OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[dankrutka]

It has been a while, so help me remember, what did we do different in games 3,4,5 and 6 than we did in games 1 and 2 of the WCF of 2012? Did Thabo switch to guard Parker?

Yes. That was one adjustment. We also just executed fantastically and in addition to KD and Russ, Harden had a huge series.

Here's a depressing write up from Zach Lowe, who is the best in the business in my opinion, on why Ibaka's loss hurts so much: Conference Finals Preview: How the Absence of Ibaka Will Tip the Series to the Spurs «

And here's a more optimistic analysis: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/t...ng-new-lineup/

[Stan Silliman]

Where are the biggest sports bar screens in the city to watch the game?

[warreng88]

Where are the biggest sports bar screens in the city to watch the game?

BWW on Expressway, Edmond and Moore (those are the only ones I have been to and they all have projector screens), Belle Isle Brewery upstairs bar (smoking), RePUBlic and BJ's. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

[Laramie]

Parker was unbelievable in the Portland Series. Scott Brooks should look at what Dallas did defensively against Parker.

Thunder have no chance unless they can contain him. Duncan will be Duncan and Leonard will have an impact. However, in games 3-6 of the 2012 series, OKC figured out how to keep Parker out of the lane. Without Ibaka, it will be tough.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs

We have the tools and the knowledge to beat the Spurs:

2011-14: The Thunder are 4-2 against the Spurs in playoff meetings; we are 7 - 4 against them in the regular season during that time span.

Scott Brooks already has a plan for the Spurs. Sure, the playoffs are a different animal; the Spurs are the team that should be concerned about the Thunder. The last time we met in the playoffs, we spotted them the first two games; then beat them four straight. This year we have beaten them four straight; once without Westbrook. If we are resilient and make the right adjustments; we will wear the Spurs down. They had an easy series against Portland (4-1) after pulling a full seven games against Dallas.


Playoffs: Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio

Results of 2011-12 Playoff Finals: Thunder win series 4-2

Game

1. @San Antonio (L) 101-98
2. @San Antonio (L) 120-111

3. @Oklahoma City (W) 102-82
4. @Oklahoma City (W) 109-103

5. @San Antonio (W) 108-103

6. @Oklahoma City (W) 107-99

Regular seasons: (2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12)

2013-14 Regular season results: Thunder win regular season series 4-0

Game

1. @Oklahoma City (W) 94-88
2. @ San Antonio (W) 113-100
3. @ San Antonio (W) 111-105
4. @Oklahoma City (W) 106-94

2012-13 Regular season results: Series tied 2 - 2

Game

1. @San Antonio (L) 88-86
2. @Oklahoma City (W) 107-93
3. @San Antonio (L) 105-93
4. @Oklahoma City (W) 100-88

2011-12 Results: San Antonio won series 2 - 1

Game

1. @Oklahoma City (W) 108-96
2. @San Antonio (L) 107-96
3. @Oklahoma City (L) 114-105

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[BrettM2]

We're lucky to be down 8 at the half. Good news: our interior defense can't get much worse. Bad news: if it doesn't get better, it'll be uphill every game. San Antonio is too good not take take advantage of this kind of situation.

[Dustin]

It ain't over til it's over! Thunder actually took the lead in the 3rd.

[Jake]

Ibaka in the early running for Defensive Player of the Year next year.

[Easy180]

Freakin nail biter tonight.

[Mel]

Bummer. Still 6 games to go though. Thunder Up!

[ljbab728]

Bummer. Still 6 games to go though. Thunder Up!

Very true. Remember the first playoff game against the Clippers?

[Mississippi Blues]

Very true. Remember the first playoff game against the Clippers?

That game also ended 122-105.

[OKCisOK4me]

I was at Urban Johnny last night watching the game and I remember late in the 4th, Butler hit a 3 - pointer and I've heard people cheer even when it didn't matter and that didn't happen last night.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

[Anonymous.]

Yea, pretty much the fans have already accepted our fate. Losing Ibaka is the ideal situation for the Spurs. I am actually surprised we were competitive for as long as we were, last night.

Maybe we can steal tomorrow and try to push through with HCA.

[Laramie]

The injury bug reared its ugly head against one of our key starters for back-to-back years in the Western Conference playoffs. It hurt us last season against Memphis without Westbrook; now Ibaka is out--what a blow to open the finals against a veteran-laced Spurs squad.

Durant 28, Westbrook 25 scored 53 of our 105 points. Need more production from three of the five starters (Sefolosha 0, Perkins 5, Collison 0). The Spurs exploited the Ibaka-less Thunder inside the paint 66-32. Our bench production (47 - 43 over S.A.) was good (Fisher 16, Jackson 13, Butler 9, Adams 4).

San Antonio's experience showed tonight. Popovich has the luxury of being able to rotate & rest his players. Someone needs to step up defensively for us inside the paint. Our best chance will be to stretch this series out and wear them down.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs - Box Score - May 19, 2014 - ESPN

You would think that a city like San Antonio who finished the season with the best record in the NBA 62-20 could have sold out all of their regular season games. The AT&T Center seats 18,581; the Spurs averaged 18,415. San Antonio like OKC only has one major league team. Their metropolitan areas of boasts 2,277,550. Oklahoma City has 1,319,677 in its metropolitan, 906,000 less than S. A.

