http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15...r-series-spurs
But there have been changes on the fringes. The Spurs are getting fewer spot-up shots, the best looks in the game, indicating the Thunder are running them off the arc -- and forcing the Spurs to cycle through second, third and fourth options. They have become more dependent on LaMarcus Aldridge in the post and Tony Parker on the pick-and-roll. They have scored just 99 points per 100 possessions over those past three games, about 10 points below their season average, and hit a miserable 48 percent on shots in the restricted area -- a mark that would have ranked last by a mile for the season, per NBA.com.
That's where Adams has been living for an astonishing 38 minutes per game over the past three battles, a full 13 minutes more than he logged on average during the season. Adams wouldn't be able to play that much had he not found ways to make himself an offensive threat -- methods that would translate into any team context, and little skills-within-skills that mesh snugly on a team with two uber stars who are going to have the ball almost all the time.Great read (see embedded GIFs)..Long story short, Tim declining in a heap has complicated this matchup..Adams has been the Thunder's third-best player in this series, and he's been so good, Donovan feels emboldened to stretch the gigantic Kanter-Adams double-mustache look over extended minutes. The two behemoths have shared the floor for 36 minutes total over the past three games, and the Thunder have blitzed San Antonio by 12 points over that span, per NBA.com.The Thunder didn't start experimenting with that look until February, and the two centers played only 127 minutes total over 27 games during the regular season. They have Voltron-ed into a weapon against the Spurs. Oklahoma City has rebounded a preposterous 48 percent of its own misses with those two on the floor over the past three games, per NBA.com.
They are just too big and strong for the West-Boris Diaw combination. Those fogies can't compete with Adams-Kanter on the glass, or finish over them on offense. The Spurs suddenly look one big man short. It has never felt more like we are witnessing the final days of Timothy Theodore Duncan. Somewhere over the past few months -- maybe due to a groin injury that sapped some of his conditioning -- Diaw lost a quarter-step or so. And that can mean everything when you can barely jump, and rely on guile to meander your way into flippy shots and silky bankers.
It's tempting to suggest that Gregg Popovich experiment again with going smaller, using Leonard at power forward and Aldridge at center. They could switch that Adams/Durant pin-down, and lots of other actions, without locking themselves into fatal mismatches. Kyle Anderson gave the Spurs six good minutes in which he didn't look out of his depth guarding Durant.
But over time, you wonder if Anderson could really hold up. Jonathon Simmonsshowed hoppy promise during the season, but the coaching staff clearly doesn't trust him now. Even mainstays Ginobili and Green have been hit-or-miss on offense. The Spurs feel a wing short of going small and a big short of playing the way they really want to play. And if they ever did dare go small against Adams-Kanter, they would risk a bludgeoning on the boards so bad as to negate any speed and shooting advantage.
And the Spurs are flawed or too inadequate roster-wise to effectively counter it by going small...
Last edited by spursistan; 05-09-2016 at 07:09 PM.
No mention of Boban.
Boban needs to play. What was an underrated staple in the "beautiful game" offense , from 12'-14' was having that efficient pick and roll guy like Splitter. It sucked in the weakside defense and opened up so much action on the weak-side of the floor.
Without a guy like Splitter or Boban, Spurs don't have that weakside action unless Kawhi or Tony really kills their man off the dribble or creates separation on the drive from the pick at the top (this barely happens). Having a big target like Splitter or Boban rolling to the basket would induce the ball movement Spurs need to beat OKC. Another thing, Bobans' length on defense should negate the effectiveness of Kanter/Adams tandem on the offensive boards. Boban actually played really well vs. the two during the season and in his short stint in the playoffs.
Boban needs to play. If he doesn't play Spurs will likely lose this series just like they did vs. the Grizzlies in 2011 when Pop stubbornly stuck with Bonner/Blair over Splitter vs. Memphis' physical frontcourt.
