Used to get his looks off of drive-and-kicks. Offense is more post-oriented with LMA being force-fed down low. Combine that with the fact that Parker hasn't been as effective getting to the paint, and Danny isn't able to catch and shoot as much as he did in the previous couple of years.
The System vs. The Servant: The Official San Antonio Spurs vs. OKC Thunder Playoff Thread
Used to get his looks off of drive-and-kicks. Offense is more post-oriented with LMA being force-fed down low. Combine that with the fact that Parker hasn't been as effective getting to the paint, and Danny isn't able to catch and shoot as much as he did in the previous couple of years.
Inside The NBA: Spurs-Thunder Prediction
> Game 1 of the Spurs-Thunder conference semifinals series is Saturday. Who or what is the X factor in this series? And which team do you predict will advance?
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: Danny Green, as another Spurs’ on-ball defender, is my X factor. When an opponent has two explosive scoring stars such as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, it means some San Antonio player has to step up besides Kawhi Leonard. Green has the size to match up with Westbrook and the fundamentals to make deny or bother Durant while chewing up some shot clock. He also can force OKC’s guys to work at the other end if he’s able to contribute offensively. Green’s 40 percent shooting from the arc against Memphis was a nice start, a bump from his 33 percent of the regular season. Where does it all end? Barring any more of these playoff-convulsing injuries we’ve been getting, I think San Antonio advances in six or seven games.
Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: Serge Ibaka is my X factor. When he’s running the floor, guarding the lane and also knocking down jumpers, he’s an athletic force that can be tough for the Spurs to handle. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook demanding so much attention from defenses, Ibaka is the third weapon that can be a difference-maker. But we haven’t seen much of that guy all season. Spurs in 7.
Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com: That guy trying to break into the Spurs rotation, Tim Duncan. That’s a little extreme, but Duncan did have a reduced role at just 20.3 minutes per game in the first round because of matchups and San Antonio blowout wins. Now comes the chance to face an opponent with more bigs — Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter — that should mean a larger presence for Duncan. A big contribution will be a step toward the Spurs advancing.
Shaun Powell, NBA.com: This sounds weird, but the X-factors are named Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. For over a decade they were the backbone of the franchise. Right now, none are playing efficiently and for the most part are backup singers to Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. That must change ASAP. San Antonio will need more from at least two of those three against a hungry OKC team, or else Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be a series away from returning to the NBA Finals.
John Schuhmann, NBA.com: Danny Green is the X-factor. The ball will find the open man in the Spurs’ offense and that open man is often Green. He had a rough regular season, shooting 33 percent from 3-point range (27 percent in March and April), but was 6-for-13 in the first round. He’ll also be the primary defender on Russell Westbrook, so his ability to get back in transition, fight through screens, and stay in front of the Thunder point guard will be critical.
Sekou Smith, NBA.com: The dueling wild cards in this series are salty Kevin Durant and raging Russell Westbrook. The Thunder superstars (sorry Mark Cuban, they’ve got two) are playing with monstrous chips on their shoulders these days and nothing would delight them more than to upset all the conference finals plans we’ve all been talking about for months. That said, I’m picking the Spurs to advance in a knock down, drag out six-game affair.
Ian Thomsen, NBA.com: This one is going to be all about defense. The Spurs are the league’s most cohesive and versatile defensive team. Will the Thunder be able to match San Antonio’s passion and attention to detail? I’m afraid not.
Lang Whitaker, NBA.com’s All Ball blog: Having seen both of these teams in person over the last two weeks, the one part of the match-up that I can’t reconcile is how will the Spurs stop Russell Westbrook? You haven’t seen elite speed until you’ve watched Westbrook in person — he literally flies down the court, his feet barely touching the floor, like he’s running across the surface of a lake. And i just don’t know how San Antonio matches that speed. I guess you could try Kawhi Leonard against him, although I’d rather save Leonard for Kevin Durant. Either way, the Spurs have a matchup problem waiting to happen.
