Chris Broussard - "If Thunder win tonight, they're in control of the series."

[jag]

I love how every game in a playoff series has now turned into a "must win" game for one or both of the teams depending on the storyline.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't know of too many series where the team that won Games 3 and 4 at home after losing Games 1 and 2 on the road had actually seized control of the series (whatever the that means, anyway). Even if the Thunder win Game 4, they still have to win in San Antonio and while Ibaka's return might make that more likely than it was before, it's far from a certainty that they will do that. It might be that if Broussard were playing for the Spurs, he would roll over and die if the Thunder had managed to hold serve at home, but I'm not sure that's in the character of these Spurs. All winning Game 4 does for OKC is even the series and ensure that they get another home game before the series ends.

[baseline bum]

I don't know of too many series where the team that won Games 3 and 4 at home after losing Games 1 and 2 on the road had actually seized control of the series (whatever the that means, anyway). Even if the Thunder win Game 4, they still have to win in San Antonio and while Ibaka's return might make that more likely than it was before, it's far from a certainty that they will do that. It might be that if Broussard were playing for the Spurs, he would roll over and die if the Thunder had managed to hold serve at home, but I'm not sure that's in the character of these Spurs. All winning Game 4 does for OKC is even the series and ensure that they get another home game before the series ends.

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

[DPG21920]

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

Spurs are up 2-1

[baseline bum]

Spurs are up 2-1

And if they lose they be 2-2 needing to win 2 of 3 from a team they haven't beaten all year.

[Harry Callahan]

Ibaka will feel the three games in five days (or four in seven), trust me. And they're shooting him up because he is injured, not sore. The NBA is soft on this stuff. The Spurs gave him three or four WIDE OPEN jump shots to start the game to test his ability to jump. Invade his space. I think the injury should be put in his head from the start to make him concerned about landing in close quarters.

I would also get Baynes on him to bang on him for short periods of time. He cannot be allowed the room they essentially GAVE him last game.

[ElNono]

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

You don't think Leonard or Ginobili are important for the Spurs to beat that team?

[DPG21920]

And if they lose they be 2-2 needing to win 2 of 3 from a team they haven't beaten all year.

What do you mean? Spurs beat OKC twice to go up 2-1.

[hater]

And if they lose they be 2-2 needing to win 2 of 3 from a team they haven't beaten all year.

again pretty simple it's all about consistency. When OKC role players are not shooting well they are very beatable. These role players have not been consistent, therefore I doubt OKC will win 4 in a row. Sure it's possible, but not likely.

[DPG21920]

Ya - if you aren't counting the first two wins because Serge was out, how can you count the OKC wins when several people were missing? At best, the "Spurs" are 0-1 vs "OKC" at that point.

[baseline bum]

What do you mean? Spurs beat OKC twice to go up 2-1.

Pretty obvious they're not the same team without Ibaka.

[baseline bum]

again pretty simple it's all about consistency. When OKC role players are not shooting well they are very beatable. These role players have not been consistent, therefore I doubt OKC will win 4 in a row. Sure it's possible, but not likely.

Their role players aren't the problem. Their defense making the Spurs look like they're rushing every single possession is the problem.

[look_at_g_shred]

2nd unit is the key tbh... when Ibaka and one of Durant/Westbrook sit

[DPG21920]

Their role players aren't the problem. Their defense making the Spurs look like they're rushing every single possession is the problem.

Their defense allowed the Spurs an abundance of makeable/uncontested looks. Not a nominal amount, a jaw-dropping amount.

[baseline bum]

Ya - if you aren't counting the first two wins because Serge was out, how can you count the OKC wins when several people were missing? At best, the "Spurs" are 0-1 vs "OKC" at that point.

Did Game 3 not look like a carbon copy of the game in April? I don't care if Ginobili sat that game out. He is way less important to the Spurs than Ibaka is to Oklahoma.

[DPG21920]

It's just funny you count OKC wins when Kawhi or Manu are out, but discount every win because of Serge. Just shows a little inconsistency in the line of thinking. Sure, Ibaka is huge against the Spurs, doesn't make the overall logic of the argument better. At least IMO.

[hater]

Their role players aren't the problem. Their defense making the Spurs look like they're rushing every single possession is the problem.

sure their defense improved but had it been not for their role players shooting lights out, SPurs would have still been in the game as poorly as they were playing.

oh their role players are the problem. The only time they have shot lights out they have killed the Spurs.

[HI-FI]

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

personally, I think Spurs can take them. If the league wants to shamelessly bolster OKC til the end, it will be tough for the Spurs to overcome that. They'd have to play out of their minds, which would be a tall order. I guess you and Broussard are in agreement, which is fine, but I still think Spurs have a shot at overcoming these clowns, even if Thunder win tonight.

[baseline bum]

It's just funny you count OKC wins when Kawhi or Manu are out, but discount every win because of Serge. Just shows a little inconsistency in the line of thinking. Sure, Ibaka is huge against the Spurs, doesn't make the overall logic of the argument better. At least IMO.

If it was Duncan or Parker out that'd be different.

[Asshole]

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

It can be noted the Spurs didn't have their full cast of players for 3 of the 4 regular season games. OKC was in a must win and got a huge emotional boost getting an unexpected Ibaka back behind the home crowd. I think game 4 will tell a lot after the Spurs adjust.

[baseline bum]

personally, I think Spurs can take them. If the league wants to shamelessly bolster OKC til the end, it will be tough for the Spurs to overcome that. They'd have to play out of their minds, which would be a tall order. I guess you and Broussard are in agreement, which is fine, but I still think Spurs have a shot at overcoming these clowns, even if Thunder win tonight.

Spurs have a shot, or are still favorites coming back to SA 2-2?

[Horry Hipcheck]

S ey Smith

ESPN switching to HD telecasts has done her zero favors, tbh

[FromWayDowntown]

You'd be confident in the Spurs against a team that would then be 6-0 against them this season?

What difference does it make whether I'm confident or not. I have absolutely no control over what happens in this series. The question is whether the Spurs would believe that they can't beat the Thunder. I don't think that's the case (nor do I think it would be the case if the Thunder win Game 4).

This is the West Finals following one of the most incredibly compe ive western conference seasons in recent history. The idea that the conference finalists in this season (of all seasons) would be able to hold serve through 4 games of that series wouldn't seem all that remarkable.

[elemento]

lol Broussard

[DPG21920]

If it was Duncan or Parker out that'd be different.

Kawhi is a pretty damn important piece, especially vs OKC. But all these qualifiers is a pointless argument. Let's just see what happens.