It was pretty shocking to my system to see the Thunder completely crap themselves just a night after giving such good effort, and just days after talking about finishing strong. The team was slow, lethargic, flat, un-energized…you pick the adverb. If we play like this against a reeling Milwaukee team, what can we expect on Monday in Portland?
This crapfest of a basketball game doesn’t even really deserve a post game write up, but I am going to power through the misery and detail the lowlights in short order. “Get er done”!
The Thunder had so little regard for defense that they allowed a floundering Bucks team that is allowing about 100 points per game to go off for 115; and to score a ridiculous 71 points combined in the second and third quarters. I don’t know how many times I shook my head in disbelief as Jeff Green got jumpers nailed in his face with little or no resistance. Where’s the pride?
This game was completely over in the third period, but the rout started in the second. In the second, the Bucks shot 12/19 (63%) including 3/4 from three to open up a 5 point lead. They followed that with 13/18 (72.2%) including 2/3 from three. I mean, is it just me or do you think the Thunder might be able to get the Bucks to miss more than just 5 shots in the whole quarter?
The fourth quarter was just a run and gun session to run down the clock with all of the deep reserves. Earl and big Red even got some run. If the Thunder don’t pick up their pride and play with some heart, last night’s win against the Bobcats might be our only win in April. It’s no fun going into the off season swirling the drain.
| Pace | Eff | eFG | FT/FG | OREB% | TOr | |
| OKC | 94.0 | 104.3 | 46.5% | 22.4 | 28.9 | 17.0 |
| MIL | 122.3 | 57.9% | 24.4 | 22.5 | 11.7 |
- If I would have guessed, I would have thought our offensive efficiency was even lower than 104.3, it seemed pathetically inefficient. But that defensive efficiency of 122.3 was up near 140 at the end of the third quarter.
- Luke Ridnour spent a bunch of time matched up against Earl. Team mates from last year who competed for the job and reportedly don’t like each other. Luke finished with 18 points and 8 assists….and zero turns.
- No Thabo and no Collison tonight. Earl had to run the pick and roll with Malik Rose. Malik is not exactly quick footed. The roll to the basket looked like slow motion, but it worked.
- The way the Thunder let Villanueva and Jefferson jack up uncontested jumpers reminded me of the Pacer’s game last week and Troy Murphy. Actually the whole game reminds me of the Pacer’s game.
- D.J.White is a nice pick and popper. He had 11 points and 8 rebs in 26 minutes. I think his offense is pretty diverse and well adjusted. I think he can be a very nice inside/out guy next year.
- The game was so boring I stopped watching the action and just watched D.J. for awhile. He spends a lot of time out above the free throw line like a small forward. I’m not sure if that is where Brooks wants him, or it that’s just where he is comfortable, but he was a dominant post player at Indiana. He does a good job of blocking out when the shot goes up. Hopefully Jeff Green is watching.
- Do you think it’s more than a coincidence that in one of our worst defensive showings in some time our best wing defender was out with a hurt finger?
- It might be a bad sign when Kyle Weaver is you leading minute guy and leading rebounder. No offense to Kyle, but it says something…..
- Only 2 Buck rotation players shot worse than 50% tonight.
- Livingston was again posting up smaller guards similar to last night. Tonight it was Charlie Bell. Livingston was 7/7. I didn’t know he had a post game at all.
- I had mixed emotions at the end of the third with the game out of hand. On one hand, I wanted Brooks to sit the starters who were stinking up the joint and have a conversation with them about effort and pride, and to let the hungry young guys go out there and finish strong. But on the other hand, maybe there is something to the “Popovich” method, where you leave the starters in when they stink to teach them a lesson and let them get humiliated as a springboard to more inspired effort. In the end, Brooks just never put the starters back in in the fourth.
- Scott Skiles never smiles. Even with his team up 20 and 6 minutes to go, he was scowling on the sideline and called a time out to chew out discuss things with his players.
- Lots of love and hugs for Ridnour after the game (Collison, Mason and the coaching staff), and college team mates Westbrook and Mbah a Moute, and Kelvin Sampson and D.J.White.
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I say we forget about this season and focus on the draft.
