Thunder: Spursfan, has Pop found the blueprint to beat a healthy OKC team?

[RsxPiimp]

I've ran into quite a number of Spurs fans who have expressed little to no concern about the Thunder this season which instead placing all of their worry into the NBA World Champions Golden State Warriors but check this...


Since 2013-14, the Spurs have beaten the Warriors six of the seven games they've played.



Since 2013-14, the Spurs have lost to the Thunder six of the eight regular season games they've played. The Spurs did win a playoff series 4-2, but remember, Serge Ibaka missed the first two games of that series and was not 100% in the last four games of the series.




In a couple of seasons, we're going to be another of San Antonio's worries, but for now, are y'all still praying you don't matchup with OKC in the postseason?

[Sybok]

Spurs have a tendency to start really slow, and any team with a streaky shooting, break-neck speed PG who plays up-tempo offense can bury them by 20 really quick. Spurs can dig out, but you only get away with that so many times before your team stalls. You have to come out with energy and keep the game compe ive enough to tire the other team out. You cannot let Russ get going, but the Spurs will. They allow almost every flashy PG to get going.

[Cry Havoc]

I'm really not scared of a team playing guys like Singler big minutes.

The Thunder bench is ing abysmal.

[TDMVPDPOY]

when u have enrique on ur team, the other team always has a chance of winning

[313]

OKC couldn't beat us on our home floor, with or without Ibaka.

[Reck]

If this was 2012 then I'd be worried.

[BD24]

Wanting to max out derozan

[Kawhitstorm]

Since 2013-14, the Spurs have lost to the Thunder six of the eight regular season games they've played. The Spurs did win a playoff series 4-2, but remember, Serge Ibaka missed the first two games of that series and was not 100% in the last four games of the series.

#1) OKC hasn't beaten the Spurs at home (BOTH during the regular season or playoffs) WITH Kawhi in the line-up since Jan 2014 (he has missed a bunch of games against OKC).
#2)The Spurs will have home court thus OKC is ed.
#3) OKC lost Reggie Jackson who was a torn in the Spurs side just like Harden & replaced him w/ Dion Butters
#4) Their 4th quarter defense has been atrocious under Billy Donovan
#5) Roberson/Singler is the WORST wing rotation in the league
#6) Their best lineup is w/ Kanter but he can't guard anyone like Love

#7) "Ibaka was injured" whaaaaaa-whaaaaa; you ass haters need to understand that Parker was playing INJURED & missed the 2nd half of the closeout game
#8) OKC blewout the Spurs in OKC w/ the so called "injured" Ibaka looking just fine then the series shifted to the Alamo for Gm 5 & OKC got blown the out.
#9) Pop checkmated OKC in Gm 6 by attacking Durant w/ Diaw when they tried to play him at the 4 & the Spurs blew them out at OKC.
#10) Kawhi can NOW neutralize Durant for an ENTIRE series

Work on you're straw-man narrative & quit using mainstream media BS to affirm your wishful thoughts.

Hint:
-Clippers are the last team to beat the Spurs more than once at the Alamo since 2015 & they did it THREE times
-Kawhi has zero steals in the past 5 games against the Clippers
-Blake/CP3 are the best mid-range pick-n-pop duo & the Spurs defense concedes mid-range shots
-Austin Rivers owns Patty
-Clippers are only one of the two teams the Spurs have trailed in the 4th quarter at AT&T the entire season
-JJ Re has been the most consistent SG in the entire league & gives the Spurs trouble b/c Danny isn't a good off ball defender

Now, runteldat!

[StrengthAndHonor]

At their best, OKC really do come close to unguardable and just like the Spurs they are fundamentally, an unselfish team. OKC not Golden State are playing the second best basketball in the league and the scary thing about OKC is they are just warming up unlike the Warriors who appears to have reached playoff form not even halfway into the season.


Clippers shouldn't be much of a concern for the Spurs this year. We'll see if the tweaks Doc made to rework the roster will payoff come playoff time. I won't be singing praises, yes we're winning but like I've said before it's a pretty soft schedule.

[Kawhitstorm]

At their best, OKC really do come close to unguardable and just like the Spurs they are fundamentally, an unselfish team. OKC not Golden State are playing the second best basketball in the league and the scary thing about OKC is they are just warming up unlike the Warriors who appears to have reached playoff form not even halfway into the season.

Your takes are as terrible as the Cripples in crunch time

[Jenks]

Since that 2012 series OKC may have lost Harden and Sefolosha, but they've still got Joey Crawford on the last year of his contract so you can never count them out.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Your takes are as terrible as the Cripples in crunch time

Check the stats, OKC has been outplaying the Warriors for the last 3 weeks.

[HemisfairArena]

If my fellow Spurs fans aren't concerned about the Thunder, they better get concerned real soon,,,Once Durant came back healthy that changed everything. I think they thought Durant was gonna have lingering effects from his injury for the rest of his career,,,

[Mnky]

Durant and Westbrook can be unstoppable alone, let alone together. That makes them a threat. I've said before, I think the thunder can pose a risk to the warriors. They have bigs and length, which is what always bothers the warriors and the spurs, bucks, and Detroit have shown. They also got two high time scorers that can keep pace with anyone. I like them, but I like the spurs more. That depth plays big in the playoffs when people are wearing out, and you have to beat coaches actually gameplanning against you.

