Game #9 Preview: Spurs @ Thunder
by Tim C. on Nov 14, 2010 10:41 AM CST
in Game Previews
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So the Spurs are 7-1, and have won 6 in a row. Last night, the very thought of this made me positively giddy. But then I realized it's only good enough for 3rd in the insane Western Conference, and some good teams are going to come knocking soon. Starting with the first SEGABABA of the year, tonight in Oklahoma City.
Here's a look at the rest of the Spurs' November schedule, just in case you were getting used to playing bad teams every single game.
Nov. 17th: Chicago
Nov. 19th: @ Utah
Nov. 20th: Cleveland
Nov. 22nd: Orlando
Nov. 24th: @ Minnesota
Nov. 26th: Dallas
Nov. 28th: @ New Orleans
Nov. 30th: @ Golden State
If we can survive that stretch and still be 3rd in the West, I'll be shocked. Shocked, I say. Am I right to be so concerned? It's hard to say, so here's a song for your listening enjoyment:
Paging Mr. BlaseE...
Tonight's opponent is a bit easier than our next two, so it would be awesome if we could start off this rougher part of the schedule with a win. The Thunder are actually much, much worse on defense than I thought, and worse than they were last year. Also, their greatest weakness is the 3-point line, on both sides of the ball. Which is good, because we're the best team in the league at making threes, and the worst at defending them. So, look for that to be one of the big keys to tonight's game.
And now, your regularly-scheduled preview.
 San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder Where: Ford Center, Oklahoma City When: 11/14/2010, 6:00PM Spurs Time - Timezone Converter Watch: FSSW
By the Numbers
Data source: basketball-reference.com |
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Lineups
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Lineups
Starters
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Matchup Analysis
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Intangibles | |
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Mojo | |
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Winner |
Starters
PG: Russell Westbrook is on my fantasy team in the PtR league. This is how I know he's having a really good year so far. Also having a good year, Frenchie McWonderbutt, averaging (so far) more assists than he has any other season. Oh, by the way, both of these guys are incredible scorers.
SG: Thabo is a great, great defensive player. But Manu is a member of the FSM's family. Any questions?
SF: With all due respect to how well RJ 2.0 has been playing this year, he's up against the league's leading scorer(for the second straight season), who also happens to be a very good defensive player. I only hope RJ 2.0 can hold his own.
PF: Whether it's Green(listed as day to day because of a mild left ankle sprain) or Ibaka, both are better defensively than our Beast. Blair hasn't been playing very well thus far in the season, save for the last two games. I may start giving him the spur if he starts playing better consistently.
C: Let's see... Duncan vs. Krstic. I'm gonna go ahead and pick the GOATPUFF.
Bench
George, Tiago, Gary Neal and company will look to maintain a high level of play for us off the bench. This bench has some incredible players, and the Thunderclusters actually look a little thin. Not that those young whippersnappers in the starting lineup need a lot of rest, but still...
Coaching
Brooks seems to be a good coach, but this year will be a big test. His team isn't sneaking up on anybody this season, so it'll be interesting to see how even-keeled he can keep the team. On the other side, Pop has our guys off to their best start in a long time.
Intangibles
OKC gets to the line more than any team not names the Miami Heat. And once they get there, nobody's better at making the freebies. So basically, let's not foul a lot tonight, OK?
Mojo
Once again, we have Manu.
Prediction
Even though this is a tough test for our guys, I believe in them. Let's get the W.
Other Reading
Spurs
48 Minutes of Hell - You know the drill. Best analysis on the Spurs-o-net.
Thunder
Welcome to Loud City(SB Nation) - Mr. P may not be there, but the guys who took over have done a really good job. Go check it out.
Following Along
TV
Fox Sports Southwest, NBA League Pass
Radio
WOAI 1200AM; Audio League Pass[streaming]
Online
As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area.
Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. You can also shoot an email to poundingtherockmail@yahoo.com(IMPORTANT: Please include your PtR username in the email for reference) for further assistance.
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Double Spur for the GOATPUFF? I approve!
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Nov 14, 2010 10:51 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
GOL, that’s hilarious!
And who wouldn’t approve of the double spur? I bet Krstic himself would give at least 3 =)
"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on DeJuan Blair
by Manu ex Machina on Nov 14, 2010 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Nov 14, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
A subtle blocking foul by the fabulous Fab.
Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.
Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.
by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 14, 2010 3:45 PM CST up reply actions
Fuck it, Spurs by 55
"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili
by spursfan87 on Nov 14, 2010 11:00 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Attaboy!
"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on DeJuan Blair
by Manu ex Machina on Nov 14, 2010 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
Interesting that you see the Thunder as easier than a home game vs the Bulls. However, Spurs went 3-1 vs OKC last season while 0-2 vs the Bulls so you may be correct.
Last year TD missed the first game @OKC, Tony the second yet Spurs won both (and both were SEGABABA). Main guys are all aboard tonight so let’s run the Thunder into the ground while shooting the lights out.
Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Indeed, I do remember TD and Tony missing those games, but Manu is what I remember most.
FEAR THE BOLD SPOT.
by spursfan_needs_counseling on Nov 14, 2010 1:21 PM CST up reply actions
Haha. “The Bold Spot.” JRW will love it.
"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on DeJuan Blair
by Manu ex Machina on Nov 14, 2010 1:22 PM CST up reply actions
I know, he is the master at quotes, hope he doesn’t mind the twist.
by spursfan_needs_counseling on Nov 14, 2010 1:29 PM CST up reply actions
FEAR THE BOLD SPOT
Well, it’s certainly intriguing. Like there’s so much boldness in his being, that it had to find a way out, and the top of his head suffered as a result.
The point with intangibles is that no one can see them.
Well, I’ve heard that that one of the causes of baldness is an excess of testosterone, so your theory might have legs to it. :)
Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.
Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.
by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 15, 2010 5:57 PM CST up reply actions
Thunder have been in holes this season and have come back because the other team lost their focus. Our Spurs have had trouble this year keeping their attention on their opponent when they get a big lead.
We can win but I can see us getting toasted too.
Yeah, it’s not hard to imagine the outcome going either way, but I still have confidence in our Spurs. With all the potential shooting threats we have, Thunder D is going to have a rough outing. Also, we have a big advantage in the frontcourt. I don’t exactly believe Ibaka will give us much trouble, and with Green out, they don’t have anyone we can’t guard down there. I can see Duncan and Tiago making a living against Krstic and the other bodies OKC will throw out there.
"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on DeJuan Blair
by Manu ex Machina on Nov 14, 2010 1:33 PM CST up reply actions
same here
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Nov 14, 2010 1:30 PM CST up reply actions
Though our guys are on a SEGABABA, OKC played a tough game late Friday night. KD, Westbrook, Krstic all played over 40 minutes as they had to come from behind. Let’s jump ’em early, make our 3s and pound them in the paint.
I’m also enjoying the faster pace on offense. Tony’s assists are up and, even though the quicker pace has led to more team turnovers, they’ve mostly been the dead-ball variety. As these guys get more comfortable with running, they’ll expect what the passer and finisher will do which should lead to better execution and more points later in the season.
Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
OK, pre-season’s over. Time to find out what these Spurs are really made of…..
Oh, the season’s already eight games old, you say? Funny, it seemed to me like that entire 7-1 stretch had a pre-season feel to it, with the team still working off the rust from the off-season. But this next stretch against tougher teams will give us a better idea if our guys are for real or not, and answer some questions:
- Will RJ 2.0 continue his efficient, red-hot play?
- Will Tony continue to dish out dimes like they’re free?
- Will Manu continue… to be Manu? That’s not really a question. The real question is, will he come off the bench during this upcoming stretch?
- Will Duncan continue to prove me wrong whenever I question if he still has it?
- Will Blair and Hill get back on track? (Playing better the past few games, but still….)
- Will Dice…. I don’t have any questions about McDyess.
- Will Splitter continue to ramp up at an extraordinary fast rate?
- Will Bonner shake off the rust (that’s not on his head)?
- Will Neal continue to surprise us with triples, rebounding, confidence, whatever he comes up with?
- Will Anderson heal quickly?
- Will Gee see more minutes, or is he Austin-bound?
- Will Quinn get another opportunity to play 12 minutes in a game?
Lots of questions. Answers to come…
Tim, great preview, btw. I had read in the Basketball Prospectus that the Thunder had the worst 3 pt FG% offense and defense, but I checked the official NBA stats, and you’re right, Tim — the Spurs have the worst 3 pt FG% defense and best 3 pt FG% offense. Interestingly the same number for both, 42.7%. The Thunder have the worst 3 pt FG% offense and third-worst FG% defense. It’d be nice to say that we’ll win the battle behind the arc, but the pessimist in me is worried about fluke events and performances in today’s game.
That, and the ability of the Thunder to come back from behind… they did so twice against the Blazers already, but don’t ask me how they did it while shooting the 3 so poorly. Given that the Spurs barely held on to big leads against the likes of Houston, Charlotte, etc., they could be in trouble if they follow a similar script at OKC.
Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.
Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.
by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 14, 2010 4:45 PM CST reply actions
Roy is in more and more pain(and slowing down) with every minute he plays for the Blazers. So, that might have something to do with it.
Great point.
Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.
Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.
by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 14, 2010 4:50 PM CST up reply actions
Roy is hammered, and Miller hurt his leg.
The fact that the blazers threw Bayless to the hornets is going to look really bad for them if Roy is getting his knee drained every 5 minutes.
I have Roy in about 3 fantasy leagues. Sucks.
"When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges."
One more question I forgot to add:
Will Temple…
Will Jerrells…
Will Simmons…
Will Gist…
never mind.
Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.
Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.
by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 14, 2010 4:49 PM CST up reply actions
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