Oklahoma City Thunder target Tiago Splitter to slow down the pace in game 2 - NBA Update
Coming into the 2nd match of conference finals against Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs were on a 19 game winning streak.
The first game was a closely contested affair and Spurs managed to edge out Thunder, 101-98. However in the 2nd game they took an aggressive approach and with 2:32 left in the third Spurs were up by 83-66. Thunder coach
Scott Brooks, looking at the vulnerability of his defense, decided to change the game plan.
To slow down the Spurs offense, he decided to force Tiago Splitter to the charity stripe time and time again. The Brazilian is only 32% from the free throw line in this season and forcing him on the foul line turned out to be a
savvy move. Kendrick Perkins committed a personal foul against Splitter and Tiago was on the free throw line. He was 1-for-2 and San Antonio widened the gap to 84-66.
Thunder still believed that Splitter was the weak link and targeting him would slow down Spurs. After 14 seconds of 1st foul, OKC once more fouled him, yet again the Brazilian managed to make one of two and the gap kept
on increasing. Over the next 40 seconds Thunder fouled Splitter for 3 more times and he went 3-for-6. He was finally substituted by Tim Duncan.
In the following passage he made 5 and was 6-for-12 on the night, and by the time he left Spurs lead was reduced to 88-73.
Thunder picked up the momentum after that and were 100-93 late in the fourth but Spurs kept them at bay and went on to bank the game with a 120-111 advantage.
Scott Brooks tried imitating Gregg Popovich’s strategy but things didn’t go according to the plan. Greg has been doing the same with Los Angeles Clippers throughout the semi-finals. But Brooks said that they did manage to slow
down San Antonio’s offense for a moment.
“It changed the tempo a little bit,” Brooks said. “I mean, they were fast tonight, the ball was just all over the floor with quick passes, passes that were right in their shooting pockets. It kind of threw their rhythm out a little
bit. He stepped up and made six of them. He did better than his playoff percentage. But if, on occasion, we have an opportunity to do it again, we will.”
Greg on the other hand appreciated Brooks move and said that he made it on the right time.
“It’s a good move. If there’s a reason to do it, and they felt there was a reason to do it, they did it. So, it’s a good move.”
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