G A M E D A Y: Spurs (37-28) @ Thunder (38-29), 730PM Central

[-Sammy-]

WHERE: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
TV: ABC national broadcast
VEGAS: O/U 211.5, Thunder -4.5

Two teams who most expected to be in the mix for the 2nd seed instead find themselves jostling with everyone other than GS and HOU just to hold on to a playoff spot. While OKC's issues have had more to do with depth and chemistry than injuries, the bottom line is the same: every game counts for both squads, as we lead these guys (and the Wolves) by mere percentage points in a three-way virtual tie for fifth place.

Gasol sits for the good guys tonight.

[ducler]

[G R E Y]

From questionable to playing but undecided as to which unit to starting:

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Welcome back, Pau!

Can we play for 48 minutes strong on both ends already? At some point, we have to keep our wits about us late in games, protect the ball, and execute. Let this game be that point.

GO SPURS GO!

[G R E Y]

Lisa Salters just said that Kawhi's "Soon" could be as soon as this Thursday at home I may cry...

[jptremblay]

"Amazing" start. Patty forcing shots, bad ball movement...and scrubs like Brewer going off like usual lately.

[Milenkovic]

Brutal offence.

[jptremblay]

Gasol just getting outplayed by Nick Collison...ok.

[imagump1313]

We should be out of the playoffs by Monday night, nice. We have way too many people who just do nothing on this team from night to night. Just Kawhi isn't going to help this team the way it is playing I'm sorry to say.

[G R E Y]

Not our best game. But the plays that determined the outcome were more about attention to detail and hustle rather than anything beyond our control. We got beaten to rebounds too much so that they got second chance opportunities that they scored on, and when we made good defensive plays, we did not capitalize often enough with buckets (although we more often than not created good shot opportunities). These 4-5 point swing plays accumulated and hurt us.

There's more detail to it, of course, but the point is that we are the same team that in the previous game took a champion team to within a rim shot of a tie despite being without our best two-way player which means the roles of the rest of the players have been season-long musical chairs and they're getting overextended, despite losing a lead late, despite facing one of the top players in the game.

It looks as if we are focusing on the results and the ways to get there are being throttled in the process. It's a mental issue, as if we left too much of ourselves in the previous game. The good thing is that we can play better - we just did.

This is the exact time to not give up, but take heart and know that reinforcements are coming and there is a lot of room for improvement.

I believe in our system and our team.

[imagump1313]

Not our best game.

That's a nice way of saying we sucked Grey lol.

But the plays that determined the outcome were more about attention to detail and hustle rather than anything beyond our control. We got beaten to rebounds too much so that they got second chance opportunities that they scored on, and when we made good defensive plays, we did not capitalize often enough with buckets (although we more often than not created good shot opportunities). These 4-5 point swing plays accumulated and hurt us.

I agree 100%. The hustle and stupid turnovers are what is annoying. We were basically taking what OKC was giving us with no resistance. And I assumed this was an important game to them.

There's more detail to it, of course, but the point is that we are the same team that in the previous game took a champion team to within a rim shot of a tie despite being without our best two-way player which means the roles of the rest of the players have been season-long musical chairs and they're getting overextended, despite losing a lead late, despite facing one of the top players in the game.

We can disagree on this. That was a disinterested Golden State team that is just waiting for the playoffs, without their best player also. All they did was sleepwalk through the game and turn it on for 4 and a half minutes and we were done.

It looks as if we are focusing on the results and the ways to get there are being throttled in the process. It's a mental issue, as if we left too much of ourselves in the previous game. The good thing is that we can play better - we just did.

I'll agree there. It was just a bad game all around, especially Aldridge. It happens and its very frustrating.

This is the exact time to not give up, but take heart and know that reinforcements are coming and there is a lot of room for improvement.

I believe in our system and our team.

Kawhi coming back will make a lot of things better and we won't need to rely as much on some guys who its obvious are in over their heads. Hopefully all this extra time they are getting will pay off later. I honestly didn't think we would contend this year anyway, even with a healthy Kawhi. It will be a great story if we somehow catch fire and make some noise.

[G R E Y]

Not our best game.

That's a nice way of saying we sucked Grey lol.

Well, I thought I'd give understatement a whirl for the sake of variety But it really was about our play; Russ was his 3D self, and of course their NBA-worst bench got hot against us, but I didn't think they did anything particularly special to mitigate our efforts. We got loose and made a comeback courtesy of Bryn who was lights out. He's great in limited role and minutes and without the pressure of being relied on too much. Such a smooth shot when he's in a flow. We started it too late, but it was good to see that we didn't just lay down and take it, that we kicked it up a notch.

There's more detail to it, of course, but the point is that we are the same team that in the previous game took a champion team to within a rim shot of a tie despite being without our best two-way player which means the roles of the rest of the players have been season-long musical chairs and they're getting overextended, despite losing a lead late, despite facing one of the top players in the game.

We can disagree on this. That was a disinterested Golden State team that is just waiting for the playoffs, without their best player also. All they did was sleepwalk through the game and turn it on for 4 and a half minutes and we were done.

That's an interesting take, and maybe it's a bit of both. Yes, they sometimes look as if they're bored, just playing with their food, but at the same time, the Rockets are pushing them so there is something to play for in the regular season. I didn't see their game today against the Wolves (went to the movies), but if they were coasting or preserving energy at any point, then it cost them. So even if they did that against us, we were right there. It's harder for them to just turn on a switch, and when Kawhi returns, the gap closes.

It looks as if we are focusing on the results and the ways to get there are being throttled in the process. It's a mental issue, as if we left too much of ourselves in the previous game. The good thing is that we can play better - we just did.

I'll agree there. It was just a bad game all around, especially Aldridge. It happens and its very frustrating.

He had a bad game, and said he was surprised with OKC's strategy for him, that it was hard for him to adjust, but he didn't look right either, like his legs had noticeably less lift and mobility. Sure enough,

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Add to that Pau's playing with pain (pre-game they were determining whether he would play depending how much he could tolerate, and whether he would start or come of the bench), and Manu looking off the last several games (more turnovers, fewer insta-points to recharge our O) after taking a couple of shots to the sternum in consecutive matches, and it made for a lot of sloppy plays. When the players know LMA isn't 100%, it really seems to affect the spirit of the team. It's like without Kawhi at least they've got LMA as an anchor, but without having the latter optimal as well, we look really out of sync. It's not an excuse, but if guys are hindered physically, it's easier for defenders to throw them off their game. These nagging aches and pains get magnified with guys playing more and out of their roles, too; it's been snowballing for a while. Looking back at these last two games, winnable, it's too bad about the results, given this:

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So basically we're shoring up for the six-game home stretch, and getting the guys who will be in against Houston some more experience along the way, instilling good habits.

This is the exact time to not give up, but take heart and know that reinforcements are coming and there is a lot of room for improvement.

I believe in our system and our team.

Kawhi coming back will make a lot of things better and we won't need to rely as much on some guys who its obvious are in over their heads. Hopefully all this extra time they are getting will pay off later. I honestly didn't think we would contend this year anyway, even with a healthy Kawhi. It will be a great story if we somehow catch fire and make some noise.

Well we were projecting to be a threat in the playoffs, but it's been a really strange season injury-wise. So yes, Kawhi returning means better pressure, role, and minutes distribution, as well as having better balance and being a bigger threat in both units. It'll be amazing seeing a restoration of balance and all our guys together again. I can't wait to see the rejuvenated whole version of our team catching fire and making some noise. A great story indeed.