Encouragement? Nah. But I don't think they are as terrified as many Spurs fans would like to think. I think Shaq had a point last night. From Spurs fan perspective - and from some outside perspectives too, apparently - the Thunder should be worried because of what has been pointed out: they had a lead, they played great defense, the Spurs played badly and then OKC gave it up in the fourth. What can they really do differently that doesn't come down to luck? Some more shots will go in (or not) but the Spurs will probably play better as well - I don't see a big change that OKC can make to defeat the Spurs.
But from OKC's perspective, I wouldn't be all that worried. Durant is unlikely to have another such bad fourth quarter, and there is reason to think Westbrook and Harden will bounce back with better games. Perkins can try to limit their fouls and they seemed to have success with disrupting the Spurs passing lanes and interfering with their ball movement. So I think Shaq was right to say that they are probably talking about how they had some poor play that they can bounce back from and they had success for three quarters, and , how they didn't expect to take that game anyway - all they have to do to get HCA is win the next one for a split and then they are golden.
I don't agree with it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't completely cowed by that game. There are plenty of things they can spin positively for themselves if they want to - the problem is that I don't think it matters. I don't think SA plays that poorly again, period.
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T Park introducing his snarky dbaggery to a whole new fanbase.