I'm happy with the team if they consistently give 100% effort on both sides of the ball, win or lose. The team really gave great effort in December and January, and there have been some great effort games since then, but it is just so scattered and inconsistent. I thought there was great effort in the Spurs win a week ago, and great effort in the Charlotte game, but last night the effort wasn't there. You can get beat night in night out with mismatches, game plan, just poor shooting etc. but I just hate to see a team not give it's best effort.
In the game last night, there were a lot of examples of the team not giving good effort. I know they had a game the night before and had to fly out to play Milwaukee afterward, I guess that is an excuse, but I don't really want to excuse it. To my mind, there really isn't an excuse for not giving your best effort.
One thing to keep in mind with Brooks is that he has so very little power until that interim tag is removed. If he starts pulling guys or yelling at them in game, then they turn on him, it's game over for him, not the players. He has no security to demand anything from the "big 3" right now. He has to play nice until he's given the title on contract to guarantee that he can supercede some player's ego for a game.
I think Brooks can be a pretty good coach, but he's been riding the anti-PJ wave all year. Guys played his way (or what we assume is his way) because they were just happy not to be playing for PJ. As the year has worn on, we've seen more and more completely lackluster efforts where the players just play like they feel, as opposed to how they should. I think the charming-guy-who-isn't-PJ feeling has left now, and Brooks doesn't have the authority to instill anything else.
And yes, Westbrook's defense is overrated. I would like to say that it has to do with him trying to defend NBA players like college players (which doesn't work), something he'll figure out after an offseason in the film room, so I will. I don't know why people are jumping on the Green-defense wagon here in the first place. He generally plays a solid all-around game, but the reason most of us use the term "tweener" negatively with Green is because he's been too small/soft to guard decent bigs all year. Durant's defense is underrated because pundits have him playing D as bad as AI. He has some pretty terrible games, but in his case inconsistency with flashes of putting it all together is better than consistently sub-par outings from certain other players.
@555
I want to reply to what you said, but it doesn't make a lick of sense. For real, read your' post back to yourself before making comments like that.
Lady Gee :LMAO…at Green and Westbrook being taken to task for their defense when Durant doesn’t attempt to play any D at all. You people are funny.
That's one the worst B.S. I have seen... I would suggest, watch the game yourself before making comment like that.
Like Kev said KD's defense is mediocre but at least he show up and he has been trying. Also he is much better than people gave him credit to. Better than Westbrook and Green. I actually think Westbrook got too much credit based on his PAC10 defensive player of the year. He is not that good in NBA level. Also, many of time KD actually left his opponent to cover his teammates...
I watched the Bobcat game too... If that's not the worst than it is one of the worst games I have seen. There was no pride of a team at all, and the coach gave up on his players after the first half IMO. They had been behind for more than that before, but they fought through it. However, this game the coach decided to give up the game. That's not a good idea for a young team, because they will think that "LOSING IS OK!" and become an habbit.
I like the Thunder because they used to and had to fight for everything and every game even they lost alot. However,I've seen the team is in a mood of giving up and no more fire lately... They are giving up on themselves for the team's draf position, or they are giving up on the head coach? They are kind of playing the way they played before OKC Thunder fird PJ.
For me, Scotts shouldn't be the head coach next year if they want to be a real good team next year and the years to come. He doesn't have the ability to bring his team up and no direction at all.
@Kev
I don't need your spreadsheet, I know what I see from him defensively watching the games.
@Kev
Durant is NOT a better defender than Westbrook and Green, you're bugging. KD's defense is brutal.
I read somewhere that Livingston says he is 90 percent - but he doesnt yet look like a guy who can get anywhere he wants on the court - we will see what the summer brings.
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Thabo is my favorite player, but he needs to seriously work on his shot in the offseason to hang on to the starter's job. It's on him. He's a great defender, but he has to be able to hit that open shot when he is the recipient of a kick out. Right now, you can tell he doesn't want to shoot it, and often he will pass it or force a drive inside.
How is Livingstons first step and speed?
The defensive effort could come next season when he is more comfortable with his knee. Having watched him in his Clippers days, he was always a player who wanted to play the right way, which also meant delivering on both ends.
How is Thabos offense and future with the club? I followed that guy since he entered the league, and I really like his game. I wish he could land a steady starter gig somewhere (now that he finally got out of Chicagos dead-lock).
that should have read "thanks for the report, Beloit Tony" . . .
thanks for the Beloit Tony - outside of the major stars , you almost never hear road cheers for anyone else - they were clearly audible on TV (when Kyle scored) - I am sure you had a lot of fun last night!
