vs. 
Oklahoma City Thunder (13-41, 3-22 road) vs. Phoenix Suns (30-23, 15-10 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.3 (28th), Phoenix: 108.9 (10th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.4 (21st), Phoenix: 109.4 (18th)
Pace: Thunder: 93.6 (8th), Phoenix: 94.7 (4th)
As much as I love trades and roster moves and all the shifting pieces, I’m kind of relieved to get it back on the basketball court. The last few days have been pretty nuts and it will be nice to get back to what’s actually important – the game on the floor. (Though I’m sure Brian Davis and Grant Long will be sure to spend 75 minutes discussing every bit of the minutia that occurred this week. I know. I can’t wait either.)
There’s no secret as to what Phoenix is going to do to tonight. They’re going to score, score and score some more. After firing Terry Porter and promoting Alvin Gentry who vowed to put the team back at its “breakneck pace,” the runnin’ Suns have put up 140 and 142 points the last two games. Granted, it was against a Clipper squad that really doesn’t really enjoy playing basketball right now, but still, 282 points in two games is darn impressive. It would take a P.J. Carlesimo team two months to score that many points.
But those two games were with Amare Stoudemire. And news broke today he may be out up to eight weeks with a partially detached retina. Yikes. So OKC catches a little break there heading into Phoenix, but for some reason in recent history, the Thunder has really struggled against teams missing stars. I don’t know why, but we’ve seen it against the Wizards, the Clippers, the Warriors, the Nuggets and a few others. So who knows. And plus, Phoenix is pretty good regardless of Amare, even if he’s their leading scorer. I don’t know who Phoenix will stick at the four – maybe Robin Lopez, maybe Lou Amundson, maybe even Matt Barnes gets a little burn there. I just hope Robert Swift gets in and punches Amundson in the face.
In an up-and-down game like we’re probably going to see tonight, Kevin Durant could go for 50. This is his playground. He plays so well in the flow of a game and he gets some of his best looks in transition or secondary breaks (see: 2009 Rookie Challenge). Obviously, he’s going to be the Suns focus tonight and Jason Richardson will get the assignment. Richardson is shorter (about 6-6) but he’s strong and could muscle KD a bit. Plus, Phoenix has Matt Barnes off the bench (or starting at the four?) who is long and lean and has the ability to pester Durant’s shot.
In the last meeting which was in OKC, Russell Westbrook torched the Suns for 31 points and five assists. But Steve Nash left that game early with a shoulder issue and only played nine minutes. So there’s really not a good barometer to judge those head-to-head. But Russ loves to run too, so while he may be out of control at a few points tonight, I think he can also put up solid numbers and maybe slow Nash a bit.
OKC really has no answer for Shaq (Tyson Chandler… sigh) so that’s going to be the toughest match for the Thunder tonight. Nick Collison will surely do his darndest, but not many people out there can guard the Shaqtus, so OKC will likely be running anybody and everybody at him. I actually think Nenad Krstic may be the best match for Shaq just because he’s a little bigger than Nick. But like I said, there’s really no good answer there.
No word yet on Thabo’s status. I seriously doubt he’s going to play. After all, he’s got to pass that physical you know and with Dr. Carlan Yates giving them, that’s no easy task. I for one can’t wait to get him out there. Tonight would be a nice night to break him in with Grant Hill and Leandro Barbosa getting run at the Suns’ two guard. Kyle Weaver will have his work cut out for him… again. I think he’s getting used to it though with recent covers like Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy and Kevin Martin. Life in the NBA: never an easy night.
This should be a really fun game to watch as the two teams can score and like to get out and run more than a little. The saying for these type of games goes “he who plays defense first wins,” but as we all know, he who scores the most points typically wins. So get out there and run with ‘em OKC and see what happens. You’re going to need some stops for sure, but you’re also going to have to keep pace. We don’t have the personnel to grind them out like the Spurs. So use what we can and hang in there.
The Suns are hot (ahahahaha!) and the Thunder’s lost three in a row and five straight on the road and would love to get back to the winning ways. Should be a good one.
Tip at 8:00 our time. Go Rumbles.
Then again just the few weeks can be seen as not so hot. Maybe go back to wait n see. Defense?
Sorry it took so long, but the post game is up.
We made a nice run at a comeback tonight, but it's the NBA, and everyone makes a run. We found ourselves in trouble when we couldn't cut it under 6 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. It seemed like we hung around in the 6-10 point range, and eventually Phoenix started making shots again - which isn't a surprise to anyone.
As the old saying goes, they live and die by the 3, and after a cold 3rd quarter finally started making a few of them again.
And oh-by-the-way, I never knew any team could make Jason Richardson and Leandro Barbosa look so good.
Or Sacramento makes a big we're sorry offer.
I assume Scotty Brooks' agent is now asking for $1-2 million more and / or a 1-2 more guaranteed years than he was or would have been 4-6 weeks ago. If Brooks was offered a take it or leave it or even an open ended discussion would he take or engage or just wait and see what other opportunities he has this summer? Would Phoenix have him on their short list? I'd think so. More importantly I'd think Brooks' agent would think so.
Nothing for Sene and never trying him after him a third year you didn't have to.
Apparently given up Swift and will likely end up with nothing after giving an extra year you didn't have to after failing to recognize his bulk up was overdone to a mistake.
Wilkins still here. (Aside: Put Thabo against DW one on one I assume Wilkins wins 70% of the time. Choose two on two who do you choose? I'd choose DW. But they play five on five.)
