Just to uphold tradition, the Thunder won their 9th game last season in GAME 43 on January 21st. How refreshing to win our 9th game in just 17 contests this season. Box Score.
We all know that ESPN decided to pick up this contest tonight because rookie Brandon Jennings is the big story so far this year. Ok, well, I guess the Thunder are “sort of” interesting being over .500 and all, with the second youngest roster in the NBA, and the top 5 scorer in the league, and a butt load of top 5 picks and yada yada yada. Whatever. It was all about Brandon Jennings and his 55 points the other night.
Mr. Jennings, I know you are sort of a rookie phenom, but I’d like to introduce you to one of last years rookie phenoms: Mr Westbrook!
Russell Westbrook is a carnivore! 20 points on 6/15 shooting; 7/8 from the line. 6 boards, 7 assists and only 2 turns and 1 personal foul while showing the rook a little something about playing point in the NBA. Hello young fella. Jennings in the mean time went 3/11 from the field (12 points), 1 board, 3 assists and 3 steals in 29 minutes. It was sublime to see RW dominate. But this game was about so much more than this little matchup. This game to me was about efficient offense and solid defense.
The Thunder repeatedly got to the rim and the Bucks jacked up jumpshots. Plain and simple. How nice to see some OTHER team fall into the trap of settling for jumpers. We are usually the guilty ones. Tonight the Thunder got to the rim and got to the line and as basketball fans we know that one thing usually leads to another. The Thunder attempted 35 free thow attempts and the Bucks attempted only 22. The Thunder also dominated a slender and skinny Bucks front line to the tune of a +12 rebounding advantage. (Note: shameless plug for Daily Thunder T-shirts)
The two teams looked pretty evenly matched in the first half. The Bucks were nails from downtown hitting 6/13 and had just a 1 point deficit at the half at 50-51. But it all changed in the third. When the outside jumpers don’t fall what do you do? Well, if your the Bucks (or the Thunder quite frequently, but thankfully not tonight) you just keep jacking them up right? The Bucks opened the third up shooting 0-12. The Thunder lit them up for a 15-0 run and began to put the thing away. The Bucks only managed 13 points in that 3rd quarter. But they did get themselves a little more squared away pulling to within 10 points at 74-84. Coach Brooks began matching them with a small ball lineup of Westbrook, Harden, Sefolosha, Durant and Green which opened the game up for good.
- It was interesting how Coach Skiles pulled Brandon Jennings early in the first quarter and again early in the third. My thinking was to perhaps get Brandon Jennings back into the game just about the time our first day PG Mike Wilks had to spell Russell. It was certainly obvious that BJ couldn’t stop RW from getting to the cup, but do you think Luke Ridnour could?
- Sefolosha did a lot of nice things tonight but again I want to single him out for CRUSHING another premier scorer in the NBA (it’s getting to be a pretty common occurrence). Mike Redd was 3/9 and -20.
- Milwaukee showed a strong side zone in the first quarter, much like the Lakers use. They double up the ball handler if he is a dangerous scorer (Durant) and then zone up the rest of the court. I think it has a better chance of working if you aren’t using a three guard lineup.
- I need to give a little notoriety to James Harden. Jon Barry had obviously not seen much of Harden this year because he kept sort of laughing and jesting about how “allegedly” he’s some sort of facilitator and not just a scorer. Tonight he was all scorer and I am fine with that. JH needs to keep stroking that three when it’s open and take his man off the dribble. He is on the second unit right now mostly because the second unit needs scoring. He’s getting it done. 15 points on 6/7 shooting. Fear the beard! I think Mrs. Daily Thunder’s shirt (below) is echoing that sentiment.
- I’ve been keen on Brandon Jennings this year even just before the 55 point outburst. I’ve seen him play about 5 or 6 times and I have to say that tonight was probably his least exciting game so far. Not that he was terrible, just that he didn’t really do anything spectacular.
- Jeff Green actually got somebody to bite on his up fake for probably the first time this season. Of course it was only Ersan Ilyasova, but it’s a start.
- It looked like an old Sonic player reunion with Collison (street clothes), Ridnour, Durant, Green, Kurt Thomas, Francisco Elson and Mike Wilks.
