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Where is that trash even from?
It's been a brutal series for Thunder fans so far. A blowout loss in Game 1, a controversial win in Game 2, and a disappointing home loss in Game 3. The Thunder now face a nearly must-win scenario at home. If the Thunder lose tonight, they'd have to overcome a 3-1 deficit. But if the Thunder can win, the series will be tied heading back into San Antonio. Any NBA veteran will tell you that Game 4 is where things really start to get tense.
Defensively, the Thunder have improved tons since Game 1. Game 2 saw Donovan go to a man-to-man strategy on defense. This allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to go off for 40+ points, but held all of the other Spurs in check. Aldridge actually was quite a bit worse off in Game 3, going just 8 of 21 from the field. But Parker was measurably better, as he went 7 of 14 from the field. Westbrook has been blamed for this gap.
Strangely, Kawhi Leonard has been stopped rather successfully by the duo of Kawhi Leonardand Dion Waiters. Leonard was 3 of 4 from three though, and had a lot of success in transition. Honestly, in Games 2 and 3, the shutdown of Kawhi has been all the Thunder could hope for.
I think the Thunder could have won Game 3 if their offense was just a bit more effective. Kanter and Westbrook barely got any time together, and Serge Ibaka only took a single shot in the fourth quarter. There were more minor problems as well. Payne made good decisions only about half the time. Waiters charged Ginobili twice. KD dropped a couple of possessions in the final minute. And Adams was shut out completely!
A mul ude of players could give the Thunder that extra boost on the offensive end. But by the same token, it's hard to imagine Aldridge and Leonard continuing to have such poor nights. The Thunder's dedicated defenders are tough, but Aldridge and Leonard are two of the most consistent scorers in the league.
In any case, the Thunder will need to rely on the superstar that isn't matched up by Kawhi Leonard on the defensive end. Westbrook can be effective against the Spurs, as we saw during his Game 2 29 point performance. But he needs to take way less threes, and way more twos. It's just what Russ is better at. Westbrook went 6 of 10 from mid-range during Game 2, but only went 0-4 during Game 3. Meanwhile, Russ took six threes during Game 2, but ten threes during Game 3. The pattern should be obvious. And I'd like to see KD try to make some good decisions out of double teams. There's no reason he should be scared of a matchup with Danny Green, and OKC needs to take advantage there every single time. Once we can get Leonard back on KD, it opens up whole new worlds for Westbrook. (Kanter could do that on his own, but I'll step off my soapbox.)
If Durant and Westbrook don't get going, it's pretty much hopeless for the Thunder. Ginobili is too wily to let Waiters be anything other than a three point shooter. Ibaka is completely reliant on OKC's stars. And Kanter will only have crazily high scoring nights against teams with no big men.
Expect the same rotation of Kanter, Waiters, and Payne off the bench. Maybe a few spot minutes for Morrow. Nick Collison appears to have fallen by the wayside at this point, as have Randy Foye and Kyle Singler. I'd also expect for Donovan to run with Adams as long as possible, as well as continue to experiment with the Twin Towers lineup.
This game is certainly winnable, but a lot is going to have to click. My money is on OKC's determination giving them the early edge they need to stay ahead. Given that West, Duncan, and Green have all been held to moderate effectiveness, I think that the Thunder's overall D is solid enough at this point. It's really just about taking care of the ball and keeping everybody involved. I mean, we do have the two best players on the floor.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 108, San Antonio Spurs 106.
The bold points really got me. How is this even writing?
Last edited by PopTheGOAT; 05-08-2016 at 02:19 PM.
Where is that trash even from?
Welcome to Loud City. Basically the thunder's version of Pounding the Rock
If the Spurs score 106 it will be a W.
How was Kawhi shut down in Game 3 when he scored 31?
Ah, thanks for the clarity! I guess it's understandable they'd write delusional poop.
Im betting whoever had written that article didn't watch the game..
Prob only watched the spinned highlights on Espn.
Thunder were close at the end if chuckbrooks chucks go in. The spurs lose that game. Same holds true for tonight
I stopped reading after this...
