Too physical for Spurs

DURANT, OKC SAVE THEIR SEASON | PLAYOFF SCHEDULE | EXPERT BRACKETS

After the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their Western Conference Finals matchup in 2012, a narrative (which was true) evolved that the OKC athleticism posed a problem for the Spurs’ older, slower players. They just couldn’t run with the Thunder’s speed and length. In 2014 that faded, with Oklahoma City playing Kendrick Perkins, Caron Butler and Derek Fisher significant minutes. The Spurs have also gotten younger, longer and faster in that time with Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge in new roles.

In their Game 4 loss to the Thunder Sunday night, however, that story reared up and broke through the window to storm the series.

“They battled on the boards and on top of that they had some other players that joined in and made shots,” Gregg Popovich said after the game. “It was a great job they did on the boards, out-toughing us and Durant having a good night got them a game.”

That phrase, “out-toughing us,” is key.

“They were more physical than us,” Manu Ginobili said.”

In a league that is defined by how small each team is trying to become, the Thunder and Spurs are locked in a battle to go bigger. Tim Duncan, nearly unplayable in this series to begin with, was in foul trouble for much of the evening, and with David West on the floor, the Thunder countered in the second half with Enes Kanter (who played …

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