What a crazy game last night betwixt our beloved Thunder and the Warriors. For once fortuna smiled on OKC and Jeff Green's game winner at the buzzer made it worth staying up to see the 122-121 victory.
It seems to me these two teams bring out the best in each other.
For example a 72-68 halftime score. You'd think that no Defense was being played by either team. But it was really solid basketball by both teams. Both shot over 50% from the floor and both were 15/15 from the free throw line. For the game the team's shot a combined 68-73 from the foul line. The Thunder shot 62% from 3-point range and the Warriors shot over 50% from the floor for the game.
What I really liked about this game, other than winning and other than Jeff Green's beating the buzzer to do it, was something I noticed from Kyle Weaver, Jeff Collison and Desmond Mason.
Collison and Mason, each on separate occasions, took their teammate(s) aside and did a little coaching. Collison showed Weaver something about posting up on D. Mason pulled the entire on-floor lineup aside coming out of a timeout with less than a minute left in the game.
On occasion I've seen Chucky Atkins do this to Russell Westbrook and I've seen Damien Wilkins do it as well.
To me, it's a clear sign that the team has great chemistry and are taking ownership and responsibility for improving and winning. Not only is it encouraging to see but it's fun to watch as well.
Kyle Weaver jumped out to me because he is becoming "that guy you love to have on your team but hate to play against". He's a pest. He gets up in your face, he harasses every pass and lives in your back pocket. He clearly got under the skin of Corey Maggette.
Every good team needs a pest. They can take their opponent out of their games, distract them, get them to commit silly fouls and flat out bug the snot out of people. Two people that immediately come to mind that play this role on other team's would be Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs and Chris Paul of the Hornets. I'm in no way saying Weaver is an equal to the complete games these two posess. But, as Weaver's confidence builds, you can see him playing an important role off the bench.
Showing posts with label Russell Westbrook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russell Westbrook. Show all posts
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Just a quick post today before the boys take on the Charlotte Bobcats. I'd like to mention a couple of interesting tidbits that have resulted since Scotty Brooks took over as coach.
First, the changes he's made to the lineup. Most notably, Russell Westbrook taking over the starters role at Point Guard and Nick Collison heading to the bench in favor of Chris "Weezy" Wilcox. Westbrook and Wilcox have only started one game, the Thunder's most recent against Memphis, and the Thunder won. Though it's only one game it's been coming to this for a while as Brooks seems to favor speed and athleticism so the Thunder can spread the court and create mismatches.
Check this out though, courtesy of 82games.com. It's the top 5-man combinations for the Thunder this season. It's put in order by total minutes played together but look at the +/- stat for the units (+/- is the net point differential between the 5 man unit and the 5 man unit they played against).
The worst 3 units for the Thunder (Min. 20 minutes together):
Watson-Durant-Green-Collison-Petro (-50)
Watson-Durant-Green-Wilkins-Collison (-43)
Watson-Durant-Green-Collison-Swift (-41)
The best 3 units for the Thunder (Min. 20 minutes together):
Westbrook-Mason-Smith-Green-Wilcox (+3)
Westbrook-Durant-Mason-Smith-Wilcox (+3)
Westbrook-Durant-Green-Wilcox-Collison (-9)
This could mean many things. First, Uncle Rusty was stubborn because these worst 3 lineups are also the top 3 lineups as far as minutes played together. Second, it could mean it hasn't been updated in a while to reflect Damien Wilkens insertion into a starters role since Scotty took over. Third, it means that Westbrook on the floor, and Weezy to a lesser extent, have a positive impact on the game.
The other interesting factoid resulting from Scotty taking over also reflects the above. Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman:
"In 15 games under Carlesimo, the Thunder averaged 88.9 points. Under Brooks, OKC is averaging 98.2, which increases to 101.4 if you throw out the Cleveland clunker."
Of course, we're still in the honeymoon phase with Scotty but one has to be encouraged of what has been happening over this relatively short progress. At the very least it represents the kind of progress that everyone had hoped for from the beginning. Hopefully it portends that the season is not lost and the Thunder can quit being a freebie on everyone's schedule.
Tonight it represents an opportunity to start a winning streak.
First, the changes he's made to the lineup. Most notably, Russell Westbrook taking over the starters role at Point Guard and Nick Collison heading to the bench in favor of Chris "Weezy" Wilcox. Westbrook and Wilcox have only started one game, the Thunder's most recent against Memphis, and the Thunder won. Though it's only one game it's been coming to this for a while as Brooks seems to favor speed and athleticism so the Thunder can spread the court and create mismatches.
Check this out though, courtesy of 82games.com. It's the top 5-man combinations for the Thunder this season. It's put in order by total minutes played together but look at the +/- stat for the units (+/- is the net point differential between the 5 man unit and the 5 man unit they played against).
