Spurs Officially Contenders? Concern For OKC? – Wild Christmas Reaction
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to react to another huge win for the Spurs over the Thunder. The guys discuss if San Antonio’s 3-0 record versus the defending champs shows that the Spurs need to be taken seriously as contenders and if this highlights any issues for OKC. Plus, we break down how concerned we should be about the Lakers’ defense, talk about two role players starring for the Knicks, a very strange week for Golden State with Draymond and much more.
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
1:16 Spurs have officially arrived – OKC issues vs. SAS?
10:29 Spurs real title contenders?
28:05 Major concerns with the Lakers’ defense?
34:57 Robinson and Kolek lead Knicks Christmas comeback
40:41 Strange week for Warriors & Draymond
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36 Comments
As a rockets fan this pains me that the Spurs have ascended this quickly. The majority of the losses the Rockets had this year have all been coin flips that could’ve gone either way. The exception being the loss to the Spurs, who controlled the game from start to finish by beating the rockets at their own game— the offensive rebounding, physicality and defensive intensity. And this is before Fox got back. They’re legit.
OKC's Lou Dirt is by far the dirtiest player in the league. MF tried to take out Wemby
It’s it about OKC is flunking it’s the about the Spurs emerging. They won’t be just after the Thunder, they are a determined team right now
Teams usually fall into one of two categories. They’re either fine-tuned offenses that are constructed for slow, methodical half court basketball, which is ideal for playoff scenarios. And then there are teams, usually bottom of the barrel, after years of acquiring lottery picks, that are stacked to the brim with athleticism and explosiveness that do a great job playing fast pace, transition ball. Think of wizards, pelicans, Kings. I feel like the Spurs are unique in that they can straddle both those categories.
When are you guys going to discuss the emerging narrative taking hold across the league (players, fans, coaches) that OKC is unethical, unwatchable and fraudulent?
For the Lakers, I'm going to say that the media won't say. The issue in defense, especially transition defense is Lebron. People want to point at Luka, but Lebron doesn't get back. I saw a play where he felt he was fouled (he was) and NEVER got back. The Rockets had a fast break that got stifled and scored playing 5 on 4 because Lebron never crossed halfcourt because he was arguing with the ref the whole time.
The only reason OKC has the reputation of having a dominant defense is because the officials allow them to play dirty (dort), molest and hack (Caruso) and flop (SGA). Let’s get real. They’re meh
Practicing against Wemby makes the spurs not fear Chet in the paint lol
Guy on the right turning red cause he has to give the spurs their flowers 😂 😡
You guys have been hyping up the Thunder and SGA Y00 MUCH
The coaching for the Spurs is too powerful.
Spurs fan, in pre-season I was so dumb founded by the 42-42 predictions. I didn’t expect this, but I expected 50 plus wins. Look at there roster
– wemby
– kornet filled this teams biggest weakness last year which was backup big rim protection when wemby wasn’t in
– Barnes pros pro, knew exactly what you get from Barnes
– champaigne very good shooter, solid defender
– Kelton Johnson 20pt a game scorer. Now he has revamped his role to be a bully ball efficient rebounder which is amazing
– vasell borderline 20 pt scorer, microwave streaky guy, great athlete
– castle ROY who was flawed, but flashed like crazy every game last year. Every reason to expect a year 2 jump
– fox
– Harper every reason to expect him to be a productive rookie just on his downhill ability alone
That’s 9 deep of big, athletic, good players. I have no clue how people were picking this as a play in team. I don’t think anyone saw a potential 1 seed though😂
Devon has some good games as well
What a stupid question
Spurs and Pistons did a speedrun 😂
Tried listening to this pod for 2weeks now, and the talking over each other constantly is just painful to listen to
and yet they still got carter bryant where he could be another perimeter defense menace…hope he will get more minutes and join the fast growth trajectory of castle and harper…
I remember before the season started Bontemps kept saying that having three guards would be a problem and asking how can they play together. Here's the answer. They are killing it together!
Ik this comment was made in passing, but doesn’t it feel a bit disrespectful to ask if the spurs will get past the rockets after this week? Spurs are 3-0 against the best team in the west, while the rockets were 0-3 vs the 3 worst teams in the west
How do you do a post christmas show and not cover Jokics 56-16-15 OT domination. By far the best game and the best player and not even one mention lol. Classic Hoop Collective 😅
You are missing Jordan Clarkson. He carried knicks when no one was shooting.
Sorry. But rivaly?? Rivalry, usually comes from teams that have back and forth games. There's none of that going on here. Only Spurs dominance. Stop with that stupid word.
I think spurs and Denver have enough to beat OKC. but cannot beat the Knicks in the finals.
The Knicks will lose to OKC in the finals though.
Rock paper scissors
Fully agree with Bontemps 12 threes from Caruso lmao every team in the league signs up for that. SGA and Jdub need to get those Caruso shots simple as that.
JJ will go to lockerrrom and tell Luka you cant play defense, and tell lebron you should retire, cmon, its like skip and stephen a
Analysts are at a loss
All of a sudden all of that okc glazing is done?
Serious question why is no one mentioning Okc getting out-coached? 3 straight losses with no real adjustments is odd
Alien Cerberus is real …… Go SPURS Go!!!!!!
With OKC not being an all timer (according to the SAS) Jokic is the MVP and once we get our starters back and bench guys back in bench roles we can win the title this year and Jokic becomes a top 10 player all time
Props to the Hoop Collective for coming in on Christmas night to talk basketball.
Sochan can’t even crack into the rotation with this Spurs team’s depth
Ajay Mitchell is too important for this Thunder team. He’s the only guard besides Shai who can get a bucket
Is is better to bring Wemby off the bench to maximize his energy and impact?!
Like the new look!
OKC and SGA needs help. Is JDubb fools gold? is his conditioning off this year/? I mean I know he doesn't slide his feet on defense and relies on his extra long arm reach to dig for steals to cover for his D. I guess the "I played the playoffs injured" is not so much a flex now he's healed and not playing so well. Before you "wel he just got back give him time!". Then why is coach starting him and playing him in the 4th qrt like he's ready? AJ was sorely missed last game, because SGA needs help scoring for OKC, where is the inside scoring? Chet hunting 3's, Harts "put shot" is not enough. All my opinion, relax, you may not agree, it's ok, Thunder up!
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Spurs have the last two rookie of the year! and a top 5 finisher in Fox!. Stop with the ,"Spurs didnt expect" with these mentioned facts, yes they did!