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awesome pre game article! I would have added that is difficult that Harden could have a better game against us than what he did.
Time to shut those OKC fans' mouths up tonight!
Cannot wait for this game!!
Thanks again for the superb write-up, timvp.
awesome pre game article! I would have added that is difficult that Harden could have a better game against us than what he did.
timvp is a boss. Nice work
John Carroll thinks his stuff is just as good.
I'm confident the spurs win tonight, they're not afraid of playing at OKC because last time they were there they whopped their ass
Scott Brooks is going to let the conventional wisdom tell him how to coach, so it's a definite bet that whatever he was criticized for not doing last game, he's going to overdo it in this game.
Number one priority for tonight is to weather the early storm. It's nice to have a team that's truly never out of it.
Great writeup.
You made valid points about the trap of using small sample sizes, but at some point we all do it, to wit:
The Spurs struggled in game one, did well in game two, and you chose to believe what happened in game two.
I don't disagree with that conclusion, but the point is that statistics can only be used in the context of what you see on the court. You can figure out Gary Neal is a bad defensive matchup on Russell Westbrook in three minutes, you don't need a large sample size.
"-Keep doing what you're doing. While the winning streak isn't important, the fewer games the Spurs can play in these playoffs, the better. It'd really be a shame to let OKC run away with a victory"
Of everything you said, this is the most important statement. Stats from one game are irrelevent. Looking at what the Spurs have done in the 10 playoff games, you can see we have NOT changed very much from what we have been doing during the season. Points, rebounds, turnovers, blocks, etc., are all close to what we averaged during the regular season. If we had played one game that we scored 140 points or dominated the boards with 60 rebounds, I would say that we have to adjust to get our game back, but we are running along doing exactly what we have done all year.
MANU= mid season form (44 games/82 regular season games)
The last road loss with the Big 3 playing was March 17th.......
The last one before that? Jan 29
As good as they are at home, they are even better on the road.
That said, I think they are overdue for a bad game. Hopefully all of the bad juju goes out in the same one.
The last road loss with the Big 3 playing was March 17th.......
The last one before that? Jan 29
As good as they are at home, they are even better on the road.
That said, I think they are overdue for a bad game. Hopefully all of the bad juju goes out in the same one.
Sadly, I am inclined to agree with this. If our role players hit their shots and play like they usually do, we win. Our big three have to all bring to have a chance.
Given the recent lineups, Blair doesn't seem to have much of a chance, obviously, but if things go haywire, I don't think it's a crazy idea. His weakness is defense - which is what we want to focus on, so I'm not ready to go this direction. But if he came in and did well like he's done in the past? It could easily confuse Brooks and cause some second guessing.
Blair has been out too long to be effective at anything planned. The benefit of using Blair would be in things he does that he was not coached or taught to do, like offensive rebounds or putbacks.
If we get a couple early fouls on the Thunder, we need to bring in Tiago in hopes they are stupid enough to try to get into the bonus. I don't think any coach intentionally gets into the bonus, but Brooks is a different breed of cat.
Yes, "statistics" based on a tiny sample, with arguably no relevance (Irrelevant RS games, Spurs starting Blair and Jefferson, no Diaw, Manu nor Jack), and in the total absence of anything remotely looking like controls,
are not very reliable.
Surprise!
How many of us remember the regular seasons over the last 15 years? Spurs begin to come together late in the season to make playoff runs. Happens every year. We start out slow and build to the last 20 games or so. Look at where we would be if this were not a lockout year. 66 regular season and 10 playoff games, we would be peaking about now for the playoff run. Looks to me like we are in the drivers seat for these playoffs. UNLESS, LBJ and DWad get calls like they have against Boston.
thanks!
I think its safe to say not only the spurs are streaking but you are as well. Nice work timvp keep up the good work.s
That is insane. What an amazing run.The last road loss with the Big 3 playing was March 17th.......
The last one before that? Jan 29
As good as they are at home, they are even better on the road.
That said, I think they are overdue for a bad game. Hopefully all of the bad juju goes out in the same one.
