Oklahoma City is One Win From the NBA Finals. Now if LeBron Could Only Get the Job Done …
Some facts and musings from Thunder 108, Spurs 103:
* Russell Westbrook (23 points, 12 assists) had six turnovers in game five. He had a total of four turnovers in five games against the Lakers. Westbrook elicits three reactions: 1) Wow, what a sick athlete playing point guard! 2) Wow, what a error-prone, boneheaded point guard. 3) Wow, where does he think he’s going in that shirt?
* James Harden’s classic NOOOOOYESSSSSSSSS 3-pointer in the final minute was your dagger. Harden scored 20 points. The Spurs still had a chance to tie the game with a three-pointer, but Manu missed from deep.
* Manu Ginobili, starting for just the 7th time this season, was unstoppable, scoring 34 points. The problem? San Antonio’s playing rotation was out of whack, and two early fouls on Diaw and Duncan further muddied things. The rotation was so bizarre that in the third quarter, when Manu went bananas (video below) and the Spurs took a 6-point lead, Popovich yanked Tony Parker for Gary Neal. Oklahoma City subsequently grabbed the lead and owned the rest of the quarter, taking a 9-point lead in the 4th. Nobody likes to challenge a Hall of Fame coach with four rings, but it wasn’t his finest performance. (Columnist Buck Harvey seems to agree.) The Spurs had a series-high 21 turnovers. Tony Parker never seemed in rhythm. Obviously the Thunder’s athletic defense was a huge reason, but I didn’t like those two moves by Pop.
* My three keys to the game were Ibaka, Collison and Perkins. They had shot 8-of-28 in the first two games in San Antonio. In game 5, the trio played as if they were at home, shooting a combined 8-for-13.
* It’s still a massive shocker to me that the Thunder can go 3-4 possessions without involving Durant (27 points on 19 shots) in the offense. Especially with a lead crumbling. Especially after mind-numbing turnovers by Westbrook and Harden. I can’t imagine OKC losing game six at home, but I’m not yet ready to get totally giddy about Durant vs. LeBron in the Finals.
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June 5th, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Spurs 0-3 since being named NBA Champs in the 3rd quarter of Game 2.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:01 AM
i like SAs chances the best against the heat. sucks that likely wont be happening.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Isnt Neal Parker’s backup? Parker looked completely gassed in the 4th quarter so I’m not sure it was a bad move to pull him at some point in the 3rd. What else was so bizarre?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:04 AM
OKC 6th team in NBA history to win 3 straight after being down 2-0…about to close it out at home in Game 6
James Harden, who I thought was a bust out of ASU, is playing out of his mind….but Durant has been the best clutch player in the postseason….hitting big shot after big shot
June 5th, 2012 at 10:04 AM
It’s still crazy to me that during the entire regular season, Harden had 0 baskets in the last 3 minutes of games with the score within 5 points.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Harden is still not a max player. Unless he wants to be the next Joe Johnson.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Danny Green starting over Ginobili probably wouldn’t have an effect on the above in any way. Parker and Manu play together all the time. – this isn’t like an Amare/Melo “combination.” I also think whether or not Danny Green started would have any material effect on the way the Thunder played offensively.
I get the rotations idea, but it seems more of a talking point than any real reason they lost. The Thunder have played pretty well in every game this series. Contrary to media overreactions on Twitter (what’s new?) real basketball people knew this series was a lot more tightly contested in games 1 & 2 in SA than 3&4 in OKC.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Ratings-master Jason: You think Miami-OKC would pull better numbers than having Boston in finals? Celts have bigger market, huge national fanbase, but no Lebron.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:06 AM
So starting Manu caused early fouls on Diaw and Duncan, which caused an out-of-whack rotaion? How would this have changed if Manu didn’t start?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:09 AM
That little preview/recap from Coach Mac talks a lot about checking Westbrook and not once is Parker named. That is baffling.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:11 AM
(Columnist Buck Harvey seems to agree.)
Buck Naked (Costanza’s porn name) > Buck Harvey.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:12 AM
We need an intervention for this clown. You look like an idiot.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:13 AM
I have no evidence to support this, but I bet a lot more of the First Take-watching sheep in this country would tune in to watch LeBron than the Celtics.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:15 AM
the NBA will always have great ratings regardless of who is playing when cherry picking random MLB playoff games for comparison purposes.