It was great to finally be able to see Kyle play live. There were Weaver jerseys all over the place. The Bucks fans that were sitting around me were like "what is going on with the Weaver guy? why are people cheering for him?" . He, as well as the Thunder, will continue to get better.
It's all good. I love a good basketball discussion and all comments are welcome. I get too aggressive with my criticism I am sure. I get spoiled by seeing an under or less talented team give their all, and play their guts out to grind out a win against the Spurs and the Blazers and Detroit and Dallas. That's why it hurts and baffles me with a game like last night and the other night against the Pacers.
I love this team and hope it improves; that's the genesis of my criticism.
@Kev
Fair enough. I certainly hope that our young team is taking something away from each and every game. Seen in that light, it is entirely possible that they learn more from their bad performances than the good. Either way, I am very fond of this young core of players, our scrappy young coach, and wildly optimistic about our prospects for next year. I sincerely meant no disrespect to either you or Joe- I'm pretty sure you both know more about basketball X's and O's than I ever will.
I respect your opinion Steve, but I believe that it does matter in the grand scheme of things - in my opinion something can be gleaned from every game . . .
@Kev
I have no problem with commentary pointing out negatives- areas for improvement-Etc. My objection to Joe's and your commentary was the over-the-top, garment rending, teeth gnashing tone. It was a bad performance that mattered not at all in the grand scheme, and was-by itself- indicative of nothing. I would respectfully suggest that we save "The Sky IS Falling" commentaries for failed play-off runs and the Bird Flu.
I see you haven't read all my posts . . . I was on Durant's case weeks ago - his defense is mediocre, but it's a little better than Westbrook and Green's . . . and your statement "Durant doesnt attempt to play any D at all" is absolutely incorrect - he is inconsistent, yes, but he does show up from time to time . . . I will be happy to email you my spreadsheets of the last fourteen games if you are interested . . .
LMAO...at Green and Westbrook being taken to task for their defense when Durant doesn't attempt to play any D at all. You people are funny.
@Steve H
I echo most of what Joe wrote (and this is part of why Crow left) . . . I am a fan, but I am also realistic. When the Thunder won Friday, I pointed out the defensive energy that the team brought - when they tank, I will bring that up as well. I couldn't care less if it's game one or game eighty-two - the players get paid to PLAY - they dont get paid for just showing up. If you knew before the game that the team wouldn't give anything close to their best, would you still watch? Would people pay top dollar to just watch them go through the motions?? I don't know, I guess people want to hear great things all the time, but I'm sorry, I like it a bit more real. When I write my column, I usually aways mix positives with negatives - there's usually some of both in every game. If you're satisfied with the 4th worst record (or whatever it is) in the league, then fine - you're a different kind of fan. I would be satisfied with thaat record IF the team was giving their all - but they aren't. Maybe it's the coach in me, but I can't applaud when Green mails it in on the defensive end. I'm not going to say "Hurray" when Westbrook trots back in defensive transition. Winning doesn't just happen - the mistakes have to be corrected. Hopefully, these miscues will be rectified in the offseason.
Vega :
Good grief! This is not the end of the world! Just because the Thunder played bad in one of the last games of the season (Without one of their starters and key bench players, no less.) doesn’t mean that we should cut anyone’s minutes or bench anybody.
Heck, I’ve even seen people complaining about Scott Brooks’ coaching during this bad run at the end of the season. Stop reading so much in to everything, and lighten up! Besides, losing is good! It gets us closer and closer to getting Blake Griffin.
I can accept constructive criticism and differing opinions, I do not accept this:
"Besides, losing is good!"
I'll never agree with that. I just don't think that way.
If the basketball product the Thunder put out sucks, I will point it out. Maybe your right, maybe my tone is harsh or maybe fans just want to read "happy, nice" things about their team, but I want to give credit where credit is due when the team is rolling, and I want to point out the warts when they appear.
Maybe I should have titled the post : "at least the Thunder showed up for the game"?
Anyway, no offense intended, but that was a poor effort, the players and the coach all said so in the OK paper this morning and I echo the sentiment.
Good grief! This is not the end of the world! Just because the Thunder played bad in one of the last games of the season (Without one of their starters and key bench players, no less.) doesn't mean that we should cut anyone's minutes or bench anybody.
