Tag: Gregg Popovich

Burning questions for Spurs’ offseason

By Jeff McDonald

Thanks to Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the offseason came two victories shy of the NBA Finals for the Spurs.

What’s next for the Western Conference runners-up? Here is the answer to that question with five more, plus one:

How badly does Tim Duncan just want to eat red meat and play “Call of Duty” all day?

The Spurs’ franchise player since draft day 1997, Duncan’s contract famously expires July 1. Whether he decides, at age 36, to sign another one will largely hinge on the answer to the question above.

Duncan proved this season that his body can still handle the rigors of an NBA season, but it takes hard work — and a stringent low-fat diet — to make that happen. If Duncan is ready to finally unstrap that omnipresent knee brace, sink his teeth into a cheeseburger and fire up the Xbox in retirement, nobody would blame him.

If Duncan does decide he’d still like to play “until the wheels fall off,” expect the Spurs to come to a workable agreement with him. Duncan’s not playing anywhere else.

So how much is an aging franchise player going for these days anyway?

Less than the $21.1 million Duncan made last season, but probably more than you’d think.

Duncan appeared rejuvenated during the lockout-shortened season, including a 25-and-14 performance in Wednesday’s Game 6 ouster in OKC. Though clearly no longer an MVP candidate — and, according to the voters at least, no longer an All-Star — Duncan remains a quality NBA big man, and those don’t come ? cheap.

The Spurs have other free agents to address (namely guard Danny Green and center Boris Diaw), but must first gauge what their payroll looks like after they re-up Duncan.

How dangerous are the Olympics for Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker?

Put it this way: Coach Gregg Popovich plans to attend the London Games this summer, but don’t be surprised if he watches matches involving Argentina and France with both hands covering his eyes.

Who can forget the sight of Ginobili rolling around on the court in 2008 in Beijing, clutching an injured left ankle that would soon require surgery? Of equal concern is the daily toll year-round basketball takes on 30-something bodies, and neither Parker (30) nor Ginobili (soon-to-be 35) is getting younger.

With the Olympics piled on top of a deep playoff run, expect Popovich to give his international backcourt plenty of rest come training camp and the preseason in October.

Should we prepare for more draft-night drama?

After years of using draft night to select players whose names fans couldn’t pronounce from countries they couldn’t locate on a map, then stashing them overseas for future use (or not), the Spurs made a bold move last June to land Kawhi Leonard at No. 15.

The Spurs do not have a first-round pick in the June 28 draft, having shipped it to Golden State in the March trade for Stephen Jackson, but won’t rule out trying to move up for the right player and right price.

Tiago Splitter: linchpin or liability?

Somewhere in the middle. The former first-round pick produced a sophomore campaign significantly more impactful than his first, doubling his scoring average to 9.3 points per game, and increasing his rebounding and blocks, while serving as a capable backup to Duncan.

But Splitter fell off the map during the latter part of the Western Conference finals, proving his upside has limits. The 6-foot-11 Splitter never was meant to be the heir-apparent to Duncan as the centerpiece big man, but should be a useful rotation piece going forward.

Bonus question: Should Erazem Lorbek and Nando de Colo look into obtaining work visas?

A 6-foot-10 forward from Slovenia currently playing with Ricky Rubio’s old club in Spain, Lorbek was a sidepiece of the Leonard deal. De Colo, a 6-foot-5 guard from France, has also been playing in Spain since the Spurs drafted him 53rd overall in 2009.

Both have a chance to cross the pond and join the Spurs next season, depending on how the free-agency landscape shakes out. If you’re handicapping it, expect Lorbek to make the jump before de Colo.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Offensive adjustments not foreign for Spurs

By Jeff McDonald

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Swiss, a Frenchman, a Congolese and an Argentine all walk onto a basketball court.

What sounds like the setup to a bad joke was actually the defensive recipe Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks used to get his team back into the Western Conference finals.

With off-guard Thabo Sefolosha blanketing Tony Parker, and with power forward Serge Ibaka flummoxing Manu Ginobili on most every pick-and-roll, the Spurs’ juggernaut of an offense looked downright mortal in a 102-82 loss in Game 3 on Thursday.

“They brought it,” said Ginobili, whose team had a franchise-best 20-game winning streak stopped. “They got us on our heels. Now we know how it’s going to be.”

Still up 2-1 in the series, how the Spurs respond in Game 4 tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena will go a long way toward determining how much longer this thing plays out.

First order of business: Solving the Thunder’s International House of Defense.

Sefolosha, a 28-year-old from Switzerland, is 6-foot-7. His combination of length and quickness made it difficult for Parker to scoot around him.

