Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs - OKC WINS in 6, Congrats!

[big j 33]

Good or bad this will be a big series for Westbrook. If he can stay focused and not get lazy while playing Parker, then hopefully he can limit his impact on the game or at least disrupt it. If Parker gets going and Russ gets frustrated then the Thunder won't win. So either he steps up and he can match or outplay a vet who has been there before.. or he gets worked and it will be a huge learning experience for him.

 

[atransta]

Originally Posted by Scientific Method

Originally Posted by atransta

Hey Sci you going to any of the WCF games in OKC? If you do, do you mind picking up a shirt for me if you are at the game?

Yea I'll get you one.

thanks bro

 

[and1play5]

Spurs in 5...I don't think y'all realize they are unstoppable right now

 

[gangsta207therevolution]

Russell needs tips from how D Rose held Tony to 5 for 16 in that first game after the ASG.
I still think you can live with Parker jumpers, you cant live with the roll guy forcing crisp rotations, or Parker getting into the lane.

 

[ag 47]

^Russell doesn't need tips. He just needs to be focused. He has the size, quickness, and strength to frustrate Tony Parker for the majority of the series if he's dialed in.

His on-ball defense is legit when he wants it to be.

 

[dior paint]

Right 

 like Derrick Rose had some secrets on how to contain Tony Parker

 

[pmatic]

A couple of nice write ups by Zach Lowe.

Tony Parker vs. the Thunder defense

Before we get to a proper preview of the Western Conference finals, let us address a curiosity about the Spurs and Thunder courtesy of the fancy STATS LLC camera system installed in 10 arenas around the league, including in San Antonio and Oklahoma City. I’ve written about the tracking system here, and Zach McCann of ESPN.com had a nice feature on the technology last week. Basically, it tracks every movement of player, ball and referees in three dimensions. It tracks how fast players run, how often they dribble before particular types of shot attempts, how high in the air a rebounded ball is when a player grabs it, how far players run in total distance during a game, etc.

Here’s the curiosity: The folks at STATS were kind enough to send me their season leaders in several categories, including the most times a player dribbled the ball during a game. Turns out, two of the five highest dribble numbers, including the top spot, come from Spurs point guard Tony Parker in games against the Thunder. Parker dribbled 839 times in the Spurs’ Feb. 4 victory in San Antonio and 724 times in a thrilling March 16 win in Oklahoma City.

It wasn’t just the number of dribbles that stood out. Parker shot the ball much more against the Thunder, averaging 19.7 field-goal attempts in three games compared to his season average of 14.8. He got to the foul line more often against the Thunder, so the jump in shot attempts is not the result of Parker’s failing to draw his usual number of shooting fouls. He dished 7.7 assists against Oklahoma City, identical to his season average.

Parker also dribbled more than usual each time he touched the ball. That might seem obvious given the overall increase in dribbles, but it nonetheless indicates that the broader jump isn’t merely the result of Parker’s actually getting the ball more often. Rather, it might indicate that he held the ball longer against the Thunder when he did get it. Parker dribbled the ball 7.5 times on average when he touched it during those two high-dribble games, compared to his season average of 5.5 dribble per touch, according to the SportsVU numbers.

There are a few possible (and probably overlapping) explanations for this:

• Parker dribbled more because of issues with San Antonio’s rotation that no longer exist, encouraging him to act as a scorer. Shooting guard Manu Ginobili didn’t play in either of these games, forcing Parker to handle the ball more and play extended minutes (39 and 38, respectively). Ginobili and Gary Neal typically split ball-handling duties with several San Antonio bench units, and Ginobili will take over a larger share of that role when he’s in a groove or Neal is struggling against pressure.

Swingman Stephen Jackson, a decent third ball-handler, was not on the Spurs’ active roster in any of these games. Nor was forward Boris Diaw, who can handle the ball as a kick-out option in the Spurs’ ultra-dangerous pick-and-roll.

In other words, these numbers might be totally meaningless now.

• Potential explanation No. 2: The Thunder want to “make Parker a scorer

 

[gangsta207therevolution]

Originally Posted by DIOR PAINT

Right 

 like Derrick Rose had some secrets on how to contain Tony Parker

When someone goes for 42 on you you need some help....

 

[scientific method]

 

[do be doo]

GAME DAY.

 

[po2345]

Cmon SA! Start off STRONG! Let's go.

PO

 

[elpablo21]

I'm on the bandwagon

 

[hymen man]

Hope this is a great series.. with that said...

LETS GO OKC!

 

[scientific method]

Watch Danny Green and Matt Booner and Stephen Jackson feast on corner 3s from us

 

[witnessmycalm21]

Originally Posted by hymen man

Hope this is a great series.. with that said...

LETS GO OKC!

 

[scientific method]

Yuku'd.

 

[antidope]

SPURS!!!!!!!!!

 

[andoneflip]

This is gonna be a good series lets go spurs

 

[buggz05]

Sig check 

 

[airblaster503]

Thunder in 5. San Antonio haven't played anybody yet that has put up a fight.

 

[rudemiester]

Very excited to watch this play out over 7. This will be a huge learning experience for OKC eiither way.

 

[scientific method]

Ol' nasty $+* river gave our starting point guard the Herp's

 

[hood17]

when Diaw and the Red Rocket out there 3's will rain down on OKC. 

 

[KMante]

Westbrook is literally the sole reason why either the Thunder or the Spurs will win.

 

[jordan23dotcom]

THE PLAYOFFS HAS JUST STARTED....... OKC!!!!