Both Watson and Atkins still here.
Great trade deadline.
Chandler recension was unexpected but you always should have a good plan B. Wilcox for Rose was not a plan B that was just playing nice with agents and NY which has som evalu ebut isn't enough return on an asset.
course the game is over now... but for future use it ought to be good for you
@Cosimo
this has been a good site for me...
http://theworldwithoutlimit.blogspot.com/2008/10/watch-nba-games-live.html
Phoenix is just relentless. You can close on them, but they're going to get their points. For a 22 point loss, I feel like we played well.
Wilcox for Rose is a misplayed hand. Wilcoz should have been dealt in the summer or in December. Nothing for Smith is a misplayed hand. Picking Chandler and then backing out may or may not have been misplayed. Thabo could go either way.
Any links for the game guys?
I would be etarnalyy grateful, trying to watch the game from Greece.
Yeah definitely not tonight and probably not tomorrow (most times you don't see a newly acquired guy join the team amidst a road trip). I could see him possibly being with the team tomorrow night at Golden State but I would look for him to surely play Tuesday night at home against the Lakers.
But you know, Kyle Lowry is playing tonight with the Rockets so you never know. He might play tonight... (but the Rockets are at home).
Hey Royce...any word on when Sefolosha will be ready to play? I know he won't be ready tonight obviously...
Exactly. Turf toe is big time serious. It's ended the careers of Deion Sanders and Jack Lambert. It can totally hamper an athlete and like you said, even more so for someone 7'1.
While it may turn out to bite us, I think Presti just realized the risk wasn't worth the reward. Which is an extremely smart way to manage a franchise - especially one in a small market.
I work as an athletic trainer and currently have one of my athletes who has missed the entire season already due to turf toe. It has been very frustrating trying to get him to the point he can return to play. We have had setback after setback. I think he is probably 5'10" or 11". Big difference between that and 7'1"! Then you have to consider the 12 mill a year that could be sitting at the end of the bench and that is definately a concern. I have to give Presti credit for making a very difficult decision. I am pretty sure I would have taken Tyson and ran. But then I might be on the hook for a lot of money for someone on the pine
I may turn this into a real post but I just wanted to get it out there for now:
Sam Presti was just on the Sports Animal with Jim and Al and Presti explained the Chandler thing pretty well. In short he said they went off the recommendations of the medical staff and they had to look at what risk they could be taking. He said the organization is trying to build a low-risk model. And without saying it straight up, he was trying to say while Chandler could be completely fine and end up having some nice seasons, OKC couldn't worry about that because if he wasn't then we'd be completely compromised because Chandler's owed $25 million could really, really hurt us.
After hearing him, I really think we made the right move. Chandler may turn out to be fine and then we look bad. But if he aggravated the injury and missed serious time, we could set ourselves back big time in terms of money.
And then he went on to say (sort of) that all the picks we have remaining *could* be used to move up if we don't get the No. 1 pick.
Well, we threw a sore toe into the mixer, and the result was losing out on a quality big man. I wonder if we throw a detached retina into the mixer, if we'll end up with two lottery picks in next year's draft?
I know. I was following that draft pretty close. Actually it was the first draft I did start following. Sene was the one player that I kept thinking, Do Not Draft This Guy! Anybody but him! Ha Ha must have jinxed myself. Think Brewer was the pick that we should have had if not for Sund
@ATR
You can thank Rick Sund for that. He had a knack for picking those busting big men (also see Robert Swift taken 12th in 2004).
Oh, and how bad does it suck to use the TENTH pick in the draft on the player we just cut?
Oh I know jk. I've been complaining about B-Diddy since the first preseason game. His catch phrases are awful (comin' right in to ya lazy boy!) and he says them way too much.
I like getting Sefolosha. Think we should call him "swizz beat's"? Easier than sefolshothsaoh. I was hesitant about getting excited about drafting Harden for the two, knowing he would be defending players like Kobe, Kevin Martin, etc. I think with Weave and Swizz we have some players to put on the quicker athlete's, Green and other's on bigger players.
It is always hard to find someone to guard the Shaqtus and Dwight Howard's of the game. Now the reason i was hesitant on Harden I am wondering about Thabeet-aka Sene2.9. I have to admit Thabeet has been playing better lately. I admire him for the decision to stay in school when many people in his situation wouldn't have the patience to stay and work on their game. He is way inconsistent still, but developing.
Good luck tonight gents and gals
"(Though I’m sure Brian Davis and Grant Long will be sure to spend 75 minutes discussing every bit of the minutia that occurred this week. I know. I can’t wait either.)
I hate to complain, but our TV team just doesn't do it for me. I don't know if any of you noticed the other night, but one of Grant Long's keys to the game was "Except the Challenge." EXCEPT!? And the catchphrase of "rockin' the hamma and pullin' the trigga" is flat-out Stuart Scott bad. And no, I'm not a fan of Stu.
Any chance we can get Tyson Chandler back for this one game?
Absolutely. I put it at the bottom most times and I used to put it up there, but it got a little busy. I'll start doing it again though. Thanks.
Any chance you could start putting the game time along with the TV/Radio info?
I feel a little that way too, but I'll take what we can get. Though I do think Jeff Green matches up pretty well with Amare and I think he could have defended him relatively well.
"Match" up...
The loss of Amare for the Suns is disappointing as it would have been nice to see how we much up against the Suns at full strength. I am still very excited to watch this game and hope that Brooks lets them run up and down the court.