Corporate Knowledge: Game 3 Fallout
Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie: “Tim Duncan missed 10 of 15 shots and had just two rebounds (OLD) but blocked five shots (NOT OLD) and mainly clanged all those looks because he was forced into a few bailout shots from the perimeter at the end of the shot clock. Kendrick Perkins also played some terrific defense on the Spurs center, but he was forced into isolation that just isn’t San Antonio’s forte despite the team’s brilliant offense. Probably because the isolation offense isn’t their “brilliant offense.” Gary Neal and Manu Ginobili won’t attempt to break OKC down by their lonesome again in Game 4, which means they’re not likely to miss 12 of 16 shots as they did on Thursday night. Twenty-one turnovers, sorry Oklahoma City, just won’t happen again — though we enjoyed a desperate Thunder team taking chances.”
Paul Garcia of Project Spurs: “The Thunder were the aggressors from the get-go as they started the game with an 8-0 run in the first three minutes. The Spurs, influenced by the Thunder’s defense were once again their own enemy, as they had turned the ball over three times in the those first three minutes. Anytime Parker tried to use a screen, Sefolosha would stick his hands in the play and force Parker into a bad pass or turnover. The Spurs bounced back with a 13-4 run to take the lead 13-12 with 5:16 left in the first. When the quarter ended, the Spurs led 24-22 after turning the ball over seven times. 24-points would be the most points the Spurs would score in a quarter the rest of the way.”
Kevin Arnovitz at TrueHoop: “Sefolosha isn’t the offensive equal of any of the marquee names on the Oklahoma City roster, and he’s probably not a plus offensive player in the NBA. But does Oklahoma City strike you as a team that needs secondary offensive players to eat up possessions that belong to Kevin Durant,Russell Westbrook and James Harden? If ever a team had the capacity to absorb the presence of a non shot-creating defender, the Thunder are it. Go ahead and cash in!”
Johnny Ludden of Yahoo! Sports: “Somewhere among the din of Thursday night, the Thunder rediscovered their identity. They fed off the roar of their fans, played to the emotion of the moment and smothered those mighty San Antonio Spurs in a thicket of long arms and legs. They ran relentlessly and defended for four quarters, emerging with a 102-82 victory that gave the Spurs their first loss in 50 days and 21 games. The Thunder cut their deficit in these Western Conference finals to 2-1 and, in doing so, learned something else about themselves: They’re good enough to win this series.”
John Hollinger at ESPN.com (Insider): “The Spurs had an absurd stretch in which they won 20 in a row, 34 of 37 and, most insanely, 24 of 27 on the road. No team keeps playing that well forever, and when the Spurs finally stopped, they fell hard. Averaging barely 0.9 points per possession with 21 turnovers in Game 3, the Spurs didn’t just regress to the mean — they went all the way through it and out the other side.”
Rob Mahoney at the Off The Dribble Blog: “Parker was (and is) the dynamo who has come to define the new-look Spurs, an outfit as mechanically devastating as the teams Tim Duncan once carried on his back, but with an unmistakable fluidity and a certain joie de vivre. San Antonio hadn’t lost a game since April 11, and although that’s really a testament to a robust rotation and system, Gregg Popovich’s schemes were retrofitted to Parker’s particular strengths.”
Royce Young at Daily Thunder: “It was really the only way the Thunder could probably resurrect themselves in this series. When you’re playing a team that’s seemingly invincible like the Spurs, blowing them out is the best way to go. Especially when you’re one loss away from seeing your season basically die. Avoiding crucial halfcourt possessions trying to stop Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan was very wise.”
Steve Perrin at SB Nation: “If you’re thinking that this game represents a real and permanent change in the outlook for this series, it probably doesn’t. The Spurs aren’t likely to play this badly again, and it’s a pretty good bet that they’ll come out with a renewed sense of purpose in Game 4 and start a new winning streak. San Antonio was due for a bad game at some point, and this was it.”
Alex Dewey at Gothic Ginobili: “This team is not forever, yet. After all, last night hinted at a dark possibility. They can be, but they aren’t yet there. This team is mortal — they bleed, too. To make presumptions, as a fan, is to be taken by surprised and bleed right with them. But even as they lie, bleeding in the corner like a boxer who wasn’t expecting the perfect counter, I can’t focus on that right now. I can only focus on what I know, and the things about this team I know I’ll never forget. Tiago taking over the fourth, the senseless carving-up of the weaker teams (28 in total), the faint praise for Richard Jefferson, the backhanded compliments everyone gave Stephen Jackson, the passing and drives of Boris Diaw, the ridiculous enthusiasm of Patty Mills, Matt Bonner receiving a transdimensional warning from 45 light-years away and calling up to the president without hesitation, Gary Neal’s limited handle and limitless self-confidence. S-Jax – swiftly upon return – guarding Dirk as it was written and as it shall be done.”