The worst 3 units for the Thunder (Min. 20 minutes together):
Watson-Durant-Green-Collison-Petro (-50)
Watson-Durant-Green-Wilkins-Collison (-43)
Watson-Durant-Green-Collison-Swift (-41)
The best 3 units for the Thunder (Min. 20 minutes together):
Westbrook-Mason-Smith-Green-Wilcox (+3)
Westbrook-Durant-Mason-Smith-Wilcox (+3)
Westbrook-Durant-Green-Wilcox-Collison (-9)
This could mean many things. First, Uncle Rusty was stubborn because these worst 3 lineups are also the top 3 lineups as far as minutes played together. Second, it could mean it hasn't been updated in a while to reflect Damien Wilkens insertion into a starters role since Scotty took over. Third, it means that Westbrook on the floor, and Weezy to a lesser extent, have a positive impact on the game.
The other interesting factoid resulting from Scotty taking over also reflects the above. Courtesy of Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman:
"In 15 games under Carlesimo, the Thunder averaged 88.9 points. Under Brooks, OKC is averaging 98.2, which increases to 101.4 if you throw out the Cleveland clunker."
Of course, we're still in the honeymoon phase with Scotty but one has to be encouraged of what has been happening over this relatively short progress. At the very least it represents the kind of progress that everyone had hoped for from the beginning. Hopefully it portends that the season is not lost and the Thunder can quit being a freebie on everyone's schedule.
Tonight it represents an opportunity to start a winning streak.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Forget the Ceiling, Where’s the Floor? Or, Can a Turd be Polished?
These are the questions I pondered as I walked out of the Thunderdome following a 108-88 loss by the Thunder to the, apparently not as hapless, Clippers. This was not very fun.
For the first 20 minutes the Thunder clearly were better than the Clippers. They played confidently and raced out to a 15 point lead. They passed well, they defended, they ran the fastbreak well off of turnovers, they played unselfishly and the scoring was coming from everywhere. Then, as if every Thunder player had downed a Silver Bullet and a couple Xanax bars before tip-off, lethargy kicked in at about the 4 minute mark of the 2nd Quarter. That 15 point lead had dwindled to 3 at halftime and had turned into a 15 point deficit with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
It was truly painful to watch. At one point the Thunder were booed. I don’t believe in booing the home team but I don’t blame the people who did. There’s a difference between getting beat and being embarrassed. The Thunder players should feel embarrassed for their play during that stretch. To call it uninspired is being polite. Also, for the record, the boos happened one time right before a timeout and for the remainder of the game everyone was trying to help the team get back into it.
That said, this did not feel like a baby step towards progress. In keeping with the idea of being able to polish a turd, however, perhaps this is part of rebuilding (I will keep telling myself this over and over and over). Just throw questions such as, “Can this team win 20? 25? 26? or, Will we have an All-Star? or Will they make the playoffs in a couple of years?” out the window. Screw it. The question now is how far must they (nee can they) fall before pride, heart or something else wills these guys to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and do something about actually getting better.
So, here are some basic questions that have to be answered; Is there a leader? Is there chemistry? Do the players respect and buy into the coach and his system?
Is there a leader? LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and so on and so forth. More than just being exceptional talents these guys don’t let their teams lose. They get in the middle of the huddle and they demand and extract excellence from their teammates.
Today, Desmond Mason looks like he probably is and wants to be the rah rah guy. Regrettably he’s in street clothes during games (I say street clothes but his idea of street clothes and mine are different. His make him look like he could go up to a group of women and point out the ones he wants and say you’re coming with me. Mine do not. And yet I digress).
More important than a rah-rah guy they also lack a floor leader. Someone who makes the players around them better or makes the game easier for his teammates. Against the Clippers the Thunder had more turnovers than assists.
The team drafted Russell Westbrook with him in mind for this role. But the more you watch of him the more it looks like he would just be a huge beneficiary of someone else with these credentials. Even if it is Westbrook it’s not going to happen anytime soon. He’s a rookie, it’s KD’s team and he doesn’t even start yet. He’s not in a position socially to take over this team. Chris Paul did it with the Hornets his first year but as we will find out Friday there is but one of him.
Do they like each other? Well, they stand up and cheer for each other an awful lot. When someone comes off the bench they go down the line and high five everyone. KD, Jeff Green and Westbrook were at the OU-Davidson basketball game together on Tuesday night. They help each other off the floor. As the game winds down and the crowd gets louder they get more and more into it. So, yeah it appears that they like each other. It seems like this is the easiest part, and it is for this team, but it’s much harder to achieve than people realize. All this losing is going to test it also just watch.
Do the players respect and buy into the coach’s system? It’s just too hard to tell at the moment. First, what is the system? At times, the offense looks absolutely stagnant because the passing is either non-existent or lethargic. It makes a Kelvin Sampson offense look revolutionary. It’s obviously predicated on defense which, at times, looks pretty good. That’s why Uncle Rusty needs more time. However, those quarter or half-long stretches marred by a blatant lack of energy, lack of aggressiveness, scoring droughts, mental lapses and leads given up make you wonder how much is youth and how much is Uncle Rusty. We just don’t know yet. Until such time that it becomes obvious I will err on the side of youth but these lapses sure do call it into question.
