02/24/2010 Thunder @ Spurs (regular season 56 of 82)

[KDisNotNice]

Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22) at San Antonio Spurs (31-23), 7:30pm Central time in San Antonio on Wednesday night.

This is the third of four meetings this season between these 2 teams fighting for a playoff spot/position. They split the first two games and play the 4th time in OKC on March 22nd.

The game will be shown on Thunder TV, KSBI-TV.

The Thunder have won 9 of their last 10 games and the Spurs just finished an 8 game road trip going 4-4. Also, the status of Tony Parker for this game is not known yet because of injury.

Oklahoma City is 17-11 on the road and the Spurs are 19-10 at home.

Yahoo Sports preview of the game is here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010022424

[AllNationalMediaArePinHeads]

Sorry, I think the playoff "push" intensity catches us off guard with these teams:

Thunder: 92
Spurs: 99

[Tx Thunder]

We get back on track tonight, the spurs are not so hot right now anyway.

Thunder 108
Spurs 93

[Rod4soonrs]

96-92 spurs

[Thunderhead]

Thunder 98
Spurs 94

[KDisNotNice]

Thunder 91
Spurs 96

tiebreaker: 42 (Pts/Rebounds/Assists by the New 'Agent Zero')

[McThunderLovin]

Thunder - 89

Sharp metal pointy thing - 88

[lloyd]

Thunder 98
Spurs 96

[thundafan]

Is Tim Duncan going to put on a uniform this time? I was in heaven during the last matchup because I didn't have to look at that whiny bitch's face while he complained to the refs the whole game.

[OKCDrummer77]

Thunder 102
Don't Squat With Them On 96

[HotRocNRol]

Spurs favored by 3 1/2; over/under @ 192 1/2

OKC...96
SAS...94

We've won in their house before and our guys really like that "winnin' feelin'" so Thunder begins a new streak for our playoff run.

Tiebreaker: 51pts Combined of KD/RW

[KDisNotNice]

Is Tim Duncan going to put on a uniform this time? I was in heaven during the last matchup because I didn't have to look at that whiny bitch's face while he complained to the refs the whole game.

Timmy will be playing and whining tonight. No official word yet on if Mr. Eva Longoria will be back from injury for the game.

[Tordön]

Okc 99
sas 97

[thebig3]

Spurs 97
OKC 92

[Tydude]

this is going to be a good game but we are on a 1 game loosing streak so this is a tough prediction to make but
Thunder 98
Spurs 97

[RicanThunder]

I think I have my Thunder shades on for this one.

THUNDER - 97
Spurs - 96

Bold prediction - KD's streak ends tonight. Hope not, but, like the Black Eyed Peas say, "I got a feeling"

[Thunderstruck83]

Thunder - 95
Spurs - 100

Spurs just got off of an 8 game road trip and will play inspired ball I think, we have to weather the early storm and hang around much like PHX did to us last night, then maybe we can sneak one out at the end. If we let Blair go off again then we'll be in trouble. It'll be tough though coming off of an emotional loss last night.

[McThunderLovin]

Nick Collison is out due to a tweaked hamstring.

[RicanThunder]

Maybe Etan Thomas will get some minutes tonight. We need someone big to try to contain the man with no ACLs.

[McThunderLovin]

OH SNAP Serge is out too. Man this will be tough...

[RicanThunder]

Where are you getting this info from? :confused::confused:

[McThunderLovin]

The pre game show. I am getting scared...

[RicanThunder]

Ughhhh, so a front of Krstic and Green, with Etan Thomas and BJ Mullens backing up. Well, this is why everyone practices, so in game situations like this, they'll be prepared.

[McThunderLovin]

Tony Parker will play but probably with limited minutes.

[RicanThunder]

Here we go.....Blair vs. Mullens.

[McThunderLovin]

I'm not used to see to Mullens on the floor.

[RicanThunder]

KD at the end of 1 quarter already has 11 points and 6 rebounds. I guess he knows he has to pick up the slack on the inside. I mean, he is 6'10", you know.

[Thunderstruck83]

On the last commercial break KD had ice wrapped around his mid section, ribs area. If we can't stay healthy then unfortunately this dream season won't turn out like we hoped. But he seems to be ok on the floor right now so knock on wood.

