vs. 
Dallas Mavericks (14-15 road) vs. OKC Thunder (14-45, 10-20 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722) OR NBA TV (Cox 256)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:00 CST
Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.7 (28th), Mavericks: 109.0 (10th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 110.1 (22nd), Mavericks: 107.1 (13th)
Pace: Thunder: 94.0 (7th), Mavericks: 92.0 (14th)
These two teams locked up just three nights ago so there’s really not a whole lot new to talk about. Except Kevin Durant is still out. And now Jeff Green is too. And Robert Swift played a little for the first time in over a month Saturday. And Jason Terry is back for the Mavs. But other than that, it’s pretty much the same matchup.
Nick Collison will be replacing Green in the starting lineup, so the OKC first five will likely be Westbrook, Weaver, Sefolosha, Collison and Krstic. And off the bench the Thunder’s got Robert Swift who played some decent minutes Saturday, Earl Watson, Malik Rose, Rumble and Chucky Atkins. Yikes.
But in a weird, twisted way, this game could be huge for the Thunder. How? Because tonight, Russell Westbrook has to be The Man. Not only will he be called upon to score a little (which he’s done well without KD – 33 and 25 in his last two) but more importantly since he will be The Man tonight, the Mavs are going to lock on him and he’s going to have to get his teammates involved. Not that he didn’t do that before, because he does, but he’s really, really going to have to create and distribute and score tonight.
Common sense says the Thunder has no chance tonight. Obviously. But I expect OKC to play a really good defensive game because frankly, that’s really the best chance the Thunder has. Collison, Krstic and Malik Rose are going to have to do something – anything – to slow Dirk down (87 points in two games against OKC). Add Jason Terry to the mix and Dallas now has a legit second scorer to go with Dirk. The Thunder dodged a bullet last time because Josh Howard was in foul trouble and didn’t play well. But with no KD and no Uncle Jeff, points may be tough to come by. So what that means is that OKC has to play solid defense. And if Thabo’s last effort on Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo was any taste, I think there’s a chance for the team to do such a thing.
But back to Russell. If the Thunder’s going to hang tough tonight, I’m thinking he’s going to need a line that looks something like 24 points on 7-12 shooting, 10 assists, six rebounds and under three turnovers. Westbrook scored big the last two games but wasn’t all that efficient, taking 47 shots to get his 58 points. He’s going to need to score, but he can’t be hoisting bad jumpers all night either. Jeff Green and Kevin Durant combine for about 43 points a game, which is about 44 percent of OKC’s points. So that means guys like Kyle Weaver, Thabo, Krstic, Collison and even Swift are going to have to all chip in and score 7-8 more points than they normally would. Or one guy goes off and covers everyone. Whatever. Just somebody is going to have to elevate his game. And Russell Westbrook is going to be directly involved in that one way or the other.
Despite the Thunder being down its two main guns and likely having no chance, they’re going to go ahead and play the game tonight regardless. Which is good because maybe Rumble gets hot off the bench and drops 30. Because that’s probably what it will take for OKC to win this one. But Dallas is below average on the road (14-15 away from AAC) and may be overlooking OKC for obvious reasons. And sometimes when a team has to pull the all hands on deck card, they play harder and better to make up for their fallen teammates. At least that’s what we’ll have to hope for.
Buyout DW for $1.5 million? He might do it. But Presti will explore the trade angle first. Waited too long on many other assets.
Unreal! Just got back from the game. Crowd was incredible tonight, and giddy as everyone walked out.
There was reason to worry with 10 minutes left in the 4th, and the whole team looked tired, but after limping into the 6 minute mark, Weaver picked the team up and everyone on the floor seemed to make a play. We knocked down our open shots tonight, something that plagued us last week against the Lakers.
In other news, Dallas looked awful for most of the game - they kick themselves every time they see a Devin Harris highlight.
Thabo got 41 minutes, the team high shared with RW. I think Brooks loves this guy and he is going to continue to get big minutes at the 2 and 3. I guess we now know that Weaver also belongs.
It wouldn't surprise me if Presti found a way to get D-Wilkins to not exercise his player option on his last year of his contract, and it wouldn't surprise me if we've seen the last of Desmond Mason, unless he wants to take a big pay cut.
Brooks needs to really jump on this as a start. He needs to praise the team defense over and over until it's dead. He then needs to really motivate all those players who aren't the big 3 by saying, "you get it don't on defense, and I'll put you in the game."
I definitely feel everyone stepped it up without Durant and Green (well besides Westbrook, I actually think his game today was about average), but now Brooks needs to get everyone playing this way every night.