The bottom line is this team hasn’t found it’s floor yet and that’s mildly depressing. I might need to call Dr. Rodriguez and get my meds upped if I’m going to sit through 30+ more nights like Thunder v. Clips. In the meantime I will keep polishing this turd and hope for the sake of my enjoyment of this ride that Thunder v. Clips was the bottom and now the rebound begins.
Other Notes
I ordered my Go Big Red shirt (shameless plug) yesterday and if Bobby Swift’s performance against Chris Kaman was any indication, it might have been premature. My friend Nate labels someone on the Oklahoma Sooners secondary as “Gas Rag McGee” every year. It’s for the person who gets lit up the most in pass coverage on a consistent basis and generally proves to be a defensive liability. Well, Robert Swift was Gas Rag McGee last night. He made Chris Kaman look like he should have been on the Olympic team. Kaman is not bad but geez the fire department needed to be there with those fire retardant blankets for ol’ Swifty.
Some woman named Kathy Kuck won the award for filling out the most All-Star Ballots by filling out 3400. There’s no way she could have seen any of the game and that might be a good thing. The thing about ol Kathy is she won on Monday also. She also got the same prize; a Thunder jacket and NBA2K9 for the Xbox 360. I will start to worry about Kathy if she wins again on Friday. She looks like she’s about 35 by the way. Maybe she’s trying to collect Christmas presents.
The halftime show was a locally based yet internationally renowned magician. Didn’t catch his name. Probably the lamest magic show ever. I love the cornball halftime shows at NBA games. There’s nothing quite like them.
For the first 20 minutes the Thunder clearly were better than the Clippers. They played confidently and raced out to a 15 point lead. They passed well, they defended, they ran the fastbreak well off of turnovers, they played unselfishly and the scoring was coming from everywhere. Then, as if every Thunder player had downed a Silver Bullet and a couple Xanax bars before tip-off, lethargy kicked in at about the 4 minute mark of the 2nd Quarter. That 15 point lead had dwindled to 3 at halftime and had turned into a 15 point deficit with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
It was truly painful to watch. At one point the Thunder were booed. I don’t believe in booing the home team but I don’t blame the people who did. There’s a difference between getting beat and being embarrassed. The Thunder players should feel embarrassed for their play during that stretch. To call it uninspired is being polite. Also, for the record, the boos happened one time right before a timeout and for the remainder of the game everyone was trying to help the team get back into it.
That said, this did not feel like a baby step towards progress. In keeping with the idea of being able to polish a turd, however, perhaps this is part of rebuilding (I will keep telling myself this over and over and over). Just throw questions such as, “Can this team win 20? 25? 26? or, Will we have an All-Star? or Will they make the playoffs in a couple of years?” out the window. Screw it. The question now is how far must they (nee can they) fall before pride, heart or something else wills these guys to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and do something about actually getting better.
So, here are some basic questions that have to be answered; Is there a leader? Is there chemistry? Do the players respect and buy into the coach and his system?
Is there a leader? LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and so on and so forth. More than just being exceptional talents these guys don’t let their teams lose. They get in the middle of the huddle and they demand and extract excellence from their teammates.
Today, Desmond Mason looks like he probably is and wants to be the rah rah guy. Regrettably he’s in street clothes during games (I say street clothes but his idea of street clothes and mine are different. His make him look like he could go up to a group of women and point out the ones he wants and say you’re coming with me. Mine do not. And yet I digress).
More important than a rah-rah guy they also lack a floor leader. Someone who makes the players around them better or makes the game easier for his teammates. Against the Clippers the Thunder had more turnovers than assists.
The team drafted Russell Westbrook with him in mind for this role. But the more you watch of him the more it looks like he would just be a huge beneficiary of someone else with these credentials. Even if it is Westbrook it’s not going to happen anytime soon. He’s a rookie, it’s KD’s team and he doesn’t even start yet. He’s not in a position socially to take over this team. Chris Paul did it with the Hornets his first year but as we will find out Friday there is but one of him.
Do they like each other? Well, they stand up and cheer for each other an awful lot. When someone comes off the bench they go down the line and high five everyone. KD, Jeff Green and Westbrook were at the OU-Davidson basketball game together on Tuesday night. They help each other off the floor. As the game winds down and the crowd gets louder they get more and more into it. So, yeah it appears that they like each other. It seems like this is the easiest part, and it is for this team, but it’s much harder to achieve than people realize. All this losing is going to test it also just watch.
