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Spurs try to avert new collapse vs Thunder

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs have seen this nightmare before.

In 2012, the Spurs won the first two games of the Western Conference finals against the Thunder, then lost four straight and were bounced out of the playoffs. This season, the Spurs were cruising in the West finals, winning two blowouts against Oklahoma City before Thunder defensive wiz Serge Ibaka unexpectedly came back from a left calf strain. With renewed confidence and energy, Oklahoma City’s youngsters rolled past their veteran counterparts in Game 3, and the reminders started coming.

The Thunder dominated Game 4 to tie the series, and now, the Spurs again face a most uncomfortable scenario. They host Game 5 on Thursday in danger of falling behind 3-2. If they lose, they’ll travel to Oklahoma City on Saturday facing elimination.

Just like in 2012.

“Reminding people about what happened in the past helps in some way, but we have to go out there and execute and do things,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said.

The Thunder also have tried to distance themselves from their rare comeback, though they said it helped them remain hopeful when they were down 0-2.

“We can’t think about the past,” forward Kevin Durant said. “We have to focus on right now. This team (San Antonio) is well-coached and has a great group of guys. They’ll make it tough. We have to worry about getting better and having our focus and energy on every single play.”

Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the rest of the Spurs must match the intensity of their youthful opponents. Russell Westbrook, just 25, was all over the place in his 40-point, 10-assist, five-steal effort in Game 4.

“It doesn’t matter what we do tactically if we don’t up that determination, that attitude, that persistent, aggressive, ugly, hard-nosed attitude and I think that was embodied in them in Russell Westbrook,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “He played like it was his last game, and that’s the way it’s got to be.”

Oklahoma City looks like a new team. The Thunder lost the first two games of this year’s series by a combined 52 points, and a 112-77 loss in Game 2 left them embarrassed. Now, the Thunder appear to have things figured out. The Thunder played a more physical defensive style in Games 3 and 4 and used their length and athletic ability to disrupt the Spurs’ normally precise offense.

“I don’t think there’s no way we can match their athleticism, so we’ve got to play smart and take advantage of a few situations, because that athletic part is not going to be matched.” Popovich said.

Ibaka has provided a morale boost with his play. In the two games since his return, the 6-foot-10 power forward has averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. San Antonio shot at least 50 percent in the first two games, but with Ibaka back in the lineup, the Spurs have shot just below 40 percent the past two games.

“They’re up in the passing lanes, they have starters and they have Serge (Ibaka) in there and their big guys back there who are protecting the rim, so they’re gambling a little more,” Duncan said. “They’ve turned that gambling into turnovers and took some fast-break points and gave them a big boost in that area.”

On offense, Ibaka has created spacing with his shooting range while giving Westbrook and Durant a trusted third option. He also gives Brooks options.

“We can use a lot of lineups with Serge out there and play different ways,” Durant said. “I’m glad he’s healthy, he’s back, and we’re going to need him to continue to bring that energy and effort every time down the court.”

The Spurs had the best record in the NBA this regular season and are tough at home.

“We have to make it happen,” Duncan said. “We’ve played all year to have this home-court advantage. It’s a three-game series now, and we get to play two of them at home at least. So we’re going to go in there and try to right the ship a little bit.”

Notes: Thunder guard Reggie Jackson sprained his right ankle Tuesday night after seven points, three rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes. Coach Scott Brooks said Jackson felt good during practice on Wednesday. He also said Ibaka is holding up well after playing 30 minutes on Sunday and 35 on Tuesday.

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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