/TBL
June 5th, 2012 at 10:15 AM
James Harden is absolutely nothing like Joe Johnson as a basketball player unless the similarity you’re referring to is a non-max player inking a max deal because of inexplicably vibrant market for his services in which case I’m not sure why Harden would not want to be the next Joe Johnson.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Thunder over Heat or Boston…doesnt matter…crown em
June 5th, 2012 at 10:15 AM
pop sat parker in that stretch because ginobili was hot and would increase time he handled the ball plus parker could get a blow
whether a guy starts or not matter no. it’s the number of minutes he ends up with. i feel great about this series, took the underdog thunder at p165, but i was reminded that i put money on the heat m475 and am nervous about that all of a sudden, dammit. i forgot i did that
June 5th, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Miami has a better chance against Thunder than Spurs IMO, granted they can stop crying in transition and beat Boston.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Perfect example last night: He was a shmuck on like four straight possessions late in the fourth, then does a sweet move and buries a 16-foot jumper on the fifth possession right before Harden’s big shot.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Except that thats kind of the point
/kids these days
June 5th, 2012 at 10:17 AM
I didn’t like the play call for the Spurs’ final 3 of the night. Agreed with getting the ball to Manu (obviously), but thought they could have gotten a much better look for someone like Jackson or Leonard (look how wide open Duncan was) because OKC would double the hell out of Manu right when he touched the ball.
Of course, then you’re trusting the biggest shot of your season to Captain Jack or a rookie.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:17 AM
I have no evidence to support this, but I bet a lot more of the First Take-watching sheep in this country would tune in to watch LeBron than the Celtics.
i don’t watch any of those shoutfests but i think it’s natural that lebron would draw more eyeballs…everyone loves to see him and wade and bosh fail after their hubris last year
June 5th, 2012 at 10:17 AM
All depends on if he wants $$ or championships, and i wouldnt fault him either way. I just dont think he’s the #1 guy on championship contender.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Refs fucking things up again, as that asshole got in Manu’s way right before the last shot. Fixed.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:18 AM
didn’t help that Scott Foster got in the way on the final shot….
June 5th, 2012 at 10:19 AM
“It’s what’s best for the NBA!”
June 5th, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Another terrible headline by JMac. If Miami fails, it won’t be LeBron’s fault. If you think that, JMac, you havent actually watched the playoffs. You’re just atealing the narrative from Skip Bayless and trolling.. Oh wait…
June 5th, 2012 at 10:19 AM
I think I saw Brandon Marshall on ESPN the other day in some fuckin nerd outfit too. He was a pocket protector away from looking like one of the nerds on Saved By The Bell.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:20 AM
I’m leery of crowning anyone after the twitterverse crowned the Spurs midway through Game 2. But damn OKC looks dialed in right now.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:20 AM
I don’t think you should count out the Spurs in Game 6 just yet. Feels like a Westbrook “Hey wait I’m a superstar too, watch I’ll prove it” 7-27 shooting night might be upcoming.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:21 AM
So, obviously you think that starting Manu caused Pop to do something different in Game 5, by taking Parker out for Neal in the 3rd quarter,
Game 1, Neal enters for Parker at 3:15
Game 2, Neal enters for Parker at 2:42
Game 3, Neal enters for Parker at 3:03
Game 4, Neal enters for Parker at 1:44
but it looks like you’d be wrong.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:21 AM
I’m leery of crowning anyone after the twitterverse crowned the Spurs midway through Game 2. But damn OKC looks dialed in right now.