Do the players respect and buy into the coach’s system? It’s just too hard to tell at the moment. First, what is the system? At times, the offense looks absolutely stagnant because the passing is either non-existent or lethargic. It makes a Kelvin Sampson offense look revolutionary. It’s obviously predicated on defense which, at times, looks pretty good. That’s why Uncle Rusty needs more time. However, those quarter or half-long stretches marred by a blatant lack of energy, lack of aggressiveness, scoring droughts, mental lapses and leads given up make you wonder how much is youth and how much is Uncle Rusty. We just don’t know yet. Until such time that it becomes obvious I will err on the side of youth but these lapses sure do call it into question.
The bottom line is this team hasn’t found it’s floor yet and that’s mildly depressing. I might need to call Dr. Rodriguez and get my meds upped if I’m going to sit through 30+ more nights like Thunder v. Clips. In the meantime I will keep polishing this turd and hope for the sake of my enjoyment of this ride that Thunder v. Clips was the bottom and now the rebound begins.
Other Notes
I ordered my Go Big Red shirt (shameless plug) yesterday and if Bobby Swift’s performance against Chris Kaman was any indication, it might have been premature. My friend Nate labels someone on the Oklahoma Sooners secondary as “Gas Rag McGee” every year. It’s for the person who gets lit up the most in pass coverage on a consistent basis and generally proves to be a defensive liability. Well, Robert Swift was Gas Rag McGee last night. He made Chris Kaman look like he should have been on the Olympic team. Kaman is not bad but geez the fire department needed to be there with those fire retardant blankets for ol’ Swifty.
Some woman named Kathy Kuck won the award for filling out the most All-Star Ballots by filling out 3400. There’s no way she could have seen any of the game and that might be a good thing. The thing about ol Kathy is she won on Monday also. She also got the same prize; a Thunder jacket and NBA2K9 for the Xbox 360. I will start to worry about Kathy if she wins again on Friday. She looks like she’s about 35 by the way. Maybe she’s trying to collect Christmas presents.
The halftime show was a locally based yet internationally renowned magician. Didn’t catch his name. Probably the lamest magic show ever. I love the cornball halftime shows at NBA games. There’s nothing quite like them.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thunder v. Celtics- Drag Racing Gone Bad
The 1st quarter of the Thunder's 96-83 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday seemed like magic hour. The Thunder played their most inspired ball of the season. They got to the basket, hit shots, played solid D. They looked like a team. They sprinted to an 8-point lead to the delight of a crowd who was very into it.
And then, after scoring 29 points in that 1st quarter, the Thunder did their best impersonation of a Top Fuel Dragster crash, skidding to 26 total points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined. The Celtics, conversely, put the hammer down.
The Celtics not only got back into the game but took the lead for good with beautiful passing and tenacious rebounding and by forcing the Thunder to settle for jump shots which they did not often make.
The Celtics passing was awesome to watch. They whipped the ball around the perimeter in a blink with picks set up to give Ray Allen or Paul Pierce or whomever else an open look at the basket. Unlike the Thunder they hit many of these shots with deflating regularity.
No one believed the Thunder would win this game. No one certainly expected it so let's look and try to take some positives away.
And then, after scoring 29 points in that 1st quarter, the Thunder did their best impersonation of a Top Fuel Dragster crash, skidding to 26 total points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined. The Celtics, conversely, put the hammer down.
The Celtics not only got back into the game but took the lead for good with beautiful passing and tenacious rebounding and by forcing the Thunder to settle for jump shots which they did not often make.
The Celtics passing was awesome to watch. They whipped the ball around the perimeter in a blink with picks set up to give Ray Allen or Paul Pierce or whomever else an open look at the basket. Unlike the Thunder they hit many of these shots with deflating regularity.
No one believed the Thunder would win this game. No one certainly expected it so let's look and try to take some positives away.
- The Thunder did play absolutely beautifully in the 1st quarter. If they can replicate that for 4 quarters, in the same game, they can hang with anyone. It's great to see that a high level of play is possible for this team.
- Jeff Green played one of his best games probably. He definitely showed his range in scoring both inside and out. He finished with 14 points and 6 boards.
- After attempting only 10 3-pointers through the first 3 games combined, the Thunder connected on 6 of 13. Buyer beware; part of the reason for this is the Celtics defense forcing the Thunder into taking jumpers. Nonetheless, maybe these guys do know what that semi-circular line means after all.
- The babies, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook led the team in points and were the only three players in double figures. Glass half-full they played well. Glass half-empty, nobody else scored.
- While I was hoping the Thunder could narrow the losing deficit to less than 10, 13 isn't embarassing considering the competition. The line, I heard, was 23. Also, Doc Rivers played his starting lineup in crunch time to stave off the Thunder who did not quit.
Other notes:
- I didn't think I would miss the loud-asses who have sat behind us in each game thus far. However, when the Celtics started coming back it was as though the team and crowd were content watching them go to work. The loud-asses in 309 would have been an asset and I intend to tell them as much when they come back.
