OT - Anybody catch the Spurs game?

[Frank Ivy]

I tuned in just when the 3rd quarter was getting under way.

Some observations:

1. It was one of the most boring NBA games I have seen for much of the 3rd and 4th - hack fest. Constant play stoppages. Got better in flashes.

2. Ginobili and Parker are a great backcourt. G is just great at catching and instantly being in motion. Parker was unbelievable tonight.

3. Spurs really run plays. Fun team to watch.

4. Duncan had a ridiculous throw down . . .

5. Spurs really have a bunch of parts that seem to work well together.

6. Some young cat on the Spurs was reminiscent of Stanley, I didn't catch his name, but I noticed the dude had ungodly large hands.

Will be interesting to see if Durant can bounce back - he was invisible for most of the time I watched.

 

[jfuchs91]

I watched the game, and the Spurs are really, really good. Right now they're playing some of the best basketball I've ever seen. Every time I watch them, I'm shocked at how good of a team they are. They look unstoppable right now.

And I believe the Spurs player you're thinking of is Kawhi Leonard, the rookie out of San Diego State. He reminds me a lot of Stix as well, except Stanley didn't have the great benefit of playing at such a high altitude during his college career. That's the only reason why Leonard is in the NBA and Stanley is not.

 

[superjohn]

Yes I watched, the Spurs are going to win the whole thing, easily the best team in the nba. I thought the game was played at an extremely high level, it only slowed down a little when the Thunder started doing hack a Splitter, they simply couldn't stop the Spurs and resorted to whatever they could to try and get back in the game. They actually did get back in the game but then Ginobili and Parker just took over again. This Spurs team is so impressive, they got like 12 deep and everyone knows their roles and executes it to perfection. The Stanley guy you are thinking of is Kawhi Leonard who we played against in the sweet 16 when we beat San Diego State. Durant had 32 points on great shooting, scary thing for the Thunder is that their big 3 combined for 88 points and they still lost the game by 9. One more thing, Popovich is the best coach I've ever seen in the nba, amazing what he's done with this team.

 

[jfuchs91]

One more thing, Popovich is the best coach I've ever seen in the nba, amazing what he's done with this team.

I never understood why Popovich doesn't get more recognition for the coaching job he's done. He's got 4 titles (very well may get his 5th this year) and has led the Spurs to 50+ wins every year since 1998. He's currently the best in the business and he's always done a great job. Like the San Antonio team as a whole, he's been wildly underrated.

That being said, Phil Jackson is the best coach in NBA history and probably in the history of professional sports. I know that he's had ridiculous talent to work with, but in 20 years of coaching, he won 11 championships. Think about that again and let it sink in. 11 out of 20 years he won a championship. That's better than a 50% chance he wins each year he coaches!

 

[DaddyChoc]

"I Want Some Nasty"

 

[superjohn]

Popovich is a better coach than Phil in my opinion. Phil coached the greatest player of all-time and his second run of rings with the Lakers he had the best and most dominant bigman in the game and the best guard in the game. For Popovich to completely retool this team around his aging big three is absolutely incredible to me. The Spurs used to be a defensive team all those years, they can still play great defense but they now have the best offense in basketball.

 

[mauconnfan]

Incredible coach for the NBA.......so many great coaches go unlistened to by the players as they try to create and NBA career......Pops guys buy in because he demands, he doesn't ask. Very underrated throughout his career.......deserves the title!!!

 

[tykurez]

That was an interesting gameplan by the Thunder to start hacking away in the 3rd and change the tempo. Almost worked.

And how did you not remember Kawhi Leonard? SDSU fans didn't slam him down your throat enough before our game with them last year?

 

[Frank Ivy]

6. Some young cat on the Spurs was reminiscent of Stanley, I didn't catch his name, but I noticed the dude had ungodly large hands.

Is there not one guy on this board who can spot blatant sarcasm? Do you really think I got a good look at his hands? Jesus.

 

[billythekid]

Popovich is a better coach than Phil in my opinion. Phil coached the greatest player of all-time and his second run of rings with the Lakers he had the best and most dominant bigman in the game and the best guard in the game. For Popovich to completely retool this team around his aging big three is absolutely incredible to me. The Spurs used to be a defensive team all those years, they can still play great defense but they now have the best offense in basketball.

I heard the fact on one of the NBA shows that the Spurs only have one guy on the team that was a lottery pick and that's Tim Duncan. To me, that's a huge testament to Pop's ability to mold players to his system as well as the organization's talent scouting.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Can't put Pop ahead of Phil because Phil did it in different places. Pop pretty much runs the spurs and the run as he sees fit. That type of stability and control are invaluable.

But I agree, he is easily a top 5 coach of all-time.

 

[caw]

I heard the fact on one of the NBA shows that the Spurs only have one guy on the team that was a lottery pick and that's Tim Duncan. To me, that's a huge testament to Pop's ability to mold players to his system as well as the organization's talent scouting.

