El Conclusion: Spurs 113, Thunder 88

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San Antonio Spurs 113 FinalRecap | Box Score 88 Oklahoma City Thunder
Tim Duncan, PF 23 MIN | 5-9 FG | 2-2 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 4 TO | 12 PTS | +22 +/-

Scored at will, set up Kawhi for a sweet alley-oop, probably didn’t jump for any of his four blocks and didn’t come close to 30 minutes. Good night.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 24 MIN | 10-15 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 26 PTS | +17 +/-

Keep doing your thing, Kawhi.

Aron Baynes, C 22 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | +20 +/-

Have you noticed how good he’s gotten around the rim. I’m not just talking about the dunks, which are fun, but also using the rim to protect from shot blockers, etc. I’m giving playing with Tiago the credit for that.

Tony Parker, PG 16 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-1 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | +13 +/-

Left early with some achilles tightness. Unclear if that’s serious or not. Wouldn’t count on him for Houston, but we’ll see.

Danny Green, SG 17 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | +7 +/-

Hit open shots, but his services weren’t really needed tonight. He and Kawhi tag teaming Harden is going to big Wednesday night.

Jeff Ayres, PF 12 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | -6 +/-

Good hustle tonight.

Reggie Williams, SF 11 MIN | 3-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -5 +/-

Set a Spurs career high!

Marco Belinelli, SF 25 MIN | 6-12 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | +1 +/-

Keep shooting, Beli!

Matt Bonner, C 10 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -6 +/-

Let Bonner be Bonner.

Boris Diaw, C 26 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 6 PTS | +26 +/-

Classic Boris line. Took advantage when smaller dudes tried to guard him and really found the gaping holes in the OKC defense.

Patty Mills, PG 20 MIN | 4-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -4 +/-

He’s really not shooting well, but the only way he can get out of it at this point is to keep shooting. Or rest for a couple of months this summer and come back totally healthy.

Cory Joseph, PG 15 MIN | 2-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 6 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +15 +/-

We’ll see more of him tomorrow night, but pretty fun that he and Boris had almost the identical stat line. The Rockets game will be a great test for him if Parker doesn’t play.

Manu Ginobili, SG 18 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +25 +/-

Really strong game in limited minutes from Manu. If this is what he brings in the playoffs the Spurs are in good shape.

Gregg Popovich
Kept his foot on the gas as long as he needed to, got everyone rest and nipped any OKC runs in the bud before things got really interesting.

Two Things We Saw

  1. Big couple of games coming up against Houston. Spurs win both, three seed looks good. Split will probably still get them in the 4-5 match up. Loss will probably lock them in to the six seed. Two seed is still possible too, but the Clippers have such an easy schedule it’s hard to see the Spurs finishing with a better record.
  2. Kawhi really is starting to look like Scottie Pippen on defense. Just a menace for opposing players and he can guard four positions. Also, his 3-point shot is back. Look out, NBA.
  • hoopsaf

    If Spurs wins out and Memphis loses two more (all their remaining games are tough — even Utah has been pretty good post AS, and Memphis has been terrible after the AS), then regardless of what LAC does, I think Spurs are the 2nd because they are the division winner. Spurs basically controls its own destiny at this point.

  • the drwolff

    Trevor Zickgraff…You sound like yet another person who doesn’t understand the tiebreaker system. You do of course realize that if the spurs win out and the clippers win out…the spurs win the tie breaker due to division winner. Memphis has to play AT utah, AT Golden State, and AT the clippers. Someone has to lose the clippers memphis game. The way the clips have been playing it looks like they COULD win out,,,except closer inspection of their last 17 games show they are 1-4 against west elite teams and the 1 win they were down 17 to portland who is all banged up and KNOWS they can coast to the 4 seed. I see memphis dropping at least one if not two and the way we are playing…the way Kawhi is playing…we are winning out with a Fairly close game AT houston. The matchup that decides everything is MEMPHIS AT CLippers….we are VERY much rooting for the clips in that one.

  • brunostrange

    If SA wins both games against HOU, and MEM loses either of their next two games, the Spurs get the division lead with two more games to go.