- Way way way too much Celtic green in the Thunderdome. I can understand people rooting for other teams when the Hornets were here but this is our team. I honestly don't know how you can live with yourself if you are from OKC and don't support the Thunder. There are very few excuses for this. So few, that I'll have to approve each of them in writing and consider them on a case by case basis. Submit excuses here. This has to be the worst it will be save maybe for the Lakers. I think I'm just sick of Boston sports and their bandwagon fans that literally canvas the entire country.
- The sportglasses I purchased were probably the best $25 I've ever spent and easily paid for themselves the first time the Thunder Girls took center court for a dance routine. Thank you Hans Lippershey.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Not Just Any Victory
The Thunder's 88-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night was more than just the franchise's first victory. It marked an important step in developing synergy between the team and its new fans.
I think it's fair to say that many season ticket holders are either bigger fans of OKC than NBA basketball or bigger fans of the "Hornets Circus" than basketball. That's fine, especially in the case of wanting to support OKC.
That said, the crowd, along with the team, learned just how much they are going to mean to each other this season. As the second half began and Minnesota went on a 10-0 run, it was the effort of the players who got the crowd going. Then it was the players,now feeding off the crowd, who held the TWolves to 12 4th quarter points and a huge first victory.
I think the crowd began to realize that, more than just blindly throwing themselves behind whatever cast of characters we got from the move, this is a team of hard working players who dislike losing as much as anyone else.
Everyone got into it. Kevin Durant had some ferocious dunks, Jeff Green got it going, Desmond Mason hit a big time shot to end the 3rd quarter. Nick Collison kept doing the little things that has him on the fast track to becoming a fan favorite. Russell Westbrook continue to gets better and better. Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith played solidly and even Earl Watson played in control.
The important thing for the players to know is that as long as they can keep it close the crowd will always be there to help push them over the top.
What was really cool to see was the players getting more and more involved as the fans got louder and louder. Then to see Joe Smith, the oldest player on the team, start waving his arms asking for more crowd noise. They all had smiles on their faces that you could even see from Section 309. The entire team stood along with the fans. And, collectively, everyone realized how much fun winning is.
I think it's fair to say that many season ticket holders are either bigger fans of OKC than NBA basketball or bigger fans of the "Hornets Circus" than basketball. That's fine, especially in the case of wanting to support OKC.
That said, the crowd, along with the team, learned just how much they are going to mean to each other this season. As the second half began and Minnesota went on a 10-0 run, it was the effort of the players who got the crowd going. Then it was the players,now feeding off the crowd, who held the TWolves to 12 4th quarter points and a huge first victory.
I think the crowd began to realize that, more than just blindly throwing themselves behind whatever cast of characters we got from the move, this is a team of hard working players who dislike losing as much as anyone else.
Everyone got into it. Kevin Durant had some ferocious dunks, Jeff Green got it going, Desmond Mason hit a big time shot to end the 3rd quarter. Nick Collison kept doing the little things that has him on the fast track to becoming a fan favorite. Russell Westbrook continue to gets better and better. Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith played solidly and even Earl Watson played in control.
The important thing for the players to know is that as long as they can keep it close the crowd will always be there to help push them over the top.
What was really cool to see was the players getting more and more involved as the fans got louder and louder. Then to see Joe Smith, the oldest player on the team, start waving his arms asking for more crowd noise. They all had smiles on their faces that you could even see from Section 309. The entire team stood along with the fans. And, collectively, everyone realized how much fun winning is.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
What a Difference a Day Makes
On opening night the Thunder showed just how far they had to go. On Saturday night against Houston, a team with lofty expectations, the Thunder showed glimpses of growth.
Kevin Durant put on a display going for 26 points and five boards. The Thunder held their own and led the Rockets in most categories yet still lost by 12.
The Thunder shot 40% from the field versus 36% for Rockets, had fewer turnovers 14 to 16 and beat the Rockets 21-7 on the fast break. Moreover, even facing Yao the Thunder dominated in the paint 48 to 32.
So what happened? Two keys. The Rockets were 6 for 21 from 3 point range and the Thunder were 0-4. Also, the Rockets made three times as many free throws as the Thunder, 27 to 9. Ball game.
Most discouraging has to be the three point shooting. The Thunder are just 1-10 through two games. Ten attempts. Conversely their opponents have 39 total attempts and have hit on 13.
Look at this starting lineup. Kevin Durant, Earl Watson, Jeff Green, Nick Collison and Johan Petro. Watson is the obvious 3 point "threat" but he's not a very good shooter (a team low 28%). Durant can shoot it but it's not his primary option (he's 0-3 from 3 so far).
Westbrook is the only guy who's made a 3 pointer and he's made one. Absolutely crazy.
So, while the Thunder looked downright proficient at times against Houston the lack of a 3 point threat absolutely killed them and will continue to do so. If the Thunder continue to lose by 8-15 points this will probably be the reason.
Kevin Durant put on a display going for 26 points and five boards. The Thunder held their own and led the Rockets in most categories yet still lost by 12.
