Game Thread: Western Conference Finals: OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs

[Shanemansj13]

They lost 4 straight 2 years ago. So, its far from over.


But, they know and remember that...they wont get overconfident like in 2012


OKC will have to win and earn it.


The SPURS wont make the 2012 mistake and ease off the intensity.


Its possible, but it is a lot harder than 2012.

Anything is a possibility, but in these circumstances I think the Spurs are playing great bball and they sren't slowing down.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

They lost 4 straight 2 years ago. So, its far from over.


But, they know and remember that...they wont get overconfident like in 2012


OKC will have to win and earn it.


The SPURS wont make the 2012 mistake and ease off the intensity.


Its possible, but it is a lot harder than 2012.

Your Spurs are going to the finals... I know you don't want to jinx them... BUT there too dam good not to get back... Finals will be a war if it's Mia which I think it will be ... Rematch would be fun to watch... That was a clinic tonight...

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

If the next game was on Friday, this series would be a 4-0 sweep.


The THUNDER are tired. Durant and Westbrook looked like they were running in molasses.


The NBA schedulers are doing them a huge favor by giving them 4 days rest.


The SPURS don't need rest. That is a myth. They are better in a shorter series.
The SPURS rely on ridiculous depth which offsets some of the older ages.


They can bring 11 bodies a night and always have a rested player.


Days of rest will help OKC more than SA.

 

[bksballer89]

If Brooks doesn't remove Thabo & Collison from the starting lineup for more offensive minded players he is truly stupid

 

[MarkOU]

I knew that was coming, but I'm not buying it.
Anybody's whose the best ( or thinks they are) at anything will have some type of ego.
The man has been elevated to super star expectations since grade school.
He brought high school basketball to ESPN.
100 million shoe contract without ever playing a game.


His humility is his hunger to win. Ask his teammates.

"Durant gets a free pass"

So why do you care? Does Durant act like Lebron? Should Durant be held to the same standards of the King decision chalk sparkle motion flooper James?

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Durant doesn't have anywhere near the self-promotion.


He doesn't have all the "Chosen One.", "We are Witnesses" and "...not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5..." stuff.


Lebron will naturally be held to a higher standard because of Lebron embracing the spotlight and demanding all eyes be on Lebron.




Durant is wired a little differently. He is a shy and quiet dude who hates the self-promotion.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

"Durant gets a free pass"

So why are you crying? Does Durant act like Lebron? Should Durant be held to the same standards of the King decision chalk sparkle motion flooper James?

I'm not crying.
Just pointing something out.
Hell, I like Durant, and would love nothing more but for Ok City to make the Spurs work for 6-7 games.
I just don't see it.

And should he be held to the standard ?
League MVP, and in a way did run his mouth saying he was done finishing 2nd... so yeah, he's open to criticism IMO.

Seems like your a bit butthurt here....

And let me know the first time any athlete on planet earth turns down millions of dollars to sit in a chair for 90 minutes to announce where he is choosing to play during his FA period...l

 

[bksballer89]

Westbrook is truly an idiot. He said OKC offense wasn't the problem tonight YOU SCORED 77 POINTS IN 4 QUARTERS

 

[Heatles84]

I still remember posts on this board saying that the Spurs would be in a hangover and had no shot of getting back to the Finals.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Anything is a possibility, but in these circumstances I think the Spurs are playing great bball and they sren't slowing down.

Possible, but I'm not seeing more than 5 games..I can see them have off shooting games, but they've given up 122, and 112...no DEF...this one is a wrap...disappointed in this series so far.

 

[trojanfan12]

Heat fans really need to drop the "everybody picks on Lebron and nobody picks on Durant or CP3 schtick".


Lebron is the best player in the game and with that comes the criticism. Add in the perceived self promotion and it just makes it worse. As a Lakers fan, I've seen plenty of it as the Lakers have had the best player in the game a time or two.


Basically, it comes down to this: enjoy the hate because it means the best player on the planet plays for your team or let him move on to another team and your team can return to no one giving a shit about them. I guarantee you that the majority of the fanbases of 29 other teams would love to have the "problem" Miami fans have right now.


In other words, stfu, quit crying and enjoy this while it lasts.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I still remember posts on this board saying that the Spurs would be in a hangover and had no shot of getting back to the Finals.

I said something to that affect but it was health based.

They had to avoid MEM, LAC and OKC (healthy) and they did. The perfect storm. If OKC is the healthy through the season they are probably the 1 seed.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

San Antonio was far more banged up than OKC and won 62 games
The SPURS set a 40 year old franchise record for injury man games lost in SA in 2013-14.


So now you are suggesting that OKC was going to win at least 63 games if they were healthy?


OKC lost westbrook for a few weeks, but they were healthy all season outside of him.
And frankly they had their best winning percentage when he was out.


OKC was no mortal lock to win 63 games (healthy or not).

