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Ibaka out for the playoffs is huge, basically giving Parker and Manu the greenlight to drive the lane. Adams has been playing well, but this the WCF against the Spurs. Kawhi has been playing great and while no one can shut down KD, he's going to really have to work against Whi. Ibaka is just too big a part of the team to lose, should still be a good series, Spurs in 6.Comment -
Ibaka being out is a huge deal. He went 9-10 in game 4 I think, and 8-10 were 18 ft jumpers. His first miss was on a 3. He actually spreads the floor on offense and opens up the lane for KD and RW to drive. Help defenders end up taking bad angles and fouling those 2 a lot because of that.
Steven Adams is a different beast entirely but SA is going to leave him anywhere 10ft away from the goal and clog the lane.
There's also the added benefit that KD, serge and RW have played together and started together for what, 5 years (?) and they've been to the NbA finals together.
On defense, our D usually goes as Serge goes. He is such an amazing help side defender that plays well above the rim that losing him on D is huge.
Adams will play more and contribute. His #'s should go up. But he won't replace Ibaka on either end. Regardless of his upside.
HOWEVER, I started this thread and i am sticking by my fukking original statement, Thunder in 7
I just don't believe it nearly as much nowComment -
After the job Splitter has done on Dirk and Aldridge, Adams is in for a tough series. I think Jackson is going to have to be the one for OKC to step up. He's had some great games against the Spurs. I think he's going to be OKC's X-factor.Ibaka being out is a huge deal. He went 9-10 in game 4 I think, and 8-10 were 18 ft jumpers. His first miss was on a 3. He actually spreads the floor on offense and opens up the lane for KD and RW to drive. Help defenders end up taking bad angles and fouling those 2 a lot because of that.
Steven Adams is a different beast entirely but SA is going to leave him anywhere 10ft away from the goal and clog the lane.
There's also the added benefit that KD, serge and RW have played together and started together for what, 5 years (?) and they've been to the NbA finals together.
On defense, our D usually goes as Serge goes. He is such an amazing help side defender that plays well above the rim that losing him on D is huge.
Adams will play more and contribute. His #'s should go up. But he won't replace Ibaka on either end. Regardless of his upside.
HOWEVER, I started this thread and i am sticking by my fukking original statement, Thunder in 7
I just don't believe it nearly as much nowComment -
I do not know if Okl City can win 1 game...maybe Spurs let up a little and lose a few??Comment -
Losing Ibaka definitely hurts but KD and Westbrook can still go off at any time and get it done
As you guys have mentioned, Adams is a damn good player.....Does everything the right way and has a great basketball IQ
If the Thunder advance is there any chance Ibaka could be back for the Finals?Comment -
Those sayign the Spurs are a defnsive team are living in the past. this isnt the spurs from early dynasty years. The are an excellent offensive team, and an above average defense team. I love the Spurs, and as a neutral fan I root for them always. The are the New England Patroits of the NBA. Always compete for a title year after year, regardless of the roster. Popovich is Belichick. Ive been critical of OKC throughout, but they have turned my eyes. I was impressed with them in games 2-6 against LAC, very impressed. However Ibaka out is HUGE, and I still like OKC in this series. OKC is gonna have to have some roll guys step up big, because SA always seems to hae this in their favor. I think OKC may win this in 6 games, but game 7 will heavily favor SA imo. I was leaning fairly heavy to OKC in this series, but with Ibaka out, I only like them slightly. Dont know how Im gonna bet this series, if at all. I may hold out on game one, and if SA wins, put a hefty wager on OKC at a good price. If OKC wins game one, I may not bet at all, or a small wager on OKC. I love and respect the greatness SA has shown over the last 10-15 years under Pop, but I think OKC is gonna take this series.
Bottom line is for this series is Westbrook. He is still pretty poor defensively, but my eyes have been opened to this guys talent. When he is on, he cannot be stopped by anyone in the league. However, even when he is on, he still tries to do too much. i dont think the guy has a very high basketball IQ, but as far as talent alone, I dont know if Id take another PG in the league over him.
sorry for the typos, i am blitz right nowComment -
OKC will probably still win this series and lose to Miami. People are overreacting.Comment -
If they had 10 games without ibaka to build chemistry and flow id say they have a chance. Now no way. I think it ends in 5 games i think max 6 max 6Comment -
People overreacting because OKC beat the Clips, I even fell for the Clips trap, bottom line the Clips are what they have been the last few years and thats been losing rather early in the playoffs, Clips didnt get out of 1st round I dont think those years, OKC had alot more experience, now they are going up against a better team with tons of experience with a 2nd unit that wont let up and will be extending leads, KD and Russ gonna have to play 40+ every game and thats gonna wear on them big time, Spurs constant motion offense, just gonna be too much, dont even think Silver can help out here.Comment -
no Ibakaaaa yesssssssssComment -
People that make these comments are the same ones comparing the Bulls from last year to the bulls of this year. WAKE UP CALL. TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT TEAMS from last year to THIS year.
