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

[bksballer89]

Even if Ibaka returns it is hard to imagine the Spurs losing 4 of the next 5. I think it is a 6 or 7 game series if he comes back though

 

[Clayton]

Does Scott Brooks have to win Game 3 to keep his job? I think there is a huge difference in Ibaka coming back and OKC being competitive and OKC getting swept in terms of how we view OKC going forward.

Another factor in this series is that Tony Parker isnt 100%. If he gets knocked out of the series somehow, it would be just as big as OKC losing Ibaka.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Kawahi Leonard was not healthy for 2 games vs. OKC
Manu Ginobili did not play in another game vs OKC.


But, hey only OKC injuries count in the injury tabulations.


The SPURS are expected to win without Kawahi or Ginobili.....totally meaningless players to SA.

 

[charlie42s]

Does Scott Brooks have to win Game 3 to keep his job? I think there is a huge difference in Ibaka coming back and OKC being competitive and OKC getting swept in terms of how we view OKC going forward.

Another factor in this series is that Tony Parker isnt 100%. If he gets knocked out of the series somehow, it would be just as big as OKC losing Ibaka.

Brooks shouldn't be fired. The GM needs to improve the bench, which can only be done if the 2 stars take pay cuts. Note that the Thunder pays their team $7 million more than the Spurs.
HoopsHype - NBA Salaries

 

[Clayton]

Brooks shouldn't be fired. The GM needs to improve the bench, which can only be done if the 2 stars take pay cuts. Note that the Thunder pays their team $7 million more than the Spurs.
HoopsHype - NBA Salaries

The elephant in the room with the Thunder is Perkins making $9 million. If him and Sefalosha come off the books then thats like $12 million...enough to go after someone

 

[Wishbone]

Perkins, Sefalosha, Fisher, and most likely Butler gone next year. Need younger better players.

 

[thunderc]

Im not sure Sefolosha missing games is a bad thing

True that, he will be lucky to get another job after this season the way he has looked.

 

[thunderc]

The elephant in the room with the Thunder is Perkins making $9 million. If him and Sefalosha come off the books then thats like $12 million...enough to go after someone

More than enough to get Diaw and another player.

 

[thunderc]

Perkins, Sefalosha, Fisher, and most likely Butler gone next year. Need younger better players.

I'm not convinced they will amnesty Perkins, everyone knows they should but I don't know if they will.

 

[charlie42s]

More than enough to get Diaw and another player.

I would be surprised if Diaw left the Spurs.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Diaw is likely resigning with SA.


He is Parker's best man and closest friend. I don't seem him chasing a payday elsewhere and the Spurs are as good as chance as any team to be on a winner.

 

[charlie42s]

Diaw is likely resigning with SA.


He is Parker's best man and closest friend. I don't seem him chasing a payday elsewhere and the Spurs are as good as chance as any team to be on a winner.

Yep.

 

[Wishbone]

Heres the breakdown.


12 Steven Adams C 20 7-0 255 Pittsburgh $2,090,880
2 Caron Butler SF 34 6-7 228 Connecticut $244,489
4 Nick Collison PF 33 6-10 255 Kansas $2,585,668
35 Kevin Durant SF 25 6-9 240 Texas $17,832,627
6 Derek Fisher PG 39 6-1 210 Arkansas-LR $884,293
9 Serge Ibaka PF 24 6-10 245 $12,350,000
15 Reggie Jackson PG 24 6-3 208 Boston College $1,260,360
7 Grant Jerrett PF 20 6-10 232 Arizona
3 Perry Jones SF 22 6-11 235 Baylor $1,082,520
11 Jeremy Lamb SG 21 6-5 185 Connecticut $2,111,160
5 Kendrick Perkins C 29 6-10 270 $8,727,437
21 Andre Roberson SG 22 6-7 210 Colorado $740,560
25 Thabo Sefolosha SG 30 6-7 222 $3,900,000
34 Hasheem Thabeet C 27 7-3 263 Connecticut $1,200,000
0 Russell Westbrook PG 25 6-3 200 UCLA $14,693,906

 

[thunderc]

Diaw is likely resigning with SA.


He is Parker's best man and closest friend. I don't seem him chasing a payday elsewhere and the Spurs are as good as chance as any team to be on a winner.

I hear ya but this is his chance and he will have to stay with who he signs with for 4 or 5 years likely. It could be argued that he should move on, especially if they win it this season.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Diaw is 32 years old......


If the Thunder want to give him a 5 year deal, that would be a horrible deal.
He is a nice compliment player with a decent all around skillset, but he is not a guy to sign for 5 years at his age.


He is looking at more of a 2-3 year deal. Unless some team loses their minds.


The Spurs will be a legit contender at least for 1 more year and likely 2 years.
So, its not a scenario where this is the last hurrah and SA is a lottery team in 2015.

 

[charlie42s]

Diaw will remain a Spurs unless some dumb team offers him more than $10 million a year.

 

[Wishbone]

The Nba is a funny thing. Okc won all for regular season games vs San Antonio with a couple of those being blowouts. Thunder lose 1 player and can't stay with in 20 points of the Spurs. Crazy

 

[Pariah]

Perkins, Sefalosha, Fisher, and most likely Butler gone next year. Need younger better players.

Collison as well.

Not sure how long is contract is, I think one more year.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

The Nba is a funny thing. Okc won all for regular season games vs San Antonio with a couple of those being blowouts. Thunder lose 1 player and can't stay with in 20 points of the Spurs

Did the Spurs have their top players in those games?

1 loss - Without Kawahi Leonard
1 loss - Without Kawahi Leonard and Tiago Splitter
1 loss - Without Manu Ginobili

I am not making excuses either, but it has been a bit of pet peeve that people just assumed OKC beat the healthy SPURS 4-0 this season. The teams have played EXACTLY ONE GAME at full strength.
OKC won by 6 points on their home court in November.

OKC is a great team. OKC plays San Antonio better than anyone lately. OKC could very well win versus a healthy Spurs team. But, they have not played a healthy Spurs team until this series..

 

[bksballer89]

Westbrook missed one of those games also.