Game Thread: Spurs vs. Thunder -- Nov 1, 2012

[Mugen]

Manu makes everything so much easier for the 2nd unit bigs.

It's why the Thunder bench is goin to struggle with KMart instead of Harden. Just a huge downgrade for them IMO.

[TDfan2007]

I still need to re-watch to see what the Spurs were doing to be so successful on defense. I have not been able to pin point anything yet in the last 6 quarters that led to the improvement. Obviously Kawhi getting 5 steals a game helps and Tim is playing well, but overall, I haven't studied it enough to see what big differences there are this year so far compared to last season.

The biggest difference is that shots are actually being contested from mid range. Last season the Spurs' defensive game plan was to avoid giving up 3's and shots at the rim, but they basically conceded mid range jumpers, which as we all know came back to haunt them against OKC in the playoffs. In the first two games of the season the Spurs are actually contesting shots from mid range, but still disrupting forays to the hoop and 3 point shots as well.

A big reason for this seems to be the limited minutes of Bonner, Blair, and Neal so far this season. Our lineups are quicker, and as a result guys are rotating well and contesting shots. Can't ask for much more, tbh.

[ace3g]

One thing that will help the Spurs defense this year, is that it is Kawhi's 2nd year. He can be more aggressive against "star" players.

[Solid D]

By the way...my new favorite commercial is the "Berry Pomegranite Mio" commercial. Hilarious. Every change of speaker has an entirely different set of surroundings. Run it in slow mo and see how many changes you can count. Mind bogglingly funny.

[Salty]

Haven't seen anyone give props to Diaw for that pass out to Parker for the 3, very few big men could react the way Diaw did after Green ed up the pass.

[Brazil]

Diaw with two very solid games. He seems to be in very good shape and he is a very nice fit with this squad

[Solid D]

Haven't seen anyone give props to Diaw for that pass out to Parker for the 3, very few big men could react the way Diaw did after Green ******* up the pass.

Yeah, I did. As part of a series of plays down the stretch, that was big. If Green's pass didn't lead Boris so much, he would have scored an easy 2 leaving the Spurs down by 1 with 30-35 secs. left. Instead, it was a bad pass and Boris made an awesome save to TP with the shot clock running down.

[wut]

The biggest difference is that shots are actually being contested from mid range. Last season the Spurs' defensive game plan was to avoid giving up 3's and shots at the rim, but they basically conceded mid range jumpers, which as we all know came back to haunt them against OKC in the playoffs. In the first two games of the season the Spurs are actually contesting shots from mid range, but still disrupting forays to the hoop and 3 point shots as well.

A big reason for this seems to be the limited minutes of Bonner, Blair, and Neal so far this season. Our lineups are quicker, and as a result guys are rotating well and contesting shots. Can't ask for much more, tbh.

I'd agree with that assessment. Spurs won because of improved defense. Here's to hoping that this years Spurs will focus on defense.

[Antidope]

[SpurPadre]

If Green played one game like tonight in the WCF, the team would have received their Championship rings today before tipoff, tbh. Oh, well, this was one of the best feeling wins in the 2nd game of a season I remember having.

[DapDaGenius]

WTF? Kawhi's steal pretty much sealed it for us. Are you high?

I know, I liked the steal and was proud of that, but I was talking about his shooting. It was kind of obvious that is what I was talking about. He did great with steals and helped win the game but that doesn't take away his bad shooting. Are you high? lol

[SpurPadre]

Diaw with two very solid games. He seems to be in very good shape and he is a very nice fit with this squad

Agreed but we still need another big and can Bonner, ASAP.

[TampaDude]

Just like last night, if Manu plays, it's a double-digit win for the Spurs. Still, a W is a W.

TP was clutch. Diaw was hustling. Timmy...damn, Timmy...is it 2005?

We're still UNDEFEATED, baby!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[Arcadian]

Final score 86-84, opponent FG% 37.

I like it.

[SpurPadre]

Final score 86-84, opponent FG% 37.

I like it.

I also like how Kawhi found a way to contribute by showing great hustle to make up for a bad shooting night. You just get the feeling that even on his off nights, he'll always find a way to make his mark on any game.

[DapDaGenius]

How are you possibly disappointed in Kawhi's effort tonight? If your talking about his shot not falling, then you're missing the big picture of his stellar play the past two nights.

