vs. 
Thunder (22-58, 7-32 road) at Portland Trail Blazers (52-28, 32-7 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 9:00 CST
Offensive Rating: Thunder: 102.8 (29th), Portland: 113.8 (1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.6 (21st), Portland: 108.3 (16th)
Pace:Thunder: 93.5 (8th), Portland: 86.5 (30th)
One thing I think we’re all going to have to accept is what’s happening. There’s two games left, the team is on the road, there’s nothing to play for but pride and I’m sure it’s tough to be motivated. I really don’t blame the team. I think it bothers me (and others) because we’ve come to expect so much more from this team in terms of effort, but right now, they’re just trying to get to the finish line and start thinking about next year.
I know Scott Brooks surely isn’t happy about it seeing as he’s still fighting to keep his job. And I’d absolutely much rather win than lose. Forget the ping-pong balls. If OKC is meant to get the No. 1 pick, it’ll get the No. 1 pick.
But the Thunder travels to Portland tonight for what most would expect another ugly affair. Remember last time? A 37-point margin and it wasn’t even that close. Let me warn you: That could very well happen again tonight. The last eight losses, OKC’s average losing margin is 19.4 points. That’s quite a jump from all those six point losses the Thunder had been piling up. Lately it’s been either win, or get whooped trying. And since I’m not really expecting a win, I’m thinking we may be flipping over to Letterman during the fourth quarter.
Last time LaMarcus Aldridge absolutely torched the Thunder for 35 points. OKC shot something like four percent from the field and never was in the game. Not even at tipoff. It was just a total ace-kicking. The Blazers are awesome at the Rose Garden (32-7) and don’t lose to teams they shouldn’t there. With them making not only a push to the playoffs, but giving fans illusions of possibly making some serious noise, it’s going to be a long shot for an uninspired Thunder team to hang tight.
So why should we watch? What can be gained from this game? Well, if I’m Scott Brooks I’m using the game to get a message across to my team for next year and also to tinker and play with lineups. You want to see some more development from Shaun Livingston and D.J. White. But you want to get it across to your team that you have to continue to compete. There’s no reason to cash it in (even though there’s lots of reasons to). Also, Kevin Durant is averaging just 19.5 ppg his last two and scored just 13 points last time against the Blazers. KD may not play all that much since there’s not a ton of reason to, but I’m kind of half expecting him to toss up a nice 30-point effort. Which is always fun to watch.
All you can hope for is for the team to compete and gives us reason to watch. This is still real game basketball and there’s no better place to improve than in-game. The Thunder has a ton of room for improvement and even though there’s just two games left and nothing to gain, the Thunder can still work to get better.
Tip at 9:00 CST. Go Thunder.
good idea Keith, but Brown is like ninety years old, and he's a drifter - OKC needs a a younger guy that will stick . . .
Keith :
Whose call is it to remove the interim tag? That was certainly atrocious, but there’s only so much you can do as a fill-in.
What this team really needs is Larry Brown. A coach who will force defense and efficiency onto his players. With Charlotte missing the playoffs still, he might become available. Presti would be a fool not to tempt him at the very least.
Presti's call pretty much entirely.
Whose call is it to remove the interim tag? That was certainly atrocious, but there's only so much you can do as a fill-in.
What this team really needs is Larry Brown. A coach who will force defense and efficiency onto his players. With Charlotte missing the playoffs still, he might become available. Presti would be a fool not to tempt him at the very least.
I say Avery Johnson is TOO strict - I would like to find a guy somewhere in between - as to your first point - it is horrible . . .
We are no doubt playing the worst basketball of the season. It is worse right now than under PJ really. I could back that statement up with stats, but probably everyone can see it clearly for themselves.
Are we sure Scotty is the man going forward?
Avery Johnson is still unemployed.
I stoped watching at half time
pathetic performance on both ends.
I'm with you Kev, let Durant guard Aldridge. With his reach he is a close 7 footer like Aldridge, and most of his game is away from the basket, so it shouldn't get him in foul trouble. Actually, when you think about it, Aldridge's game is a lot like Nowitzki's. Green couldn't guard either of them very well, so let DJ White and Durant have a go at him. Blake either shoots the three or passes, that's what he does.
Pryzbilla and Oden are both loads in the middle, so we need White and Rose to man up and play tough when they are in for Krstic. I don't think we've seen a game where Krstic plays 40 minutes yet, so his and Collison's minutes are there for Rose, White and a bit of Swift.
quote from Royce's writeup: Forget the ping-pong balls.
amen . . .
play to win . . .
Matchups - assuming that the starting lineup is the same as on Saturday - I am sure we will see Westbrook on Blake (RW needs to remember to go on top of screens, since Blake is 13th in the league in 3FG%- at 43%). Weaver will have his hands full with Roy, but he's the best option we have with Thabo sidelined. I'd like to see Durant guard Aldridge - I don't think Brooks will do this becuase he doesn't his elite scorer in foul trouble. That would leave Green on Batum - which is good for Green because Batum doesn't do anything on offense.
I really wish that he would try a new lineup - new starting lineup - what do you have to lose? Everyone thinks we are going to lose - and it's a lot different trying a different lineup in the regular season, versus trying some experimental combination in summer league or in pre-season - those games are useful, but this is still the real deal for Portland. I would start Livingston, Weaver, Durant, White, and Krstic. I would love to see that combination on the floor for the first ten minutes or so.
Yeah not having Nick and Thabo leaves us thin. But like you said, I really, really enjoy watching Kyle and Livingston play. And plus I enjoy seeing D.J. White's development. I'll be watching everything but the scoreboard. At least I'll be trying to.
Nick and Thabo are out, so that hurts what little chance we had. But on the other hand, I like watching Shaun and Kyle play. Kyle may draw the most duty on Roy tonight, so we'll see how he does. With that in mind, I'm not sure who'll have the tougher night, Kyle on Roy or Green on Aldridge.
You're right Royce, with two games left, the care-factor is tipping zero for us and max for Portland. The only positive I'm taking from this game is the (so far) lack of Durant vs Oden articles that pop up each game. That, and some warm fuzzies imagining that we might be this Portland team in two years.