The Spurs and Thunder battled for Western Conference supremacy Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. I picked up the game less than five minutes into the second half with the Spurs leading 65-59.
- Spurs call timeout. OKC crowd is like a rowdy Division I college crowd - loud, drunk, and always standing.
- Thunder are on 11-2 run to start third quarter. It's clear that Spurs interior defense is non-existent outside of Duncan.
- Speaking of Duncan, he just threw one down like it was 2003; temporarily stopping the bleeding.
- Westbrook offensive foul off of the ensuing TV timeout. It's clear that this team is at its best when Durant is moving with the ball, as well without it. Westbrook still hasn't found the right balance between being aggressive and setting up Durant. Scary to think about since this team is just getting started together.
- Perk leads a fast break. Repeat: Perk leads a fast break. Spurs lead 71-64 with five minutes left in third. Danny Ainge's trade of Perk doesn't look as bad as it once did. Perk is allergic to scoring and can't defend the pick and roll. He doesn't have a heart problem, though.
- Stephen Jackson doing "Stephen Jackson" things. Hits corner three to silence crowd for the moment, stares at the Thunder bench while jogging back, and is subsequently hit with a technical foul for...staring? Reggie Miller, the color commentator for the game, even said that he did that all the time. "Miller Time" would've been thrown out every time he stepped foot inside Madison Square Garden. Will chest bumping be outlawed next?
- Durant slices through the D like a hot blade through butter; too easy.
- Jackson answers back with gigantic three; 77-74 Spurs, three minutes to go in third. It should be a mandatory rule that Jackson be placed on a contender every spring, preferably in San Antonio. The guy was meant to hit big shots.
- Parker goes from playing like an MVP in the first half, to playing too tight in the second half. After a 21 point, ten assist first half, Parker goes for eight and two in the second half. Four of those second half points came as end of the game desperation layups. For as much as Boston fans purge over Rondo's inconsistencies (not that bad), Parker is much worse for Spurs fans. In his defense, Westbrook is a killer physical match up for any point guard.
- Durant hits a killer cold blooded crossover three, and OKC take the lead. It would be shocking if the Spurs win this game. That's how good the Thunder are playing, and the confidence you see on the court. From a basketball fan's perspective, this game is gold.
- Parker hits first field goal of second half off of pretty spin move and finger roll. Like Rondo, Parker is at his best when sneaking through the paint.
- Durant three puts Thunder back on top 81-80. Durant is transforming from ultra-gifted scorer/great teammate to a bona fide game changer/killer playoff performer. His movement without the basketball makes him that much more dangerous. Props to Scott Brooks for doing something more than iso's.
- Popovich = Not angry at Craig Sager and his suit.
- Thunder have all of the momentum going into the final period. Spurs look surprisingly jittery and nervous, Manu in particular.
- Popovich decides to go ultra small with Gary Neal, Manu, Kawhi Leonard, Jackson, and Boris Diaw down 84-82 and ten minutes left.
- Too small. Durant and Thunder have no deterrents going to hoop. Duncan is brought back into the game a minute later.
- Can't believe I'm saying this, but Spurs body language looks defeated and tired, while Thunder are playing like a game of NBA Jam.
- Tiago Splitter enters game; Tiago Splitter fouls Durant; Tiago Splitter gets an earful from Pop and leaves game. Thank you, come again.
- Durant takes an offensive foul with eight minutes left in the game. If you're a Spurs fan that is a death sentence, as that was Durant's - count it - first charge taken this season.
- 88-84 Thunder.
- Westbrook is fouled on a phantom call. For some reason, the Thunder are already getting beneficial/favorable calls from the officials. This has me fearing the potential Celtics-Thunder match up.
- Spurs put on a clinic in the first quarter, played an even second quarter, and were out-gunned, out-jumped, and out-hustled in the second half.
- The Thunder are deadly when put in the bonus. Ibaka is worst crunch time free throw shooter this postseason at 76 Percent.
- Duncan pulls off a vintage spin and hook off the glass over his left shoulder, but Derek Fisher hits a corner three; 96-93 Thunder with 3:30 left. No one could have predicted that Fisher would be playing crunch time minutes for the Thunder at the beginning of the season, and still be hitting annoyingly big shots. Fisher is one of the most overrated/underrated players from the past decade, a Robert Horry lite if you will.
- "Big-Game James" hits huge three; 99-93 Thunder. Spurs are like a grizzled boxing legend getting pummeled in the 15th round (reacting instead of acting); basically just hoping to land a haymaker or two.
- Westbrook grabs own rebound off of own missed free throw. Has to be disappointing for Pop to see that.
- Parker splits two defenders and puts in a difficult reverse layup; Spurs down 101-97 with two minutes left.
- Fisher hits a tough bank shot (still hard to believe that he's playing crunch time minutes), and Parker misses a baseline jumper that has Thunder ready to win...until Perk misses an open ten-foot jump shot.
- Perk, however, makes up for his miss with a dunk from a slip of a pick and roll. Game. Set. Match. 107-99 final.
- Tough to see Duncan lose like this. Hope he doesn't ride off into the sunset just yet.
- Spurs role players failed to step up after Game Two (minus Jackson). Duncan also was teams only interior presence against a physically imposing Thunder front court.
- Thunder played possessed in the second half, shooting 50 Percent from the field for the game. Brooks has found a nice rotation, and is finally getting more from his players outside of Durant iso's. They will be considerable favorites against whichever team comes out of the East.
- In related news, Sonics fans misery continues vigorously.
No comments:
Post a Comment