[McThunderLovin]

Thabo has stepped it up.

[RicanThunder]

Westbrook is having a crap-tastic first half. Let's hope that changes in the second half.

[HotRocNRol]

i missed it or have the announcers said EXACTLY why Ibaka is not suited-up?

[RicanThunder]

Krstic has taken five shots. Which means he needs to take five more for us to win the game.........regardless of whether he makes them or not. (By the way, he's currently 0-5 on FG tries. Maybe that's because Brooks and Collison are having man-sex.)

[RicanThunder]

What the hell is up with Russ? He's 0-fer all around (0-5 FG, 0-4 FT). So Krstic and Westbrook are having HORRIBLE games and we're only down 6. Hopefully they'll smell some smelling salts in the locker room and do better in the 2nd half.

[Thunderstruck83]

If Russ continues to play terribly, added with all the injuries we have tonight, it's gonna be a struggle to win this game. Hopefully Cheeks will get him going in the locker room. We can win this game, just gotta step it up.

[KDisNotNice]

I just got back from BWW. From studying the boxscore, it looks like KRIS-tich and the new Agent Zero are both 'oh-fers' so far. But yet, we only trail by 6 at the half. KD is playing good and that is keeping us in the game. With Collison and Ibaka out with injuries, it looks like more minutes for Nenad and even Byron Mullens got in the game early.

Even though I predicted a loss, I think we still have a chance, IF Westbrook gets it together and distributes the ball more. Zero points and only 2 assists is not helping us.

[KDisNotNice]

Hell, even Matt Pinto is out with 'injury' (the flu) so they are going with the TV broadcast on radio. He made it through the first quarter before quitting.

[KDisNotNice]

Ibaka is out with back spasms. OMG! KRIS-tich scored 7 points in the first one and a half minutes of the 3rd quarter!

[RicanThunder]

Go ahead Nenad.

[McThunderLovin]

Poor Russ he is clearly frustrated.

[RicanThunder]

Just find other ways to contribute Russ. Don't force it.

[RicanThunder]

Regardless of individual stats, this is where we are losing the game:

11/18 FT (61%)

[RicanThunder]

Russ made a jumper. WOOOOHHHHOOOOOOO

[RicanThunder]

Oh ****. two in a row for Russ.

[RicanThunder]

And then Brooks takes Westbrook out the game. I will never, for the life of me, understand NBA substitution patterns. I understand the point of maintaining a consistent pattern, but if a guy finally finds his stroke, why the hell are you going to take him out now???????


Sidenote: And this is actually my 5th post in a row of me talking to myself. My life has devolved into this. I will now find a dark corner to lay in and drink myself to sleep.

[RicanThunder]

67-68 Spurs after 3 quarters.

[Thunderus]

And then Brooks takes Westbrook out the game. I will never, for the life of me, understand NBA substitution patterns. I understand the point of maintaining a consistent pattern, but if a guy finally finds his stroke, why the hell are you going to take him out now???????


Sidenote: And this is actually my 5th post in a row of me talking to myself. My life has devolved into this. I will now find a dark corner to lay in and drink myself to sleep.

That is exactly what I said at my house...pull off of the pre-printed schedule every once in a while...

[Thunderus]

Looks like Brooks heard us...

[Betts]

I remember being able to predict what Byron Scott would do down to the minute, regardless of how the game was going.

[HotRocNRol]

'puter crashed. back now...keep posting Rican. talking yourself is "therapuetic" ;)

[McThunderLovin]

Russ with a huge N1!

[Betts]

I was at the Wedge having dinner and watching the game there. Now you can talk to us.

[HotRocNRol]

JG & RW coming on in the fourth

[RicanThunder]

Thank you. I was beginning to feel lonely. Russ is having a pretty good game, considering where he was an hour ago.

[McThunderLovin]

Jezz the Spurs keep answering back.

[HotRocNRol]

Ginobili makes those drives look soooo easy

[McThunderLovin]

Go GREEEEN great steal to keep us alive.

[Betts]

Too nervous to type, ready for a blowout one of these days.

[HotRocNRol]

gino commited a foul on KD--no call. shoulda been AND 1!

