vs. 
Oklahoma City Thunder (7-6) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (9-3)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 753)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CST
View from the enemy: Forum Blue and Gold
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 104.5 (21st), Lakers – 105.9 (16th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 101.1 (6th), Lakers – 101.8 (8th)
Pace: Thunder – 91.8 (2oth), Lakers – 94.6 (7th)
(Note: This pregame was written earlier in the week, so keep that in mind if anything is off.)
Here’s some good news: In L.A., Oklahoma City is 1-0! Good omen? Good omen.
I’m sure we haven’t forgotten the first meeting. And I bet the team hasn’t either. The problem is, it’s Sunday night at the Staples Center and the Lakers don’t often lose in this circumstance. Not saying it can’t be done, but it’s not an easy haul.
THE MATCHUPS
I like OKC at the point. Derek Fisher is a good defender, but he struggles with lightning quick guys and I think Russell Westbrook qualifies. That’s the one big star to the Thunder side. Obviously, the Lakers have the advantage at two-guard, but I’m sure we all remember Thabo’s stellar game against Kobe. And if OKC has any visions of getting a win, that will need to happen again.
Ron Artest is a tough match for Durant because Artest is such a bull. He can get underneath you and never, ever lets you roll off a screen or run the baseline without getting bumped. Durant played well against L.A. last time – for a half.
Jeff Green has always had trouble with Lamar Odom, but he did much better in the first meeting. Really, the place OKC struggled the most was inside against Andrew Bynum. Nenad Krstic can’t guard him, Etan Thomas can’t guard him. The best hope is to suck Bynum away from the lane with Krstic’s jumper and maybe get the Laker big man in foul trouble.
It’s a chance to make another bold statement, though hopes aren’t high. But hey, who really knows what the eff this team is going to do on a night-to-night basis?
Tip at 8:30 CST. Go Thundermen.
@The DON A.K.A. The Jacksonville Swagguar B.K.A. Frodo Swaggins
"I’m just hoping and praying that the flashes of THE DREAM Ibaka displays are eventually leading towards him turning into a DREAM-like player."
I Fixed this statement for ya ;)
@Joe
Oh yeah I just noticed.
I'm just hoping and praying that the flashes of Kempt Ibaka displays are eventually leading towards him turning into a kemp-like player.
*prays*
Steve the mystery stat line was of course Westbrook's.
With tonight's game he goes to 5+ turnovers 43% of the time this season. Last season it was 22%.
The recap is up. Thanks guys.
@The DON
Interesting that you put up that youtube clip of Kemp. There is a Kemp reference in the recap.
@The DON
I think he should get a look. Krstic has looked weak as of late, but has a had a few nice games... Even if they were games 1 and 2 of the year. I think we need to look at match ups when we decide who is going to get minutes. For example, we need Etan to bang against big teams, but he's not that effective against small, quick teams.
@Steve
Thats westbrook, and it's not a pretty stat line.
BUT.......
Everyone here knows I am quite possibly the single most ardent westbrook basher, but tonight, he was the only starter who at least didn't look like a scared, intimidated, rattled little girl.....so he is the least of our problems tonight
the problem was our PF playing like a SG having an off night, and our superstar being intimidated into irrelevance by artest
All I know is we have a couple of nationally televised games coming up soon, and we better man the F up. I cannot stand the thought of us getting humiliated like this on national tv.
But once again, not to sound like a broken record, but IBAKA SHOULD NOW BE OUR STARTING CENTER....PERIOD! He showed more tonight in one game than kristic has shown this entire season. He single handedly TOOK that starting spot tonight.
MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
42 5-16 0-3 4-6 1 6 7 7 0 3 6 3 -11 14
Guess who?
I've been saying all season that Green should come off the bench. My boy King Congo should get Way more minutes at pf and center and while we're at it I agree with DA Don Krstic should join Green on da bench he doesn't play well against other 7 footers at all.
@The DON
I think Shawn Kemp is too old.
Word.
@James
Our team is not making that next leap with green as our starting PF, UNLESS we get a VERY above average defensive center. Unfortunately, we aint getting one because only like 3 or 4 of them even exist in the league and are all untouchable. It will be a lot more realistic to get a good PF, and therefore green is the one that has to be replaced in the starting lineup. And i don't even need to mention kristic, becausr the fact that he needs to be replaced is a given and goes without saying
This is what our team needs....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_GxVH7dWr8
4 of the starters may as well have stayed in the locker room. KD, Green, Thabo and Krstic all played scared. Westbrook didn't play well but at least he didn't look scared out there. The reserves came in and at least manned up and got after it. The starters got pushed around and took it. Pitiful really. Green played so tough the other night to. he's no good to us if he's intimidated. He's better than that. Same with the other guys too but I still see Green as our 2nd best player. He was against Washington. He needs play with that intensity and that confidence every game.