Clippers this year with addition of Darren Collison, JJ Redick, Big Baby, Turkoglu, and Granger are a MUCH better team then they were last year. EMPHASIS on MUCH. And with the addition of a HALL OF FAME Coach leading the team to 57 wins in a STACKED WESTERN CONFERENCE and turning Deandre Jordan into an all star and defensive player of the year candidate. You give credit where credit is due.
The fact OKC beat them in SIX is damn Impressive to me! NOW on to the Spurs Matchups. Remember its the playoffs. Best of 7. ALL about the Matchups.
Someone mentioned about offense not being able to win it alone. THAT's RIGHT FOLKS. Great thing about this OKC team is it has one of the BEST DEFENSE as well as one of the BEST 3-point defenses in the league (unless you flop to the floor on every 3 point shot and pretend to draw contact *cough cough* J Crossover)
is Kawhi a beast? YES. BUT He's not BLAKE GRIFFEN. he can't drop 35 on you. He can't put the defenders in foul trouble trying to guard him. He's NOT gonna get you off the dribble. NOR is he gonna pull up in your grill piece (ala KD) He's gonna be SPENT trying to play defense and probably will make little to NO impact on the offensive end. (maybe a jam on a fast break after a turnover)
Spurs great ball movement? YES. but the entire OKC crew is just tall and lengthy and fast and athletic. They will be on that ball QUICKLY.
Tony Parker and even Patty Mills FEASTED on the young inexperienced Lillard. Actually the entire Spurs roster feasted on the clueless Blazers. It's as if the Blazers had no scouting report and no answer or any adjustments to make. They looked awful. Again.. the Spurs just feasted on this. Like stealing candy from a baby.
Lot of clowns saying Spurs sweep or Spurs 4-1 or 4-2. This is gonna be a LONG TOUGH series.Comment -
If westbrook shoots above 50%... they will win. If he puts in a 33% game then spurs will definitely punish those wasted possessionsComment -
Steven Adams looks like a nice up and coming player but the guy gets in foul trouble all the damn time and Pop will probably expose this. Pretty shocking he managed to stay on the floor 40 mins the other day. I'm not sure he will make an impact in more than like 1 or 2 games.Comment -
See alot of people all over the place saying that the spurs arent as good as they were last yr or even the yr before...these people cant be serious can they? If anything, the west as a whole is alot better this yr, including the spurs. Even if they lose this series, they are better than they were last yr and 2 yrs ago no doubt, but so is everyone else.
I want to see Baynes and Adams go at it although its unlikely that Baynes gets any time this series. They both tend to piss off opposing big men. The aussie vs the kiwi...epic!Comment -
dont under estimate san anotnio..they r that goodComment -
Clips added players but the team didnt seem to play well against OKC for the series, spotty games here and there, thats the thing with me, doesnt matter who's on the team how are you playing at the moment? With the talent and pieces they had when weighed against OKC, no way they should have lost the series.
Doc Rivers Hall of Fame coach? I like Doc a whole lot but if he's already HOF then something is wrong with the system.
Dont forget Ibaka is out, Im not sure how long the series will last but Spurs should win this, theyed have to sleepwalk not to.Comment -
i cant stand san antone. I hate them. I would love to see the thunder beat them ala 2012. My hatred for westbrook is trumped by my hatred for spurs. I love kd i love brooks.
The problem is u guys need ibakas frontcourt d and scoring. U will miss him dearly. U dont have hm court either. I think u can push it 6 games but i see it ending in 5.Comment -
all I know is spurs=coach of the year, strong bench,
thunder=Durant and westbrook???
are you really going to go against number one mind of the nba?? POpovich will school brooks. ibaka the number1 defender for thunder ,done. even better easy money spurs series.
( money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Comment -
it's -220 on 5dimes how could it be lower than -200 anywhere except for a local?Comment -
I am pulling for OKC Kraken
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OKC is maybe slightly better than mediocre defensively as a team. Without Ibaka, their best defensive player, I have to imagine the Spurs will really attack the paint. Not only will they score, they'll get fouled and force OKC to go way deep into that bench. OKC is still way more athletic (and obviously younger) than San Antonio, but I still think they'll be forced to settle for a lot of outside shots. San Antonio is just so good at defending the pick-and-roll. If Leonard can keep Durant under 30 one-on-one, that's a win as far as I'm concerned. Westbrook's inconsistency will make an appearance or two in this series. Spurs in a tough 6-gamer with a lot of close ones.Comment -
Collison and Adams will fill Ibaka's minutes, don't worry...Comment -
You are correct, they will fill his minutes.
However, the underlying assumption that they'll make up for his absence is incorrect. There's a reason Ibaka is a starter and Collison and Adams are role players.
With that said, they may just be good enough to win. But even if, how could OKC beat Miami without The Surge? I'm not sure they'd win even with him but It wouldn't be much worse than 50/50.Comment -
without ibaka, parker is going to be all up in the lane. coin flip wins the series.Comment -
I really don't have much of a read on the series, but I do think the Thunder could take game one, and seeing them priced +200 is too juicy to pass upComment -
at anyone and everyone that thought Serge being out wouldn't effect OKC much
The Spurs have yet to be challenged at the rim
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