I'm not disappointed by his effort(as a matter of fact, I didn't even clarify what I was disappointed in with him, for all you know I could've been disappointed in his 4 turnovers), he put in a great effort, I was just referring to the shot not falling. He was taking good shots, don't get me wrong, but them not falling was what I was disappointed in. You might want to rearrange that last sentence, it just doesn't seem right.....his "stellar play?(Don't you mean plays) the past two nights".

I'm not saying he did a bad job, he took the shots he need, I was just having high hopes for him this game, It's not really him, it's more of me having higher expectations than what really happened(regarding his shots). Everything else was fine. You really are making it a bigger deal than I meant it to be, just said I was disappointed, I didn't say the guy sucked. But again, besides the shot not falling he played great and had "stellar" plays. With of course he had the steal which lead us to win the game.

[timtonymanu]

I know, I liked the steal and was proud of that, but I was talking about his shooting. It was kind of obvious that is what I was talking about. He did great with steals and helped win the game but that doesn't take away his bad shooting. Are you high? lol

Fair enough. . Tbh, I think some posters on here are expecting too much out of him. But I understand what you're saying now.

[DapDaGenius]

I also like how Kawhi found a way to contribute by showing great hustle to make up for a bad shooting night. You just get the feeling that even on his off nights, he'll always find a way to make his mark on any game.

Yeah, his stealing really creates for the team. He had more steals than the rest of the team combined.

[SpurPadre]

Fair enough. . Tbh, I think some posters on here are expecting too much out of him. But I understand what you're saying now.

Pop saying in the offseason that Kawhi will be a star is the reason I think many of us are expecting more from him right now. I mean, that was an extremely rare thing for Pop to say, of all people. I think he will be but we gotta have a little more patience...at least during the regular season. I think we'll all be happy with how he'll be by the end of the season and on to the playoffs.

[timtonymanu]

Pop saying in the offseason that Kawhi will be a star is the reason I think many of us are expecting more from him right now. I mean, that was an extremely rare thing for Pop to say, of all people. I think he will be but we gotta have a little more patience...at least during the regular season. I think we'll all be happy with how he'll be by the end of the season and on to the playoffs.

Oh yeah. I'm pertaining to certain posters that basically give up on Kawhi for one bad game. Won't name names, but certainly not the poster I just quoted.

[DapDaGenius]

Fair enough. . Tbh, I think some posters on here are expecting too much out of him. But I understand what you're saying now.

lol, yeah. Lots of posters are expecting a lot of him then again when someone is labeled with "The future of the Spurs", you can expect people to have high hopes for him.

[timtonymanu]

lol, yeah. Lots of posters are expecting a lot of him then again when someone is labeled with "The future of the Spurs", you can expect people to have high hopes for him.

Like I just mentioned, I'm talking about those that have given up on him after one game. Definitely wasn't referring to you and I understand what you mean.

[DapDaGenius]

Like I just mentioned, I'm talking about those that have given up on him after one game. Definitely wasn't referring to you and I understand what you mean.

I know you weren't, man.

[LonghornMike]

Anyone catch subtle move Jackson put on Westbrook on the last play? When Westbrook was chasing Parker over the Jackson baseline screen, Jack taps Russ on his shoulder. To me, it looked like Russ thought it was Tony pushing off to change direction and reverse back cut, but instead Tony kept going, and Russ just chased Stephen Jackson's hand.

Am I making this up or do anyone see it too?

http://youtu.be/rbUyQm2Cc60?t=2s

[timvp]

Anyone catch subtle move Jackson put on Westbrook on the last play? When Westbrook was chasing Parker over the Jackson baseline screen, Jack taps Russ on his shoulder. To me, it looked like Russ thought it was Tony pushing off to change direction and reverse back cut, but instead Tony kept going, and Russ just chased Stephen Jackson's hand.

Am I making this up or do anyone see it too?

http://youtu.be/rbUyQm2Cc60?t=2s

Good observation. Westchuck did react to that touch by Jackson.

Although it looks like the thing that really made the play was Parker's subtle studder step. If TP goes too fast under that screen, the play doesn't work. But by studder stepping, Westchuck was forced to either guess or turn around take his eye off the ball ... and thankfully he decided to guess.