Game Thread Spurs (17-7) vs Thunder (24-1) (Sat 12/13/25) [8:00PM CDT]

[Ice009]

I mean, Duncan missed like 3 out 4 games against them essentially as the wheels came off completely in January of that season. If Tim had simply had a 15-16 season that was similar to his 14-15 season we win 70 games that year. Crazy to think what a difference 1 year can make on a player at the end of their career. Tony was washed as well compared to what he was a couple years prior.

Tim was playing really well, though. He hurt his good knee and wasn't the same the rest of that season. He was playing really well before that.

Spurs: We need a C

Brian Wright: How about a 6'4" guy named MAN GAS?

Who the F is this Mangas guy? I thought he might be a SF or something, but if you're saying 6'4", I don't know what kind of signing this is? Has anyone been watching the Austin Spurs play much?

 

[CGD]

Spurs: We need a C

Brian Wright: How about a 6'4" guy named MAN GAS?

lol, except I hope we can do better than the 2 way market for a backup C

 

[BatManu20]

This guy should’ve been a Spur

Yup. I wanted him or Jalen Duren. Both of those guys have turned into All-Star caliber players. Instead we took fucking Sochan.

 

[ffadicted]

Yup. I wanted him or Jalen Duren. Both of those guys have turned into All-Star caliber players. Instead we took fucking Sochan.

I just tell myself all roads taken led to Victor and I’m ok with that

 

[NASpurs]

Yup. I wanted him or Jalen Duren. Both of those guys have turned into All-Star caliber players. Instead we took fucking Sochan.

When you’re trying to look cute and trying to zag instead of zig.

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

This guy should’ve been a Spur

There are still people in the Sochan thread arguing he wasn’t a wasted pick because “the Spurs needed a power forward.” Choosing Sochan over Williams was a massive whiff. Oh well, missing on all those picks eventually landed Wemby and three guards in the end.

 

[BatManu20]

I just tell myself all roads taken led to Victor and I’m ok with that

Yup. Can't complain at all when we ended up with Wemby, Castle, and Harper the past 3 years. A lot has gone in our favor for that to happen. Just pointing it out tbh.

My bigger regret is that we were one pick behind ATL in this year's draft. Had we been one pick in front of them, I wonder if the Pelicans would've offered us their FRP next year instead of them. I tend to think the answer is yes. We'd be sitting pretty right now with a potential top-4 pick in a loaded draft class.

 

[timtonymanu]

Yup. I wanted him or Jalen Duren. Both of those guys have turned into All-Star caliber players. Instead we took fucking Sochan.

What's crazy is I was super pleased with Sochan and Branham after their rookie years. It was clear they were never ready to take the next step. Big whiff on 2022 but again we rebounded nicely.

 

[Paramore]

 

[Paramore]

What a match-up!

 

[Spurs Homer]

There are a couple of okc players who are aggressive and can be put in the “borderline dirty” class…
Dort and Caruso

Caruso- not only fits that but he is also one of those reckless players that can cause injuries…Dort, not only hacks away and plays hard-nosed defense, he also will get 2-3 marcus smart-type flops per game- hope the spurs bring the physicality because teams that dont end up losing by 30 …

 

[timtonymanu]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999620782058832287

I hate how likable their players (most) are. Because their basketball play style is really obnoxious.

 

[Spurs Homer]

Also, that new OKC pg backup is a freakin monster- dont remember his name or where the F he came from but …another great rotation player for these guys…its irritating…

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999643664549839152

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999630128754884984

 

[spursparker9]

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999654050762195399

 

[scott]

Maybe it's because we're in it and all paying attention... but it seems like the national media is really buying into the hype between this Spurs-Thunder matchup. I think everyone kind of sees the writing on the wall that this is going to be the pre-eminent rivalry in the league for a long time.

 

[Ice009]

I just tell myself all roads taken led to Victor and I’m ok with that

I keep reminding myself, these mistakes and/or players the Spurs passed up on in free agency (not giving Reaves the offer sheet for example, there may have been a slight chance the Lakers don't match), we may not have had any of the big 4 if they chose some of these other options.

I would have loved Jalen Williams or Duren, but man, I much prefer the players we got with the way it played out.

 

[spursparker9]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999635093409910872

lol wonder how Sochan feels

 

[spursparker9]

Great to see that Mitch is mindful of easing Wemby back. If it is Tom Theab or Nick Nurse, they wouldn't care and just give 40 mins to players coming back from missing 10+ games

 

[CGD]

Sounds like Hartlestien will be back too

 

[BatManu20]

Maybe it's because we're in it and all paying attention... but it seems like the national media is really buying into the hype between this Spurs-Thunder matchup. I think everyone kind of sees the writing on the wall that this is going to be the pre-eminent rivalry in the league for a long time.

Yup. It's the most obvious brewing rivalry in the NBA right now. OKC is going to the be that final boss that we have to eventually beat to make it to the Finals. Think it'll be one of those classic rivalries where they knock us out of the Playoffs a couple years in a row before we eventually defeat them to get over the hump.

The annoying part though is that OKC is so young. It's not like in 2-3 years they're going to be old and regressing while we're on the come-up. If anything, their best players (SGA, J-Will, Holmgren, Mitchell, etc.) will be entering their primes in a couple years. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. This could be a long-running rivalry for years to come.

Really hope Hartenstein leaves in Free Agency this Summer and a couple of their other main contributors take bigger paydays elsewhere as well. That'd be big for us. Them being on pace to get a top-5 pick this Summer is also just ridiculous. Imagine if they land one of the big 4 of Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer, or Williams… would be nuts.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1999666498072096905

 

[spursparker9]

- OKC is also drama free as well...and everyone on their team buy in to the team concept. People often praised the Spurs (during Pop era) that Spurs don't beat themselves, you have to beat them. But I think OKC has taken this definition to a new level.

- In a 7 games series, you have to be perfect and mistake free to stand a chance. OKC is also making it look so easy with their insane depth. The only hiccups for them is probably SGA going down with injury as he is the true offensive engine. SGA has been really durable (like Joker) thus far and his game don't rely on athleticism....so don't count on that.

- Its early but hope Spurs can obtain the 2nd/3rd seed to avoid OKC in the conference semifinals. Would be better for the young Spurs to get another round of playoffs for experience before facing OKC.