  • Trevor Zickgraf

    First, if you want anyone to take you serious here turn down the pompous attitude a notch and do people the courtesy of spelling their names correctly when it’s at the top of the screen. Second, I understand the tie breaker system fine, I’m just not sure the Spurs are finishing ahead of the Clippers since the Clips are playing great right now and have a very easy schedule to close out.

  • thedrwolff

    Assume we win out. We SHOULD.

    If memphis loses ONE then we tie them. IF that one loss is to the clippers thats very bad. IF it is to Golden State that is ok and we get the 3 seed because they beat the clippers.
    If memphis loses two (GS and ANYONE then we have the 2 seed)
    If memphis loses 0 then they had to have beaten the clippers and we have the 3 seed again.

    The nightmare….memphis loses to the clippers only and EVERYONE ends with 26 losses…that’s bad…we lose the tiebreaker to memphis for the division, to the clippers on conference record and we BEAT houston on division record and we land in the 5 seed with Houston dropping all the way down to the 6 seed. 1 - 11 in OT coming back to haunt ESPECIALLY the knicks and the triple OT to….wait for it…memphis

    Houston loses ALL tiebreakers to everyone if we win out and could easily find themselves in 6 seed.

  • the drwolff

    tiago report anyone?

  • John T

    If New Orleans is able to hold on to 8th seed, can anyone recall a season where an entire division qualified for the playoffs? Seems rare but I could be wrong. Thanks.

  • thedrwolff

    That would not be true BRUNO. If memphis BEATS new Orleans they hold all tiebreakers against the spurs. Div record ties at 9-7 and memphis has the MUCH better conf record. Please dont reply with something about memphis losing here, here, and here. IF memphis loses 2 games then there is no need for tiebreakers. I do agree though that they are the weakest team lately playing the toughest schedule and seeing 2 losses out of them is likely.

  • brunostrange

    Ah, I was not aware of the NO tie-breaker. So I suppose I’ll be rooting for the Pelicans tomorrow night.

  • thedrwolff

    Trevor…. I swear after the F score on Duncan and the offer of contrition as well as the plea for NO ONE to take this seriously that we arent supposed to be taken seriously. does “Jeez guys it’s just a coment” cover it? However I do feel sensitive towards your hurt feelings. The German People deserve an apology. Trevor Zickgraf. Of course you know the playoff tiebreakers and knew that San Antonio finishing ahead of the clippers just needs a tie. I agree they should win out. So which game are we dropping?

  • Ryan McShane

    The Hollinger Playoff Odds back you up. http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

    Some people are just blowhards.

  • Abstractforms

    Agreed on Kawhi v Pippen. The only thing he needs to do to cement himself as being on Pippen’s level is to “body up” on defense every now and then. I remember Scottie getting his chest into ball handlers to change it up, or just to intimidate them, or to force them to slow their dribble and turn their back. Kawhi still gets beat around picks every now and then — not quite on Tony Allen’s level when it comes to chasing around screens. All that being said, it’s pretty cool to hear him universally recognized as the game’s best wing defender.

  • Trevor Zickgraf

    I think probably tomorrow night/tonight vs. Houston. Especially if no TP (though I do have plenty of faith in CoJo).

  • Abstractforms

    Agreed. I actually think that facing GSW in round 2 is to the Spurs benefit. New Orleans/OKC will likely get swept round one without being tested much, and the Spurs could have a real chance of stealing one of the first two games.

  • http://icarusburning.com/ Wes

    I don’t think the divisional winner card counts beyond not dropping below 4th seed, beyond that the seeding is fair game.

    Edit* Ah! Unless it’s a tie, my bad!

  • hoopsaf

    Other Spurs fans hate me for saying this, but as of now, TP’s productions are not essential for the team anymore. His scoring and offensive smarts get extremely overrated by observers and fans. For every nice move he makes, he will make an equally dumb move (e.g. getting trapped after a meek drive) or pass. His defense in most nights leaves a lot to be desired.