After averaging 26 points in Games 1 and 2, Parker managed 16 in Game 3 and committed five of the Spurs’ 21 turnovers.

Parker, who had been guarded in the first two games mostly by Russell Westbrook, was not exactly surprised by the change.

“It’s not the first time,” Parker said. “They did it before in the past. I have to keep being aggressive and choosing my spots.”

Of greater significance, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, was Brooks’ other major adjustment.

The call to switch most every pick-and-roll often left Ibaka, the NBA’s top shot-blocker at 6-foot-9, paired with Ginobili on the perimeter. The 22-year-old Republic of Congo native handled the assignment well, keeping Ginobili out of the paint and unable to throw the pick-and-roll passes he prefers.

Ginobili went 1 for 5 from the field and added four turnovers to the Spurs’ tally. His counter in Game 4 is simple.

“Attack better,” Ginobili said. “When they collapse the paint, try to find the open teammate. Basic basketball. It’s not something Xs and Os wise. I’ve got to be sharper, more decisive. The spacing’s got to be better.”

With their trademark pick-and-roll effectively sabotaged, the Spurs struggled to keep up with OKC on the scoreboard.

After seemingly getting any shot they wanted in Games 1 and 2, the Spurs were forced into more one-on-one isolation plays in Game 3 than they would have liked.

The ball movement that was the staple of the Spurs’ winning streak disappeared. The offense stagnated.

During their streak, the Spurs averaged better than 109 points per game. The 82 they mustered Thursday were their fewest in the postseason since a 101-81 loss at Dallas in the 2010 first round.

“Our pick-and-roll defense was very good against probably the best pick-and-roll offense,” Brooks said. “We did a good job of getting into the ball, did a good job of being up into the ball with our bigs. That was the key.”

In addition to pouring in an uncharacteristic 19 points, Sefolosha snagged six steals — most in the playoffs against the Spurs in 11 years.

Oklahoma City logged 14 steals in all, scored 20 of their points off Spurs miscues and seemed to deflect even the most routine passes.

Given the overwhelming success the Thunder defense enjoyed in Game 3, the Spurs can expect a similar switch-everything approach tonight.

“We have to use the mismatches we get from that to our advantage,” said Tim Duncan, who is 13 of 41 so far in the series. “Tony and Manu will be expecting those kind of switches, and they have to attack them in a different way.”

If the Spurs can figure out a new plan for dealing with OKC’s defensive alterations, they have an excellent chance of bringing a 3-1 lead home with them.

And if they can’t? The punchline that follows won’t seem so funny.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

SPURS VS. THUNDER
Western Conference finals
(Spurs lead best-of-7 series 2-1)

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Game 4: Saturday – Spurs @ Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TNT

Game 5: Monday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

*Game 6: Wednesday – Spurs @ Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

*Game 7: Friday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

– All times Central
*If necessary

Thunder 102, Spurs 82: Game 3

By Tim Griffin

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kevin Durant erupted for 22 points to lead Oklahoma City to a 102-82 victory over the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

The loss snapped the Spurs’ 20-game winning streak which ended up as the fourth longest in NBA history. The Spurs’ last loss before Thursday came April 11 when the Los Angeles Lakers beat them in San Antonio.

A determined defensive effort and Durant’s fast start helped the Thunder pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 will be played Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

Thabo Sefolosha made the most of extending playing time to produce 19 points and six steals. Sefolosha played only 15 minutes in the Thunder’s Game 2 loss in San Antonio.

James Harden scored 15, Serge Ibaka added 14 and Russell Westbrook filled the scoresheet with 10 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Duncan notched five blocked shots to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most playoff rejections since the NBA started recording the statistic in 1973-74. Duncan has 478 plus. Abdul-Jabbar has 476.

With a 78-60 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich opted to rest Duncan and Tony Parker for the rest of the game. Parker finished with 16 points and five turnovers and Duncan had 11 points but produced only two rebounds to match his career playoff low, set Apr. 23, 2009 against Dallas.

Stephen Jackson also added 16 for the Spurs, who finished with a playoff-low 40 percent from the field with 21 turnovers. DeJuan Blair scored 10 points in garbage time in the fourth quarter.

Durant scored 16 points in the first half to lead the Thunder to a 54-41 halftime lead as they dominated the game from the start of the second quarter.

The Thunder showed it was going to be different from the start as a feisty defensive effort forced 13 Spurs turnovers in the first half and limited them to 40 percent shooting before the break

Harden added 11 points and Westbrook chipped in with eight as the Thunder extended their lead up to 15 points before the break.

