That means there will only be one game on the National Basketball Association fantasy schedule for Saturday night so it’s a good thing it’s a marquee matchup.
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“Of course, people want us to be that”.
Out of over 3,700 postseason games in the history of the National Basketball Association, only five were more lopsided at the half than the “contest” between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. For me, it’s more about how good the Spurs will be and less about the Thunder’s level of play. The Spurs beat the Thunder in the conference finals en route to a title 2014, but barely resemble that iteration anymore. Much, much better. Much, much, much, much, much, much, much better.
The Thunder’s offense was not any better. Its defense was worse. The duo would finish with 38 and 25 points respectively, and miss a combined eight shots in the Spurs’ 124-92 demolition of the Thunder on Saturday night. OKC never got closer than 27 the final 26 minutes.
If they do not, it might be the end of this at-times wondrous, at-times infuriating Durant-Westbrook project in Oklahoma City.
And then he sort of did.
“Cause it’s over with”, Durant said. “You’ve got to play both ends of the floor a little differently because he’s an All-Star player”, Durant said. “Those guys are very talented, so they are going to come back even better next game”.
For the Spurs, the best thing about Leonard’s journey is that is far from complete. “He’s not really like insane athletic but he still just destroys you”. Thunder players, coaches and associates would be the first to tell you that.
Still, it’s clear that the Thunder’s superstars Westbrook and Durant will have to get going if the Thunder are going to stand a chance at winning this series.
Thunder and Spurs shared two wins apiece during the regular season series. If not for the Warriors’ historic campaign, San Antonio would have been the prohibitive favorite to win the championship. Seemed like a massive blowout.
Trying to figure out how to stop that combination of Leonard and Aldridge will plague the Thunder until Game 2. This game was over, 73-40, at halftime. The Spurs starters sat out the entire fourth quarter. Beating a crippled Dallas team was nice, but that was a campfire. San Antonio has toned down its equal-opportunity style and embraced a slow pace as well as post-ups. The perimeter defenders will have to be sharp to recover quickly and prevent San Antonio from taking advantage of him. Playing poorly will result in a mercy killing every time. I’m ready to get on a plane to go to Germany and recruit him to be back.
All 13 San Antonio players who took the floor scored. They are, as they always have, going to work top-down through their two superstars and see where that takes them.
While Donovan deserves a grace period just like any first-year coach, his clock, unfairly or not, is set faster than others, mainly because Durant is approaching free agency and OKC doesn’t need any reason for him to leave.
“He’s been great all year”, Aldridge said of Leonard.
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The contest will mark the first game of San Antonio’s two game homestand and kickoff Oklahoma City’s two game road trip. That put the Clips in a 2-1 hole. Seven-footer Kelly Olynyk was only able to suit up in four of Boston’s playoff games after aggravating a right shoulder injury in Game 1 against the Hawks. I love being around the guys. The Thunder were a decent 23-18 away from home this season, but it’s worth noting San Antonio lost just once at home, certainly Tim Duncan and the vets have to feel comfortable in this situation. Parker has the ability to get into the paint anytime he wants.
