2012 West Finals: (1) Spurs vs. (2) Thunder

[benji]

So Durant only had 1 FGM for the 4th quarter of games 1 and 2 combined. Why is no one calling him a choker yet?

Why Not?

[Andrew]

Westbrook has to give him the chance to choke in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder did make it interesting for a while there in the fourth but that was the Spurs' game from start to finish. I would've like to have seen a more competitive game, but you've got to hand it to the Spurs, who just keep on rolling. Tim Duncan even obliged us all with a throwback moment:

phpBB [video]

I think the Thunder will avoid the sweep, though it's hard to pick against the Spurs right now and it's probably heading back to San Antonio for Game 5 with them up 3-1.

[deihatein]

So Durant only had 1 FGM for the 4th quarter of games 1 and 2 combined. Why is no one calling him a choker yet?
Not surprising considering that Choke Nowitzki is Durant's idol.

[benji]

[Dc311]

I stopped watching half way through the third quarter.

[Phil89]

Sefolosha for MVP.

[Andrew]

Thunder have made it a series, but I expect Game 4 to be much closer.

phpBB [video]

[shadowgrin]

So anyone want to 'Artest' benji's face for being right about giving more minutes to Thabo instead of wasting it on Fisher for OKC to stand a chance against the Spurs?

[rise]

This is going to be a REALLY good game.

[Dc311]

It is now a series.

[daninoz]

I'm still with the Spurs in 6. Today they played a really awful game in defense, when the game most needed it. Durant was really amazing in the 4th quarter.

For me, if the spurs win the next game, the series is over.

[Nick]

I'm still with the Spurs in 6. Today they played a really awful game in defense, when the game most needed it. Durant was really amazing in the 4th quarter.

Gotta give credit where credit is due though, the Thunder defense was awesome.

[Phil89]

So Durant only had 1 FGM for the 4th quarter of games 1 and 2 combined. Why is no one calling him a choker yet?
Not surprising considering that Choke Nowitzki is Durant's idol.

18 points in the last 7 minutes of game 4.

[shadowgrin]

One game as opposed to three games of him choking in the 4th quarters of the WCF. Definitely clutch like Kobe then.

[NovU]

I knew this series was gonna go distance. Gonna go to a game 7 and the Spurs will prevail only because Bron's choking buddy Durant will choke like non other than his good friend Lebawn.

[Phil89]

One game as opposed to three games of him choking in the 4th quarters of the WCF. Definitely clutch like Kobe then.

So he was choking whilst sitting on the bench in game 3 because the team were winning by so much? Pretty solid effort.

[Andrew]

Great series so far, gotta love it. Durant was fantastic down the stretch and carried the Thunder after the Spurs got right back into the game, but how about Ibaka going 11/11 to tie the second best mark for most field goals without a miss in the Playoffs, taking several jumpshots no less? Perkins was a beast in the first half, too.

Thunder now have to win at least one in San Antonio though and I think that's where it comes unstuck for them. It could happen, but given the way the Spurs were able to rally in Game 4 and the way they played in Games 1 and 2, I have a feeling they'll prevail. Can't count the Thunder out of course, should they take the pivotal Game 5 then I could see this one ending in six. Still think it's going to go the distance though, with home court clinching it for San Antonio.

[koberulz]

Why on earth is pinning the ball against the glass illegal?

[Patr1ck]

The best information I could find on that rule.

http://cache.nba.com/2009/news/features ... index.html

[koberulz]

IOW it isn't. You'd think the people whose job it is to know the rules would know the damn rules.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that was puzzling. Kerr was definitely wrong about that, though the ball did hit the backboard first so he was right about it being a missed goaltending call...just not for the reason that he claimed.

[benji]

Spurs are finished time to blow it up:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=87wdz3t

[daninoz]

Spurs are finished time to blow it up:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=87wdz3t

Not in a million years.That's like the worst trade ever.

[Andrew]

Not really. This is worse:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=cx3lbwv

[shadowgrin]

One game as opposed to three games of him choking in the 4th quarters of the WCF. Definitely clutch like Kobe then.

So he was choking whilst sitting on the bench in game 3 because the team were winning by so much? Pretty solid effort.

Scott Brooks new Durant could choke the game away so he was benched.