But I think spurs had their bad game already. Game 3 vs clipps. Thing is, this team is so deep, so good, that it didn't take them to the next game to rebound from a bad outing, they did it that same game.
And spurs still have not played that great this series. Individuals have, like parker and manu, but as a team we've been just okay for the majority. Too many TO's is the biggest one.
But I do worry about thunder going crazy and shooting over 60% for the game.
Game 3 Officials -- Dan Crawford (crew chief), Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford
Dan Crawford (11th playoff game in 2012; 266th career playoff game; 49th conference finals game)
The Spurs are 26-13 in playoff games officiated by Dan Crawford (11-8 on the road, 3-2 in conference finals during the Duncan era). Since 2007, the Spurs are 5-3 in playoff games officiated by Crawford and only 1-3 on the road. They lost Game 6 at Memphis in the 2011 WCFR, won Game 3 at home over Dallas in the 2010 WCFR, lost Game 1 at LAL in the 2008 WCF, won Game 3 at Cleveland in the 2007 Finals, won Game 1 over Utah at home in the 2007 WCF, lost Game 2 at Phoenix in the 2008 WCSF, and won Game 1 over Denver at home in the 2007 WCFR. The other conference finals games with Dan Crawford since 1998: 1999 WCF Game 2 v. PRT (Win), 2001 WCF Game 3 at LAL (Loss), 2003 WCF Game 3 at Dallas (Win -- the "call your own fouls" game), 2007 WCF Game 1 v. UTH (Win), 2008 WCF Game 1 at LAL (Loss). The Spurs have not seen Dan Crawford in a playoff game in 2012.
In the regular season, the Spurs were 4-0 in games that Dan Crawford called. They won at home against Houston in February, won at Philadelphia in February, won at Oklahoma City in March, and won at home against Memphis in April.
Road teams are 24-41 in playoff games officiated by Dan Crawford since 2007; this year road teams are 4-6 (In the first round, Indiana won Game 3 at Orlando, Memphis won Game 6 at the Clippers; in the conference semifinals, Philadelphia won Game 2 at Boston, Oklahoma City won Game 4 at the Lakers)
In their current incarnation, the Thunder are 1-2 in playoff games officiated by Dan Crawford. As noted, they won Game 4 at LAL in the 2012 WCSF, they lost Game 4 of the 2011 WCF at home to Dallas, and they lost Game 5 of the 2010 WCFR at the Lakers.
Bill Spooner (8th playoff game in 2012, 86th career playoff game, 12th conference finals game)
The Spurs are 7-7 in playoff games that Spooner has officiated (6-5 on the road, 2-0 in conference finals -- won Game 3 at Dallas in 2003, won Game 2 at Phoenix in 2005). Spooner was part of the officiating abomination that was Game 3 at Dallas in 2006. Since then, the Spurs have only seen him 3 times -- a win at LAC in Game 4 of the 2012 WCSF, a loss at Memphis in Game 4 of the 2011 WCFR, and a win at home over Dallas in Game 6 of the 2010 WCFR.
The Spurs were 1-1 during the regular season in games officiated by Spooner. They lost at Houston in January and won at Boston in April.
Road teams are 13-20 in games officiated by Spooner since 2007. Road teams are 3-4 in Spooner's games this year (Spooner also called Game 3 of the Indiana/Orlando series, which the Pacers won on the road; he called OKC's Game 4 win in Dallas; and, as noted, he called the Spurs Game 4 win at the Clippers in the WCSF).
In their current incarnation, the Thunder are 4-0 in playoff games that Spooner has called, 1-0 at home, and 1-0 in the conference finals. Along with their Game 4 win at Dallas in the 2012 WCFR, the Thunder won Game 2 of the 2011 WCF at Dallas, won Game 4 of the 2011 WCSF at Memphis, and won Game 5 of the 2011 WCFR over Denver. Spooner has called only one Thunder playoff game this year -- the Game 4 win at Dallas in round one.
