Apparently Thunder are playing thug ball this offseason.
Tbh, they have only played one legit game:
-Gm 1: Season opener (LMA's debut)
-Gm 2: Legit (Spurs: 93-85 @ AT&T)
-Gm 3: Rest (Spurs)
-Gm 4: Rest (OKC)
Boban PROVED he can play against Adams/Kanter during their last matchup @ AT&T but WestBrick wasn't playing:
West also had a solid game @ OKC when the starter were resting:
Even Simmons styled on 'em @ OKC:
Apparently Thunder are playing thug ball this offseason.
Something to fire you up in the week before the games...
Less than 2 years ago.![]()
One thing is obvious, Pop can't play the West/Diaw frontline against Kanter. Should have either Tim, LMA or even Boban on the floor AT ALL TIMES whenever Kanter/WestBrick are on the floor otherwise they are going to feast in the paint w/ no rim protector ala the Mavs series.
Feel pretty good about the matchup outside of Kanter/Ibaka/Adams being an issue on the boards tbh
This is going to be the series where Tim becomes indispensable, he intimidate Westbrick when the Spurs shutdown OKC at AT&T. It was also interesting that Pop put Danny on Durant & Kawhi on WB during that game just like he did after Gm 4 in the 2014 series.
Some Random thoughts
- Kanter is a real concern if this team is going to play West and Diaw significant minutes.
- Boban might see some minutes in this series
-Gotta take advantage of Andre Roberson and Crowd Duant/Westbrook when Roberson is on the floor
- Need to penetrate a healthy amount. OKC is a terrible perimter defensive team plus their bigs are stupid. Ibaka has a fake age, he hasnt been that good on help defense this year. Attack a healthy amount
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I think Manu will play a bit more than his usual minutes. The Thunder have so many guys you can hide him on defensively.
- Anderson will probably eat 3-5 minutes of diaw and west playing time.
Porky better not see a second on Westbrook especially with Roberson on the floor
Lets also hope the thunder arent smart enough to play payne and continue using foye.
Ibaka has been shooting lights out so far against Dallas.
Kawhi averaged 28 ppg in 3 games against OKC this season.
But Pop will ruin his offensive game in the series resting him 20 minutes a game, allowing Parker dribble-dribble-dribble vs Westbrook, force-feeding LMA/Diaw in the paint, and playing DWest/Bobo against Kanter/Adams rebounding beasts.
I like Simmons and Boban to get some minutes against them for the reasons you all stated. It should be an exciting series for our team and they will show up.
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I hope for our sakes he does not.
I don't think the thunder have much of chance. They just are not deep enough, they also appear to be snake bitten like the spurs were all last year.
Also, he will sit Kawhi remaining almost 5 minutes in the 1st/3rd quarter...Gotta love a coach resting his 24 years old star in the 2nd round against Westbrook/KD team.![]()
Kanter has been playing like a beast offensively / on the boards, but is still a pretty big negative defensively. Need to get him into pick and roll or post him up.
Help off Roberson as much as you'd like. He's better from the right corner, but still a combined 28 of 82 from the corners (34%) and even worse away from the corners (http://vorped.com/1-nba/2015-2016/pl...son/shotchart/). Similar in past years too. I wouldn't be surprised to see more Morrow when the Spurs have Green on the floor (http://vorped.com/1-nba/2015-2016/pl...row/shotchart/), but he can't guard anyone with playmaking ability.
Look for plenty of driving and dishing to whoever Ibaka is guarding. He loves to over help, and Lamarcus/Timmy/Diaw/West should get open looks on dishes.
When Kawhi stripped Westchoke to seal the game, I emptied the full contents of my bowel in my shorts
Kanter ate the Turd Towers alive during the season opener: outrebounded them 16 to 2(Hopefully, Pop has learned his lesson)
I feel like this is the series where Boban gets the 2014 Baynes minutes (Pop played him to keep Lopez off the offensive boards)Boban might see some minutes in this series
Pop hid Porker on Roberson when he put Danny on KD. (Waiters has been playing well & might go Lance against the bench just like he raw dogged Tony during the season opener: Hide Patty on Foye/Singler & let Manu/Kyle check Waiters)Gotta take advantage of Andre Roberson and Crowd Duant/Westbrook when Roberson is on the floor
OKC is undisciplined so Porky need to attack in transition otherwise he's going to be in "dribble-dribble" mode when he sees Ibaka/Adams parked in the paint. Porky was also getting schooled by Payne (who is injured) during their most recent matchup.Need to penetrate a healthy amount. OKC is a terrible perimter defensive team plus their bigs are stupid. Ibaka has a fake age, he hasnt been that good on help defense this year. Attack a healthy amount
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