Grades: Spurs vs. Thunder - Game 1

[dakota_spursfan]

thanks for the grades. a D- might even be too kind for Green's play last night, just looked scared out there last night. every decision he made seemed like he was second guessing himself. was about to rip my eyes out last night everytime one of our 3 point specialists pump fakes out of an open 3 only to drive about 2 feet past the line and pass it off. so damn frustrating

[Spurs Brazil]

I hope Thunder keep going small. Their big lineup altered a lot of Spurs shots. In the 4th with only Perkins in the lineup we scored 39 on a bunch of layups. The more Thunder go small better for the Spurs

[ShoogarBear]

While I appreciated the 'nasty' part of Jax's defense, to call him a 'stopper' is a little over the top. Nine points on 4 shots means he scored points on every effort. On the three shots he missed, he was fouled and made all his free throws.

Fouls in the act of shooting do not count as FGA unless you make the shot. Those three misses were misses without fouls.

[therealtruth]

Wow. After the way Manu carried us in 2010 (tail of one season, beginning of the next) who would have ever thought that was possible? Tonight was a perfect example of why it is though. Big contributions from Tiago and Jackson. Without them we probably don't win the game. Can't wait for the rest of the series to unfold.

If Manu can reproduce that 2010 run I think we le easily. Just like 2010 he had sort of been pacing himself all season.

[therealtruth]

Great game. Thanks for write-up Timvp.
Manu was the super Manu we needed to win this game. It was awesome to scream G-I-N-O-B-I-L-I again.

Parker must make some serious adjustments. And, Timmy will play much better next game.

Bonner played a D-. His defense sucked and par for his playoff history, he was unable to contribute from the 3 point line. No surprise here.

Overall, a great game and it was fantastic to see Pop call the nasty and see his players respond.

Bonner is shooting 44% on 3's in the playoffs. But I agree when it's an important 3 he is guaranteed to miss. He must hit all the 3's with no pressure.

[TD 21]

Law of averages game in many respects. Duncan, Green and Leonard, were due for off shooting nights and Ginobili was due for a good one. Ginobili is due to go on a tear though, so I don't think this is a one off. Parker is also due to go off. But Neal is due for an off shooting night.

Two observations . . .

1. I wasn't concerned at the half. I thought the Thunder let the Spurs off the hook and should have been up more. Although, for as much as the Spurs turnovers were talked about, the Thunder were turning it over nearly as much. Then in the third quarter, I began to get concerned when I saw how on point their rotations were. There was a brief moment where I remember thinking, "maybe, just maybe, they're mentally up to the task". Then the fourth quarter came and within' about three minutes I quickly realized "nah, the Spurs got this". Kerr made a good point, in that the Thunder may have gotten fatigued. I don't care how young, spry and rested they are, you play 45, 42 minutes, even 34 minutes, like their top guys often do and have to constantly make multiple rotations like your life is on the line, it's going to wear on you and take your legs.

2. I can't remember who said this recently, but someone said, it might be better to turn Westbrook into a driver, as opposed to letting him shoot that pull up jumper (particularly going right). It sounds backwards, but it's actually true. He's completely out of control on his drives, has tunnel vision and his worst attribute rears it's ugly head: decision making or lack thereof. But you concede that pull up foul line extended jumper off the pick-and-roll and you make it easy on him, because there is no decision making involved. With him, you want him making as many decisions as possible, at both ends.

[Fabbs]

Fabbs whoring himself out to Pop. What a de able scene. What a sellout.

Pop doing what Fabbs and board Realists have been asking him to do since summer 2007.

Result? 19 game winstreak, undefeated in playoffs, in WCFs, testicles returned and intact and well on way to a 5th legit Championship.

_Jag poppin Midols and runnin for solace in a Rump.

[OZWIN]

Damn you did good on this. Reminds me how key Jax was in winning that game.

[Holt's Cat]

Fouls in the act of shooting do not count as FGA unless you make the shot. Those three misses were misses without fouls.

Not to mention that it brought their offense to a standstill and didn't lead to any 3 point shot opportunities.

Purrrrrr.

[therealtruth]

Not to mention that it brought their offense to a standstill and didn't lead to any 3 point shot opportunities.

Purrrrrr.

Fouling a 90% free throw shooter intentionally is probably not a winning strategy. I think the far more important thing is that Jax was making Durant work for his points and not allowing anything easy. Just need to keep him of the line.