 

[Heatles84]

I said something to that affect but it was health based.

They had to avoid MEM, LAC and OKC (healthy) and they did. The perfect storm. If OKC is the healthy through the season they are probably the 1 seed.

I'm sorry Bot, but I disagree with you on the first two teams. The Spurs handled the Grizzlies last year with a better coach in Hollins, and swept them. They also swept the same core group with the Clippers a couple years back. But the Spurs did get a big gift with Ibaka's injury as he was the Thunders defense.

 

[Clayton]

I'm sorry Bot, but I disagree with you on the first two teams. The Spurs handled the Grizzlies last year with a better coach in Hollins, and swept them. They also swept the same core group with the Clippers a couple years back. But the Spurs did get a big gift with Ibaka's injury as he was the Thunders defense.

Im not sure Hollins is a better coach. He gave away a series to the Clippers the year before. The Grizzlies this year were better than the Grizzlies last year by the time the playoffs started.

The difference between the 1 seed and the 8 seed and everything in between out West was slim to none. Houston just isnt a clutch team and Portland was probably just happy to be in Rd2. Every team out West would have beaten OKC without Ibaka. (Or Durant or Westbrook)

 

[gordontrue]

I have to say, as a Miami Heat fan, its good to see Danny Green lighting up the 3 in this series, as he tends to do that only every other series:

2013 1st vs Lakers - 4 3PM, 33%
2013 semis vs Warriors - 16 3PM, 45%
2013 WCF vs Grizzlies - 8 3PM, 42%
2013 Finals vs Heat - 27 3PM, 55%

2014 1st vs Mavs - 11 3PM, 55%
2014 semis vs Blazers - 8 3PM, 33%
2014 WCF vs Thunder - 11 3PM, 73%

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Heat fans really need to drop the "everybody picks on Lebron and nobody picks on Durant or CP3 schtick".


Lebron is the best player in the game and with that comes the criticism. Add in the perceived self promotion and it just makes it worse. As a Lakers fan, I've seen plenty of it as the Lakers have had the best player in the game a time or two.


Basically, it comes down to this: enjoy the hate because it means the best player on the planet plays for your team or let him move on to another team and your team can return to no one giving a shit about them. I guarantee you that the majority of the fanbases of 29 other teams would love to have the "problem" Miami fans have right now.


In other words, stfu, quit crying and enjoy this while it lasts.

You just ranting to rant?
Who mentioned hate or anything close to it?
You're off topic.

Continuing to allow your team get blown out is more of a talent and leadership thing.
Many here ( laughably)want to say Durant is the better player. THAT was the gist of my original post.


News Flash to that group....
He isn't even close.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I'm sorry Bot, but I disagree with you on the first two teams. The Spurs handled the Grizzlies last year with a better coach in Hollins, and swept them. They also swept the same core group with the Clippers a couple years back. But the Spurs did get a big gift with Ibaka's injury as he was the Thunders defense.

Clayton already said this but MEM is better this year than they were last year.

Also who do you think is better? MEM or DAL (who took SA to 7)? SA would not have made it out of the 1st round if they faced MEM this year.

 

[trojanfan12]

You just ranting to rant?
Who mentioned hate or anything close to it?
You're off topic.

Continuing to allow your team get blown out is more of a talent and leadership thing.
Many here ( laughably)want to say Durant is the better player. THAT was the gist of my original post.


News Flash to that group....
He isn't even close.

How typical of you. First of all, at no point did I address you or even include a quote from you. In fact, the first part of my statement was "Heat fans" (plural) meaning more than just you. Or do you think you are the only Heat fan?

All season long, just about every time Durant or CP3 has had an off game or missed a clutch shot, some Heat fans (plural again) get on here and whine about how "if that was Lebron, he'd be getting killed over it".

Finally, after trying (and failing) to take me to task over my post, you proceeded to prove my point.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

How typical of you. First of all, at no point did I address you or even include a quote from you. In fact, the first part of my statement was "Heat fans" (plural) meaning more than just you. Or do you think you are the only Heat fan?

All season long, just about every time Durant or CP3 has had an off game or missed a clutch shot, some Heat fans (plural again) get on here and whine about how "if that was Lebron, he'd be getting killed over it".

Finally, after trying (and failing) to take me to task over my post, you proceeded to prove my point.

Take you to task? Typical of me?
Does being a mod make you feel like your opinion can't be challenged?

I was the only person here, Heat fan or not to mention Durant.
The Ok City person was the one who took it to a 'hate' level thing vs talent/leadership.
Were you talking to him?

If your post wasn't directed to me for bringing up Durant, I'd sure be interested to know which Heat fan(s) you were directing it to.


As far as me, I never mentioned Durant during the regular season as far as having an off night.
It happens to everyone.

The games that matter are NOW.

I feel you are just mix and matches thoughts, when none of them really apply here...or at least to me.