ha true, but have to love the way they are playing, battling, not giving up….i love their team unity
June 5th, 2012 at 10:21 AM
People like you need to go away. “The refs fixed the game” is such a lame copout. Admit defeat like a man.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Someone getting in Manu Ginoseli’s way on the final shot attempt is epic karma for the NBA’s most egregious flopper.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:22 AM
While I get this – and I’ve been critical of Westbrook for sure in the past for his selfish streak – I didn’t see Durant do anything to go get the ball. He didn’t post, run a pick and roll, really do anything.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:22 AM
That’s not even debatable, is it? Guys take the $$ 99.99% of the time. I’m tired of people acting like there’s anything more than the remotest of remote chances that guys go for rings over cash.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:24 AM
/dying
June 5th, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I’d be fine with that if I were him. Especially if OKC wins a ring, he’s free to chase money.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:26 AM
So is Scott Brooks still an idiot who knows nothing?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Wow I didn’t even see that. That headline is SEO magic.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
ha true, but have to love the way they are playing, battling, not giving up….i love their team unity
I read somewhere that Durant and Westbrook are feuding
June 5th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
I’m tired of people acting like there’s anything more than the remotest of remote chances that guys go for rings over cash.
that’s a little too cynical. jordan and bird are the gold standard for competitiveness, but there are veterans who have made their money but have no ring who may not play for free but i bet winning is a large factor in their decisions
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Man…I have to admit to laughing hard at this one. TBL is sort of like a Congressman saying crazy stuff on CSPAN. It’s like he doesn’t know A) people are watching, and B) people can fact check in like 2.5 seconds.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Take a bow.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
He’s a decent but not great coach. Durant and Thabo have bailed his ass out
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Interesting 1st quarter #s
G1: 24-18 SAS
G2 28-22 SAS
G3: 24-22 SAS
G4: 26-26
the one time he starts Manu, the one time they lose the 1st qtr.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Also, Spurs were up 3 when Parker left and when he came back in the Spurs were still leading, albeit by only 1.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
The job of columnists and bloggers is to spin a narrative… to find causation and agency in everything even though most outcomes don’t necessarily have simple discernible causes or even any logical causes. So the fact that a guy who’s job it is to spin a narrative was able to locate the lowest hanging fruit isn’t necessarily convincing.
Here’s what would get my attention: a writer or talking head who would criticize a move after it has resulted in a positive outcome or praise a move with negative results. Starting Ginobili might have been the wrong move but I don’t think there’s anyway JMac or this dude could possibly know that hence any position taken is either informed by the final score or just for the sake of argument.
Sports writing has become the simple process of surmising that every decision following an outcome must’ve caused it. Isn’t there a market for providing sports analysis to people who aren’t fucking agency seeking idiots?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I read somewhere that Durant and Westbrook are feuding
I’m talking about how OKC is a close knit team
June 5th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
did i tell you guys i’m going to see Roger Waters/The Wall at Wrigley, for free? my buddy who asked me to use the ticket is a recovering alkie so i can’t make it up by buying his drinks all night. any suggestions as to what i should do? this is not like girlfriends getting each other cute baubles as thank you gifts
June 5th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Duncan turned old again, all of a sudden. If he played in last 3 games like like he did during first two rounds of the playoffs, Spurs go to OKC with a chance to close them out. Offense isn’t the problems for Spurs. They are getting their points irregardless of individual players struggling, it’s the defense that’s causing them to lose the game. Manu goes crazy in second half last night, the game before that, they shot like 65% in fourth quarter. Yet, OKC are matching them shot for shot.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Yeah, and by the time they want to go after a ring they suck and are basically useless. See Malone, Karl and Howard, Juwan.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
They tie one time, win by 2 another, right? Hardly some scientific stuff right there.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
the one time he starts Manu, the one time they lose the 1st qtr.
Got any other examples where Duncan didnt do shit b/c he had 2 fouls? No? Damn you’re reaching here man.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I admit that my team lost in the first round and I was making a joke. Lighten up.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I am
June 5th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
I will never rip an athlete for taking the cash grab. Fans who do that are fucking idiots, because they would take the cash 90% of the time (or more) if they had a similar job offer in their field. Athletes are lucky to play 10 years in their professional sport. You have to plan for life after the game is finished.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Scalia – what time did Neal enter for Parker last night?
5:50 61-64 Gary Neal enters the game for Tony Parker
So he jumped the gun by 2-3 minutes and it cost him. Neal had an awful game, and here’s the kicker – Pop had to sub out Manu less than 2 mins later
4:07 68-69 Tony Parker enters the game for Manu Ginobili
With the Parker/Neal backcourt, and Manu on the bench … quick 6-2 spurt by OKC which continued when Manu came back. Spurs now down 81-72 at the end of the quarter.
