San Antonio Spurs: 5 Keys To Beating The Thunder
2. Elite Defense vs. Exceptional Offense
The Spurs were the NBA’s third ranked offense this season, so calling this an exclusive offense vs. defense matchup doesn’t seem quite fair. But with the Thunder being the NBA’s second ranked offense (109.9 points per 100 possessions) and San Antonio being the league’s top defense (96.6 points per 100 possessions), there’s no denying the contrasting playing styles.
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On the one side, you’ve got defensively dominant players like Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and even LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been surprisingly good on that end. On the other side, you’ve got offensive wrecking balls like Durant, Westbrook, Kanter and even Serge Ibaka when the mood strikes him.
While it’s ironic that the Spurs will rely on Aldridge’s offense overcoming Ibaka’s defense in the power forward matchup, San Antonio’s elite defense will face its toughest postseason test yet against an OKC team whose athleticism and high-powered offense has proven to be a challenge in the past.
Against a stifling, deep defense, guys like Kanter, Waiters and even Ibaka may struggle to score. The Spurs’ offense should be just fine against the league’s 12th ranked defense, so what it will really come down to is a battle between a historically elite defense and a Thunder offense that needs to put up major points early in order to give themselves a fighting chance.
Next: No. 1