Game Thread: Spurs vs OKC -- Game 1 - Sat (4/30) - 7:30PM CST (3:30AM Riga)

[thiste]

The Vertical Verified account ‏@TheVertical

On Game 1 and the bigger stakes of the Spurs-Thunder series. @WojVerticalNBA column:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-a-s...ail&soc_trk=ma

Haha well, we broke the Heatles a couple years ago might as well break the Thunderefs as well

[playbonner15]

Takeaways from Game 1:

-Roberson is unplayable in this series. I'm thinking one of Scotty Donovan's adjustments for Game 2 would be to start Waiters instead. If not, then Roberson on Porky and hide Russ on Danny (could lead to a bunch of open 3s for Danny if they run Russ off a bunch of screens).

-There's only one guy in the league that can shut down Westbrook (besides himself tbh) and that's the DPOY. Glad to see Pop going right for the jugular right at the onset. Honestly, if you crafted the perfect Westbrook defender, you'd get Kawhi.

-Ibaka can't handle Aldridge, been the case going back to LMA's Portland days. I'd put Adams permanently on LMA and dare Timmy to try and score on Serge. Would also allow Ibaka to stay close to the basket.

-The overplay on Tony was mindboggling IMO. I'd stay home on LMA and the shooters and dare Tony to finish in the paint.

-That said, the Thunder were average defensively all year. They can do the above but I'm not sure how much better they can get. If I were Scotty Donovan, I'd try to just put the best offensive lineup i could....bench Roberson/Singler, more minutes for Morrow/Waiter, run a lot more stuff for Kanter...

Spurs are in a good spot and if they keep it up, they can take full control of the series heading into OKC. I expect the Thunder to put up a much better effort tho, not sure if it'll be enough.

Definitely play Morrow and run more plays for Kanter, Double team Kawhi, and wish Westbrook and Durant's shots go in

[GSH]

Definitely play Morrow and run more plays for Kanter, Double team Kawhi, and wish Westbrook and Durant's shots go in

I mentioned it in another thread, but Morrow is one of those guys who could go off for a season high against the Spurs, out of nowhere, and help them steal a game. He shot over 60% of his FGA's from outside the arc this season, and made 38% of them. That's exactly the kind of guys who crawl out of the woodwork and go nuts, while the Spurs are looking elsewhere. Not saying he will - but he could.

Today I watched Anderson Varejao blatantly leg-whip Gerald Henderson. Henderson got up into Varejao's face and I don't blame him (The refs never acknowledged the leg-whip). Maybe you call a T on Henderson because they chest-bumped, but Varejao should have been sent to the locker room. (Leg-whipping is dangerous - even the NFL has a big penalty for it.) Instead the refs called the ridiculous double-technical. Then I watched Mahinmi get shoved in the back going up for an alley-oop that would have made it a 1-point game, and changed the possession strategy. That bizarre no-call could have cost Indiana a playoff series. I still worry that the best personnel for the Thunder could be holding a whistle.

[BillMc]

No Bill, I was lucky enough to attend last night and it was a really fun night! It's just getting to watch all those plays right in row that blows my mind. We just kept coming....!

I'm jealous, I've never seen a Spurs game live.

Yeah, that's a good vid. Enjoy!

[spurs10]

I'm jealous, I've never seen a Spurs game live.

Yeah, that's a good vid. Enjoy!

Look on the bright side Bill- with the money you've saved not going to Spurs games you can buy a Jaguar! Once I went to the first one- lived in Austin at the time- I was hooked. I was a fanatical fan, but living out of SA I didn't think of it. I met someone with the organization and they invited me down upon hearing I was a big fan. Got in early to the game and Manu was out on the court shooting 3's by himself. Later everyone came out and it was a great experience.

I've got a good feeling about this team- the focus and timing. They aren't f*cking around! Go Spurs! I'll be hollering on your behalf!

[polandprzem]

I mentioned it in another thread, but Morrow is one of those guys who could go off for a season high against the Spurs, out of nowhere, and help them steal a game. He shot over 60% of his FGA's from outside the arc this season, and made 38% of them. That's exactly the kind of guys who crawl out of the woodwork and go nuts, while the Spurs are looking elsewhere. Not saying he will - but he could.