Heck, I've even seen people complaining about Scott Brooks' coaching during this bad run at the end of the season. Stop reading so much in to everything, and lighten up! Besides, losing is good! It gets us closer and closer to getting Blake Griffin.
Guys, please lighten up. These last few games mean absolutely nothing towards the teams development- other than the number of lottery balls we will have in the hopper. I'll be happy to criticize our individual and team efforts as soon as winning and losing actually means something. Livingston and Green can't play defense? Brooks isn't tough enough to coach effectively? You guys are reading way too much into losing the second night of a back to back, on the road, when our only real incentive was to LOSE to preserve our lottery spot as the 4th worst record in the league.
@Anders
he was mediocre . . . he just doesn't do much with the talent he has - he looks longer than Thabo (our best defender), but he isnt near as active - he only had two mistakes , BUT he only had three defensive "scoring plays" (blocks, steals, challenging shots, shutting off penetration, rotating to deter a shot or drive, challenging when helping out on another man, challenging in transition, deflecting a ball, etc.) He seems content with just being in the right place - From what I see, he doesnt have the mindset to make a difference on the defensive end . . .
Great stuff, this page has become a favourite part of my daily routine.
I landed here in my search of Shaun Livingston news, and I am very curious on how he looked last night. How was his defense? Non existant?
As always, thanks Kev. Well said, it was a disaster.
I don't know how this team gets better until players get held accountable for their mistakes. It doesn't have to be a benching necessarily, I mean each coach has his style, but when the other team is shooting free throws or something, call that play over and explain that "hey man, you just cost us a bucket, you have to fight over that screen, you have to get your hands up..." etc.
For those of us that have kids, as parents we know that kids don't just "figure stuff out" regarding behavior. They need consequences to their actions (or inactions) so that they remember the next time. Like you said, if they still get their 30 minutes, and the coach never calls them on it, and they still make their millions and still have shoe contracts, why give the extra effort? It would be nice if just personal pride and the desire to be the best inspired all these guys to bring it on the defensive end like Lebron or Kobe or Wade do (even though they are offensive superstars), but with consequences, the learning curve could be sped up IMO.
sorry Joe, the last post was directed to you . . .
Royce - as to your point about sitting the starters: It doesn't appear that Brooks has the stones to sit anyone - because he never does it. When the other team is scoring like they're playing a pinball machine, then he needs to do something. Some coaches yell, some coaches bench a player - it doesn't look like he is doing either. Why would Westbrook and Green bother to play defense if they are going to play 30+ regardless. If you think about it, it all makes no sense. We are getting blown out without any sudden benchings, then why NOT bench people that are slacking? You have nothing to lose.
Defensive Disaster
1) Kyle Weaver had a good defensive first quarter, as he got a steal and took a charge in his time guarding off the ball. He was guarding Ramon Sessions off the ball, so he was defending the point a lot of the game. In the second half he made some atypical mistakes (for him anyway: going underneath screens, losing his man on the weak side . . .). At least he was able to get some easy buckets in the 4th to send his two hundred fans home with a smile.
2) Of course, the Thunder really missed Thabo. Jeff Green was given the assignment to guard Richard Jefferson. I guess they didn’t trust Durant with him, because Durant usually guards the three and Green usually takes the four. Anyway, Green got schooled – big time. He continues to make the same mistakes – he locks on the ball in transition instead of trying to locate his man, and he often loses his man on the weak side. Another one of his typical miscues is subtle, but it opens up the offense for the other team. I always write about guys going underneath screens. Westbrook and Green do this a lot. After going underneath, usually Green compounds the problem by staying low, instead of recovering by going back up top to his man. Of course, the Bucks were able to check this out and got Jefferson the ball easily. This led to RJ taking WIDE OPEN shots. Green did contest a few of Jefferson’s made threes, but Green’s miscues were costly. Green racked up twelve mistakes, and those mistakes led to TWENTY FIVE points! (Not all of the 25 were scored by RJ, some mistakes led to buckets by other Bucks). I hope the Thunder get another quality starter so Green can be a sixth man next year.
3) So much for taking the energy on the road – the Thunder let the Bucks shoot 52% from the floor. Well, at least they have the summer and training camp to analyze and fix this defensive disaster.