The Thunder shot 40% from the field versus 36% for Rockets, had fewer turnovers 14 to 16 and beat the Rockets 21-7 on the fast break. Moreover, even facing Yao the Thunder dominated in the paint 48 to 32.
So what happened? Two keys. The Rockets were 6 for 21 from 3 point range and the Thunder were 0-4. Also, the Rockets made three times as many free throws as the Thunder, 27 to 9. Ball game.
Most discouraging has to be the three point shooting. The Thunder are just 1-10 through two games. Ten attempts. Conversely their opponents have 39 total attempts and have hit on 13.
Look at this starting lineup. Kevin Durant, Earl Watson, Jeff Green, Nick Collison and Johan Petro. Watson is the obvious 3 point "threat" but he's not a very good shooter (a team low 28%). Durant can shoot it but it's not his primary option (he's 0-3 from 3 so far).
Westbrook is the only guy who's made a 3 pointer and he's made one. Absolutely crazy.
So, while the Thunder looked downright proficient at times against Houston the lack of a 3 point threat absolutely killed them and will continue to do so. If the Thunder continue to lose by 8-15 points this will probably be the reason.
Friday, October 31, 2008
So what of the Basketball?
Indeed, lost amidst all the hoopla which included Commissioner Stern, Mayor Mick and, lest we forget, a pregame concert from C+C Music Factory (Yes they are still alive and, surprisingly, available) and the National Anthem and halftime performance from OKC's very own Graham Colton there was a basketball game.
It wasn't pretty but there was one. Rather than give a recap the likes of which you can read at such notable places as here, here and here I'll just break it down Halloween list style with what I liked and what I disliked. We'll start with what I liked because I'm trying to stay positive as much as possible.
Treats (besides the Thunder Girls):
It wasn't pretty but there was one. Rather than give a recap the likes of which you can read at such notable places as here, here and here I'll just break it down Halloween list style with what I liked and what I disliked. We'll start with what I liked because I'm trying to stay positive as much as possible.
Treats (besides the Thunder Girls):
- Nick Collison's hustle. He grabbed some offensive boards, chased down loose balls and pretty well scrapped and clawed any time he was on the floor. More than anyone else he did the little things to help the team that don't show up on the stat sheet.
- The energy of Chris Wilcox, Desmond Mason, Russell Westbrook and Collison. Interestingly, all but Collison came off the bench. Wilcox led the team in points and boards with 15 and 7 respectively. Mason had some really nice plays and knocked down some shots. Westbrook continues to improve and will get more minutes sooner than later (please, hopefully).
- The 4th quarter comeback which was sparked by a humongous Mason dunk (not the
"Wave" as some blockhead caller on KREF intimated).
Tricks (deep breath):
- The shooting or lack thereof. The first quarter was particularly atrocious. It's possible that it was just nerves. Wilcox seems to think this might have been partially to blame. One three-pointer the whole game. What?
- The rebounding or lack thereof. On one possession the Bucks had three offensive boards before getting an easy layup. It hurts, it stings and is unacceptable on virtually all levels of basketball.
- Kevin Durant's 0-point 3-personal foul first half. I can definitely see some of the nerves coming into play here and I seriously doubt we ever see this again. But you have to admit, it stunk like a stale fart.
- Getting lit up by Andrew Bogut. "Lit up" and "Andrew Bogut" go together like turds and punchbowls.
- The lack of a floor general. More than anything I believe this will be the most difficult to remedy. Who is going to set other guys up for this team? I hope Earl Watson. Because as much as I like Westbrook he's a shoot first point guard at this point. KD also desperately needs someone to set him up as well.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Welcome to the NBA
Great great night for Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. Everything was over the top and beyond the loftiest of expectations. I snapped some photos and recorded the player introductions and will post those shortly.
There has been all this negative talk (I would link but it would probably crash the Internet) about how this city and market can't or won't support a team three years from now or how losing will dull the enjoyment and, hence, undercut fan support. One of the things that struck me last night was that this is really our 3rd season. We aren't NBA rookies. When the Hornets came to town we were awestruck by the effort that goes into the fan experience. This time around we expect it.
Not only were the fans not let down but I think it surpassed in some ways. I love the addition of a live band for instance. Or having a group of drummers (although it'd be cool if they replaced the piped in "defense" drum). The Thunder Girls are hotter and better than the Honeybees. My wife couldn't even make fun of them and that's one of the joys of going to the games for her. The lighting seems to be darker during the action, more like the Lakers at Staples. I personally like that. The intro was awesome and vastly exceeded anything the Hornets did.
There are some differences to be sure though and they are striking and have more to do with the basketball.