- I think that Presti and Clay Bennett should just open up the checkbook and make Kevin Calabro an offer he can’t refuse to come down to OKC and be the voice of the Thunder. He was the voice of the Sonics for 21 years and he is the best of the best. Blow him away. Drop 7 figures and stop diddling around with Brian Davis. Jon Barry was very good as well. I especially liked how Calabro didn’t have need for a sideline reporter (don’t the Thunder use two of them?), he just went up and used his cred to get a word with Scott Skiles and Scotty Brooks. Calabro was calling games when both coaches were still in high school.
- How about that offensive rebound and putback slam by Durant on that miss by Westbrook. He put that thing down baby!
- Will somebody please tell me how Ersan Ilyasova had 6 Orebs and 12 boards? Are you kidding me?
- Serge Iblaka had the quietest 7 rebounds ever.
"I think that Presti and Clay Bennett should just open up the checkbook and make Kevin Calabro an offer he can’t refuse to come down to OKC and be the voice of the Thunder. "
Here's a better idea. Move the team back. Bennett could avoid eternal damnation and a lifetime of self loathing. Yeah...I bet Kevin would go for that.
The defense is fouling a fair amount more than last season but they must be doing it in the right situation more often than not. All the top defenses who foul a lot are in the east.
If the offense is going to move out of the bottom ten the mostly likely ways would be more offensive rebounding from Ibaka and / or Collison or hot shooting in more minutes by Harden or continuation of the better shooting Durant has shown lately. Durant up to near 30% on 3s during last 10 games.
They already 5th on getting to the line so I doubt that goes higher. Turnovers would be good to see could come down but I don't see much basis to expect it right now.
If they stay with the current starting lineup and as much as they have, it could compete for the most used lineup in the 7 year stretch were that data is available for the league. I am not 100% sure of the leader but the 04-05 Pistons were probably it at almost 1400 minutes used for the season. Thunder on pace to use their's about 1550. Two teams are actually a bit higher this season. Injuries often have major impact on total season minutes though.
Last tonight the current starters probably had their best night yet at +20. Maybe they and Brooks can make it work better than it was doing.
@Joe
I saw somewhere that he reads Truehoop every day and he told Royce that he is familiar with DT. But it's awesome no matter how he found out about it. That's OUR SUPERSTAR repping our blog! I'd like to see Lebron James do something like that.
I think having Thabo starting and playing 4-6 minutes before Harden comes in is a good idea - then later, while the forwards are resting, Harden and Thabo could play together . . .
Against better twos - he stays in longer at the beginning . . .
Good ideas people . . .
James Harden needs more minutes, he's shooting too well and he's too effecient offensively to keep him off the court. I think they should explore lineups that have Thabo and Harden featured together, for short stretches. James Harden's a pretty big guy and has long arms, I think he could guard a lot of the SF's in the NBA, certainly many of the backups. Either that, or start running Harden a bit at PG. We're shooting ourselves in the foot if he's not playing ~30 minutes a game, especially if his FG% keeps rising.
accord
tim :
I want a GO Green T shirt? When do we learn how to order them?
according to the treeandleaf website they go on sale on tuesday
Brew :@KingGondo
I still think you start off with Thabo to keep everyone’s defensive intensity up, then throw 13 in and if he is having a good shooting night, ramp him up to 25-30 minutes. Against all-star 2s, Thabo should get 30.
Harden needs him time on the court, he's earned it.
BUT, I agree with you because Thabo's talents are useless if he is not starting or spending significant minutes on the opposing scorer.... that's all there is to it.
What sense does it make to have your best defender come in and defend the opposing bench? None!
@KingGondo
I still think you start off with Thabo to keep everyone's defensive intensity up, then throw 13 in and if he is having a good shooting night, ramp him up to 25-30 minutes. Against all-star 2s, Thabo should get 30.
I want a GO Green T shirt? When do we learn how to order them?
f5alcon :
ok so i guess that with kevin durants twitter background he reads DT
I was thinking the same thing, unless, somehow, Tree and Leaf or somebody contacted him and gave him access to the shirt designs.
But I think it may just be that since DT is probably the best and most consistent Thunder blog, the players just must occasionally be familiar with it? It's cool to think of.
ok so i guess that with kevin durants twitter background he reads DT
Check the first page of the Pregame Primer. I was the first to mention KD's Twitter. Credit for finding it goes to me. :P
@Anonymous
I think Thabo realizes he's a basically a role-player in a starting role. Harden is the #3 pick, and has been playing like it recently.
