Why the Spurs Can't Handle the Thunder

[spurs10]

The only game we played them full strength was the first. I don't know what is so hard about realizing our team can't play our best when we've played 5 games in 7 days and they've been resting for 4 days. Their streak lasted 1 game.

[Old School 44]

Thanks for posting.

The Thunder are one of the few teams, maybe the only one, that can pack the paint against the Spus and retain the ability to get out and challenge their shooters. I'm not sure there's a real great solution for that, other than settling for good instead of always looking for great. Running more offense eventually exposes weaknesses in almost every defense in the NBA. Not so much with the Thunder.

Giving up 30 points off of 19 turnovers is a problem that can, however, be minimized. Ball security is always important in the playoffs, it will be absolutely critical in a series with OKC.

Agree 100%. The Spurs need to understand passes they normally make and get by most teams, don't work as well against the Thunder. They're quick to the ball and quick to recover and imo have the best help defender in Ibaka. This allows perimeter defenders to be agressive and play up on our shooters.

The Spurs probably wouldn't admit to it, but sometimes there's a little bit of showmenship with their passing. It's almost as if their competing against each other to make the next great assist. Looks great when it's working, but is a recipe for disaster against a team as athletic as the Thunder.

[Sybok]

Here's what that clip DOESN'T show you.

Kawhi did an INCREDIBLE job on Durant, and on top of it looked aggressive offensively. Very encouraging.

Thunder should've been down ~9 points at half but took and made two very low-% shots that went in

10 point game with ~6 minutes left and Pop refused to put in his starters.

Alot of the tape shown was with our second unit. Manu didn't play, and he's our playmaker on that second unit.

We won NINETEEN GAMES IN A ROW. If you are down after ONE loss I have serious doubts about your basketball knowledge. Sure, it came against the Thunder which sucks, but the Spurs were JUST FINE against the best defense in the league (Indiana) and the most athletic defense in the league (Miami)

Being upset at one loss out of 20 games isn't a sign of low basketball a en. We aren't going to face most of the teams we beat in that 19 game run, in the playoffs. We know the hurdle is OKC. We think we can beat Miami if we get back there, and we aren't remotely afraid of any other Eastern team. The fact that we cannot pull out a win against OKC should be cause for concern if you have le hopes. If you just want to have a good RS record though, it's not an issue.

Hopefully the Spurs don't face OKC. Hopefully the Rockets and the Thunder face each other, then one of them faces the Clippers. If the Spurs get the Rockets or Thunder an any round, we could be in trouble.

[Sybok]

Westbrook will shoot them out of the series. I'll bump this thread when that prophecy is fulfilled.

This is our only hope. We should let RW get some open looks so he goes off. That will keep others out of the picture. That way their defense might stagnate as well.

[exstatic]

Thanks for posting.

The Thunder are one of the few teams, maybe the only one, that can pack the paint against the Spus and retain the ability to get out and challenge their shooters. I'm not sure there's a real great solution for that, other than settling for good instead of always looking for great. Running more offense eventually exposes weaknesses in almost every defense in the NBA. Not so much with the Thunder.

Giving up 30 points off of 19 turnovers is a problem that can, however, be minimized. Ball security is always important in the playoffs, it will be absolutely critical in a series with OKC.

They only pack the paint when we dump it into the post to Tim or Tiago. Other than that, they play 3 guys out high to cover Parker and the two pickers, and two guys covering the corner shooters. The middle is wide open. That middle is the key to getting their defense to rotate, and the Spurs keys are Diaw and Manu. Both of them understand space more than about anyone in the league. You hit one of them cutting into that soft middle, and the defense has to react and rotate, or give up an 8 foot straight on jumper. That rotation, or double rotation if you can swing an extra pass is the key to uncovering shooters.

[Sean Cagney]

You can look for matchups across the Spurs lineup with opponent squads, analyze each position and try to come to some overall conclusion.

Bottom line -- teams that stop Parker match up well against the Spurs. For the past ten years. Simple as that.

That is the truth.

[ducks]

suns now have beaten them 2 out of three times
and tonight shot 50% from the free throw line

[chazley]

We haven't played a single game against OKC this season at full strength. If you read too far into it, it is a mistake.

[G-Dawgg]

The Spurs are clearly scared of OKC. They get stagefright every time the two teams meet. They start uncharacteristically throwing the ball away and turning the ball over, they start missing easy chips at the rim, and missing wide open jumpers that they normally hit in their sleep.. they clearly get over excited and rattled. They scramble around and just can't seem to execute. They are clearly intimidated. Parker seems to be the most rattled of the Spurs, and he's our engine, he's our quarterback.... The Spurs do not appear confident when they play OKC. They seem very tentative.

[look_at_g_shred]

It's showing just fine...

Not very encouraging stuff tbh, his only reason for not being super worried for the Spurs were Manu and homecourt... Very skeptical about Manu being the key against a team that plays the passing lanes like that... Then we're left with homecourt...

Ouch bruh!

[therealtruth]

Finally got rid of the 2012 WCF demons. Now to get rid of the game 6 ones.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

CIA POP?

Pop actually admitted that not having Leonard in the lineup for most of the third was a CIA Pop move, crazy good call there by Budkin