Pop was off last night. It happens.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Sports writing has become the simple process of surmising that every decision following an outcome must’ve caused it. Isn’t there a market for providing sports analysis to people who aren’t fucking agency seeking idiots?
Yeah, and by the time they want to go after a ring they suck and are basically useless. See Malone, Karl and Howard, Juwan.
please let me know: where is the clearance sale on broad brushes this morning?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
any suggestions as to what i should do?
This and a thank you note.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
/served
June 5th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
JMac, just stop. It makes you look stupid when you cherry pick a storyline and beat it into the ground even when it doesn’t make sense. Just keep ignoring the fact that most of the spurs were missing shots and playing like garbage. Its ok, just blame it all on Pop making a lineup change. Its such an unintelligent, petty way to view the game and you are foolish to think that way. Id like to think you’re smarter than that but perhaps your goal is to get a job on ESPN where intelligent opinion and thoughtfulness is not required. Unfortunately for you, you fail to realize your readership and commenter base is 100 times more observant and intelligent that the average sports fan who is a fucking idiot sucker for shit like your narrative and Skip Bayless/Stephen A Smith
June 5th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
When I read things like this, I sincerely can’t believe that you write about the NBA. You’re trolling right? I’m not a fan of being self-referential, but my thoughts on this are here.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Coincidentally, I was just reading this disclaimer by another blogger about being wrong and found it apropos.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
You have to plan for life after the game is finished.
exactly, by getting a degree from a university, or something
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Got ‘em –
I made a Pop note last night and got 20 tweets about it. Then Barkley said the same thing. Now a columnist is saying the same thing. I’m sure plenty of people disagree. Just felt it was worth noting.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
You realize Tony Parker was terrible last night, right? Or was a Gossip Girl rerun on during the game?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Husker, and other TBL ATLers, I’m heading to Atlanta on business and staying right downtown (/Watley’d). Where are the best places to entertain myself in the evening?
/sorry to go off-topic
//Spurs are done
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
It’s also turnovers. I think that would be their #1 problem – 21 turnovers last night to 28 Thunder points. That’s your game.
Spurs defense has been very good at times (hell, look at the D on the shot by Harden, just a great play). Wasted possessions is what is killing them.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
yes, Scalia, we all watched the game and can look at the timeline:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=320604024&period=3
June 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
@got_em_looking FYI, I just tried to go to your website linked in your name, and Trend Micro blocked it as malicious/fraudulent.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Ok can you please explain how starting Genobili is the reason they lost the the first qtr or the game with something more specific than “The problem? San Antonio’s playing rotation was out of whack” … what exactly is “out of whack”
June 5th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Parker did have a bad night, yes. Flopping and turnover prone.
Duncan also vanished until late in the game. Parker and Duncan gassed? Pop rattled? Hey, these things happen.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
irregardless
not a real word, kraut
June 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Cheetah or Oasis for uhmm..adult entertainment.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
The reason the “blame pop” narrative is commn today? Its the lazy, easy way to go. Lets not talk about how Neal, Green, Bonner, Splitter, and Parker killed the team with their terrible play the past 3 games
June 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Usually when a guy takes less to go for a ring he’s at the end of his career and has already banked quite a bit. Selfishly i’d like to see OKC’s core stay together, they could be great for a long time. But ya you cant blame a guy for getting his.
Btw Westbrook hasnt had a good shooting game the whole series and OKC is still ahead.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
i’ll buy the Pop was rattled argument, doesn’t happen often to him, but he had no answer for the Thunder the past 3 games
June 5th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Oh its just a wordpress blog… and its actually SFW name notwithstanding… thats actually the only thing about me thats not fraudlent
/see I’m Nigerian so its funny.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Ewww.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Where exactly are you staying downtown? Like by the Dome and Phillips/CNN center?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Exactly. Understanding specifically how the Thunder are dismantling the Spurs requires much more effort than just saying “OMG Pop got rattled and started Manu! Spurs lose, Pop’s fault!”.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Seems like a pretty good reason to give him a few extra minutes of rest.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
“No I think just examining a substitution pattern with no understanding of what is going on during the game is the best way to analyze a basketball game” – TBL
June 5th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Wait, is that not a word?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Clermont Lounge. There is no other place you should go.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Hyatt on Peachtree.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
If Manu and Parker didn’t start the quarter together, the Spurs never even have a lead. The Spurs started on a 20-9 run that never would have happened had Danny Green started and Manu been on the bench.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I would say that the last 6 minutes of the game he added nothing as a coach. Not one play for KD when they needed it… Harden bailed them out though.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
as noted in the post, Collison/Ibaka/Perkins showed up.
i dont think you can make one sweeping statement as the reason for a defeat. several factors at play.
