Spurs v OKC: Tale of the Tape & Series Prediction

[GSH]

Kawhi said he wants to play at MVP level on both ends, he also knows there are areas of his offensive game he needs to improve, and with Durant on the team, he won't have the opportunity to have the ball in his balls that much to take the next step on offense.

I've opened up three threads this morning, and you've polluted all of them with this constant KawhiKrew . It's ing mental illness. You and 3-4 other aliases need to be banished to KawhiTalk. You'd be happier, and the rest of us would be much happier.

[YGWHI]

I've opened up three threads this morning, and you've polluted all of them with this constant KawhiKrew . It's ing mental illness.

I wonder what's your mental status when people call "Kawhi re ed/autistic, he will never be a scorer, his defense is overrated"...every time they post here.

You and 3-4 other aliases

Damn...I'm an alt now?

[GSH]

Damn...I'm an alt now?

I don't know what you are. Send 3-4 aliases to KawhiTalk, and it doesn't matter if you're all the same person, or all different people. You jump to a lot of unwarranted conclusions. About everything.

[Perry Mason]

Not just Kawhi. This rumor can make other Spurs players to feel expendable, they're real pros and know the business, but they also know that at least two or three of our guys will be traded in order to sign KD. It's human nature, no one likes to feel replaceable or insecure about future.

A playoffs series against OKC isn't the best time to have those negative feelings...just hate "the timming" of Lowe's article.

Lowe's probably a little salty/embarrased since he almost picked the Rockets to win the West, and did pick them as GSW's #1 rival this year. Amazing how he fell for the flukeish 2nd seed they obtained last year, ignoring all other evidence that the Rockets could not reproduce the same performance.

And he then predicted that the Spurs "would disappoint". If the Spurs get to the WCF, then there is no disappointment. We'll see about that one. But thus far, a 67 win all-time Spurs team is not really a good starter for Lowe's prediction.

Since he parted with BS, he seems to have fallen off as an analyst.

[YGWHI]

Lowe's probably a little salty/embarrased since he almost picked the Rockets to win the West, and did pick them as GSW's #1 rival this year. Amazing how he fell for the flukeish 2nd seed they obtained last year, ignoring all other evidence that the Rockets could not reproduce the same performance.

And he then predicted that the Spurs "would disappoint". If the Spurs get to the WCF, then there is no disappointment. We'll see about that one. But thus far, a 67 win all-time Spurs team is not really a good starter for Lowe's prediction.

Since he parted with BS, he seems to have fallen off as an analyst.

The timming of the article is weird. All that "Spurs buzz" just before this series? Who were those team-executives telling him it...Guys from GS? Cleveland?

Hopefully, the Spurs sign Durant in the offseason, but I hate Lowe talking about it just before OKC-SA series.

[cascaders]

How is this even a discussion, spurs is gonna win 4 straight. its going to be a sweep.

[xellos88330]

it. Sweep them.

This post is on page 4 after all.

[PopTheGOAT]

While I think the Spurs will win in 6, some of you are dangerously overconfident.

I think the Spurs win this series, GS beats POR, then we see that SA v GS matchup that everyone's been foaming at the mouth for.

[DPG21920]

Some other interesting notes from NBA.com:





Thunder take a whopping 34% of their shots from 3 (to start the playoffs). For a team that doesn't really shoot it well from 3, that's staggering. Spurs defend the 3 better than most everyone so that's another thing to look at: Can you force them to take 3's, contest them and then rebound.

[Fireball]

While I think the Spurs will win in 6, some of you are dangerously overconfident.

I agree here ... I also find it interesting that while I am looking forward to Saturday the excitement has yet to set in ... #5 really calmed me down tbh

[DPG21920]

LMA/Kawhi (and TP) getting their mid-range game going would go a loooooong way to SA's offense getting back to where it was.

SA is thriving in the paint & we all saw the 3PT shot come back for SA against MEM. BUt SA still takes a lot of mid range shots (many uncontested) and they have to hit.

[FromWayDowntown]

Thunder take a whopping 34% of their shots from 3 (to start the playoffs). For a team that doesn't really shoot it well from 3, that's staggering.

That's particularly staggering when you consider that: (1) they have Westbrook, who -- given his volume of shots as a percentage of the team's total -- should tilt that number more dramatically into the paint with his drives; and (2) it's derived from a 5 game series against a Mavericks team that really only has one significant rim protector (Mejri) and he only played about 30% of Dallas' minutes at the center position during that series.

[DPG21920]

The Thunder’s effective field goal percentage of 48.1 percent was their lowest mark against any Western Conference opponent. Their turnover rate of 19.3 per 100 possessions was their highest mark against any Western Conference opponent and the highest any team had against the Spurs. OKC’s offensive rebounding percentage of 34.9 percent was also the highest any team had against the Spurs.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2016/0...ubs:top:modtop

So this goes towards what we are discussing in this thread. Spurs defend OKC about as well as anyone, but WB/Ibaka have still found success. Spurs defend them better than most, but they don't shut them down.

Rebounding/TO's, for obvious reasons discussed, are so big and SA has had some success there although OKC has done a good job rebounding against SA this year.

