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

[bksballer89]

35 point home win


9 point road loss


Is Serge Ibaka worth 44 points?


It is probably a combination of the homecourt, the extra 3 days rest, and Serge Ibaka.

You damn well know know OKC didn't win by 9 tonight. This was more about a 15-20 points victory and you're a fool if you honestly think SAS is 35 points better than OKC nightly without Ibaka. Probably more like 10-15 oints

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

They didn't win by 9? I must have mis-read the boxscore.


I am sorry if they won by 15-20, I thought they won by 9 points.


Thanks for catching the error.

 

[outlaw okie]

35 point home win


9 point road loss


Is Serge Ibaka worth 44 points?


It is probably a combination of the homecourt, the extra 3 days rest, and Serge Ibaka.

He's the anchor of the team and easily a superstar in the NBA. You'll win the series, but put him in the first two games and it's a coin toss.

 

[bksballer89]

They didn't win by 9? I must have mis-read the boxscore.


I am sorry if they won by 15-20, I thought they won by 9 points.


Thanks for catching the error.

OKC obviously took their foot off the pedal. If they wanted to destroy the Spurs they could've left in all their starters. You're a clown if you actually think this was a 9 point game. It was 104-84 with 3 minutes to go when they took out Westbrook, Ibaka, and Adams as KD was already on the bench. Go ahead and be delusional. Your boys are heading back to SAS even at 2

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

I predicted the Thunder would win game 3 once I saw that it was 4 days off.


REST doesnt really help San Antonio, they don't play heavy minutes or have a true alpha dog.
It is more of the sum being greater than the parts scenario.


REST is a huge advantage for OKC as they rely so much on star players logging big minutes.
Part of the reason the Spurs won game 2 was that the Thunder stars had nothing left in their legs.


I was a bit angry when I realized how much time was between game 2 and game 3.

 

[Heatles84]

Spurs fans are morons if they think that they would be able to do what they did to OKC in games 1 and 2 in game 3 with Ibaka. Ibaka was mobile enough to make a difference as he was very effective in the paint on defense.

I almost want to say that this series hinges on how Ibaka is from here on out. Reggie Jackson starting was a good move by Scott Brooks. However, OKC still has to win game 4 and then win on San Antonio's home court. San Antonio doesn't have to ever win in OKC, so long as they hold serve at home.

 

[bksballer89]

Funny thing is the Spurs got absolutely dominated and both Westbrook/Durant shot 8-19. You think those guys are shooting so poorly on Tuesday. The Spurs will lose this series if they don't win tuesday

 

[outlaw okie]

I predicted the Thunder would win game 3 once I saw that it was 4 days off.


REST doesnt really help San Antonio, they don't play heavy minutes or have a true alpha dog.
It is more of the sum being greater than the parts scenario.


REST is a huge advantage for OKC as they rely so much on star players logging big minutes.
Part of the reason the Spurs won game 2 was that the Thunder stars had nothing left in their legs.


I was a bit angry when I realized how much time was between game 2 and game 3.

I don't see rest having anything to do with this win. Thunder are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Durant and Westbrook had Shaquille ONeal type shooting percentages compared to the Spurs.
Parker shot 4-13, Green shot 3-12, Leonard shot 4-13, Duncan shot 7-17, Diaw 3-10


Yes, Durant and Westbrook can certainly improve.
But, SA was not exactly hitting shots either.


The Spurs just did not get to the line. OKC was able to get to the FT line.
It was 31-7 at one point in the game. That was the difference.

 

[aar000n]

I can only remember seeing an offensive foul on a 3 point shot like that. Joe Dumars was being guarded and his follow through was call as an offensive foul. But that was a long time ago. It was the second year of their back to back titles. 1989 that was 25 years ago. That was a 6 point swing in the game.
Overall Spurs need to hit their 3 point shots and move the ball more.

 

[Pariah]

Thabeet was the difference maker in this game.

 

[Wishbone]

Now you know why the kept Ibaka instead of Harden. If I'm Serge Ibaka I going to the front office first thing this morning and demand a raise!

 

[thunderc]

Anyone have any doubt that Serge will make the all start team next season now? He should have this year.

 

[bksballer89]

Yes a lot of doubt. Have you seen that group of pf in the west?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

It's not uncommon for a huge result change, switching cities between games 2 and 3 .
For sure Ibaka makes a difference, but it's not a 40 pt difference.
Let's see how it goes from here.

Hopefully the series goes 6-7.

 

[Heatles84]

Now you know why the kept Ibaka instead of Harden. If I'm Serge Ibaka I going to the front office first thing this morning and demand a raise!

Ibaka makes an annual salary of $12.35 million per year. He's right where he needs to be.

Anyone have any doubt that Serge will make the all start team next season now? He should have this year.

Ibaka averaged 15.1 PPG and 8.8 RPG along with 2.7 BPG. Certainly decent stats, but that doesn't make you an all-star. I'm curious to see how he comes out in game 2 tomorrow, when adrenaline doesn't have it's usual kick.

 

[trojanfan12]

It's not uncommon for a huge result change, switching cities between games 2 and 3 .
For sure Ibaka makes a difference, but it's not a 40 pt difference.
Let's see how it goes from here.

Hopefully the series goes 6-7.

^^^THIS^^^ minus the "hopefully this series goes 6-7" part.

It was expected that, with or without Ibaka, OKC would play ALOT better in game 3 at home. There in no louder arena in the NBA than OKC's and they were desperate not to go down 0-3 because then the series really would be over.

 

[thunderc]

Ibaka makes an annual salary of $12.35 million per year. He's right where he needs to be.



Ibaka averaged 15.1 PPG and 8.8 RPG along with 2.7 BPG. Certainly decent stats, but that doesn't make you an all-star. I'm curious to see how he comes out in game 2 tomorrow, when adrenaline doesn't have it's usual kick.

Not another player in the league with his skill set, there just isn't. It's not just the stats, it's the stats the other guys don't even try to get with him in the game. He will be an all star very soon.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Its a tough place to play.
But, San Antonio has been equally as nightmarish for the Thunder.


When both teams have their healthy home rosters the last 3 seasons:


The Spurs are 7-1 @SA
The Thunder are 8-1 @OKC
OKC played an extra home game in 2012.


These two teams really protect their home courts with full rosters.

 

[thunderc]

The Thunder changed things up after 2 games of the 2012 playoffs and have been a different team against the Spurs ever since. It's pretty well documented. I still expect the spurs to win this series because of the slow start but it's pretty clear who is the better team at full strength. This spurs team is great though and I'll be rooting for them in the finals.