Serge Ibaka | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

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

Ginobili hopeful to get touch back

By Jeff McDonald

The Western Conference finals are sure to bring about comparisons between a pair of super subs: Oklahoma City’s James Harden and the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili.

Both are left-handed. Both have NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards on their mantles. Both play with a herky-jerky style that can be murder to defend.

Harden, however, is the one with The Beard.

“Mine doesn’t get that good,” Ginobili said. “I’ve tried.”

One other key difference between the two: only Harden will enter Game 1 on Sunday with soaring confidence.

Ginobili is coming off his second straight poor-shooting series, going 17 for 42 in the second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers.

That included a 6-for-21 showing from 3-point range that dropped his playoff percentage to 25.7 percent (9 of 35).

Asked after practice Wednesday to gauge his confidence level in his jump shot, Ginobili said: “Not the best it’s been.”

“I wasn’t worried against Utah (in the first round), because I didn’t take many (shots),” Ginobili said. “Against the Clippers, I took a few open, and they didn’t go in.”

Despite his shooting woes, Ginobili is averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in the playoffs. Harden, 22, is averaging 19.1 points, five boards and 3.1 assists off the bench for the Thunder.

For the second time in this postseason, Ginobili is hopeful the start of a new series will change his luck.

“This is a whole new story, a new series, and we don’t care about what happened against Utah or the Clippers,” Ginobili said. “Hopefully, I start off on the right foot.”

Can’t block the truth: Thunder players were thrilled to learn Wednesday that forward Serge Ibaka had been voted to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team by the league’s 30 head coaches.

The notion Ibaka might not have made the first team after leading the league in blocked shots seemed impossible for some players to contemplate.

“Serge was first team?” said teammate Nazr Mohammed, a former Spurs center. “Well, duh. If he wasn’t, then it would have been a travesty.”

Ibaka averaged 3.65 blocks during the regular season, netting double figures three times. Though it wasn’t a factor in All-Defensive team balloting, the 6-foot-10 Ibaka has also logged 33 blocks in nine playoff games so far.

Ibaka’s case for first team was simple, Mohammed said.

“He affects the game without scoring a bucket, and guys like that are first-team All-Defense,” Mohammed said.

Russell Westbrook went even further in his praise of Ibaka’s defensive work.

“I feel he should have been Defensive Player of the Year,” the Thunder’s All-Star point guard said of the award, voted on by media, that went to New York center Tyson Chandler.

Honorable mention: The Spurs did not place a player on the first or second All-Defensive team for the third consecutive season.

Tim Duncan landed in the “also receiving votes” category, garnering five points, including one first-team vote.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Staff writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.

SPURS VS. THUNDER
Western Conference finals (best-of-7)

Game 1: Sunday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TNT

Game 2: Tuesday – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

Game 3: Thursday May 31 – Spurs @ Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

Game 4: Saturday June 2 – Spurs @ Thunder, 7:30 p.m. TNT

*Game 5: Monday June 4 – Spurs vs. Thunder, 8:00 p.m. TNT

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

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

– All times Central
*If necessary

Slideshow: Spurs vs. Thunder Game 2

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Spurs 120, Thunder 111: Game 2

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) lays the ball in against San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) near San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) shoots near San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) and San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) reacts after hitting a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gets a hand on a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) is trapped between San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) slams the ball near San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) is under pressure from San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33), San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2), San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) talks to San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stands near San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) makes a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) holds his daughter Sydney and his son, Draven, before the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gestures after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) gestures after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) passes around Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nazr Mohammed (8) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) passes over Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nazr Mohammed (8) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Matt Bonner (15) shoots a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) reacts after a play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

A fan holds up a sign during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Fans hold up signs during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

A fan holds up a sign during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after hitting a three point basket during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) gesture for possession of the ball during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Nick Collison (4) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) fights for control of the ball with San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) with Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) nearby during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) falls out of bounds after the play during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) swipes the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (13) drives against San Antonio Spurs’ Matt Bonner (15) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) shoots against San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) and San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (0) passes around San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) pulls in a rebound against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (5) and San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

Fans hold up signs during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) dunks against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half of game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (San Antonio Express-News)