    Yes, he can still score 20+ points from time to time and will make a few nice passes here and there, but he’s no longer a game changing force.

    Spurs can win it all with a dominant Kawhi with Danny/Duncan/Tiago playing the side-kicks, and the bench being headed by Boris/Manu/Marco/Cojo. Parker just has to not suck and make a few drives/shots, but he’s too slow/banged-up to be the ‘engine’ as people used to call him.

  • fkj74

    The way the team is playing now any seeding will do. I would to avoid GS until the conf. finals, so they get a little beat up. The Houston games will be good playoff prep. We need Tony and Tiago back. Go Spurs!

  • thedrwolff

    I’m sure Trevor is grateful to have you in his corner. Ryan. I’m sure you are a good man and seem to be an even more loyal friend. Those qualities are admirable. Since you are also a spurs fan you get a pass. Sometimes it is ONLY about being part of the flock regardless of being correct or not and no one benefits from condescension. So you have a good day and be happy. Just between you and I…click your link…what does it say?

  • thedrwolff

    So let’s say the spurs win out to the NO game and winning means the 2 seed while a loss means the 5…does Greg Popovitch…the most brilliant mind in modern NBA coaching, go for the win or put in the scrubs to rest the starters?

  • brunostrange

    Agree. FWIW, I think that despite his post RRT resurgence, TP has experienced a decline in his game this year, likely due to the mileage finally beginning to catch up with him. As long as that floater keeps falling (and it’s falling at a pretty good clip), takes care of the ball, and avoids the over-dribbling (which leads to him getting trapped more often than not these days) we should be OK. The days of expecting him to be the “head of the snake” are behind him. With KL’s emergence as a bonafide beast, it’ll be interesting to see how TP adjusts his game going forward.

  • ferscia

    “You sound like yet another person who doesn´t understand the tiebreaker system”.

    I don´t know if you are right, most probably you are, but that is no way to talk to/adress anyone. Drwolff, you sound like another person who doesn´t understand than being humble and polite gives strength to your arguments.

  • GFoyle33

    The White Walkers are returning, laying waste to the rest of the NBA.

  • DorieStreet

    Second demolition of OKC in two weeks. This team is rolling. A higher seed is within reach—-and doable.

  • TD BestEVER

    I have been saying all year that this team doesn’t need Parker to play well……we just need ball movement……He used to be the only consistent ball handler….but with his injuries…everyone has had to step up their playmaking and now we can have games where TD is getting 8 assists and leads the team….Or Tiago can even help run the offense from the post with his passing….Diaw can run the offense from the post or wing…..If you have been watching the games the past couple months we have been setting screens for Danny, KL, Marco etc…..they have all gotten more comfortable with putting it on the floor a few times either for themselves or others…..So all we need is good ball movement and for TP to trust the system and his corner 3 ball……

  • Ryan McShane

    The link says the Clippers finish ahead of the Spurs, as Trevor said. I don’t know Trevor, but I do know that he works for an ESPN affiliate and you don’t.

  • thedrwolff

    The truth is actually showing both the clippers AND SA finishing with 55-27 identical records and an identical best of 56-26 as of april 8 2015 7:00am. I agree if houston Finishes in the 2 this is the case. But I don’t think a team kicking everyone’s azz by 15 points a game over the last 20 will lose in the next 4 barring MAJOR injury. I also Don’t believe he throws the 2 seed out the window by resting against NO. Thanks for the insightful tip on where Trevor and I work. MAJOR confusion on that till you cleared it up. Not sure what that means though or the relevance. Maybe you could clear that up as well. You back Hollingers Houston at the two….so which game do we lose? In your opinion.

  • Ryan McShane

    1. Prove you work there.

    2. Hollinger has a four way tie now. I don’t think the Spurs lose another, but I’m a homer, so it doesn’t matter if I think they lose another. MEM-LAC-POR-SAS-HOU. That’s my guess until more games are played. NOP might need a W to stay in the playoffs, while the Spurs will need it to get homecourt in the first, maybe second round. And Houston isn’t chopped liver. Between those two games, there’s a decent chance the Spurs drop one.