12/21/24
June 07, 2012
The Thunder storm into the NBA Finals.: After losing the first two games of the series, the Thunder came back and beat the Spurs four games in a row to make it to the NBA Finals.
posted by bperk to basketball at 12:06 AM - 12 comments
I loved KD's reaction to making the finals. Great series. Great game. Though, that was the floppiest game I've seen in awhile.
posted by tron7 at 02:14 AM on June 07, 2012
I thought the Spurs were very floppy, but I like that OKC doesn't complain about this stuff. This series was pretty much a lovefest with both team showing nothing but respect for each other.
The Thunder are young and exciting. Kevin Durant is a likable superstar. It's a great mix.
posted by bperk at 08:12 AM on June 07, 2012
Many folks in the whole NW corner of the country probably have a bittersweet feeling about the Thunder.
Seattle has no team and Portland picked Oden.
posted by beaverboard at 08:19 AM on June 07, 2012
I thought the Spurs were very floppy, but I like that OKC doesn't complain about this stuff.
The Thunder don't get mad, they get even. I thought both sides did their fair share and the refs were fooled every single time someone took a dive. How are the refs not embarrassed to death after watching the replays?
posted by tron7 at 10:04 AM on June 07, 2012
I still can't get a pulse on how Seattle Sonics fans feel.
I was going to say my Twitter feed was full of people expressing their displeasure with OKC, but thinking about it, it was mainly reporters. Then again, there's this:
posted by yerfatma at 10:06 AM on June 07, 2012
This game had a ridiculous technical on Stephen Jackson. While Jackson is shooting a corner three near the Thunder bench one of their assistant coaches is yelling in his ear and jumping up and down. Jax makes the shot and stares him down and gets a tech for it. In a conference finals this gets called. Harden, sensing Jax was in the red, flops, draws a call, and nearly gets Jax to explode. Timmy talks him down and Jackson goes on to throw a couple of excellent flops of own just minutes later.
On edit: I probably should have posted this excellent Stephen Jackson piece from Grantland earlier this week. Love/hate this guy.
posted by tron7 at 10:17 AM on June 07, 2012
For days the major sports media has been scolding America for not being excited enough about the San Antonio Spurs dynasty. They were the hard workers who never got enough credit because they weren't dysfunctional showboats in a major media market and their championships weren't properly appreciated -- something we could rectify now that they were on the way to another one.
Sometimes playing the games is a total media buzzkill.
posted by rcade at 10:23 AM on June 07, 2012
The Thunder are not dysfunctional showboats, but they are still interesting. They have a more exciting style of play and more personality. After the games end (way past my bedtime), I still stayed up to see what Westbrook and Durant would wear to the press conferences.
posted by bperk at 10:56 AM on June 07, 2012
One of Tony Parker's memorable moments of the series.
posted by bperk at 11:07 AM on June 07, 2012
Once in awhile, I reflect back to how sure Rick Pitino was that all of his entitlement, pre-ordainment, and crucifix rubbing (along with the commissioner's ping pong balls) were going to land Tim Duncan in his lap, and wonder if he would have won any NBA titles with Duncan had he been able to draft him.
posted by beaverboard at 12:25 PM on June 07, 2012
one of their assistant coaches is yelling in his ear and jumping up and down
One of my least-favorite trends in sports. The NBA should make bench technicals a regular and painful event.
posted by yerfatma at 12:44 PM on June 07, 2012
I'm a Celtics fan (grew up in NE) but living in Seattle, and I still can't get a pulse on how Seattle Sonics fans feel. Angry that "their" team is in the Finals so relatively soon after their hasty and rotten departure? Rooting for the team by proxy because of Durant? Rooting against them for obvious reasons? Uncaring?
It hasn't been blowing up on FB at least, but congrats to the Thunder for their Finals appearance. And I hope they lose in 4 to Boston. :)