It is now obvious to even the most casual of OKC Hornets fans that Chris Paul is something special. He is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. When the Hornets were relocated and Paul was a rookie you could sense that he was special. He has court vision that absolutely flabbergasted me at the time. I would be sitting in the club level and he would see things at court level that weren't even there until his passes created it. I once saw him make a bounce pass from the left elbow of the 3-point line diagonally to the right elbow of the 3 point line at the opposite end of the court, through a defender and hit his target (can't remember who it was- probably Mason) in stride for a dunk. That's probably not in his career top 10 highlights. We got spoiled rotten without realizing it.
The Thunder will be lucky to ever have a point guard half as talented as CP3. That's no disrespect to Russell Westbrook who is easily one of the best players on the team today. But he's not really a point guard. Not in the CP3 sense. And this team will struggle for it. This team has no one who can create shots for other people. Kevin Durant would go lights out if somebody set him to abuse his man. You can just tell. Honestly, Westbrook could do the same thing. But I digress.
The other notable difference is the personalities of the two teams. CP3 not only is one of the top players in the game but his personality lights up the whole arena. You just want to like him, you can't help it. Those Hornets had PJ Brown also who is one of the most likable people in the NBA. In their second year they got Marc Jackson who owns horses and dreamt of being a cowboy.
The Thunder players and the OKC fans haven't quite connected on a personal level yet. The players, to their credit, are saying all the right things and they are getting active in the community. They do seem accessible and they all come across as really good guys. They are just soft spoken and it takes time.
The good news is we have the time now. They are here for good no matter what anyone says and this team is not on loan the way the Hornets were.
There has been all this negative talk (I would link but it would probably crash the Internet) about how this city and market can't or won't support a team three years from now or how losing will dull the enjoyment and, hence, undercut fan support. One of the things that struck me last night was that this is really our 3rd season. We aren't NBA rookies. When the Hornets came to town we were awestruck by the effort that goes into the fan experience. This time around we expect it.
Not only were the fans not let down but I think it surpassed in some ways. I love the addition of a live band for instance. Or having a group of drummers (although it'd be cool if they replaced the piped in "defense" drum). The Thunder Girls are hotter and better than the Honeybees. My wife couldn't even make fun of them and that's one of the joys of going to the games for her. The lighting seems to be darker during the action, more like the Lakers at Staples. I personally like that. The intro was awesome and vastly exceeded anything the Hornets did.
There are some differences to be sure though and they are striking and have more to do with the basketball.
It is now obvious to even the most casual of OKC Hornets fans that Chris Paul is something special. He is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. When the Hornets were relocated and Paul was a rookie you could sense that he was special. He has court vision that absolutely flabbergasted me at the time. I would be sitting in the club level and he would see things at court level that weren't even there until his passes created it. I once saw him make a bounce pass from the left elbow of the 3-point line diagonally to the right elbow of the 3 point line at the opposite end of the court, through a defender and hit his target (can't remember who it was- probably Mason) in stride for a dunk. That's probably not in his career top 10 highlights. We got spoiled rotten without realizing it.
The Thunder will be lucky to ever have a point guard half as talented as CP3. That's no disrespect to Russell Westbrook who is easily one of the best players on the team today. But he's not really a point guard. Not in the CP3 sense. And this team will struggle for it. This team has no one who can create shots for other people. Kevin Durant would go lights out if somebody set him to abuse his man. You can just tell. Honestly, Westbrook could do the same thing. But I digress.
The other notable difference is the personalities of the two teams. CP3 not only is one of the top players in the game but his personality lights up the whole arena. You just want to like him, you can't help it. Those Hornets had PJ Brown also who is one of the most likable people in the NBA. In their second year they got Marc Jackson who owns horses and dreamt of being a cowboy.
The Thunder players and the OKC fans haven't quite connected on a personal level yet. The players, to their credit, are saying all the right things and they are getting active in the community. They do seem accessible and they all come across as really good guys. They are just soft spoken and it takes time.
The good news is we have the time now. They are here for good no matter what anyone says and this team is not on loan the way the Hornets were.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thunder 93, Suns 102
If you believe in such a thing as moral victories then last night's 102-93 Thunder loss to the Suns was certainly one. The Thunder played their best game thus far in the preseason. Better still they did it with only 9 guys on the active roster and against a Suns team that, while aging, is still a viable playoff contender.
Johan Petro continued to show that not only can he be a serviceable Center, he is threatening to become a valuable asset on both ends of the floor. He is nearly deadly from the top of the free throw circle which reminds OKC NBA fans of that same favorite spot on the floor David West has now made millions from. Johan finished with 17 points and 5 boards.
Robert Swift saw action for the first time and played real well also. He's very good and clogging passing lanes and as he gets up to game speed could be pretty valuable on the defensive end. He's a big dude that takes up a lot of space and I don't just mean his goofy hair. Also, the nickname Big Red is going on a t-shirt soon.
Russell Westbrook looked sharp in his first matchup against Steve Nash. Most encouraging was Westbrook knocking down some 3's. This team desperately needs someone besides KD with a reliable stroke from deep range. His driving to the basket is solid against anyone.
