OKLAHOMA CITYâ€"There sure was a lot of talk the other night in San Antonio about a “clinic†being put on by the crazy-hot Spurs.
And it’s true, a 20-game winning streak hit a crescendo during a nine-point Game 2 victory in which the Spurs played flawlessly on offense.
The Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the San Antonio Spurs' win streak at 20 games Thursday in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. (AP Photo)
As Thunder coach Scott Brooks said prior to Thursday’s Game 3: “You have to defend in this league to be a team that is special.â€
You want special? Special is Thabo Sefolosha (six steals) and Russell Westbrook (four) playing passing lanes like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Special is Kendrick Perkins closing out on San Antonio’s 3-point shooters like a man 50 pounds lighter.
Special is a defense that not only crushed San Antonio’s historic winning streak but held the Spurs to their lowest offensive output since Jan. 27.
That was 55 games ago, for those scoring at home.
OKC 102, San Antonio 82. That must be a clinic of some sort.
Rarely has one win seemed to stand for so much in an NBA playoff series. The Thunder returned home looking like an immensely talented young team that nevertheless was in danger of being swept. Remember, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and company completely gagged away two Western Conference finals home games to Dallas in 2011. Maybe they’re just not cut out for this kind of pressure?
Forget about that now. Still down 2-1 to probably the best team in the league, the Thunder have a chance. They certainly have more than a prayer. They were faster, more aggressive and more determined than the Spurs in Game 3.
Durant led the way with 22 points and was one of five Thunder players in double figures.
The night called to mind a couple of ugly evenings for the Spurs last postseason in Memphis. The Spurs looked old then. They looked slow. It sure appeared their championship window had closed.
Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich deserve enormous credit for making a mockery of that notion one year later. They’ve already overachieved, given the miles on their legs, and they could yetâ€"perhaps shouldâ€"win the franchise’s fifth NBA title next month.
But they’re not out of the woods in the West. Not anymore. Not even close.
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