Game Thoughts- Thunder @ Spurs, tbh..

[TheGoldStandard]

I still can't believe Minny let Williams go for so cheap

[Boomersgold]

Patty Mills
Offense: B+
Patty did a great job providing instant offense and stayed within the offense, tbh..

The Spurs really needed an offensive spark with Ayres/Joseph out there for defensive purposes, and Mills was the answer..several 3s, good energy, good shot selection..

Defense: D
Mills had no answer against Reggie Jackson in the possessions where they were matched up, and unfortunately, he had trouble against Derek Fisher's corpse, as well..

Just re-watched the game, and I never saw Mills matched up against Reggie. Cheers for the grades though. Just had to point this out.

[Raven]

so would derrick williams or aminu

ouch tbh

[Kabals]

To be fair, Parker didn't get destroyed on defense by Jackson. He got destroyed by Jackson AND a screener. If Parker was on the other team playing against us he would score 40 on us too, whoever is guarding him, Leonard or Green, doesn't even matter, they would get screened and Parker would attack the paint with Duncan just looking at him and Ayres staying still trying to draw a charge.

[AFBlue]

Great recap and grades imo fwiw tbqh

[jeebus]

Can we please see a lot more Malcolm Thomas moving forward? Spurs don't have much to lose at this point.

[BacktoBasics]

Agree, thats Pops fault, I remember Phil Jackson adjusting his triangle offense to work with a center (Shaq), different than Rodman and the Dobermans, but Pop uses his players as tools and there is no room for change his face goes red yells and everybody s their pants.
Even Riley figured things out with Shaq to win a ring in Miami, but Pop doesnt know how to take changes and sometimes I think when other teams look at Spurs players, all our guys have the word PREDICTABLE printed in their foreheads.
A few years ago we were old, last couple of years not so much and Spurs still are slow, those new younger legs are fat and lazy I guess.
Now we have kids manhandling our team, looks like the first time Schwarzenegger steps into that kindergarten, at least show some balls guys...

You have got to be the dumbest fan this team has. Making change for the sake of change is the kind of thing morons like you do. Its not a fear of change its a logical approach that has proven results. You're completely clueless to look at a team decimated with injuries and attempt to embellish an average spell into a coaching problem. What a ing idiot.

[ElNono]

Can we please see a lot more Malcolm Thomas moving forward? Spurs don't have much to lose at this point.

If you don't hurt them, you waive em...

[Amuseddaysleeper]

If you don't hurt them, you waive em...

I don't even know what to say anymore man.

*face palm*

[EVAY]

To be fair, Parker didn't get destroyed on defense by Jackson. He got destroyed by Jackson AND a screener. If Parker was on the other team playing against us he would score 40 on us too, whoever is guarding him, Leonard or Green, doesn't even matter, they would get screened and Parker would attack the paint with Duncan just looking at him and Ayres staying still trying to draw a charge.

I don't know who you are but I have to tell you that I have been noticing (and commenting) on this all season long. And OKC does a better job on screens than most anybody else in the league. Our defense in this area stinks to high heaven and it doesn't matter who the personnel on our side is, for the very reasons you stated. If the screeners set hard screens our guards CANNOT get through them without getting called for fouls (which I watched happen earlier in the season and then watched our guys stop doing that so they wouldn't foul out). But our guys are not told to switch off normally, and our bigs are told to back down toward the basket while the opponent pg steps into the paint and/or around a curl. At that point, making a midrange jumper is not NEARLY as hard as our coaching staff seem to believe it to be, because we get burned by it repeatedly, by every damn team in the league that makes that kind of play.

And oddly enough, teams like OKC have noticed.

[HarlemHeat37]

Just re-watched the game, and I never saw Mills matched up against Reggie. Cheers for the grades though. Just had to point this out.

You're right, I thought I remembered Mills being matched up with Jackson, but I was wrong after re-watching the game this morning, tbh..

[HarlemHeat37]

To be fair, Parker didn't get destroyed on defense by Jackson. He got destroyed by Jackson AND a screener. If Parker was on the other team playing against us he would score 40 on us too, whoever is guarding him, Leonard or Green, doesn't even matter, they would get screened and Parker would attack the paint with Duncan just looking at him and Ayres staying still trying to draw a charge.

Of course, which is why I wrote a description of Duncan's struggles as well..I also said that Parker's defense isn't as important, since a PG's defensive impact is more limited in today's NBA than any other position, tbh..

However, Tony has done a poor job of keeping his defender in front of him all season, and has been horrible at rotating and closing on defenders all year..

Defending screens is the job of the entire team, not just the big, and the perimeter defenders have done a poor job all season long..

Duncan's lack of mobility is expected, he's 38 years old, but Ayres's lack of ability to defend mobility has been disappointing, to say the least..

[jeebus]

Ayres's lack of ability to defend mobility has been disappointing, to say the least..

But Sean Elliott and Bill Land said that Ayres was super mobile by getting into position to take a charge on all 3+ occasions!

[mingus]

I think it's clear that the Spurs are kind of coasting right now. Not to mention injuries now to 3 of our starters. If 15-20 games left in the season the Spurs still can't beat elite teams I'll be worried.

[DMC]

I think it's clear that the Spurs are kind of coasting right now. Not to mention injuries now to 3 of our starters. If 15-20 games left in the season the Spurs still can't beat elite teams I'll be worried.

[MultiTroll]

I agree the officiating was fine, I wasn't blaming the officiating, I was pointing out that biased officiating is what fans expect when their team is playing against OKC, as Spurs fans learned in the 2012 playoffs..