[SAGirl]

#1) OKC hasn't beaten the Spurs at home (BOTH during the regular season or playoffs) WITH Kawhi in the line-up since Jan 2014 (he has missed a bunch of games against OKC).
#2)The Spurs will have home court thus OKC is ed.
#3) OKC lost Reggie Jackson who was a torn in the Spurs side just like Harden & replaced him w/ Dion Butters
#4) Their 4th quarter defense has been atrocious under Billy Donovan
#5) Roberson/Singler is the WORST wing rotation in the league
#6) Their best lineup is w/ Kanter but he can't guard anyone like Love

#7) "Ibaka was injured" whaaaaaa-whaaaaa; you ass haters need to understand that Parker was playing INJURED & missed the 2nd half of the closeout game
#8) OKC blewout the Spurs in OKC w/ the so called "injured" Ibaka looking just fine then the series shifted to the Alamo for Gm 5 & OKC got blown the out.
#9) Pop checkmated OKC in Gm 6 by attacking Durant w/ Diaw when they tried to play him at the 4 & the Spurs blew them out at OKC.
#10) Kawhi can NOW neutralize Durant for an ENTIRE series

Work on you're straw-man narrative & quit using mainstream media BS to affirm your wishful thoughts.

Hint:
-Clippers are the last team to beat the Spurs more than once at the Alamo since 2015 & they did it THREE times
-Kawhi has zero steals in the past 5 games against the Clippers
-Blake/CP3 are the best mid-range pick-n-pop duo & the Spurs defense concedes mid-range shots
-Austin Rivers owns Patty
-Clippers are only one of the two teams the Spurs have trailed in the 4th quarter at AT&T the entire season
-JJ Re has been the most consistent SG in the entire league & gives the Spurs trouble b/c Danny isn't a good off ball defender

Now, runteldat!

Excellent analysis!!!! Completely agree. Clippers are always a headache exactly for the reasons you state, then you add in Pop and his hack-JOrdan schemes which can backfire on our own rhythm and those games are a veritable pain in the neck.

[Kawhitstorm]

Check the stats, OKC has been outplaying the Warriors for the last 3 weeks.

Which playoff team did OKC beat during those 3 wks? Heat/Grizz; Mavs without any of their starters

Losses since Christmas:
-Bulls (@OKC)
-Kings (@OKC)
-Blazers (gave up 20 pts in the final 3 minutes)

Close calls (last shot missed):
-Lakers
-Suns
-Wolves

Conclusion: You're a degenerate STAT- !

[Kawhitstorm]

Durant and Westbrook can be unstoppable alone, let alone together. That makes them a threat. I've said before, I think the thunder can pose a risk to the warriors. They have bigs and length, which is what always bothers the warriors and the spurs, bucks, and Detroit have shown. They also got two high time scorers that can keep pace with anyone. I like them, but I like the spurs more. That depth plays big in the playoffs when people are wearing out, and you have to beat coaches actually gameplanning against you.

Warriors are going to run a train on Kanter just like Love & they won't guard Roberson just like Tony Allen.

Besides, WestBrick has been terrible against the Warriors but Durant owns Iggy.

[Mnky]

Warriors are going to run a train on Kanter just like Love & they won't guard Roberson just like Tony Allen.

Besides, WestBrick has been terrible against the Warriors but Durant owns Iggy.

Weren't you the one who I had to post westbrooks ridicouls triple double on the warriors for?
No one stops Westbrook but Westbrook.

[Kawhitstorm]

Weren't you the one who I had to post westbrooks ridicouls triple double on the warriors for?
No one stops Westbrook but Westbrook.

Triple double while shooting 33% & turning it over 6 times.

[TDMVPDPOY]

popa already knows the answer, dont play enrique, its already proven...yet his scared of doing that move again....

[Horse]

The concern with okc has always and will always be the thunderefs

[Kawhitstorm]

The concern with okc has always and will always be the thunderefs

No homecourt = no ThunderRefs

[Mnky]

Triple double while shooting 33% & turning it over 6 times.

The idea of strategy, is you adjust when your plan isn't working. His shot wasn't falling so he got nearly 20 rebounds and assists.

Can't stop him from having an impact. Keep up your tirade against Westbrook somehow being a "negative" tho. Sure that will pan out eventually....maybe.

[RsxPiimp]

OKC couldn't beat us on our home floor, with or without Ibaka.

False

when u have enrique on ur team, the other team always has a chance of winning

True

[DMC]

Spurs have a tendency to start really slow, and any team with a streaky shooting, break-neck speed PG who plays up-tempo offense can bury them by 20 really quick. Spurs can dig out, but you only get away with that so many times before your team stalls. You have to come out with energy and keep the game compe ive enough to tire the other team out. You cannot let Russ get going, but the Spurs will. They allow almost every flashy PG to get going.

This Vulcan knows of that which he speaks.