[PopTheGOAT]

I agree here ... I also find it interesting that while I am looking forward to Saturday the excitement has yet to set in ... #5 really calmed me down tbh

I've been pretty busy this week, so I haven't really had time to be excited. But, I've cleared my responsibilities now, and now I'm getting antsy

The first 4 les were the cake, 5 was just icing.

BUT DAMNIT I'M LOOKING FOR SOME SPRINKLES!

[T Park]

That's particularly staggering when you consider that: (1) they have Westbrook, who -- given his volume of shots as a percentage of the team's total -- should tilt that number more dramatically into the paint with his drives; and (2) it's derived from a 5 game series against a Mavericks team that really only has one significant rim protector (Mejri) and he only played about 30% of Dallas' minutes at the center position during that series.

Yeah and had the Mavericks had a decent rotation defense, this series would still be going.

if they had Deron Williams IMO it wouldve gone 7. The Thunder only took these guys to the woodshed once. The rest of the time Dallas was ridiculously close.

[T Park]

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2016/0...ubs:top:modtop

IMO that got skewed quite a bit in the last two games that meant squat. OKC got a LOT of offensive rebounds in that third game where there was no Duncan or Aldridge.

[T Park]

I think the series will come down to who's front court is more productive, both teams probably have the best front court rotations in the NBA.

Durant
Ibaka
Adams
Kanter
Collison

Vs.
Leonard
Duncan
Aldridge
Diaw
West
Boban

The key difference is that the Spurs FC players are more interchangeable and can be effective on both ends of the floor. Duncan can play 32 mpg against the Thunder, if necessary, which bodes well for the Spurs, who like to play big.

If OKC goes small with KD and Ibaka, the Spurs can match with Diaw and Aldridge and force KD to either guard Diaw in the post or expend energy on checking Leonard late in games.

LMA seems to overpower Ibaka in the post, I would go to that match up steadily. I think that there is an added benefit of if the spurs get out to a good start or take a solid lead, that KD and Westbrook will focus on getting their shots as opposed to helping get Ibaka open looks.

Spurs had alot of success in the first home game vs OKC with the West Aldridge lineup (with is an excellent offensive pairing) againt OKC, it would be interesting to see how that pairing fairs in this series.

Agree with a lot of this.

However, IMO its almost most beneficial to have Ibaka check Aldirdge high, and let Kawhi, Parker, and others have free reign to go to the basket ALA 2014 games 1+2.

the pick and pop game between parker, Manu, Kawhi, with Aldridge and Duncan, if it can get going, ends this series quickly, because it opens up the offense from there.

[r0drig0lac]

Spurs in 4

[benefactor]

I think too many think this will be easier than it will be in actuality.

As I've talked about ad nauseam the past few years, these assholes play with supreme confidence against the Spurs and unfortunately, it's not reciprocated, though having two in their prime stars, one of whom is at the level of the Thunder's two, should help with the latter.

On top of that, it's been obvious for years that they're jealous of the Spurs, dislike them and would love nothing more than to beat them. Rightly or wrongly, I'm sure they feel that had Westbrook been healthy throughout the playoffs in '13 and Ibaka played the first two games of the WCF in '14, they'd have been in the Finals. Throw in the possibility of Durant leaving and their motivation will be sky high. Not that the Spurs' won't be, for obvious reasons, but still.

The numbers might point to Spurs in 6, but I've seen too many alarming signs from this team (especially on the road) to feel confident in that, so I'll go Spurs in 7. Thunder in 6 wouldn't shock me though.

Most predictable take of this thread.

I'm s afraid f big bad KC

[quentin_compson]

I think that OKC has a tendency to play down to their compe ion and that they are going to play better against the Spurs than they did against the Mavs. Rebounding is going to be key as the Thunder are the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA this season.

[MultiTroll]

Exceed their energy and we roll these punks.

[cd98]

To me, the fascinating thing will be to see who steps up to the plate in the Kawhi/Durrant match up (assuming Pop doesn’t opt to have Danny Green guard Durrant). If Kawhi guards Durrant, we can see who is the more mentally strong player.Kawhi surely wants to rub Durrant’s face on the court for calling him a system player, but can he capitalize in this series by owning Durrant?And Durrant, long thought of as an Beta male, will cement that image if he can’t back up his smack talk about Kawhi being a system player.I think Kawhi has more pressure in this scenario as everyone expects him to play tough D on Durrant (and get help from the #1 defensive team), but Durrant is not a defensive stopper, so if Kawhi abuses him, it will be somewhat less excusable as long as Durrant can put on a solid offensive showing.

[YGWHI]

I think Kawhi has more pressure in this scenario as everyone expects him to play tough D on Durrant (and get help from the #1 defensive team), but Durrant is not a defensive stopper, so if Kawhi abuses him, it will be somewhat less excusable as long as Durrant can put on a solid offensive showing.

Agree about the pressure...But OKC should put Roberson on Kawhi if they really want to play defense against him.

[TD 21]

Most predictable take of this thread.

I'm s afraid f big bad KC

As usual, you contribute nothing of substance and are too dumb to realize how hypocritical you are. You claim I'm predictable, yet I can't remember seeing a post from you that didn't amount to whining about other posters.

[look_at_g_shred]

As usual, you contribute nothing of substance and are too dumb to realize how hypocritical you are. You claim I'm predictable, yet I can't remember seeing a post from you that didn't amount to whining about other posters.