2016 playoffs, Spurs vs Thunder. Kawhi, LMA, TD, vs KD, Russ, Ibaka

[Rico2016]

KD and Russ beat Kawhi and LMA in the 2016 playoffs. What's weird is Kawhi only averaged 23-7-4 in this series. In the final game of the series Kawhi shot poorly, scoring 22 points on 39% shooting, thus being eliminated. Duncan put up 19 on 50% and LMA did 18 on 50% but Kawhi gave the series away. KD and Russ combined for 65 points on 50%

One of those series we don't really talk about because 2016 was overshadowed by at least a couple other playoff series.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201605120OKC.html

[GimmeThat]

when you look at the fouls committed by both teams in comparison to the free throws discrepancy, you could credit it to that when the Spurs had gotten a favorable match up, they settled for the jump shot instead of attacking the basket. I credit this mentality to having a coach and a bench while underestimating the Thunders efficiency.

[Rico2016]

I find it odd the number of passes certain players are given. Magic gets a pass. Bird. And now Kawhi. Kawhi played poorly this series, having scored 23 on 39% in game 6 but in addition to this he also lost the game with 2 teammates putting up at least 18 and 5 on 50%. That sounds rare, no? To compare, here are the stats for LBJ and #2 and #3 options during an elimination game loss:

2006 ECF, game 6
Hughes = 10 and 5 on 33%
Big Z = 8 and 3 on 37%

2007 Finals, game 4
Gooden = 11 and 11 on 42%
Gibson = 10 and 2 on 40%

2008 ECSF, game 7
West = 15 and 3 on 50%
Big Z = 8 and 5 on 25%

2009 ECSF, game
West = 22 and 4 on 47%
Mo = 13 and 3 on 50%

2010 ECF, game 6
Mo = 22 and 7 on 44%
Shaq = 11 and 4 on 57%

2011 Finals, game 6
Bosh = 19 and 8 on 78%
Wade = 18 and 3 on 42%

2014 Finals, game 5
Bosh = 13 on 43%
Wade = 11 on 33%

2015 Finals, game 6
Smith = 19 and 5 on 33%
Mozgov = 17 and 12 on 63%

2017 Finals, game 5
Kyrie = 26 and 2 on 41%
JR = 25 and 3 on 82%

2018 Finals, game 4
Love = 13 and 9 on 31%
JR = 10 and 2 on 37%

The number of times LBJ's #2 or #3 option put up at least 18 and 5 on 50% in an elimination game loss? Once. Once in 20 possible tries. (10 years, 2 players per year).

[tpols]

i remember that being a close series though barely lost. the spurs were totally in it.

Do you know how good the 2016 thunder were?

They had the 73 win warriors down 1-3 on the ropes.

They wouldve easily won the title if chef & klay didnt pop an avalanche off. and dumped on them.

damn....

[Axe]

While it would have been a fascinating matchup to watch, i wonder if that thunder team have what it takes to defeat the cavaliers.

[tpols]

While it would have been a fascinating matchup to watch, i wonder if that thunder team have what it takes to defeat the cavaliers.

they had steven adams and ibaka down low... very elite defense on the perimeter as well with durant roberson and westbrook.

makes dray, ezeli, mo speights, barnes look like a softball team.

That thunder team was FILTY on defense... they basically had three 7 footers C-PF-SF, an oversized SG in andre, and oversized PG westbrook.

They were a monstars team.

Durant would've laid another do0k on bran 100%, he feasted on Cleveland's defense. :lol

[Axe]

they had steven adams and ibaka down low... very elite defense on the perimeter as well with durant roberson and westbrook.

makes dray, ezeli, mo speights, barnes look like a softball team.

That thunder team was FILTY on defense... they basically had three 7 footers C-PF-SF, an oversized SG in andre, and oversized PG westbrook.

They were a monstars team.

Durant would've laid another do0k on bran 100%, he feasted on Cleveland's defense. :lol
Yup, cavs had a mediocre defense.

Also, westbrook would be able to shut down irving effectively and not just allow him to have some heroic effort by scoring 41 points in game 5 of that finals.

Then love would probably be harassed by ibaka and adams. Therefore, he'd probably succumb under pressure.

Which leaves james with durant and the experience would be like hell also.

[Rico2016]

While it would have been a fascinating matchup to watch, i wonder if that thunder team have what it takes to defeat the cavaliers.

I wondered the same thing. I always wondered how the match up would have been if KD held onto that 3-1 lead and met up against LeBron James. To be honest, KD always seemed a bit rattled against Lebron (up until he joined the most winningest regular season team the sport has ever seen). I wonder, I really do wonder about that.

[Rico2016]

they had steven adams and ibaka down low... very elite defense on the perimeter as well with durant roberson and westbrook.

makes dray, ezeli, mo speights, barnes look like a softball team.

