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After last night, everyone is having flashbacks to 2012. Not to Obama’s re-election, or Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, but to the Thunder remembering they’re a bunch of athletic-as-hell youngsters who can run the Spurs off the floor.
Tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder stifled the San Antonio Spurs on defence. In turn, San Antonio began to show cracks and became frustrated.
The Thunder were playing with sky high confidence, while San Antonio were looking vulnerable once more.
Scotty Brook’s insertion of Reggie Jackson into the starting line-up and Jeremy Lamb into the playing rotation has also helped the Thunder regain their athletic advantage.
There are now long, athletic arms in the passing lanes, quicker defenders cutting off San Antonio’s drives, and relentless drives to hoop being made on the other end against the Spurs’ athletically inferior interior.
Throw in the inspirational return of Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook being explosive on his way to 40 points and 10 assists.
He was seeing the ring as big as a hoola hoop and his defenders as obstacles.
Kevin Durant got to the rim ever so frequently, scoring 31 points.
The Thunder have well and truly rediscovering their athletic, Spur-killing game.
How the series has shifted. Days ago, the Spurs were up 2-0, while the Thunder had no answers and were no chance without the crucial play of Ibaka.
Many were already looking ahead to a Spurs-Heat finals rematch, and wondering if the Thunder were ever going to reach the promised land following the Harden trade.
Now we’re here. The Thunder have all the momentum and look more dangerous than Brock Lesnar armed with a chainsaw.
The Spurs might not have the younger bodies, but they have the smarter heads. Gregg Popovich is the ultimate chess player. They head home for Game 5, plotting how they’re going to adjust to OKC’s changes and fend off the demons of 2012.
Your move, San Antonio.
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