What a game! It's time to change the script! The old guards are passing out! WOW! How fast was that! I am pretty certain some of those guys who wrote those articles that I read earlier saying that OKC will turn the tide, are the same people who said the Spurs will take the series. To start off, I am going to say one thing and that is I am not buying any of sort of suggestions/ideas that the Thunders will win the series. I will stick to my guns and still pick the Spurs to win the series.
How the game was played out?
Well the game was pretty back and forth, back and forth pretty much the whole game even when Serge Ibaka had a perfect shooting night. It was only when Kevin Durant took over in the middle of the fourth quarter that actually a clear winner emerge and that is OKC.
How did OKC win?
1) Serge Ibaka. He had an outstanding game tonight. He went 11-11 in shooting, went 4-4 in the foul line together with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. A great all around game for him tonight. He was continually a presence in both the defensive and the offensive end where he shot a perfect night. Just fantastic really.
2) Kevin Durant. Finally and I mean finally! Kevin Durant finally reminded why he is the NBA scoring champion! Reminded us that he is a scoring machine probably even better than Michael Jordan in that department. Well I am alittle tired of writing the stats down, you can go take a look at it yourself, and by the way he scored 36 points. For me it is not so much about number of points he scored but the aggression and the intensity he showed in the middle of the fourth quarter to take over the game was what I was looking for. For a moment in the game I thought he wasn't going to show up at all as in the first 2 quarters of the game he only shot the ball 4 times. But he proved me wrong, he started to assert himself in the third and then in the fourth Durant took over the game completely. Welcome back Durant!
Worst performers for OKC
Both Russel Westbrook and James Harden. They both performed very poorly today which comes as a surprise. Well their stat sheet are forgettable. 2-10 shooting and 4-14 shooting respectively, need me to carry on anymore? But at least they compensate this poor performance with 12 assists combined. But still it is not excuse for the poor performances from the both of them.
How did the Spurs lost?
Well everyone played alright tonight, hitting big shots from downtown was what that kept them in the game. But the reason why they actually lost the game was because they failed to convert and also because Durant took over. That's all basically, nothing much to comment about.
Tim Duncan played his best game of the series so far, coming in with 26 points in 9-17 shooting, 8 rebounds ,1 block and 2 assist. Well everyone for the Spurs contributed today but times when it was crucial for them to convert they just failed. Daniel Green continued his poor shooting going 1-6 from downtown, maybe it's better for coach Popovich to switch their play and allow someone else to shoot.
Conclusion
The thing for me was this, not just in this Game 4 but in Game 3 as well I felt that the plays which the Spurs executed are not as sharp and good as in Game 1 and 2. Game 3 and 4 performances have been a pale shadow to Game 1 and 2. Game 4 performance was definitely better than Game 3. Today's game just highlight the fact that no one in the Spurs team can guard Kevin Durant when he decides to play and be aggressive. Durant can almost score at will against the Spurs and no one can stop him at all. Home court advantage really played out to its fullest in these past 2 games for OKC.
Why I am still rooting for the Spurs to take the series is this, because the Spurs are a whole different team when they are at their home court and that would mean OKC would most likely be losing. And from what I have sees in this past 2 games is that I feel that the Spurs have the chance to snatch one at Oklahoma. The Spurs have not been playing up to standard, they know it and I am pretty certain coach Popovich will do something about it.
Things for Spurs to look out for in Game 5 is that they have to convert that's all basically.
Things for OKC to look out for in Game 5 is this: Use Kevin Durant.
That's all for me. Good night!
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