[silverblk mystix]

Pop doing what Fabbs and board Realists have been asking him to do since summer 2007.

Result? 19 game winstreak, undefeated in playoffs, in WCFs, testicles returned and intact and well on way to a 5th legit Championship.

_Jag poppin Midols and runnin for solace in a Rump.

Popsuckers think that realists would rather lose than to see Pop coaching properly.

All we ever asked Pop to do has happened. They really can't stand it.

[crc21209]

Thanks for the grades as always timvp. Great job.

[z0sa]

timvp, after watching the DVR I agree with your grades for the most part, except for a few slight differences. Long story short, I would rate Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner and Tim Duncan lower.

Boris and Matt I rate lower for the missing/passing up jumpshots; both should be shooting up the ball any time they have a halfway decent shot, and they should keep that at ude at all times vs this Thunder team. IMHO the Spurs have multiple lineups both big and small that will compete well and even wipe the floor with the Thunder if they continue going small for extended periods of time; the best way to force Brooks that direction is our bigs drawing Ibaka and co. out of the paint.

Tim's FG% was simply way too low for my liking. He needs to be more efficient, cut and dry. These Spurs can't miss their gimmes, I think we can all agree. The Spurs have had to make comebacks in 2 out of the last 3 games and can't rely on coming from behind against possibly the best team in the League.

Otherwise solid per the usual ty etc

One thing I'm definitely keeping an eye is the Sefolosha situation. Does Brooks continue starting him or does he bring him off the bench to matchup with Ginobili?

[Juventini]

I don't see how the Thunder can hang with the Spurs more than 5 games tbh. There are so many flaws in this Thunder team.

First of all, during the final stretch in the 4th quarter. Scott Brooks went with Durant as a ball handler and Perkins as a pick man at the top of the key so many times. The Spurs is easily able to defend this play by just crowding on Durant and leave Perkins wide open since he can't pop out and shoot and he is too slow to roll to the basket.

Second, the Thunder don't run any offensive set play so many times. Sometimes it's Westbrook ISO, sometimes it is Durant ISO. Even if they run play to get free Durant by multiple screens, however when Durant gets the ball the ball movement dies and it becomes another ISO.

Oh and I don't know what others see that is so special about this Thunder team. All I can see is a bunch of long athletic guy who doesn't know how to play team basketball. Granted they are skilled and talented with the ball in their hand but they have no clue how to play without the ball, Durant included.

On the other note, I don't see how the Thunder will be able to hang on to their big 3 for a long time just like the Spurs did. Their personalities doesn't add up. They are not class act like everyone says it, even though they are trying to portray themselves as one but in reality they are not.

[timvp]

Westbrook took Parker's bait.

He came out with a ton of energy and intensity on both ends. I think he did bother Parker and was responsible for some of our many turnovers in the first half.

Watching the game again, Parker's turnovers were mostly due to Sefolosha sagging off of Green and interrupting pick-and-rolls. Also Durant's length helped cause a couple.

What you guys think Pop should do if Green has one or two more games like this?

Green deserves at least a couple more chances.

That said, OKC's gameplan early was to double off of Green. On paper it was a dumb decision since Green has been on fire but somehow it worked out perfectly. If Green isn't hitting shots and they keep doubling off of him, eventually Pop will probably have to make a move.

While I appreciated the 'nasty' part of Jax's defense, to call him a 'stopper' is a little over the top. Nine points on 4 shots means he scored points on every effort. On the three shots he missed, he was fouled and made all his free throws.

[timvp]

I wasn't concerned at the half. I thought the Thunder let the Spurs off the hook and should have been up more. Although, for as much as the Spurs turnovers were talked about, the Thunder were turning it over nearly as much.

The Spurs had 14 turnovers at the half. The Thunder had 7.

Speaking of turnovers, Westbrook had as many in this game as he had against the Lakers in that entire 5-game series.

Popsuckers think that realists would rather lose than to see Pop coaching properly.

All we ever asked Pop to do has happened. They really can't stand it.

Winning 19 straight makes any strategy look good, tbh.

[ChumpDumper]

Pop doing what Fabbs and board Realists have been asking him to do since summer 2007.

Not really, unless you changed what you asked him to do to fit the win streak and declare retcon scoreboard.

[Blake]

Popsuckers think that realists would rather lose than to see Pop coaching properly.

All we ever asked Pop to do has happened. They really can't stand it.

lol realist. You're a Pop hater and you can't stand that you were horribly wrong about him.

Be real.