Oklahoma City Thunder has approximately 150 consecutive sellouts of 18,203.

2013-2014 NBA Attendance - National Basketball Association - ESPN

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

And here's a more optimistic analysis: The Thunder May Have Just Discovered an Amazing New Lineup | FiveThirtyEight

Scott Brooks didn't even use the lineup that destroyed the Clippers after Ibaka went down in game 6 for one minute last night...

Adding Collison, a woeful offensive player, to a starting lineup with arguably the two worst offensive starters in the NBA seemed pretty dumb too. Also, KD and Russ should never both be off the floor at the same time. Stagger their minutes.

Having said all that, those lineups are probably not the major factors in the loss.

[warreng88]

Very true. Remember the first playoff game against the Clippers?

Remember the first two games about SA in 2012?

[OKCisOK4me]

Remember the first two games about SA in 2012?

Won 4 in a row after that. Spurs were 1 seed then too.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

[warreng88]

Won 4 in a row after that. Spurs were 1 seed then too.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

Exactly. Also, there is an article in the Oklahoman (referencing yahoo) that says Serge might try to come back if we can get to the next round.

Is Serge Ibaka trying a postseason comeback? | News OK

[Stan Silliman]

Scott Brooks didn't even use the lineup that destroyed the Clippers after Ibaka went down in game 6 for one minute last night...

Adding Collison, a woeful offensive player, to a starting lineup with arguably the two worst offensive starters in the NBA seemed pretty dumb too. Also, KD and Russ should never both be off the floor at the same time. Stagger their minutes.

Having said all that, those lineups are probably not the major factors in the loss.

Collison might be woeful, but isn't he the best offensive big man of what we have left?
Collison has always been pretty consistent with the mid-range jumper. Not Ibaka consistent
but very good.

Sefalosha is a question mark. Last year he was our best or second best three point shooter
giving him Bruce Bowen type qualities. We need him to be a disruptor but we need to pull the
trigger quicker and insert Butler if he's losing confidence in his jumper.

I keep thinking Perry Jones can help. He splashes the three and can run guys off the line. Plus
he's got enough mobility to not be in trouble if a short guy tries to post him up inside.

[dankrutka]

No. Collison is not a very good jump shooter. It takes him forever to get it off and he rarely takes them. His percentages (except on 3s) aren't terrible, but he basically can't shoot it unless he's wide open, which makes him a pretty weak offensive weapon. Thabo was a good 3 point shooter last year, but last year is long gone. He's been an awful shooter all season long. The Spurs kept baiting him to pump fake and take 15 foot jumpers and he bricked, or airballed, them all.

I'd start either Butler, Jones, or Jackson. Lamb just seems likes he's not ready. He was good earlier in the year, but really faded down the stretch.

The problem is that we're having to experiment to find functional line ups in the Western Conference Finals. Obviously not ideal.

[OSUMom]

We sure could use the Butler that showed up to games in the regular season. Not this non-entity that has appeared for the playoffs.

[Prunepicker]

Occasionally I feel a little bit guilty for not watching every Thunder game.

The truth be told, I don't like basketball. In fact I can't stand it. It's
about as boring as an activity can be. As a matter of fact I call basketball
"competitive aerobics".

I'd rather watch a stimulating chess match or a baseball game. As a
matter of fact I see little difference.

Basketball is all about getting the ball to the big scorer unless the
other scorer will work.

People who watch basketball aren't stupid. They simply don't expect much.

I will admit that any game, even soccer, is exciting during the last minute.
With baseball every inning is the last minute.

I've only talked to one person who can explain basketball and the plays.
Believe me, basketball isn't a fast game. That's a misconception.

[BrettM2]

^^

Why does this even matter? You don't like basketball. Congratulations.

[Prunepicker]

Why does this even matter? You don't like basketball. Congratulations.

My post explains it succinctly. Maybe you should read it again.

[OKCisOK4me]

Honestly, I feel absolutely nothing when I miss a Thunder game because I know they're gonna do what they're gonna do whether I watch them or not.

Truth be told, I love basketball and I can't stand to miss it. I love it even more than football and its one of the best activities I can think of. As a matter of fact, I call basketball, basket ball (with a space in it, in honor of James Naismith who invented the sport in 1891).

I'd rather watch it over football because even though they call it a non contact sport, it really is a contact sport. To me, it's amazing how much the sport has morphed since it was first played. Did you know the first games were played 9-on-9 and that dribbling did not exist? It's all a rather interesting read. To me, football, with its thick playbook is somewhat like a chess match...too much stimulation for my brain which only wants to watch a back and forth contest on wood instead of grass.

I will admit that any sport, except for croquet or badminton, can be exciting but basketball just gets my heart pounding--especially Thunder basketball.

I've talked to several people that think that they're qualified to replace Scottie Brooks and run the team. Believe me, they're in for a shock cause basketball operations in the NBA is one tough cookie to crumble. They're totally delusional.

^^sorry, Prunepricker. I just had to do that ;-)