[CCOKC]

I can't take this. I would really like a blowout win so I can keep the rest of my fingernails.

[McThunderLovin]

I predict Durant's streak dies tonight but we come out with a W.

[HotRocNRol]

JG may've learned something last night...chased the ball completely OB instead of the dramatic pitchback into Spurs nest. good job double Duece

[Betts]

He'd be fine with that.

[RicanThunder]

You just have to marvel at how consistent Duncan is (19 points, 14 rebounds). You could pretty much chalk those numbers up for his entire career.

[CCOKC]

Hate the Ginobli.

[Betts]

Consistent, predictable, boring. I'm always surprised when I see his numbers.

[HotRocNRol]

crap! I really thought this was gonna be a win

[McThunderLovin]

I'm going to cry my self to sleep tonight.

[RicanThunder]

If we want to win this game, we have get Krstic 2 more points.

[HotRocNRol]

good game, bad ending. KD's streak busted as a few predicted. Wiley old vets and some sharp shooting threes late in fourth doomed us. :(

HOPE to see everyone raising the roof on Friday night at the Ford.

[RicanThunder]

Well, we were short handed and ran out of steam at the end. Good effort, but some players could have performed better from the beginning of the game. The streak had to end sometime for Durant. Now people can stop harping on the streak and we can move on from here.

Brooks should just give the boys the day off tomorrow and come back with morning shootaround on Friday. They are beat up physically, but probably mentally also. The burden of winning can sometimes weigh heavily on a team that is experiencing success for the first time in their careers.

[Betts]

Perhaps some good old fashioned free throw shooting practice.

[HotRocNRol]

very valid points rican. I'm sure they could use the rest physically & mentally. Obviously need Collison & Ibaka back as we need bigs. JG was really favoring the wrist after the hard no-call hack. KD ribs. who knows what else.

Krstic really had a pretty good effort and with the short bench played way more minutes than normal. Made for some odd rotations/substitutions; glad to see Mullens even for a few short minutes...he'll really need to step it up if Nick &/or Serge are out longer.

Go THUNDER !!!

[KDisNotNice]

Playing 4 games in 5 nights is tough. It's not so bad we went 2-2 in that stretch. We have a 3 game homestand coming up to get back on track.

[KDisNotNice]

KRIS-tich got hot for a few minutes at the start of the 3rd quarter, but otherwise, he didn't play well at all. He got his 10 shots, but not 10 points. Based on the statistics, its his fault we lost. ;)

[Thunderus]

KRIS-tich got hot for a few minutes at the start of the 3rd quarter, but otherwise, he didn't play well at all. He got his 10 shots, but not 10 points. Based on the statistics, its his fault we lost. ;)

His shooting percentage at 3/10 was better than Westbrook...I thought he played pretty good defense...

[FSIMON]

OK for Kris, but why the hell SB don't give Etan Thomas some minutes, a night where Ibaka and Collison were out. He still play the game and has good experience. Also he has a nice salary. He was ok at the beginning of the saison. I understand that Scotty is building on Ibaka, but a night without two of our bigs he could let play ET a little bit.

[Betts]

That's actually a very good point. I don't understand it either.

[KDisNotNice]

OK for Kris, but why the hell SB don't give Etan Thomas some minutes, a night where Ibaka and Collison were out. He still play the game and has good experience. Also he has a nice salary. He was ok at the beginning of the saison. I understand that Scotty is building on Ibaka, but a night without two of our bigs he could let play ET a little bit.

Brooks has explained it before in the press, he just said Etan is out of the rotation, he didn't do anything wrong. The guys who are (probably) 12th best on the roster rarely get playing time in an NBA game. Not everyone can be in the top 5 (or 8) of a team. This is probably his last year in the NBA.

[Plainsman]

Brooks has explained it before in the press, he just said Etan is out of the rotation, he didn't do anything wrong. The guys who are (probably) 12th best on the roster rarely get playing time in an NBA game. Not everyone can be in the top 5 (or 8) of a team. This is probably his last year in the NBA.

Coach Brooks is well on his way to being named the NBA's Coach of the Year.

I think he's well qualified to make the call on Etan Thomas's minutes.

Good grief, some just want to carry this soap opera on and on and on.