Parker led San Antonio with 11 points and Duncan added nine, but the Spurs were out of synch throughout the game.

Durant’s technical with 9:22 left in the second quarter seemed to ignite the Thunder.

After Manu Ginobili’s free throw on the technical pulled the Spurs within 31-28, Oklahoma City took control on a 15-4 run punctuated by a pull-up jumper by Westbrook that gave them a 46-32 with 4:15 left.

Earlier, the Spurs weathered an early charge by the Thunder who jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first 3 minutes.

Parker had trouble with Thabo Sefolosha’s length in the early going as Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks opted to put him on the Spurs point guard after his 34-point game in Game 2 Tuesday night.

Sefolosha responded with four steals in the Spurs’ first seven possessions as the Spurs contributed seven turnovers in the first quarter.

Duncan was active in the first quarter after struggling most of the first two games. He hit for seven points in the first quarter as he tried six shots in the first six minutes.

Duncan and Parker combined to score all but one of the Spurs’ first 15 points. But Stephen Jackson came out with a productive ending to the first quarter with some strong defense on Durant and five straight points to boost the Spurs into the lead. Ginobili hit two foul shots to give the Spurs a 24-22 lead at the quarter break.

The Spurs shot only 35.3 percent in the second quarter as the Thunder took control and never trailed after the first minute in the second quarter. and have to get their offense going if they have any hope of extending their strength.

And considering the way the raucous crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena has responded, it will be the most difficult challenge the Spurs have faced since tax day

wgriffin@express-news.net

Updates by Joe Alexander

The Spurs lost for the first time since April 11 and for the first time in this postseason.

Their 20-game win streak ended with a thud in a 102-82 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

The Spurs still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. The Thunder’s victory guarantees there will be a Game 5 on Monday at the ATT Center.

The Spurs were plagued from the outset by turnovers and mediocre shooting. The Thunder were aggressive on defense and consistently turned Spurs turnovers into points. The Spurs finished with 21 turnovers.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had all of his starters on the bench with more than eight minutes left in the game. The Thunder pulled their starters midway through the fourth quarter.

Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 16 points each. Tim Duncan had 11 points and blocked 5 shots – he became the NBA career leader in postseason blocked shots.

Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 22 points and Thabo Sefolosha had 19.

Fourth quarter: The Thunder lead the Spurs 100-75 with 2:57 left.

The Thunder lead 86-63. There’s 9:47 left in the fourth quarter, but this one is basically over.

Third quarter – Thunder 78, Spurs 60: Barring a huge comeback, the Spurs are going to lose for the first time since April 11. The Thunder lead by 18 at the end of the third quarter.

The Thunder lead the Spurs 73-53 with 2:06 left in the third quarter. Kevin Durant has 22 points. The Spurs have 17 turnovers and are shooting 38.8 percent.

The Thunder continue to build on their lead early in the second half. It’s Thunder 63, Spurs 46 with 7:59 left in the third quarter.

Halftime – Thunder 54, Spurs 41: The Spurs have 13 turnovers. Kevin Durant leads the Thunder with 16 points, James Harden has 11. Tony Parker leads the Spurs with 11 points, Tim Duncan has 9 and Manu Ginobili has 8.

The Thunder’s biggest lead of the half was 14 points at 46-32. The Thunder lead 49-37 with 3:01 left in the half.

The Thunder have their biggest lead so far at 44-32. The Spurs are up to 11 turnovers and are shooting 39.3 percent.

The Thunder went on a 9-0 run to retake the lead – again taking advantage of Spurs turnovers. The Thunder are in front 31-28 with 8:59 left in the half.

First quarter – Spurs 24, Thunder 22: The Spurs missed their first four shots of the game and turned the ball over 7 times. Despite that the Spurs lead by two at the end of the first quarter.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker scored 7 points each in the first 9 minutes of the game. The Thunder lead the spurs 16-15 with 2:43 left in the first quarter.

After the Thunder led 8-0 in the opening minutes, the Spurs lead 13-12. That’s the Spurs’ first lead of the game.

The Spurs missed their first four shots. Tim Duncan made the Spurs’ first two baskets and Tony Parker hit a 3-pointer and a long jumper. The Thunder lead the Spurs 12-10 after leading by eight points.

The Spurs open with four quick turnovers and the Thunder jump out to an 8-0 lead.

Spurs starters: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw and Tim Duncan.

The Spurs play on the road tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

Join Jeff McDonald and Tim Griffin for a live game chat (below) beginning at 7:30 p.m.