That thunder team was FILTY on defense... they basically had three 7 footers C-PF-SF, an oversized SG in andre, and oversized PG westbrook.

They were a monstars team.


And yet little ol' Curry managed to beat them, while being down 3 to 1? Interesting.

[Rico2016]

i remember that being a close series though barely lost. the spurs were totally in it.

Do you know how good the 2016 thunder were?

They had the 73 win warriors down 1-3 on the ropes.

They wouldve easily won the title if chef & klay didnt pop an avalanche off. and dumped on them.

damn....

2016 Thunder were a godly team, why do you think Durant joined the Warriors? Imagine this scenario playing out.

You're KD and you average 30 while Westbrook averages 27 and you still lose the series to the Warriors. Then that same Warriors teams goes to the Finals and LeBron rips off three wins in a row, capping off the Finals series with a win. KD is looking at the Cavs like, what the hell, I couldn't beat the Warriors scoring 30 and Russell 27, but even that Warriors team couldn't be LeBron. It shifted a lot of things.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

The trio of Duncan\Parker\Manu were completely washed up by 2016 and the team needed a rebuild. Duncan was turned into a bench warmer this series and Pop only put him in game 6 out of desperation when the game was getting out of hand. Having said all that, Spurs still ended the series averaging more PPG and a higher offensive rating, so thunder was actually lucky to win the series in that sense.

Game 5 Spurs were at home and a win extends it to game 7. Kawhi scores 26 points 59% TS and outplays Durant. Lamarcus on the other hand plays awful with 40% TS and a 89 offensive rating. Westbrook goes off for 35 points. I think the series was decided this game, Lamarcus played so awful for a homecourt game and forced Spurs into an elimination game on the road.

[Axe]

I wondered the same thing. I always wondered how the match up would have been if KD held onto that 3-1 lead and met up against LeBron James. To be honest, KD always seemed a bit rattled against Lebron (up until he joined the most winningest regular season team the sport has ever seen). I wonder, I really do wonder about that.
Too bad they choked tho and that choke led to the most controversial move in the history of the league...or so it seemed. It became history.

Afterwards, i lost all my love and respect for kd. Well, that's all in the past now, so...

[SouBeachTalents]

they had steven adams and ibaka down low... very elite defense on the perimeter as well with durant roberson and westbrook.

makes dray, ezeli, mo speights, barnes look like a softball team.

That thunder team was FILTY on defense... they basically had three 7 footers C-PF-SF, an oversized SG in andre, and oversized PG westbrook.

They were a monstars team.

Durant would've laid another do0k on bran 100%, he feasted on Cleveland's defense. :lol
Let me guess though, if the Cavs beat them suddenly they turn into Durant, Chokebrook and scrubs right :oldlol:

[ArbitraryWater]

Yup, cavs had a mediocre defense.

Also, westbrook would be able to shut down irving effectively and not just allow him to have some heroic effort by scoring 41 points in game 5 of that finals.

Then love would probably be harassed by ibaka and adams. Therefore, he'd probably succumb under pressure.

Which leaves james with durant and the experience would be like hell also.

yea, sure bud...

KI would abuse Russ, dummie

Russ would give him some business too. They'd take turns

[LoneyROY7]

Kawhi only performed below standards due to being stifled by Popovich's totalitarian system.

Had Kawhi been given free reign, it's a very different series.

[Axe]

yea, sure bud...

KI would abuse Russ, dummie

Russ would give him some business too. They'd take turns
https://media0.giphy.com/media/26tjZmRqyPj9jUd56/giphy.gif?cid=19f5b51a4c148027457bbaa6d301336f0b04 a8346496edf7&rid=giphy.gif

[LoneyROY7]

Kawhi without Popovich: 27/7/4 over 2 regular seasons and a 30 ppg playoff run resulting in a title.

It's a shame he was held down for so long.

[ArbitraryWater]

Kawhi only performed below standards due to being stifled by Popovich's totalitarian system.

Had Kawhi been given free reign, it's a very different series.

Kawhi had free reign. Took 19 shots a game that series. Played alright.

[999Guy]

Kawhi got to see the REAL loaded West just as it fizzled out because of KD and CP3 leaving their teams, and he got his ass kicked.

Chris Paul put his ass in a blender for the first 5 games of 2015 WCR1. And then Pop had him guard Redick so Doc just made him sit at halfcourt. :oldlol:

Chris Paul legitimately erased him from that series.

KD smoked him out in six.

[ELITEpower23]

Kawhi lost a close out game with his #2 and #3 option putting up 18 ppg on 50%

Crazy choke artist. Damn. LeBron only had one time in 10 playoff elimination games where even ONE of his teammate did that, let alone both? Crazy to think Kawhi had all that help and lost in the 2nd round. Duncan, Parker, Aldridge, Ginobli, Parker, Green, how much help does he need?