At one point, I think starting the 2nd half, the DJ played Trey Songz song Say Ah. My wife was loving it. The Broingtons made it to the arena in more ways than one.
Also, I told my wife about how Rasheed Wallace is always chirping Ball Don't Lie whenever someone missed a free throw after a call he thinks is bad. Now she says it after every missed free throw, no matter who is shooting. Luke fouled Thabo on that breakaway dunk, and Thabo missed the first shot, and she still says it.
I heard a few fans try to get the MVP chant going for KD on the stripe tonight. If I were a big influential trend starter, I'd get the place to chant MVP whenever anyone on our team shoots a free throw. You know, to let the players know that we're behind them all, not just our star. But then I thought it might be a bit disrespectful to the actual MVP of the league. But nonetheless, I'm not a big influential trend starter. Where's a thundergirl when you need her?
@f5alcon
Sure. Send it on in.
@Danny
I didn't get to watch the broadcast, so I'm not sure about the lighting. It always seems dark in Loud City, so much that it's difficult to read the program.
To me, the Lakers seem to keep the lights pretty dark. Watch the difference between a Lakers and Clippers game some time.
I was pretty pleased with Krstic's rebounds during the first half tonight. I feel like we don't have anyone willing to get in the paint on O to pick up loose rebounds. It seems that the team shoots and then immediately starts running back down the court to play D before the ball has dropped.
The Bucks were playing super tight defense tonight also and we still managed to move the ball pretty efficiently.
Mad propositions to James Harden for his little slamma jamma in the second quarter.
I love Thomas, but I think he would've fouled out pretty early considering Eddie Hightower was one of the officials tonight being a little foul trigger happy... (dad voice, "LET THE BOYS PLAY!")
Speaking of fouls, Westbrook came back in the 3rd and really did a good job of drawing fouls for us, and those add up real quick...
SHIRTS!
That Harden shirt is hawt!!! and not just cause Mr. Daily Thunder is wearing it.
http://twitpic.com/r6u6e
Great game last night. I hope Sunday will be as good.
@Taz-Maniac
@Sammy
Calabro also mentioned the Thunder was in Seattle last year.
hey royce, if we have t-shirt ideas do you want photoshop files?
Hollinger has us at #4, haha go Thunder!
So I am watching the replay of the game on ESPN right now.
And is it just me, or does the Ford Center always look way darker on TV than other arenas?
I think it is fairly reasonable to say than Etan is not the same Etan from 06-07 overall. His minutes are almost down 50% in the last 10 before tonight compared to the first 5. If the bet was Etan could be his former self, he isn't, at least on offense. Defense he might be pretty close. Half a loaf.
Most losses one of what might be called the big 3 (Westbrook, Green, Durant) has a bad night. Most wins they either all 3 are decent or better or one or two have exceptional nights to cover for the off night of the other.
I have to say, KD's Twitter background has completely made my day. AWESOME.
If White is having trouble with the pick n roll maybe playing him with Ibaka is the way to switch with Ibaka as much as possible to avoid White in the pick n roll or have Ibaka there to cover for him?
@Chas
Awesome.
@Chas
aha! I'm glad that KD chose that one.
Makes my night.
Guess I forgot to fill out the info box.
White doesn't need a position on offense and everybody can have a bad game. But he needs to find one on defense.
Can anyone else imagine what it will be like after this honeymoon with the Thunder? Right now we just want them to try, because we like them anyway. In time, they will have been living with us for a while and developed some expectations. Just how different will it be when we see Milwaukee, Sacramento, or LA Clips on the schedule and say, "I'm going to be really disappointed if we lose."
It was so great to finally watch "my" team again, especially with Kevin Calabro calling it. It really felt like old times, like when we had Shawn Kemp & Gary Payton up and coming. I can't help like the ceiling isn't even higher with this bunch.
Have you guys seen KD's twitter?! http://twitter.com/KevinDurant35
@B-RY
Hopefully he will be back soon - we need him . . .
@Kev
*sigh* Weaver... man it really sucks that he got hurt.
