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Derek Fisher Is Still In The Game

2012-05-30T03:25:01Z

He’s shooting 1-9 and providing typically bad defense. His intangibles must be off the charts.

A More Important Thunder Adjustment

2012-05-30T03:20:31Z

While the Thunder are indeed occasionally switching pick and rolls on defense (and I stress “occasionally”), the bigger adjustment is that Serge Ibaka is actually in the game as the team’s center instead of Kendrick Perkins. A far cry from Game 1 indeed.

Thunder Beginning To Switch Pick And Rolls

2012-05-30T03:17:51Z

Here’s an adjustment by Scott Brooks: the Thunder are starting to switch on pick and rolls instead of hedging and recovering. I’d rather they just went under the screens and lived with a barrage of open jumpers, but this is something worth trying too.

Thunder's Saving Grace? They Can Score Too

2012-05-30T03:14:34Z

The craziest thing about this game is that the Thunder are down just 10 points. Why? Their two guards, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, have found ways to get into the lane now that the Thunder have flattened the floor.

This is the Spurs’ Achilles heel — as good as they are offensively, their defense can sometimes come and go. It’s nitpicking like crazy, but it may affect them at some point down the line.

VIDEO: Tim Duncan Plays Peacemaker As Stephen Jackson Gets Mad

2012-05-30T03:11:48Z

Despite his team being up 16 points with the third quarter ending, Stephen Jackson got mad. This is something Stephen Jackson does often, so we really shouldn't be surprised. In this case, he went back at Kevin Durant for something he said late in the quarter and drew a needless technical foul.

Luckily, Tim Duncan was there to calm everyone down. Duncan and Jackson, forever the odd couple.

Serge Ibaka Gives The Ball Some Love

2012-05-30T03:06:04Z

Look, we don't know either.

This was after Scott Brooks deployed Hack-a-Splitter (didn't work). Maybe it's a sign of desperation. Maybe Ibaka is looking to jinx Tim Duncan. Maybe ... hell, I don't know anymore.

Thunder Vs. Spurs Score Update: Oklahoma City Attempting To Kill Basketball

2012-05-30T03:03:35Z

The San Antonio Spurs spent the first eight minutes of the third quarter tearing the Oklahoma City Thunder limb from limb. Tony Parker continued to make shots and create easy shots for others while Russell Westbrook continued to get embarrassed defensively. Parker ended the third quarter with 26 points on 12-16 shooting and seven assists, and he didn't even do anything in the last four minutes.

That's because, on six consecutive trips down the floor, the Thunder committed non-shooting fouls on the Spurs. Implementing a Hack-A-Splitter defense was the only answer Scott Brooks had for the Spurs' offense in the third quarter. The Thunder intentionally fouled Tiago Splitter five straight times, and he only made both free throws on one of his trips to the line. He came out for Tim Duncan after the fifth trip to the line and Duncan was fouled behind the three-point arc on the ensuing trip down the floor.

Unfortunately for the Thunder, they haven't scored enough to turn their consistent fouling strategy into anything positive. The Spurs lead 92-76 at the end of the third quarter, and it's going to take something stunning for OKC to make this a contest. San Antonio had 37 points in the third quarter and are now shooting 60 percent from the floor on the night. Kevin Durant has 27 points on 9-14 shooting while Westbrook has 16 points on 7-16 shooting. Among those misses are an airballed three and a missed dunk. This has not been Westbrook's finest performance.

For more on the Spurs, be sure to visit Pounding the Rock; for the Thunder, Welcome to Loud City. And, if you're looking for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA page.

Tiago Splitter Tries To Juke Kevin Durant

2012-05-30T02:59:10Z

The Thunder have resorted to intentionally fouling Tiago Splitter, and Splitter is well aware of this. That probably explains why he tried to run away from Kevin Durant here.