second half. He had just 2 points in the third quarter and finished the night 11-of-22 shooting with several bad misfires late.

“Kevin Durant is a lot like Kobe (Bryant). He can get his shot over anybody,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “The defense got better as the game went on. We were changing defenses a lot during the game to give our new guys a look at what’s going on.”

[Riverwalkman]

I'm starting to think Spurs don't pick up Ian's option. Here's why:

1) The glut of bigs and the Spurs' desire to win now make developing Ian less of a priority (no matter what his raw tools may be).

2) Since he is such an unknown quan y, Spurs are in the best position to value him next summer. If they want, the Spurs have the option to pick him up in free agency next summer cheaper than if they extend him.

3) Spurs won't be paying a deep bench player at the time (a) Splitter (hopefully) comes next summer, (b) Blair emerges as a beast, and (c) Spurs (possibly) re-up Theo.

4) In a pinch, the Spurs can include Ian in a package before the trade deadline to get another player. The trade partner gets an expiring contract.

nice observation.

[SpurNation]

Contrary to popular belief, I absolutely hate to over-hype players. However, Blair might really see some meaningful minutes this season. That guy might actually, honestly, be the real deal. Damn. I know we all wanted him to become this kind of player eventually, but who honestly thought he would... immediately?

I did.