I have my doubts that the Thunder can make do quite so well against a crafty Houston team, but we'll see.
Also, I have to agree about Ibaka and White when compared to Collison. But, I would also say that Ibaka is most useful against teams that attack the basket off the dribble more frequently... the Bucks didn't seem interested in driving the ball much, except a few times against Kirstic.
B-RY :@KevAs per the Durant interview, Brooks apparently chose to have his players switch frequently on D. The logic (because everyone is so small) still escapes me. But again, I’m not a coach, and given the margin of victory and the quiet nights for Redd, Ridnour and Jennings, I guess I can’t argue.
Of course, we miss stuff being on the outside. It's Brooks' call - he's the coach. The issue is that this is what Russell has done all season, so obviously he can't be blamed in this game. He still goes underneath way too much for a guy with his athleticism, so in other games where he has also switched off often, it disrupts defensive balance. When he goes underneath, he is closer to the picker than he is to his own man, so I guess he thinks it's best to stay with the bigger guy.
Obviously, we will see what happens going forward. If he actually played defense like Weaver and Ollie, IMO we'd be a lock to make the playoffs . . .
@Kev
As per the Durant interview, Brooks apparently chose to have his players switch frequently on D. The logic (because everyone is so small) still escapes me. But again, I'm not a coach, and given the margin of victory and the quiet nights for Redd, Ridnour and Jennings, I guess I can't argue.
Taz-Maniac :A couple of observations. First, because it was small ball, Eton was not in the game. This was nice especially with Collison out.
Second, to me, it looked like OKC was not only NOT intimidated by the national stage, but, in fact, they looked like they were performing for it. I think this bodes well for the future.
Third, is the fact that the ESPN call kept saying that the Bucks were dealing with injuries, but there was not a lot of talk about OKC’s thin bench especially with the 1 guard who was to take on their superstar (who by the way looked dejected through most of the game; not a good sign for a leader).
It was a good win, but they are different team with Bogut out, and Redd was rusty . . .
still, 9-7 is 9-7 . . .
Defensive Discussion
Defensive MVP – Jeff Green (+12)
Jeff Green gets criticized by me (and others) for not rebounding well and for (not really his fault) for being a small forward playing at the power forward slot. However, one of the advantages is that he hedges well on the pick and roll defense. Tonight, he was forced to guard Brandon Jennings and Luke Ridnour a lot (see Westbrook paragraph below). Compare that to Ibaka’s play (see below). Jeff was able to stop penetration several times with his quick feet. Throw in a block, a deflection, two forced turnovers, and a contest, and you have a complete defensive tonight. Oh yes, only two mistakes, which is good considering a few games ago he recorded eleven in one night.
Kevin Durant (+9)
Another great defensive night for Kevin. Slowly he is (or should be) silencing those that say he doesn’t play defense. He had two steals, a forced airball, and a deflection. He also picked up two loose balls, but I will highlight two of his other plays to show you how much he has improved.
Play #1: It was early in the 3rd quarter. You probably remember it. Kevin had just thrown the ball away, and Brandon Jennings got the ball with a clear lane to the hoop for an easy layup. Even though Jennings wasn’t really going at full speed (for whatever reason), Kevin caught up to him and forced Brandon to take a tough angle. Kevin was able to force the miss. Last year, this would have been an easy two for the opposition.
Play #2: The Bucks were playing the ever popular pick and roll game out top. Durant’s man, Kurt Thomas, was not involved. Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour got the advantage after the pick and roll and came into the lane. Kevin stepped inside (and left his man, Carlos Delfino) to stop Kurt in the lane, so Kurt smartly kicked it to Delfino in the corner. Durant quickly got back to Delfino and forced a tough shot attempt. The ball hit the from of the rim and bounced away
These were two plays that don’t show up in KD’s statline, but he gets a +2 for each play in my scoring system.
James Harden (+5)
James had a solid game, as he recorded a contest, a deflection, and a forced airball. He also forced a turnover when his aggressive defense caused Kurt Thomas to commit an illegal screen.
Thabo Sefolosha (+4)
It was really a quiet game for Thabo, as Michael Redd didn’t look like the player that signed a $90 million dollar contract in 2005. I mean he really looked bad. He had trouble with his jumper, and his layups reminded me of bad basketball at the park. There is no way that Redd is anywhere near one hundred percent. Thabo didn’t do anything special, not that it was needed tonight.