OKC bench > SAS bench (Jackson shot well, tho)
Parker was bad
Pop screwed up
Durant is Durant
Harden’s money shot
June 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Do the Spurs have to return the trophy they were awarded last week?
OKC role players have been insanely efficient the last 2 games. The “answer” for Ibaka/Perkins/Collison not missing is to keep letting them shoot.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
“now If only LeBron could only get the job done”
Troll hard, J-Mac.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
visiting atlanta? go to peachtree anything
June 5th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
got em –
Guys who don’t usually play together were thrust together.
Manu + 2 fouls on TD + 2 fouls on Diaw = randoms together = many turnovers.
i think 21 for the game, which was a postseason high.
and yes, OKC’s defense was a factor
June 5th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Is that the Hyatt Place Atl downtown?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
I like the idea that when coaches try to coach (Pop subbing Manu into the starting lineup) they’re all of a sudden “rattled.” Good ol’ bloggers.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:46 AM
the Narrative is the pokey/plasticy side of velcro and Jace is dressed in the fuzzy/cottony side.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:46 AM
I’m still waiting for you to explain how. Starting Manu and subbing Neal for Parker is not screwing up.
Come up with actual basketball reasons and I will respect the argument.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Weird how TBL didn’t bother to mention that the Spurs were likely leading at the time. I’m utterly shocked he left out a point that completely undercuts his inane argument.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Link?
Someone please check the frequency of lineups on the Spurs from last night. Those sites are blocked at work for me.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
You got me excited for a second there.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
fun as always, guys, but i gotta write posts.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
got em –
Guys who don’t usually play together were thrust together.
Manu + 2 fouls on TD + 2 fouls on Diaw = randoms together = many turnovers.
i think 21 for the game, which was a postseason high.
i keep thinking folks are sending jmac stats offline and then he responds
June 5th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Especially when those same people criticize other coaches for not trying something to make the other coach adjust to them. Moral of the story, coaches are always wrong.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Yeah.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
I love this…
So he screwed up by starting Manu, and putting in Neal with 5 min left in the 3rd instead of 3 min left.
I would say he made a great move by playing Manu from the beginning and SJack during crunch time…
I think Blair should get more playing time though…
June 5th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Harden’s money shot
You got me excited for a second there.
haha, then you must have also liked:
Guys who don’t usually play together were thrust together.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
If spurs win, no big deal. Doc made rotation changes and nobody’s killing him..because they won. Less Stiemsma, no Hollins, more Pietrus and Daniels and Dooling
June 5th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Is this trophy that’s named after LeBron’s tenure in Cleveland?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
From Harvey, the columnist who has probably covered the Spurs for what, 10 years? 15 years? it was linked above … i know, nobody reads the links.
Popovich’s shattered rotation added to the confusion, including a lineup in the second quarter that they had never used in the postseason.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/buck_harvey/article/Spurs-sin-they-weren-t-themselves-3609058.php#ixzz1wvl2Ec4j
ttyl
June 5th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
ttyl!
June 5th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Don’t patronize us.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
BOOM!
June 5th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
He is just full of disdain for the lowly commenters today. Expect a retweet later about how awful we are.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Yup, read it…..did you?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Cleet I just DM’d you some stuff.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Reading a sportsgal rant is fun as always much more than this
June 5th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Flawless victory at this point.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
disdain? patronize? what are you talking?
you’re creating something that isn’t there.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
DAMN. Beat me to it. Well done, sir.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Yeah, that game would have been over in the 3rd if Manu didn’t go apeshit with those 3′s. He was the only one that showed up for the Spurs.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Hi CJ! Could you go all tonya harding on Daniel Bard’s leg please?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
brb
June 5th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
….too perfect.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
The problem I have with all this is I’m like 99% sure that if the Spurs had won TBL would have given much of the credit to Pop and his bold move to put Ginobili in the starting lineup. And yes I realize TBL started this little hobbyhorse in the comments during the game last night, but that doesn’t really give me any reason to think otherwise.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Isn’t that the essence of sports discussion/analysis?