> Game 1 of the Spurs-Thunder conference semifinals series is Saturday. Who or what is the X factor in this series? And which team do you predict will advance?
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: Danny Green, as another Spurs’ on-ball defender, is my X factor. When an opponent has two explosive scoring stars such as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, it means some San Antonio player has to step up besides Kawhi Leonard. Green has the size to match up with Westbrook and the fundamentals to make deny or bother Durant while chewing up some shot clock. He also can force OKC’s guys to work at the other end if he’s able to contribute offensively. Green’s 40 percent shooting from the arc against Memphis was a nice start, a bump from his 33 percent of the regular season. Where does it all end? Barring any more of these playoff-convulsing injuries we’ve been getting, I think San Antonio advances in six or seven games.
Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: Serge Ibaka is my X factor. When he’s running the floor, guarding the lane and also knocking down jumpers, he’s an athletic force that can be tough for the Spurs to handle. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook demanding so much attention from defenses, Ibaka is the third weapon that can be a difference-maker. But we haven’t seen much of that guy all season. Spurs in 7.
Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com: That guy trying to break into the Spurs rotation, Tim Duncan. That’s a little extreme, but Duncan did have a reduced role at just 20.3 minutes per game in the first round because of matchups and San Antonio blowout wins. Now comes the chance to face an opponent with more bigs — Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter — that should mean a larger presence for Duncan. A big contribution will be a step toward the Spurs advancing.
Shaun Powell, NBA.com: This sounds weird, but the X-factors are named Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. For over a decade they were the backbone of the franchise. Right now, none are playing efficiently and for the most part are backup singers to Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. That must change ASAP. San Antonio will need more from at least two of those three against a hungry OKC team, or else Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be a series away from returning to the NBA Finals.
John Schuhmann, NBA.com: Danny Green is the X-factor. The ball will find the open man in the Spurs’ offense and that open man is often Green. He had a rough regular season, shooting 33 percent from 3-point range (27 percent in March and April), but was 6-for-13 in the first round. He’ll also be the primary defender on Russell Westbrook, so his ability to get back in transition, fight through screens, and stay in front of the Thunder point guard will be critical.
Sekou Smith, NBA.com: The dueling wild cards in this series are salty Kevin Durant and raging Russell Westbrook. The Thunder superstars (sorry Mark Cuban, they’ve got two) are playing with monstrous chips on their shoulders these days and nothing would delight them more than to upset all the conference finals plans we’ve all been talking about for months. That said, I’m picking the Spurs to advance in a knock down, drag out six-game affair.
Ian Thomsen, NBA.com: This one is going to be all about defense. The Spurs are the league’s most cohesive and versatile defensive team. Will the Thunder be able to match San Antonio’s passion and attention to detail? I’m afraid not.
Lang Whitaker, NBA.com’s All Ball blog: Having seen both of these teams in person over the last two weeks, the one part of the match-up that I can’t reconcile is how will the Spurs stop Russell Westbrook? You haven’t seen elite speed until you’ve watched Westbrook in person — he literally flies down the court, his feet barely touching the floor, like he’s running across the surface of a lake. And i just don’t know how San Antonio matches that speed. I guess you could try Kawhi Leonard against him, although I’d rather save Leonard for Kevin Durant. Either way, the Spurs have a matchup problem waiting to happen.
duckbutta
eienaar van mans
Kawhi and Tony Allen are the only two dudes I've seen that straight up give him problems and shut Durant down before. Spurs in 6
You know what was funny about that Memphis series...Kawhi went right at Tony Allen neck...when he was guarding him Kawhi just went right into the mid post lost post and turn around jumpers...
Off the top of my head the only other NBA player I ever seen go at Tony Allen like that was prime Kobe and prime melo...
Obviously Kawhi is not Kobe offensively...but that should show you where Kawhi head is at on that side of the ball...he going at the neck of a dude I seen make KD pause and give the ball up a few times...