Nenad Krstic (zero)
Mike Wilks (-1)
Hey Mike, I know you are trying to stay in the NBA for longer than a few days, but why foul with a twenty point lead with five seconds left?
Russell Westbrook (-4)
It would appear at first glance that Westbrook did better. He was more active, and he appeared ready for tonight’s national broadcast. I point you to the second half. Luke Ridnour was on the left side, and went down the baseline and quickly around and up the right side. This is where RW usually coasts and lets his man get free. Not on this possession. When Luke got the pass from Delfino, Russell was right on top of him.
Still, in the end, it was more of the same. He continues to go underneath screens and to switch off men for no reason. He left Green out to dry on several occasions. Seriously, in the fourth quarter, he was guarding power forward Hakim Warrick just as much as he was guarding Jennings. If Brooks is going to let him switch off that much, he might as well assign Russell to Warrick in the first place. That way, after the pick and roll happens, Russell will be on the right guy.
Serge Ibaka (-7)
I was the one of several that proclaimed that Serge was ready to displace Collison in the pecking order. After tonight, I have to step back. Serge looked bad in pick and roll defense, and Warrick schooled him on successive possessions. I have praised Collison all year, but then I get swayed by a few good games from Serge. Silly me. Athletically, Serge has the tools. Mentally, he isn’t (yet) ready.
DJ White (-12)
At least Serge wasn’t as bad as DJ. He has NO idea how to play pick and roll defense. When his man picks at the top, DJ is closer to the rim than he is to the play. It’s a shocker (sarcasm) that the Bucks got three points twice on this setup. White was also schooled by Warrick twice in the second half. White should never, ever play (unless we are desperate).
Royce :
Also, let it be known that Mrs. Daily Thunder is now 7-0. SHE’S the superhero.
I read that as seven feet tall. I thought, damn, those shirts really are magical...
Man oh man, this is the good life of a winning team in our very own city? Gotta love the play of my man KD and I brought one of my cousins to the game (his first) and notched a nice national televised win!
Also, let it be known that Mrs. Daily Thunder is now 7-0. SHE'S the superhero.
Ha! Nice picture selection.
@Sammy
Along those same lines, as much as I love Calabro, he did call RW0 Russell Westphal once.
A couple of observations. First, because it was small ball, Eton was not in the game. This was nice especially with Collison out.
Second, to me, it looked like OKC was not only NOT intimidated by the national stage, but, in fact, they looked like they were performing for it. I think this bodes well for the future.
Third, is the fact that the ESPN call kept saying that the Bucks were dealing with injuries, but there was not a lot of talk about OKC's thin bench especially with the 1 guard who was to take on their superstar (who by the way looked dejected through most of the game; not a good sign for a leader).
I did love this little tidbit:
ESPN Studio guy: Melo exploded for FIFTY, a career high. I hear there's someone playing in the Bucks-Thunder game that knows a little something about scoring fifty points.
Kevin Calabro: Absolutely, and that player is Kevin Durant. He's lit it up for 31 easily tonight...
Kevin Durant's career high is 47, and it's funny that Jennings wasn't even on Calabro's mind.
Okay, so the switching on D was intentional... but it looked so schizophrenic, like a zone defense for kids with acute A.D.D.
I haven't watched the ESPN version of the game yet. There was a dude with an ESPN sign tonight that said "Expect Success Playoffs Next" that got the crowd pretty pumped. I figured they probably showed it, but just in case they didn't, I thought it was pretty cool.
Nobody has mentioned that Thomas didn't make it in the game tonight...
Probably just resting those old man legs while Bogut was out.
Calabro made quite a bit of scratch in his time with the Sonics, he's getting on in years, he's made the NW his home and likely wouldn't want to go back to life on the road away from family. From the org's standpoint, economically it probably doesn't make sense to spend top dollar on a play by play guy in such a small market (would you ever really recoup those costs with extra viewership/fanship/ad revenue?).
All that said, as a Sonics fan that couldn't let go, it kinda pained me to hear Calabro announce this game as if the Thunder were just another franchise and not his team. It was like going out for drinks with one of your best friends after a few years hiatus then realizing you have nothing to talk about.