June 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Commenters like us give me no hope for humanity. There’s way too much logic, reason, and solid thought processes floating around from the commenters in this thread.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Thanks Husker, really appreciate it.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Actual interesting parallels there. Much like the Spurs this year, 09 Cavs swept the first two rounds, making it look easy while everyone hands them the trophy. Then each faced a team that caught fire. Magic (frauds) suddenly shoot like 50% from 3 for the series, just like OKC now can’t miss.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Buck’s right, Popovich lost the game in the 2nd quarter using his confused rotations.
June 5th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
yes, which is why the post has “Buck Harvey seems to agree” instead of “agrees.”
He makes a strong initial point, and then softens it with “could be excused” which is hardly firm.
Go Thunder!
June 5th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Also, this quote:
in no way even references Manu starting. It is actually preceeded by this:
And, I think that is what most of us are saying. The Spurs lost because Duncan/Parker sucked last night and because the reserve/role players (i.e. Neal, Green) have been playing very poorly.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Of course, except the retweet about how the commenters drag the site down. Why is LeBron in the title post again?
I apologize for not being around JMac, I know you love me. The bees have been keeping me very busy and I was out of town the last few days attempting to become less clueless.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Beekeeper Ben from downtown!
June 5th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
you’ve been beesy?
/holds for applause
June 5th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
God I would love it if the Spurs took OKC down in Game 6. Not that I think it would happen or I dislike OKC, but this has been a great series and I’d love to see the drama of a Game 7.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
This series has been fantastic.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
I hope there’s a post that compares the ratings from last night’s game to the lowest rated playoff baseball game played in the 1950s.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Abzzzzzolutely.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
This has been a great series and i feel like the turning point came in Game 2 when OKC managed to hang with San Antonio despite the Spurs clicking on all cylinders offensively. I think they figured some matchups out in that game.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
why were the rotations confused?
a) Manu started
b) fouls on Duncan, Diaw
had the rotations been confused at any other point in this series? Not that I’m aware of
June 5th, 2012 at 11:33 AM
The game wasn’t lost because of rotations in any way.
June 5th, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Funny. You call it a screw up by Pop. Maybe it was more of an adjustment by Pop because he knew if he didn’t get Manu on the floor more, the Thunder would roll.
Once OKC has gotten their sea legs on terra firma, they have shown that they are just plain better than San Antonio. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Spurs are having a hard time taking care of the ball, stopping OKC on the break, and scoring in the half court consistently. I saw last night’s lineup and rotations as an attempt to combat that.
Sometimes, a loss isn’t anyone’s fault. OKC played better than SA last night. In fact, the Spurs were damn lucky that they got it to 1 possession – courtesy of Westbrook playing the role of a Washington General and the 3 gray (blind) mice turning their backs to some blatant stuff at the end of the game.
June 5th, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Wally gets it…
June 5th, 2012 at 12:17 PM
OKC made one move, trapping Parker on the pick and roll and it changed the entire series. They’re bascially saying that Tim Duncan at this point in his career can’t beat them and that Parker, Ginobili and maybe Jackson are the only players on the team who can get their own shot. I don’t blame Pop for putting Ginobili in the starting lineup. If there is anything to blame him for, it was sticking with guarding Durant with Parker and Ginobili for too long when KD caught fire.
June 5th, 2012 at 12:39 PM
When Ibaka got two fouls in 44 seconds, I thought OKC was in trouble.
The foul with Parker was a joke! Ibaka is standing with his arms straight up and Parker jumps into him and initiates the contact. I was getting flashbacks of last year when Nowitzki would drop his head and make contact into the chest of the defender and the defender would get a foul called.
The foul that Ginobli drew on Ibaka was simply a veteran move. You see a guy following you up court, so you just stop and let him run into you. Funny that when Westbrok did it later against Parker, Parker was crying like a little b*$%ch.