When the only lottery pick you are talking about is Tim Duncan, aka the best PF ever, that helps a lot.

I think their scouting department deserves a ton of credit.

Manu, Parker and Splitter were all fantastic picks/signings from their overseas scouting.

Picking up Diaw from the Bobcats was a great pick-up (fatty fits in well with the Spurs brand of basketball).


They have a great system, that hinges on Manu/Paker and Duncan.

They can basically plug and play from there with a wing who defends and hits open threes: Leonard/Jackson/Greene. A stretch four: Diaw/Bonner. The rest are basically backups to their big three (yes I know Manu doesn't start, but he plays starter minutes).

Splitter is a bit of a luxury for the Spurs, but a needed one as Duncan gets older.

* I saw Leonards hands, they are huge. I don't even think SouthTampaBill has hands that large.

 

[aceboon]

the difference in coaching in this series is staggering. how do you hack away at a guy who is a 65% free throw shooter? It has also taken Brooks way too long to realzie that Perkins is useless, should've never played him down the stretch over Ibaka in Game 1 when the Thunder fell apart, and the Thunder didn't make their run in Game 2 until he went small.

 

[specialisthusky]

i love talking about Leonard's hands. It takes me back to such a good time. That run was magical.

I think Leonard is really benefitting from being in a system like the Spurs...he has certainly suprised me in his first year in the NBA.

 

[Kitaman]

Many colleges, high school and NBA teams can learn from the Spurs the definition of team concept. I am amazed how the players play for the team and not for themselves.
Tim Duncan is incredible..............enjoy him while you can folks because I don't see another like him in the near horizon.

Btw: They are not boring they are dismantling some great team. If you like science or strategic planning then you recognize the amazing feat they are pulling off. OKC is no joke and yet they are made to look like the Clippers.

 

[JaYnYcE]

I put him ahead of Phil because Phil win with 5 hall of famers and 2 of the top 50 players of all time.


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[sparky]

The Spurs play simple basketball: pick and roll, make the extra pass, spacing, be a team guy. Thunder have great athletic players who are learning how to play with each other. Westbrook is a splendid talent but controls too much of the ball. It detracts from durant which is a clue as to how good durant is. Westbrook is like Kobe in that he has to have the ball, which is why Gasol wants out. Spurs can run and can also play in the half court, which make them tough to beat. They are just spanking the thunder. Start producing the rings. Some of the posters say they are boring, but the correct word is precision.

 

[Frank Ivy]

I put him ahead of Phil because Phil win with 5 hall of famers and 2 of the top 50 players of all time.

I think it's very clear that shaq, kobe, MJ, and Pippen all make top 50.

My definition of a great coach is a guy who does more with less.

 

[JaYnYcE]

I don't know if Shaq made the list and I doubt Kobe did. Wasn't the top 50 team assembled in the mid 90's?


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[caw]

Shaq was on the list, Kobe wasn't. That was in 1996, also known as Kobe's rookie year. I would wager he would be on the list today.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/50greatest.html

 

[caw]

Many colleges, high school and NBA teams can learn from the Spurs the definition of team concept. I am amazed how the players play for the team and not for themselves.
Tim Duncan is incredible..............enjoy him while you can folks because I don't see another like him in the near horizon.

Btw: They are not boring they are dismantling some great team. If you like science or strategic planning then you recognize the amazing feat they are pulling off. OKC is no joke and yet they are made to look like the Clippers.

Really it comes down to OKC's role-players not being good enough. There isn't much more Durant/Westbrook/Harden can do. The bigs on OKC are missing shots, fumbling the ball, and basically giving OKC nothing on offense (reminds me of a certain college team this year).

 

[Frank Ivy]

I don't know if Shaq made the list and I doubt Kobe did. Wasn't the top 50 team assembled in the mid 90's?

Kobe is top 50 easy, no list needed.
Shaq is top 50 easy, no list needed.
MJ is top 5 easy, no list needed.
Pippen is the only player who can be argued as not top 50. I'd say he's top 50.

Of course, I don't adjust for era, like most. Fact is, the greatest 20 players pre-1960 probably couldn't make the NBA if they were playing today.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Kobe is a hell of a lot higher than Top 50.

And yes, I have a feeling Bob Cousy would look like me in a present day NBA game.

 

[Frank Ivy]

Kobe is a hell of a lot higher than Top 50.

Actually, no. Nobody is, or for that matter, can be, higher than Top 50. Think on it. Get back to me.

 

[traitor71]

I heard the fact on one of the NBA shows that the Spurs only have one guy on the team that was a lottery pick and that's Tim Duncan. To me, that's a huge testament to Pop's ability to mold players to his system as well as the organization's talent scouting.

Even guys they get rid of, like Luis Scola, are really good players. What a well run organization.