Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 01/13/10

[slick_watts]

Russell Westbrook / Thabo Sefolosha / Kevin Durant / Jeff Green / Nenad Krstic

VS




Tony Parker / Keith Bogans / Richard Jefferson / Tim Duncan / DeJuan Blair

Matchup

Spurs and Thunder are both 8-2 over the last ten games. We were able to take the Spurs out of their game in the last meeting, and both teams have different rotations this time around. Our bench is much improved (no more Kevin Ollie, Etan Thomas) and the Spurs have Blair in the starting lineup now.

We have to keep the defensive pressure on, it's going to be a low scoring game. The Spurs love the three so closing out on shooters like we did against NY will also be important. Tim Duncan will get his, but I think we can limit their other options.

The Spurs will harass Kevin Durant a lot though they don't really have an elite defender to put on him.

I think the key to this game is the bench play.

Some Numbers

Kevin Durant is 2nd in the league in win shares, behind LeBron James.

A Question

Can we win a game on the boards for once? Please?

[wiff]

I love the Thunders chances tonight. The Spurs played the Lakers last night and you know their old legs are feeling it. I expect the Thunder to try to fast break as much as possible. I also think the Spurs will be feeling an emotional let down going from the Lakers to the Thunder.

[Joel Embust]

Agreed, let's get another W!

[dream_catcher_9]

no Tim Duncan tonight....

[slick_watts]

No Tim Duncan means an easier go at it but it also means more 3pt shooting on the floor for San Antonio.. still not a sure thing.

[Clangus]

Blair ripped Krystic a new one.....

The Spurs came in with a stomping in mind :S

[wiff]

Jeff Green can't rebound worth a damn. He has tipped a ball into his own basket. And has tipped the ball twice to Blair.

[Clangus]

**** me where is teh defense tonight

[Clangus]

Blair going for 50 tonight

[Clangus]

I find it really interesting that teh Spurs have gone small!

[Clangus]

This is terrible. Parker going off.

Spurs scored 35 first quarter points

[OzThunder]

wow, this game has me making odd noises at the computer. We've thrown some passes that even if they didn't go straight to the spurs i don't see the point of them. HArden trying to drill it to Maynor under the backboard...

but he's wearing a headband, so i say he heats up and gets 20 in this quarter

[OzThunder]

looks now at our starting lineup rebound count,

Krstic 0
Thabo 0
Westbrook 0
Durant 1
Green 2

[Clangus]

looks now at our starting lineup rebound count,

Krstic 0
Thabo 0
Westbrook 0
Durant 1
Green 2

GFreen id dominating

[Clangus]

Lead back to 7 hopefully they can keep it going

[OzThunder]

What a run...one of the best i've seen from this team. Westbrook doing a good job of taking advantage of the speed difference between teams, Jeff Green with a few big rebounds and scores. Maybe this small ball lineup is the way to go against SA, with Durant at 4 and Jeff at 5.

[slick_watts]

Wow what a start to the game! Nice to see the offense producing, nice crisp passing.. Kevin Durant is hitting everything it seems. Too bad Jeff Green can't find the side of a barn, as usual. The defense was great in the first quarter, especially on the boards. Great job not letting the Spurs get second chance points and keeping Tony Parker out of the lane.. let him shoot those long range jumpers, he never hits those three pointers. Our starting front line was awesome..

Only negative I had from the start is the job we did on Tim Duncan, who is destroying us. Nice to see us put together this kind of lead against a healthy Spurs team regardless..

[Clangus]

Wow what a start to the game! Nice to see the offense producing, nice crisp passing.. Kevin Durant is hitting everything it seems. Too bad Jeff Green can't find the side of a barn, as usual. The defense was great in the first quarter, especially on the boards. Great job not letting the Spurs get second chance points and keeping Tony Parker out of the lane.. let him shoot those long range jumpers, he never hits those three pointers. Our starting front line was awesome..

Only negative I had from the start is the job we did on Tim Duncan, who is destroying us. Nice to see us put together this kind of lead against a healthy Spurs team regardless..

[slick_watts]

In all seriousness, obviously we know the problem is that our front court sucks and can't rebound or bang inside. Our offense was fine except for too many turnovers; but the turnovers happened because we were trying to claw back into the game.

I'm real angry that Scott Brooks hasn't gone to Serge Ibaka or Etan Thomas or even DJ White to try and slow down the Spurs in the paint. This is the perfect game for Etan Thomas against a team without a ton of athleticism, all he would have to do is rebound the ball.

[Clangus]

In all seriousness, obviously we know the problem is that our front court sucks and can't rebound or bang inside. Our offense was fine except for too many turnovers; but the turnovers happened because we were trying to claw back into the game.

I'm real angry that Scott Brooks hasn't gone to Serge Ibaka or Etan Thomas or even DJ White to try and slow down the Spurs in the paint. This is the perfect game for Etan Thomas against a team without a ton of athleticism, all he would have to do is rebound the ball.

I wondered the same thing. Where is White, Ibaka?