[NiceWithTheRockParticipant]

I’m watching SA and UTA and I just saw that the Spurs’ bench has scored over 40 points in each game so far (including tonight). Could this be a deciding factor in a possible championship for them? Of the other teams largely considered the favorites to win it all MIA and OKC

MIA bench: 17.7 ppg

OKC bench: 35.1ppg (Harden 18.3 ppg) so essentially 16.8 ppg

San Antonio can score while their starters are resting while the Heat and Thunder get most of their scoring from 3 players each.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Spurs-Thunder would be an intriguing matchup. The Spurs have more depth towards the end of the bench but I would put the Thunders’ Big Four against anyone. The Spurs have 3 main go to guys down the stretch in Parker, Manu, and Duncan. The Thunder counters with Durant,
Westbrook, and Harden.

The Spurs have some nice role playing bigs in Splitter, Bonner, Boris Diaw, and Blair, but OKC can counter with Perkins, Collison, and Nazr Mohammed. Spurs win this matchup due to Bonner’s 3 point shooting, but the Thunders’ rotation bigs can hold their own. Diaw is an X Factor.

The next big matchup is the designated glue guy/defensive player matchup. The Spurs go with Kawhi Leonard who gives them youth and length. Stephen Jackson is a veteran who also provides toughness and 3 point shooting. The Thunder counter with Thabo Sefolosha who is the best defender of the three, although not as young as Leonard or the same threat from deep as S Jax.

Danny Green provides depth at guard along with 3 poin shooting as does Gary Neal. The Thunder counter with Daquan Cook and Derek Fisher. Danny Green is the best overall player of the four with Cook being the Thunder’s best 3 point shooter and Fisher being the most experienced. Fisher has hit some big shots in his career, but Gary Neal hit a game tying shot last year for the Spurs in a win over the Grizzlies.

Overall, it would be a great series. I think the Thunder have more talent at the top with the Spurs Big Three making up for it in veteran experience, discipline, and savvy. Both teams have some solid bench players who can hustle, board, defend, and score, with the Spurs’ bench having a slight edge.

[WTF I’m BANNED]

spurs bench: 106.7 minutes  (first in NBA)

idk how much the heat bench play but i say is a lot less.

plus, as the playoffs advances bench rotation decreases, specially for some1 like okc and mia

 

[aarondsonixfanParticipant]

Memphis Madness, you missed one very important piece to OKC’s puzzle… Serge Ibaka. You know, the guy who lead the league in blocks by a wide margin, and also can score a little and be a solid rebounder too? He should be on the list for the Thunder bigs that you displayed when comparing to Spurs’ Diaw, Blair, Splitter and Matt Bonner

[dede21]

 no he didn’t he said big 4 lol

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

The Thunder bigs have serious issues with stretch 4s.  If the Spurs can get Ibaka on Duncan and pull Perkins away from the basket with Bonner and others, it could be a short series for OKC.  I don’t love Kawhi covering Durant, yet, but I think the Spurs have a reasonable sized advantage everywhere else.  Westbrook’s a great defender at times, who struggles (though a lot is on his bigs) with the PnR.  Manu is as good as Harden at least, but then you add in Green to the rest of the Thunder rotation and it isn’t close.  Duncan is a better defender than Serge – sorry block fans, deal with it – and the Spurs get more out of all their rotation bigs than the hugely overrated Perk.

[Author]

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