Pizzas shove off on Bellini?
Just prior to that GNobs drive where he got hacked by both Pizza and Perkins.

Please.

[TheGoldStandard]

Of course, which is why I wrote a description of Duncan's struggles as well..I also said that Parker's defense isn't as important, since a PG's defensive impact is more limited in today's NBA than any other position, tbh..

However, Tony has done a poor job of keeping his defender in front of him all season, and has been horrible at rotating and closing on defenders all year..

Defending screens is the job of the entire team, not just the big, and the perimeter defenders have done a poor job all season long..

Duncan's lack of mobility is expected, he's 38 years old, but Ayres's lack of ability to defend mobility has been disappointing, to say the least..

Ayres is a chicken who doesn't want to take contact, he's willing to sort of give up his body when it's ty Jackson coming down the lane but he even is a little scared of that. I can't fathom how his gutless at ude towards defense is rewarded with more minutes.

[Killakobe81]

HH with some solid takes and some unnecessary shots at OKC ...but that Somali WAS pretty funny.
I have been dismissing the Spurs struggles vs. top teams but I must admit this last loss was a bit worrisome.
I had the SPurs penned in for a return Finals rematch (but tough 7 game loss again) But with KL hurt and the record against contenders I am starting to have doubts.

Clippers and OKC will be getting back elite PG's before the playoffs. And Spurs have not been able to dominate those teams even without their star guards. I still love Pop and his sets. There were a half dozen plays executed after timeouts or after a deflection out of bounds that were a pure clinic for coaches on any level.

If the Spurs can keep games close they ALWAYS have a chance because Pop is better than EVERY coach he faces.

here is hoping for speedy recovery for KL. Too many injuries would like to see Spurs (and everyone else)healthy come playoffs

[wildchild]

I don't know who you are but I have to tell you that I have been noticing (and commenting) on this all season long. And OKC does a better job on screens than most anybody else in the league. Our defense in this area stinks to high heaven and it doesn't matter who the personnel on our side is, for the very reasons you stated. If the screeners set hard screens our guards CANNOT get through them without getting called for fouls (which I watched happen earlier in the season and then watched our guys stop doing that so they wouldn't foul out). But our guys are not told to switch off normally, and our bigs are told to back down toward the basket while the opponent pg steps into the paint and/or around a curl. At that point, making a midrange jumper is not NEARLY as hard as our coaching staff seem to believe it to be, because we get burned by it repeatedly, by every damn team in the league that makes that kind of play.

And oddly enough, teams like OKC have noticed.

Even if someone guarded Jackson well, there was still no one to stop Durant. From the first quarter, Leonard's defense on Durant was pretty bad. A simple screen and Leonard disappears, leaving Durant wide open.

The Spurs desperately need another 3 defender. Durant didn't even look like he was trying much and managed to still steamroll the Spurs. Ginobili helped a little but the Spurs need another body to throw at Durant if Leonard isn't up to the task (don't know if he would have gotten better later). Putting Marco on Durant was desperate and dangerous. If Jackson wasn't destroying the Spurs, Durant would have stepped up and gone for 45 points.

Durant is on superstar level, nobody can stop him -he scored 36 vs Pacers/George 54pts vs GSW/Iggy, etc-.

Leonard, he played last 3 minutes of 1st quarter (and 3 minutes of 2nd quarter) with metacarpal fracture, IMO he still forced Durant to take tough shots and even forced many KD's turnovers. All Thunder players was playing with insane FG% in the first quarter -not only Durant-.

Agree with both of you, screens were a problem.

Perkins is going to come and screen for Durant


KD frees himself from Leonard


And going to the rim


One-on-one vs Tim and nobody to rotate over and help

Defending screens is the job of the entire team, not just the big, and the perimeter defenders have done a poor job all season long..
Duncan's lack of mobility is expected, he's 38 years old, but Ayres's lack of ability to defend mobility has been disappointing, to say the least..

If Splitter is the best rim protector on the team, without him, switching quickly is one of the best way. Like you said defending screens is a team work, you need all guys are involved in the job.

[wildbill2u]

I noticed COJO and Durant having a laughing conversation while Joseph was trying to guard him by fronting him. It looked like he came up to Durant's waist. I bet Durant was saying something like, "Really. Are you kidding me little man?"

At one point I looked up and Bonner, Joseph and Mills were on the floor together (with Bellinelli and Ayers I think). I'm surprised the margin of victory was so narrow.

[heyheymymy]

tinker game from pop tbh. i wonder if he ever will show his cards to a top team this regular season.

[TheGoldStandard]

I don't know who you are but I have to tell you that I have been noticing (and commenting) on this all season long. And OKC does a better job on screens than most anybody else in the league. Our defense in this area stinks to high heaven and it doesn't matter who the personnel on our side is, for the very reasons you stated. If the screeners set hard screens our guards CANNOT get through them without getting called for fouls (which I watched happen earlier in the season and then watched our guys stop doing that so they wouldn't foul out). But our guys are not told to switch off normally, and our bigs are told to back down toward the basket while the opponent pg steps into the paint and/or around a curl. At that point, making a midrange jumper is not NEARLY as hard as our coaching staff seem to believe it to be, because we get burned by it repeatedly, by every damn team in the league that makes that kind of play.

And oddly enough, teams like OKC have noticed.

tinker game from pop tbh. i wonder if he ever will show his cards to a top team this regular season.

Pop is playing Old Maid while the other elite teams are playing hold em