Spurs Doing the Nasty

Unless you count Manu Giboli going to the ground as he hit a buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter, the Spurs still haven't fallen in the 2012 playoffs. Talking to his team during a timeout in the fourth quarter - and wearing a microphone so those at home could hear him, too - coach Gregg Popovich exhorted, "I want some nasty!" The Spurs obliged, responding with a 39-point final frame. Manu Ginobli (26 points) was slashing like he was Freddy Krueger*. Tallying his highest output of this postseason, Ginobli caught lightning in a bottle against the Thunder, who had surrendered that many points in a quarter on only one other occasion this season.

"Nasty?" We're not so sure the adjective applies. The highest scoring team in the playoffs - and number two throughout the regular season - is offensive in just one sense of the word. The Spurs aren't a mean bunch, but they mean business. They push each other, not their opponent. They take open shots instead of cheap shots. They aren't a dirty group, but they do the dirty work. They absorb charges, make the extra pass, and - most critically of all - listen to their coach, even when he's being critical (in this instance, Popovich was rallying his troops, not ripping them). They make nasty look nice.

*the Thunder can't fall asleep on defense against him.