"Honestly, in Games 2 and 3, the shutdown of Kawhi has been all the Thunder could hope for."
Did he even watch game 3?
At least he thinks that Kawhi's good at D...
Only one who truly understands NBA will detect subtle yet overwhelming defense on Leonard.
I didn't know it was possible to play such good defense while allowing over 50 percent shooting and points much higher than average; but okay.Only one who truly understands NBA will detect subtle yet overwhelming defense on Leonard.
Elaborate please.
did TGY or KBL write this article? Only in the minds of the delusional is a 31 point game with over 50% shooting "shutdown".
Hope kawhi gets shutdown again just like game 3. And any close game will favor our Spurs.
It's been a brutal series for Thunder fans so far. A blowout loss in Game 1, a controversial win in Game 2, and a disappointing home loss in Game 3. The Thunder now face a nearly must-win scenario at home. If the Thunder lose tonight, they'd have to overcome a 3-1 deficit. But if the Thunder can win, the series will be tied heading back into San Antonio. Any NBA veteran will tell you that Game 4 is where things really start to get tense.
Defensively, the Thunder have improved tons since Game 1. Game 2 saw Donovan go to a man-to-man strategy on defense. This allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to go off for 40+ points, but held all of the other Spurs in check. Aldridge actually was quite a bit worse off in Game 3, going just 8 of 21 from the field. But Parker was measurably better, as he went 7 of 14 from the field. Westbrook has been blamed for this gap.
Strangely, Kawhi Leonard has been stopped rather successfully by the duo of Kawhi Leonard
I think the Thunder could have won Game 3 if their offense was just a bit more effective. Kanter and Westbrook barely got any time together, and Serge Ibaka only took a single shot in the fourth quarter. There were more minor problems as well. Payne made good decisions only about half the time. Waiters charged Ginobili twice. KD dropped a couple of possessions in the final minute. And Adams was shut out completely!
A mul ude of players could give the Thunder that extra boost on the offensive end. But by the same token, it's hard to imagine Aldridge and Leonard continuing to have such poor nights. The Thunder's dedicated defenders are tough, but Aldridge and Leonard are two of the most consistent scorers in the league.
In any case, the Thunder will need to rely on the superstar that isn't matched up by Kawhi Leonard on the defensive end. Westbrook can be effective against the Spurs, as we saw during his Game 2 29 point performance. But he needs to take way less threes, and way more twos. It's just what Russ is better at. Westbrook went 6 of 10 from mid-range during Game 2, but only went 0-4 during Game 3. Meanwhile, Russ took six threes during Game 2, but ten threes during Game 3. The pattern should be obvious. And I'd like to see KD try to make some good decisions out of double teams. There's no reason he should be scared of a matchup with Danny Green, and OKC needs to take advantage there every single time. Once we can get Leonard back on KD, it opens up whole new worlds for Westbrook. (Kanter could do that on his own, but I'll step off my soapbox.)
If Durant and Westbrook don't get going, it's pretty much hopeless for the Thunder. Ginobili is too wily to let Waiters be anything other than a three point shooter. Ibaka is completely reliant on OKC's stars. And Kanter will only have crazily high scoring nights against teams with no big men.
Expect the same rotation of Kanter, Waiters, and Payne off the bench. Maybe a few spot minutes for Morrow. Nick Collison appears to have fallen by the wayside at this point, as have Randy Foye and Kyle Singler. I'd also expect for Donovan to run with Adams as long as possible, as well as continue to experiment with the Twin Towers lineup.
This game is certainly winnable, but a lot is going to have to click. My money is on OKC's determination giving them the early edge they need to stay ahead. Given that West, Duncan, and Green have all been held to moderate effectiveness, I think that the Thunder's overall D is solid enough at this point. It's really just about taking care of the ball and keeping everybody involved. I mean, we do have the two best players on the floor.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 108, San Antonio Spurs 106.
The bold points really got me. How is this even writing?
"I kind of asserted my will on Kawhi."
- The Writer
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