It’s a brand new series after the Thunder took Game 4 on Saturday night, 109-103.Game 3 coverage: Thundering Back, OKC Ends Spurs’ Streak
Durantula Unleashed: How Kevin Durant Was Freed

PresswireEver since that game, I figured that if these two teams played in the playoffs, the Spurs’ pristine execution would give them the upper hand. If the Thunder were to win games against the Spurs, it would have to be blowouts. Execution was the lifeblood of the Spurs; execution was the weakness of the Thunder. Put these two teams in a tight game, and the Spurs’ execution would outdo the Thunder’s overall talent every time.
And then, Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals happened.
Read Article >Gregg Popovich Concerned With Spurs’ Turnover Issues
Popovich faults the Spurs’ issues with turnovers for their issues with having more points than the Thunder. Asked about San Antonio’s play in the high post, he redirected a question to turnovers.
I’m more concerned with the number of turnovers we’ve had. We had 21 last game. That really fuels those guys. As quick and fast and talented as they are, it’s like a layup drill every time we turn it over. So we’re better off spending our time worrying about that kind of stuff than not playing in a crowd, valuing the basketball more than trying to concoct some play or offense.The Spurs committed 16 turnovers in Game 1 of the series, 13 in Game 2, and 21 in Game 3 before self-correcting a bit with 10 in Game 4.
Read Article >Stephen Jackson: San Antonio’s Hip Hop Ambassador
The greatest thing about Stephen Jackson being back with the San Antonio Spurs is that he’s usually happy, because the Spurs usually win. So when the team get tagged with a rare loss, as they did on Saturday night when the Thunder won Game 4 to even the series, he still has enough victory endorphins left over to be a joy to listen to.
↵Witness his reaction to the series tightening, straight out of any number of rap songs:
Read Article >Stephen Jackson: Spurs Need To Play Harder
“Those (Oklahoma City) kids are playing hard,” Jackson said after Game 3. “They want it. I think we’ve got to get back to being that way.”
Jackson also said he was surprised by the lack of effort in the first half, especially considering what is at stake.
Read Article >What Does It Mean?!?!?
It’s a double mohawk all the way
Whoa it’s so intense
Whoa
Man
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
OMG OMG
OH MY GOD!
WOOOOOO!
OH WOW!
WOOOOOO! YEEEAH!
OMG
OMG
OMG look at that
It’s starting to look like a triple mohawk!
OMG it’s full on
Double mohawk all the way across his head!
*sobbing* OMG ... OMG ... oh god
What does this mean?
OH! OMG
OH!
Oh, god.
It’s SO bright
OMG it’s so bright and vivid
OH! OH!
OH *sobbing*
It’s so beautiful
Oh my god
OMG
It’s a double complete mohawk
On my TV
OMG
Too much!
I don’t know what it means
It’s so intense
OMG
Oh, and he just got married ... at a Thunder game.
Read Article >Kevin Durant’s Cajones Eclipse Serge Ibaka’s Historical Night
After the game, while interviewing Durant, Craig Sager informed the 23-year-old superstar that Ibaka was flawless shooting, to which he responded, “He didn’t miss a shot? Wow.” Wow, indeed, Mr. Durant.
The man known as KD was pretty wow himself, with 36 points, eight assists and six rebounds, including 18 in the fourth quarter, the most in his playoff career.
Read Article >Thunder Vs. Spurs, NBA Playoffs 2012 Game 4: OKC Wins 109-103, Evens Series 2-2
For more on the Spurs, be sure to visit Pounding the Rock; for the Thunder, Welcome to Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation’s NBA page.
Read Article >Kawhi Leonard Has Been Everywhere
Before the fourth quarter, he had played great defense on Durant, but since Durant went off, Leonard has done his best to match him. He’s scored 17 points with eight rebounds and has missed just one shot, and has been the best Spurs player by far down the stretch. It’s likely not enough, but it’s worth a tip of the cap for a rookie who’s looking more and more like the steal of the 2011 NBA Draft.
Read Article >Kevin Durant Has Scored The Past 13 Thunder Points
Spurs Chipping Away At Thunder’s Lead
Serge Ibaka Erases DeJuan Blair’s Dunk Attempt
There’s a time when having no ACLs may come back to bite you when you’re a professional athlete. When you’re trying for a fast-break dunk and the NBA’s leading shot-blocker — who also happens to be having the best playoff game of his career — is bearing down on you, it would help if you had two ACLs. Sorry, DeJuan Blair, but Serge Ibaka ain’t havin’ that. Not tonight.
UPDATE: Upon further review, Blair got rejected by the rim first, but since it wasn’t in the cylinder, that was a legal play by Ibaka. And hilarious.
Read Article >Serge Ibaka Is 9-For-9 With 22 Points In The Third Quarter
Serge Ibaka Throws Down Monster Cuff Dunk
Spurs Vs. Thunder Score Update: Surprising Cast Leads OKC To 12-Point Halftime Lead
Perkins has looked bouncier than he has pretty much all season with a few dunks and he’s even hitting jump shots. Ibaka has been known to possess a jumper of some consistency, but he’s been less and less confident in it this season. He’s been on the money so far in this game — in fact, he hasn’t missed a shot — going 6-6 for 14 points. Perkins has 13 points and eight rebounds.
For more on the Spurs, be sure to visit Pounding the Rock; for the Thunder, Welcome to Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation’s NBA page.
Read Article >This Is A Goaltend
A little tough to tell from this angle, but the vertical angle showed it clearly hit the backboard first.
Read Article >OKC Riding Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka To Big Lead
In other news, hey, is the sky bleeding?
Read Article >Tiago Splitter Is Having A Bad Second Quarter
Unsurprisingly, Duncan replaced Splitter after the next timeout.
Read Article >Kendrick Perkins Sometimes Looks Younger Than 40
Craig Sager May Be In Oklahoma City, But His Tie Is In Hawai’i
Craig Sager’s attire is as muted as ever.
Read Article >NBA Playoffs: Thabo Sefolosha Will Be Key To Thunder’s Continued Success
The Thunder will definitely need to continue playing “fantastic basketball” if they want to keep their hopes of reaching the NBA Finals alive.
For more on the Spurs, be sure to visit Pounding the Rock; for the Thunder, Welcome to Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation’s NBA page.
Read Article >NBA Playoffs: Will Spurs Be Able To Rebound From Flat Performance?
The prevailing answer, it seems, is that the Thunder came out hungry while the Spurs were flat and never recovered. That isn’t all that surprising considering Oklahoma City had the home crowd behind them, but Pounding the Rock’s Fred Silva wrote about the San Antonio loss in excruciating detail.
“Depressingly difficult” was a phrase many believed would describe the Thunder’s chances to win the Western Conference finals following the first two games of the series. Heading into the weekend, though -- and another home game for the Thunder -- the momentum seems to be firmly on the side of the Thunder.
Read Article >Tony Parker Not Worried About Defensive Matchup With Sefolosha
It seems everyone is pointing to the new defensive matchup except Parker. During his postgame press conference, Parker downplayed the defensive switch, noting he’s seen it before. “OKC put (Sefolosha) on me last year, two years ago,” he said. “It’s nothing different for me. I just have to find my spots.”
Parker’s 16 points and four assists in Game 3 were his lowest postseason totals since Game 4 of the Spurs’ opening-round series against Utah. Only time will tell if Brooks’ defensive tactic was a one-game fluke or enough to turn the series back in Oklahoma City’s favor.
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