Overall the team played really solid team defense and it was great to see legitimate strides were made in the last week. Even more encouraging is the fact Phoenix had their starters out for crunch time and the bench-short Thunder hung in. Granted, Phoenix is old but I think if given some truth serum they would admit some surprise with how doggedly the Thunder played them.
Keep in mind the following regular players were out of action for the Thunder; Earl Watson, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith. Whilst none are superstars per se they certainly are each solid veterans who could provide valuable minutes.
All in all this game for the first time showed a glimmer of hope that this team can be pretty good and possibly surprise some people. They were certainly fun to watch. They played hard on defense and looked good on the break.
Johan Petro continued to show that not only can he be a serviceable Center, he is threatening to become a valuable asset on both ends of the floor. He is nearly deadly from the top of the free throw circle which reminds OKC NBA fans of that same favorite spot on the floor David West has now made millions from. Johan finished with 17 points and 5 boards.
Robert Swift saw action for the first time and played real well also. He's very good and clogging passing lanes and as he gets up to game speed could be pretty valuable on the defensive end. He's a big dude that takes up a lot of space and I don't just mean his goofy hair. Also, the nickname Big Red is going on a t-shirt soon.
Russell Westbrook looked sharp in his first matchup against Steve Nash. Most encouraging was Westbrook knocking down some 3's. This team desperately needs someone besides KD with a reliable stroke from deep range. His driving to the basket is solid against anyone.
Overall the team played really solid team defense and it was great to see legitimate strides were made in the last week. Even more encouraging is the fact Phoenix had their starters out for crunch time and the bench-short Thunder hung in. Granted, Phoenix is old but I think if given some truth serum they would admit some surprise with how doggedly the Thunder played them.
Keep in mind the following regular players were out of action for the Thunder; Earl Watson, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith. Whilst none are superstars per se they certainly are each solid veterans who could provide valuable minutes.
All in all this game for the first time showed a glimmer of hope that this team can be pretty good and possibly surprise some people. They were certainly fun to watch. They played hard on defense and looked good on the break.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Oklahoma City at Sacramento
What I am looking forward to seeing tonight (and I don't mean The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Lyric Theatre)
-More minutes for Russell Westbrook and Johan Petro.
-Less minutes for Collison and Wilcox.
-Something positive from Jeff Green.
-Fewer turnovers.
-Better reception from the KSBI feed.
-More minutes for Russell Westbrook and Johan Petro.
-Less minutes for Collison and Wilcox.
-Something positive from Jeff Green.
-Fewer turnovers.
-Better reception from the KSBI feed.
Quick Hits
Just some quick thoughts on the first preseason game in Oklahoma City Thunder history.
-Russell Westbrook has "it". Whatever "it" ultimately winds up being remains to be seen. Wednesday night he had lots of energy and showed off the athleticism that helped make him the 4th overall draft pick. He also seems to have a pretty natural feel for splitting defenses and for getting to the basket at will.
-Damien Wilkins and Johan Petro were nice surprises. If Wilkins can maintain that consistency and average, say, 10 points a game that would be a big help. Petro needs to imitate a true Center long enough to give Collison and/or Wilcox a breather. If he can grab some boards and play some D that will be just fine.
-Better shooting from KD, Collison and Jeff Green will come.
-Collison and Wilcox play really well together.
-I wasn't sold on the away uni's until Mike Sherman of The Oklahoman made the following made the point that, "Spelling it out is a political statement. This team is representing the city and the taxpayers who made its presence here possible. And the ownership group is broadcasting that to the world and every NBA city the Thunder visits by wearing “Oklahoma City” across the franchise’s chest. It’s a sign of appreciation, respect and gratitude. Good call, Clay."
I don't expect the uniforms to be around too long but from that perspective it now makes more sense.
-Russell Westbrook has "it". Whatever "it" ultimately winds up being remains to be seen. Wednesday night he had lots of energy and showed off the athleticism that helped make him the 4th overall draft pick. He also seems to have a pretty natural feel for splitting defenses and for getting to the basket at will.
-Damien Wilkins and Johan Petro were nice surprises. If Wilkins can maintain that consistency and average, say, 10 points a game that would be a big help. Petro needs to imitate a true Center long enough to give Collison and/or Wilcox a breather. If he can grab some boards and play some D that will be just fine.
-Better shooting from KD, Collison and Jeff Green will come.
-Collison and Wilcox play really well together.
-I wasn't sold on the away uni's until Mike Sherman of The Oklahoman made the following made the point that, "Spelling it out is a political statement. This team is representing the city and the taxpayers who made its presence here possible. And the ownership group is broadcasting that to the world and every NBA city the Thunder visits by wearing “Oklahoma City” across the franchise’s chest. It’s a sign of appreciation, respect and gratitude. Good call, Clay."
I don't expect the uniforms to be around too long but from that perspective it now makes more sense.
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