Today I watched Anderson Varejao blatantly leg-whip Gerald Henderson. Henderson got up into Varejao's face and I don't blame him (The refs never acknowledged the leg-whip). Maybe you call a T on Henderson because they chest-bumped, but Varejao should have been sent to the locker room. (Leg-whipping is dangerous - even the NFL has a big penalty for it.) Instead the refs called the ridiculous double-technical. Then I watched Mahinmi get shoved in the back going up for an alley-oop that would have made it a 1-point game, and changed the possession strategy. That bizarre no-call could have cost Indiana a playoff series. I still worry that the best personnel for the Thunder could be holding a whistle.

That varejao move was crazy. They took a look for multiple replays and still T'ed up both. And then funny second T for Henderson from McCutchen fro the other side of the court for talking to the bench...

[BillMc]

Look on the bright side Bill- with the money you've saved not going to Spurs games you can buy a Jaguar! Once I went to the first one- lived in Austin at the time- I was hooked. I was a fanatical fan, but living out of SA I didn't think of it. I met someone with the organization and they invited me down upon hearing I was a big fan. Got in early to the game and Manu was out on the court shooting 3's by himself. Later everyone came out and it was a great experience.

I've got a good feeling about this team- the focus and timing. They aren't f*cking around! Go Spurs! I'll be hollering on your behalf!

Cheers man! If they stay healthy, this team is going to take home the Warriors or no Warriors, LeBron or no LeBron.

Saving up for the Jag.

[GSH]

That varejao move was crazy. They took a look for multiple replays and still T'ed up both. And then funny second T for Henderson from McCutchen fro the other side of the court for talking to the bench...

After the double technical, Varejao was on the bench. Henderson was standing on the sideline by the Dubs' bench, waiting for a ball to be inbounded. Varejao stands up right next to Henderson, just off the sideline, and keeps talking . The refs did nothing. Varejao had no business off the bench, crowding a guy on the court. And after already getting one technical with the guy, he had no business continuing to talk like that. He should have been kicked twice.

Henderson finally turns and says something BACK to Varejao, and THEN the ref across the floor called another double technical, and they were both gone.

It was some of the most irresponsible officiating you'll ever see, and not a word from the league.

[K...]

In other news where's our game two thread.....or do we just reuse this one to keep the mojo?

[BillMc]

In other news where's our game two thread.....or do we just reuse this one to keep the mojo?

BatManu20 usually does it. If he hasn't set it up by an hour or two before the game I'll do it.

[kaji157]

BatManu20 usually does it. If he hasn't set it up by an hour or two before the game I'll do it.

At this point and whith the gained Mojo BatManu20 should do it or wait for him until he does.

We seem to be at the point we were after game 7 against Dallas, on ´14, if we continue to build on this performance it could be the Spurs awaken we hoped all year.

[polandprzem]

After the double technical, Varejao was on the bench. Henderson was standing on the sideline by the Dubs' bench, waiting for a ball to be inbounded. Varejao stands up right next to Henderson, just off the sideline, and keeps talking . The refs did nothing. Varejao had no business off the bench, crowding a guy on the court. And after already getting one technical with the guy, he had no business continuing to talk like that. He should have been kicked twice.

Henderson finally turns and says something BACK to Varejao, and THEN the ref across the floor called another double technical, and they were both gone.

It was some of the most irresponsible officiating you'll ever see, and not a word from the league.

Yup

And it is kinda interesting to see. GS are whining more to the refs then the Clipps tbh, and Green can do whatever he wants. he is able to have more contact to the players then the others. IDk if it's just me or not But it's pissing me off they allow it to be like that along with those controversial screens. I bet Kerr and his staff were working on it. On some ref issue they can go around. Just like Jax Bulls with the illegal D back at the end of XX century.

[BillMc]

At this point and whith the gained Mojo BatManu20 should do it or wait for him until he does.

That's what I'm saying.

[BillMc]

[TheDoctor]

Can we un-stick this thread already?

[travis2]

Just getting to this thread...a couple of quick comments.

1. The tech on DWest for the Kanter shove...I didn't check the rule book on this one, but I believe the reason DWest got the T was because it was a dead-ball personal foul. The foul on the 3 (Green shooting?) was judged to have happened first, and a dead-ball personal gets a T instead of another personal.

2. OMFG...Chris Webber has never been good behind the mic, but Marv Albert is going senile. He was OMFGawdawful...are we going to get stuck with them again tonight?

[gambit1990]

Nola doesn't have a sports book IMVHO

really? ugh. was looking forward to betting on more of the playoffs. i won both bets i made while in vegas.