Great article as usual but I do think our small lineup - say Tony,Manu,Danny,Kawhi,LMA would put their bigs into so much trouble that they couldn't stay on the floor.
There is a reason Kanter has been one of the worst bigs defensively in the league, actually the worst I think, for years. Whenever not defending pure ISO he is horrible.
Then when it comes to rebounding it isn't even a given that Diaw or West are better than Kawhi.
But sure, Tim must play a bigger role and West a much lesser one.
It really is painful when losing and our greatest player ever, it feels like haven't even had a chance to turn the tide.
To a lesser extent I felt the same in the deciding game with last season with Manu. Actually I do think it was a Kawhi at the 4 lineup WITH MANU that was by far our best one in that series, yet it never got the chance to close things out if I remember correctly.
Tim and Manu are such proven winners and even now at their age have still been part of unprecedented winning all season.
Now we're depending on guys, certainly David West, who never wins anything. It's frustrating!
just had a thread saying the exact same thing
I seriously doubt this. Thiago was one of the best rollers in the league probably. He was perfect with Manu and unlike Boban moves great defensively. I mean he pretty much shut down LMA to take one great example and was a proven pick and roll defender.
I just don't think Boban has that in him at all. He is so much slower and I don't trust his hands either.
Duncan is hurt. He couldn't even walk at his sons game last week. The right knee was the only thing holding him up and now its doneso. He's playing on pain killers, trying to tough it out because its likely his last ride.
I wouldn't count on him turning it around since he's essentially playing with no legs.
that Mick from Teen Wolf looking son of a .
Wasn't implying Boban = Splitter defensively. Was pointing out Boban is like Splitter offensively when comparing how they play the Pick and Roll game ( rolling to the basket). Even Manu has said many times Boban is great in PnR because he's such a huge target rolling to the basket-- the weakside D has to pay attention and cover him -- which opens up the weakside shooters.
Well, I would try him over constantly going with West, especially with Diaw alongside him, but would still hope, pray and prefer trying Kawhi at the 4 lineups + ideally more Duncan who I really hope isn't as hurt as you say though I'm beginning to fear it.
Series is over, we win in 6
if you don't come out of game 4 with the clear notion that we are much better than them, mentally specially, you're a basketball novice.
This is another area where David West sucks, he can't roll nor hit a freaking mid-range jumper.I miss Baynes:
No time to panic thou. I still feel we are the better team. And even if we were to lose game 5 somehow. This would be a 7 game series. It would be a mirror image of the clippers spurs series last year except we would be in the clippers shoes.
Splitter might've been a good roller, but what's the point if you're going to get your blocked by Ibaka. He was a liability against OKC.
Boban is a better rim protector and doesn't crawl into a fetal position against athletic bigs
Does Becky,Messina,Udoka have the guts to tell Popovich your rotations suck.
If Steven Adams is all it takes to derail a 67 win team, then the Spurs really are fool's gold.
Duncan was big part of those wins, though. He did top the DRPM list for the majority of the year, and before the injury, he was shooting around .520 and averaging 9 points per game.
Without a reasonably healthy Duncan, we have no answer for Adams.
And didn't Pop sign Boban as an insurance policy in case Duncan can't play up to par?
I love Timmy, and emotionally, I'm all for letting him go out fighting on the court, but front of the jersey. If he's having problems early keeping Adams in check, give Boban some burn.
I don't think Tim is injured or any worse off than he was at the end of the season. He got a 4 fouls put on him and Pop took him out the game. We had the lead the entire time he played. If he is injured it's news to me. He will play in Game 5 and we will win. I think Pop just wanted to see what our guys had in them and the game turned quickly.
Duncan looks done its ing sad
This tbh
I don't know why people keep saying Boban needs to play. Pop is not going to play him now late in the series. Pop is going down with the ship. Pop hasn't even played the best lineup yet, he is stubborn. Ginobili / Diaw / Green / Leonard / Aldridge
All that resting Duncan has gone to we should be up 3-1
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