Derrick Stafford (10th playoff game in 2012, 110th career playoff game, 12th conference finals game)
The Spurs are 12-6 in playoff games officiated by Stafford (3-4 on the road, 2-0 in the conference finals -- won Game 4 at Dallas in 2003, won Game 3 at home over Phoenix in 2005). Stafford has called 2 Spurs playoff games this year -- Game 2 at home against Utah and Game 3 at the Clippers. Obviously, the Spurs won each of those games. Until this round, Stafford has been a crew chief; this is his first playoff game this year in which he will not be the lead official. Since 2007, the Spurs are 3-2 in playoff games officiated by Stafford -- along with the 2 wins this year, the Spurs won Game 5 at home against Phoenix in the 2008 WCFR; they lost Game 2 of the 2010 WCSF at Phoenix and lost Game 1 of the 2011 WCFR v. Memphis.
During the regular season, the Spurs were 1-1 in games that Stafford called, winning at New Jersey in February and losing the game at Portland in February when Pop rested everyone.
Road teams are 15-28 in playoff games officiated by Stafford since 2007. This year, road teams are 2-7 (the Spurs won Game 3 at the Clippers in the WCSF, and Boston won Game 3 at Philadelphia in the ECSF).
In their current incarnation, the Thunder are 2-1 in playoff games officiated by Stafford. They are 1-0 at home and 0-1 in conference finals games. They lost Game 5 of the 2011 WCF at Dallas, won Game 2 of the 2011 WCSF at home over Memphis, and won Game 3 of the 2011 WCFR at Denver.
If you want to go really old school, each of these officials worked a game of the 2005 Spurs/Sonics Western Conference Semifinal series -- D. Crawford worked Game 6 (Spurs win at Seattle), Spooner worked Game 4 (Sonics win in Seattle), Stafford worked Game 1 (Spurs win at home). Only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Gregg Popovich (and Mike Budenholzer if you want to be really specific), and Nick Collison were part of that series with their current teams; Nazr Mohammad was involved but with the Spurs.
If you want to go really, really old school, Crawford and Spooner each worked games in the 2002 Spurs/Sonics first round series -- D. Crawford worked Game 3 (Spurs win at Seattle), Spooner worked Game 4 (Sonics win at Seattle with Tim in St. Croix for his father's funeral and David Robinson missing the game with his back issues). Only Duncan, Parker, Pop, and Bud remain from that series; Stephen Jackson was with the Spurs that year, but was not on the playoff roster.
I saw Blair at Little Italy Friday night (eating alone... which I thought was surprising for a single millionare athlete who probably didn't have to worry about playing the next day) and, when he walked by, he looked a quite a bit slimmer. I was surprised at how slim he looked and noticed he was in workout pants and walked with a limp like his legs were sore. Maybe he's been putting in work. Spacing be damned, I'd much prefer Blair to Bonner this series. After the first two games, I'm not sure Bonner is going to get much respect from the Thunder (especially on the road) so I'd rather go with something that COULD work for 10 minutes versus something that we have all seen doesn't work.
There's no need for a letdown. This is not the same Spurs of past years.The last road loss with the Big 3 playing was March 17th.......
The last one before that? Jan 29
As good as they are at home, they are even better on the road.
That said, I think they are overdue for a bad game. Hopefully all of the bad juju goes out in the same one.
The Spurs need to make sure they get back on defense. Going for offensive rebounds too much could weaken the transition defense.
OKC place will be wild tonight, the 1st quarter will be important and can't come out lazy and need to limit turnovers and have good transition D. Cant wait for this game
But you take them when you can get them.
Blair is ineffective, even if he gets back.
Also, I think coaches like Brooks understand everything LJ has pointed out here, but they go away from it under pressure. When Brooks relented to the press and said he should have played Ibaka (maybe) in the 4th in game one, that told me a lot about his confidence, and that translates directly to his team's confidence in his decisions. You would never hear coach Pop say he should have done this or that. He makes a choice and lives with the results.
blair isn't going to play unless bonner airballs all his 3's, misses his defensive rotations by just standing in one place, or breaks a leg.
I don't think Blair would sub for Bonner anyhow. I think he would sub for Tiago.
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