The Spurs don't win that game if they were still plagued by RJ

[Stringer_Bell]

I feel like RJ was too neutral - didn't win it for us, didn't lose it for us, but I gave up expecting anything from him. Tonight at the end, I was thinking - someone's gotta step-up. Kawhi's defense and Danny's offense were key in a game that felt really intense in the 4th. The young guns didn't back down...and Manu and SJax weren't even playing.

[crc21209]

I feel much more comfortable watching the Spurs without RJ now. Even though he did give us some good (sometimes great) 3-point shooting, he never brought anything else to the table. His defense and energy was so half assed that other guys had to make up for his mistakes. It's fun to see guys like Leonard and Green step up with no fear and go make some plays out there. even DeJuan isnt afraid to make mistakes, even though he makes some BIG mistakes at times. It seems the only ginger left on our team is Bonner now...

[timtonymanu]

I feel much more comfortable watching the Spurs without RJ now. Even though he did give us some good (sometimes great) 3-point shooting, he never brought anything else to the table. His defense and energy was so half assed that other guys had to make up for his mistakes. It's fun to see guys like Leonard and Green step up with no fear and go make some plays out there. even DeJuan isnt afraid to make mistakes, even though he makes some BIG mistakes at times. It seems the only ginger left on our team is Bonner now...

I definitely don't feel aggravated anymore now that RJ is gone. I actually watch a group of guys that ALL play hard. Great to see.

[crc21209]

I definitely don't feel aggravated anymore now that RJ is gone. I actually watch a group of guys that ALL play hard. Great to see.

Exactly. At least we know these guys give a damn. I couldnt always say the same for RJ....

[timvp]

To me, what was great about this win, and I'm sure Scotty Brooks will disagree though I'm curious if L.J. will, is that the Thunder played a GREAT game in many respects.

I mean forget the obvious for a second that we were on the road w/o two of our best five offensive and defensive players in Manu and Tiago and that we didn't have the luxury of Jackson in the rotation either.

Even without that it's still a totally high-quality win because the difference in the Thunder's defensive intensity between the last time the Spurs rolled them at SA and tonight was like night and day.

Westbrook's intensity was noticeably different and he was determined to not let Tony punk him again and their bigs were -bent on letting Parker penetrate either. The Spurs would've been blown out early if their defense didn't match OKC's intensity on the interior defense (and if the Thunder didn't miss some early lay-ups).

To Tony's credit, he figured out what OKC were doing and he adjusted to the sagging big men, getting Blair some easy buckets. Then, when the Thunder countered that, we were able to get open looks on the three point line and Leonard and Green made OKC pay.

Still, I thought the Thunder played absolutely as well as they could defensively. They limited Parker's lay-ups, made things difficult for Duncan inside with Ibaka, Perkings and Collison. They forced 17 turnovers. The Spurs 16 offensive rebounds were a product of the Thunder playing small ball practically all game, because you can't take away everything.

Blair hit 3 or 4 miracle shots for him and Kawhi and Green both were unconscious from deep. Still, when Brooks looks at the tape I think he'll realize there's not much more they could've done. They forced 24 second violations, got the guy they wanted on the Spurs to take the shots they wanted him to take, and still lost.

Very good post

It's difficult to disagree with any of your points. The Spurs offense is rolling right now and it dominated tonight despite the Thunder giving really good effort on that end. They had a gameplan and were locked in ... but the Spurs were still dicing 'em up.

OKC had a few breakdowns here and there when TP beat an initial trap and the help defense was late but Brooks really isn't going to have much to complain about when he watches the tape.

I dare say we are better than these guys. Or at least, we're a bad match-up for them. They're a jump-shooting team (Harden was great by the way) and nobody is gonna win a 4-of-7 jumpshooting contest against the Spurs. Our backcourt is too good for that, we get more open looks per 48 minutes than the other guys and we've got too many guys who can knock down open shots.

The Lakers and Grizzlies might be another story because of their size, and the Bulls and Heat are at a whole other level because of their perimeter athleticism, but I don't fear the Thunder.

Before the game, I said that a series with the Thunder would be a tossup as long as the Spurs are healthy. After this game, I'm not ready to say a healthy Spurs team would be the favorites ... but I'm close to getting to that point.

The playoffs is a lot about matchups and the Spurs really do match up well against OKC.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

People need to give it a rest with Green and Leonard allowing there man to get in front of them. Its how the Spurs play pick and roll. We don't hedge real hard with our bigs instead we zone our big back in the paint and go over the screen. Its not like these are isos where they are just getting taken to the rim.

Fighting over screens sucks. Compare how they do it as opposed to Gary Neal, James Anderson or Manu Ginobili. Teams set good picks in the NBA and the NBA is reluctant to call fouls on hip checks.

Think how other teams just sell out and double the ball and Splitter rolls wide open to the basket. Thats how most teams play pick and roll. The Spurs don't do that.

This is similar to how we played in the 99 season but our guys were allowed to use their hands on the perimeter which helps you slow someone down going through double screens. When you got beat you did not foul and you covered the passing lanes but you also had Robinson and Duncan to protect the rim.

[pgardn]

People need to give it a rest with Green and Leonard allowing there man to get in front of them. Its how the Spurs play pick and roll. We don't hedge real hard with our bigs instead we zone our big back in the paint and go over the screen. Its not like these are isos where they are just getting taken to the rim.

Fighting over screens sucks. Compare how they do it as opposed to Gary Neal, James Anderson or Manu Ginobili. Teams set good picks in the NBA and the NBA is reluctant to call fouls on hip checks.

Think how other teams just sell out and double the ball and Splitter rolls wide open to the basket. Thats how most teams play pick and roll. The Spurs don't do that.

This is similar to how we played in the 99 season but our guys were allowed to use their hands on the perimeter which helps you slow someone down going through double screens. When you got beat you did not foul and you covered the passing lanes but you also had Robinson and Duncan to protect the rim.

We dared em to beat us. We would close out hard on 3's, we would funnel everything baseline and dare them to try Robinson/Duncan.

And the rule change is huge for all defenses. We will never see another defensive team like 99. I give huge credit to Pop for this defense. He knew what he had and used it to full advantage.

We also use the hip check to full advantage with Duncan presently, except it is more of a butt cheek check. Duncan looking away sticking his bum out gives Parker just enough to turn the corner.

[TD 21]

Don't know if it's the homer in me talking but I truly believe that. Not folding after the comeback took heart, toughness, single-mindedness and determination. Those are traits Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard boast. RJ? Not so much.

Addition by subtraction, at the very least.

Exactly. And that's why this trade can't fail. Even if they can't reign Jackson in and/or he proves to be completely washed up, it's not like the cupboard's bare at SF. Leonard/Green lack playoff experience, but they're very serviceable options.