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

[NovU]

Wow, talk about clutch plays by the Thunder, Harden's three and Westbrook's mid range jumper. Durant? Was hiding in the corner.

EDIT: Haha, Durant doubled teamed in the corner turns the ball over and gives the Thunder a chance to tie. Choking at its best.

The Thunder win the game 5. The Thunder won 3 straight.

[Phil89]

[Andrew]

Wow...what a win for the Thunder! The Spurs gave them all they could handle, great trap on Durant at the end there and the hustle play from Leonard. Couldn't make it count though, great shot by Harden and rock solid free throw shooting by Durant to seal the victory. Great opportunity for them to finish it off at home in Game 6, though I wouldn't rule the Spurs out just yet. We should be in for another good one in 48 hours.

[Patr1ck]

Don't just blame Durant, but Russell Westbrook's two turnovers late in the game could have cost them as well.

The Spurs made some mistakes that ultimately cost them. Manu should have doubled Harden, and they should have went for the easy two with 15 seconds left in the game.

[jettdaking!]

and they have turned it around. nooooooooooooooooooo

[NovU]

Being up 2-0 in the series earlier, the Spurs nearly looked indestructible especially with the win streak they were riding. Quite a turn around now, 3 straight losses. What are they doing wrong now or what's OKC doing right?

[Andrew]

The Thunder have let some decent leads slip and the last two games have been competitive in the fourth quarter, so I don't know that the Spurs are doing too many things wrong. I think the Thunder weren't given enough credit after the first two games though; they were down big in Game 2 before making a bit of a run in the fourth but they were a handful of fourth quarter mistakes away from taking the win in Game 1. They've had a great series overall and made the big shots when they've needed them in crunch time the last couple of games.

That said, Tony Parker could stand to be more aggressive like he was early on in Game 5 and outside of Stephen Jackson, the Spurs didn't get much from their bench. Even so, they were close to taking control of the game after erasing the Thunder's lead. I don't think they can afford to let the Thunder get out to a similar lead in Oklahoma City in Game 6, nor take their foot off the pedal and give up control of the game as they did in Game 5.

[Radioman]

I want to see OKC in the finals, the Spurs already have some rings.

[Andrew]

I don't really have a strong preference between the two. With the Bulls out, I wouldn't mind seeing either of them win it all. It'd be great to see a young team like the Thunder make the first of what could be a few Finals appearances and win it their first time out, with Durant further establishing himself as one of the top players in the game right now. At the same time, I'd be glad to see the Spurs win what could be one last title, to give Duncan five rings. In any case, I still think the eventual champion is coming out of this series.

[deihatein]

Here's hoping the Spurs turn it around. As I don't want to lose to a bet to a friend

[Spree#8]

Don't just blame Durant, but Russell Westbrook's two turnovers late in the game could have cost them as well.

Three turnovers, actually. He had that double dribble when trying to drive, the other two however were hardly his fault. One was a flop by Parker, the other - a bad inbound pass (and/or decision) by Harden.

Westbrook's play in crunch time was really poor overall. In addition to the turnovers, he just dribbled out the entire shot clock on a few possessions to throw up a very poor shot at the end of it. You can't waste possessions like that in such an important game at this level. Fortunately, he made that mid-range shot which - along with Harden's huge three - sealed the win.

I like what the Thunder are doing and hope the finish this off in game 6.

[Dc311]

I have been ignoring this thread since game four.A little superstitious maybe.
Tony Parker was pissing me off in the last game.I don't know what is going through his head but he is just playing flat out shitty.He is reminding me of the Tony Parker of earlier years.James Harden is becoming that guy here in town that Derek Fischer was when he was with the Lakers during the Spurs/Lakers past playoff series.Durant is playing great.Ginobili is being Ginobili.I still hate Westbrook.And as much as I hate to admit it,Duncan already has this look on his face,(as hard as that is to believe with his stoned faced)when he knows it is slipping out of their hands.

With that said,I really really really hope it turns around tonight.

[jettdaking!]

will today be the day? oh God pls dont

[Mavs4Life]

Spurs on fiya early.

[john26]

refs going to work, showing how much they hate stephen jackson

and lol at harden's flop because s-jax grazed his beard

[Mavs4Life]

They're giving him 3 free throws on what looked like a block to me. Amazing comeback by the Thunder, their crowd is amazing.

[daninoz]

Apparently, there is a new rule. If the Thunder doens't make a basket, then is a deffensive foul. If the Spurs make a basket, then is an offensive foul.

[Spree#8]

A vast majority of those fouls has been pretty obvious.

edit: except for the one called on Parker right now.

[benji]

This probably puts to rest the silly notion that Tim Duncan is anywhere close to Kobe in the race for greatest player ever.

[Mavs4Life]

I'm not jumping on the Thunder bandwagon, but I got chills when that crowd exploded. Congrats on this young team to getting to the Finals.

[Dc311]

Good game.I fucking hated it.Time to drink it off.

[JaoSming]

Did I say Thunder in 6? Yes, I said Thunder in 6

[benji]

An epic choke job like this makes you rethink all of Duncan and Pop's rings. They didn't defeat legit competition like Kobe did, basically just steam-rolled over a bunch of teams like the Clippers and Cavaliers.

When Kobe was up 2-0 on the Thunder he took care of business. Every year he was a number one seed he took care of business. None of this running up the score on lottery teams and then collapsing year after year in the playoffs when faced with actual competition like the Lakers in 2001/2002/2004 or Grizzlies last year or Thunder this year.

Also makes you start thinking about where Fisher ranks among point guards, he has to be Top 25 now, maybe Top 15 if he gets another ring.

[Mavs4Life]

I wouldn't put him in the straight up Best PGs ever but Fish certainly one of the clutchest NBA players in the last decade.

[benji]

When the Thunder win he'll have six rings and have been in 9 of the last 14 Western Conference Finals and eight NBA Finals. Other than Magic what other point guard has a winning resume like that?

Now I'm starting to think he's a Top Ten point guard. Maybe even Top Five.

Fans in Seattle have to be beaming that the team they birthed is headed to a ring. I hope the Thunder are planning a rally in downtown Seattle for their fans there. Those proud parents earned it, they raised their son so well, just look at him out there on his own succeeding at the highest level.