I don't think what we saw in the regular season is going to have any bearing on this series...LMA was brought here to beat two teams and two teams only... OKC and GS...OKC because if he is aggressive and his jumper is on he is going to completely neutralize Ibaka on the defensive end...and GS because as Pop as shown in 3 of their 4 games he has no problem going to LMA on the block every single time Draymond guards him...
That game Aldridge dislocated his finger the Spurs went to him like 5 or 6 times in a row in the post against Draymond...
OKC is going to play the most desperate basketball they have ever played since that franchise moved to OKC...not the best...not the worst...but the most desperate...the last time they played in the playoffs I feel like OKC just gave up in 3 of the 4 spurs wins...they were just so outmatched offensively and to me OKC always plays with this "well next year we will get them" aloofness which is why the fukk up so much in the clutch...
But that super long championship window that has been open for what...4...5...years now...that shyt is legitimately close to closing...because I think KD is going to sign a 1 and 1 deal so he and westbrook can go into free agency together...so OKC got two years and if even one of those dudes leave that window is shut and it might never open again...
Most teams don't even try to play dirty with the spurs or rough them up or get under their skin...but I think OKC is desperate enough to try it...
At any rate though I think the only thing the Spurs need to do is keep OKC off the offensive boards...At their peak defensively they are just to good for even KD and Westbrook to pull 4 out of 7 wins against...
Also Boban has legitimately been unguardable against OKC...their big men best asset is how physical they play and so far Boban has proven he can withstand that physicality and drop the hammer on them if he gets his hand on the ball
So if Pop plays Boban...and as great as he is he has a tendency to get to cute and ride veterans to much and send Diaw and West out to slaughter...OKC is in trouble...they got some physical big men but they don't have anybody that big that strong that physical...
The craziest thing about this clip isn't the dunk...it's the fact that Serge actually gets a hand on the ball and Roberson get's two hands on the ball and Adams is right on Boban keeping him from getting any type of momentum or leverage and dude STILL dropped the hammer like it was nothing...
I fully expect pop to put west and diaw in together for stretches and kanter to end up with a double double in 3 minutes though :yeahok:
duckbutta
eienaar van mans
I agree. Luckily for Swag Antonio OKC doesn't have a big man who can abuse him one one one. I don't even care about him in the pick and roll against KD or 5678...those dudes are going to get to the rim anyway no matter who is guarding them outside of Kawhi and Danny...might as well let them try shooting over Mt. Boban...
And as bad as Boban is the combination of Diaw and West has been horrific all year on defense...they get pushed around they get outrebounded they are terrible in the pick and roll...
If we play Diaw and West together at any point in any game we are going to get DESTROYED on the boards...You can't give 5678...5678 chances to score in a row because you can't get a rebound...
And like I said Pop loves to play his veteran guys...we beat the clippers last year if Patty gets more minutes than Tony
Dusty Bake Activate
Fukk your corny debates
Pop better break his no rookies in playoff late rounds tradition and play Boban this series. Duncan and LMA need another legit big to spell them some against Kanter/Adams/Ibaka and he should be instant offense.
The Diaw-West combo will be useless against OKC and shouldn't see one second of PT. LMA, Duncan or Boban should be on the court at all times.
The Diaw-West combo will be useless against OKC and shouldn't see one second of PT. LMA, Duncan or Boban should be on the court at all times.
malbaker86
Gators
He was never lethal. Clown was always inconsistent. He just shot lights out a few games against the Heat in the 2013 Finals but he's been a headache offensively.
malbaker86
Gators
I think Diaw and LMA can work though. OKC is fukked if Diaw applies himself. Remember how he was in game 6 a few seasons ago.
platinum f1a$k
Banned
I want the Thunder to win; tired of seeing the same teams in the finals
Thunder vs. Hornets 2016!
Thunder vs. Hornets 2016!