Those are some good / interesting numbers Joe.
Here another set:
Thunder 10-9 since Jan 1 when team has 4 guys with 10+ pts including tongiht and like 1-7 without that criteria satisfied (I might be off one but am not going to recount).
That should be easier and more common next season with a high first rounder. That also should be "the goal" not just the big 3 getting theirs.
RW is giving a live interview on NBA tv right now.
One of our slowest games of the season at 88 possessions.
We beat them on 3 of four factors, all except turns.
Our offensive efficiency was right at our recent average of 109, our defensive efficiency was 99. That was some good team defense.
Also I thought it was great that Westbrook grabbed the triple double in the last couple minutes with a great pass for an easy dunk and 1. That was the icing on the cake.
Is that triple double official? Still ghastly shooting by Westbrook, but I suppose the shots/assists down the stretch are the only ones that really matter. And hot damn can that kid leap!
Woooohoooo
I think that was the best win of the season...really nice...
Krstic's first 15 shot night. 4th 10+ shot night in last 10 after just 1 in first 13. I guess he/they are stepping it up a bit.
Then drives the lane and gets the floater to bounce fifteen times on the rim before dropping. That is clutch baby!
The game is blacked out in OKC????
Weaver hit two big threes!!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Man what a gamer, I love that guy.
Just found this feed online. Not the best picture, but it works:
http://www.justin.tv/stamm32089
well now he's stepping up the scoring too :) i hope they dont screw this up in the 4th
@AlexK
Oh absolutely. I was just saying that while he's not really putting the ball in the basket so much, he's playing a nice game so far.
@Royce
I realize we dont need him scoring but I just think he's having kind of a quiet night. Krstic and Weaver are great tonight
@AlexK
Westbrook is distributing and creating points without scoring. But it would be nice to see him but one through the hoop though. EDIT: As Russell hits a three...
And for Oklahomans, the game is blacked out on NBA TV. Dang. I was looking forward to getting something other than B-Diddy.
wewstbrook is having a terrible night (just made his first FG) and we're ahead by 6 against a healthy maverick squad? whats going on here?
Yeah Keith star calls are a worthwhile advantage. Though in the playoffs the number who get them then shrinks a lot.
We're on NBA-TV tonight?
Great.
I live in CT, so I haven't been able to see the team play since I went to the OKC-Celts game at TD Banknorth the fourth game of the season. Which means you can imagine my excitement upon learning they would FINALLY be televised for the first time on NBA-TV. And now not only is KD sidelined, but Green as well?! Fantastic.
Westbrook up to 6 assists last month. 7-8 should be within reach and if they go "distributed passing game" to the SG, Durant and Green and the backup PG they probably can do alright in that regard. Maybe they need some kind of hot potato game in practice like their swishes count more free throw game. The number of points you get on a play in a squad scrimmage is based on the number of passes or legit helpful passes before the shot or at least if it ends up in a good spot for a shot.
I don't think there's any chance that Russell takes less than 15 shots tonight.
No way Watson scores more than Rumble.
I agree that Rumble should be put ahead of Wilkins in the rotation.
@Crow
Just to play devil's advocate with the Stern-NBA, so long as the media crown him a star, his percentages this year won't be as important. Once he gets star calls, he can get 50% of his points at the line and not have to worry about whether his shots go in or not.
Crow :
Westbrook gets co-rookie of the month. Congrats I guess, but a recognition for the season- or for scoring 20 a game? League trying to build up new stars, fine; but.. 38% overall FG and 22% from 3 pt land… I wouldn’t want another month just like that one…
That's sort of my sentiment too. I am glad for him, but we all know that scoring is overvalued in the modern NBA, and efficiency is often ignored by all but the most serious fans.
The good I take from all this is that he is a rookie who will only play his 60th game tonight. Nobody comes out of the box a finished product, and the learning curve is just beginning for the young fella. Green was really inefficient last year, look at him now. Durant was no star last year, just a chucker who averaged twenty a game, look at him now. I pray for the same development for RW.
Westbrook gets co-rookie of the month. Congrats I guess, but a recognition for the season- or for scoring 20 a game? League trying to build up new stars, fine; but.. 38% overall FG and 22% from 3 pt land... I wouldn't want another month just like that one...
I was with you until you had Watson for 12.
But seriously, when you put it that way it really doesn't seem THAT far fetched.
Westbrook for 33
Sefolosha for 15
Weaver for 15
Krystic for 17
Watson for 12
Collison, Rose, Swift and Rumble together for 12
Dallas 98
Come on guys! You can DOOOOO IT!!!! :)