@Joe
Thanks. Ibaka showed amazing flashes of what he could become tonight
@Durantula
You are presently at the best OKC board, which is also the BEST nba related board of all
BTW, what is the best Thunder message board?Is there a good one?
Wow.
Harden went 0-10 on three pointers.
And still he wasn't the worst guy on the court. By far.
O well. Just one of those nights. >_<
@The DON
Iblaka was the man. How's that?
NO seriously, very impressive. Gotta do the recap now, I will have a few thoughts about him
I am really worried about Harden's inconsistency. It seems like he goes 1 for 13 every 2 or 3 games. He did this at ASU also and that was my biggest concern about him. Is he going to improve?
I wouldn't change the starting lineup yet, but keep increasing Serge and DJs minutes and let's see what they can do... Krstic is also too inconsistent.
Why am i the only one talking abut ibaka? Did you guys not just watch the same game as me?
@Joe
He's longer than he looks, too. (Pause)
Seriously though, I didn't get to watch the game tonight in HD, just in my crappy bedroom TV, and I kept getting him confused with Ibaka. I know that's not exactly a scouting report, but you get what I mean.
@dylan
He looked good last year too in his short little hiatus. He's just nails with that midrange shot.
We look really stupid for sending Weaver to the 66ers now. Westbrook had to play until the end...
I really like DJ White, I wonder what it is about his game that keeps him on the bench?
Update:
11pts, 12 rebs, 6 blks for Ibaka tha BAUCE
Wow!
Bowen looks like he is 52 years old. Nice hustle though. I guess that's why he made the team.
SERGE IBAKA TONIGHT SO FAR:
9 PTS, 12 REBS, 6 BLKS
Start this man Brooks.....START HIM
Raynor :
DJ got some sweet j, imo he is a better offensive option than jeff
you know it would be interesting to see how our team does if we started ibaka and white instead of kristic and green. I would not be surprised if we were a better team with that starting lineup
OMG, Ibaka with yet anoher block
@Danny
I was thinking the EXACT same thing.
DJ got some sweet j, imo he is a better offensive option than jeff
Let me, for the 234th time, state that:
Ibaka looks splendiferous and fantasticuloscious
He better be the starting C next game
Danny :
I’ve stopped paying attention to the game, so I’ll say this:
Is there any way we can get new announcers yet? That lengthy-ramble about Jack N, Heath Ledger, and The Joker was just the worst.
LMFAO!!! I swear to god, Brian Davis is pound for pound the worst announcer of all time. Thats why when i watch our games on league pass i always make sure to watch the other team's broadcast.
I've stopped paying attention to the game, so I'll say this:
Is there any way we can get new announcers yet? That lengthy-ramble about Jack N, Heath Ledger, and The Joker was just the worst.
@Joe
He is my man too, all I am saying is that he should be our 6th man
Yeah, lets please stop overrating thabo. Like i said, that starting SG spot better be Harden's within a month. we are wasting his development by bringing him off the bench and we really get no worse as a team right now by sliding him into the starting lineup and bringing thabo off the bench
I'm not ready to throw Thabo overboard. He's still my man for now.
tabe definedly not a nba starter, the only reason we say he is the best def in our team is 'coz rest are all below average except blockaba
Ok, after this game our starting lineup should be:
westbrook
harden
KD
Ibaka
Green
thabo and kristic shouldn't be in the starting lineup
HAHAHAHAHA, OMG Ibaka looks absolutely beautiful....PAUSE
What a block on kOBE
If Ibaka is allowed to develop this season and he gets comfortable and situated playing in games, then we sign either pryzbilla or haywood this summer, we will be SIGNIFICANTLY better next season with Ibaka and one of them as our starting C/PF combo. Not only would that mean our starting lineup is way better and more traditional, but it also means that green and thabo next season will be coming off the bench. We kill 2 birds with one stone: better starting lineup and better bench
Kobe is just amazing. Is he going to be on the upcoming USA team? I'd love to have Durant get the chance to work next to him for a month or 2.
Brian DAvis just said that Ollie has a sore knee and might not return. So Weaver is gone to Tulsa. Are we going to see Harden run the backup point?
For F***'s sake, stop shooting threes green! Just STOP!
The Laker announcers are literally laughing at us right now. They're not even commenting. They're just laughing into the microphones after every Laker basket
@Joe
Yeah, you've got to pull out all the stops on Kobe. Eye-gouge, elbow drops, leg-sweeps... whatever it takes.
Jalen Rose on with Brian Davis just called Harden "Greg Harden".
dylan :
I mean, if we’re going to lose, Thabo needs to sucker Kobe into throwing a punch or something. Kobe got rolled by Chris Childs, I’ve got to think there isn’t a player on the Thunder roster that couldn’t take him in a fight.
Did you see Green poke him in the eye? Genius defense.
they might be able to take kobe, but dont forget the gun artest has hidden in is waistband...
And while we're disecting our team, i have to add one more thing:
Everyone PLEASE stop overrating thabo. He is decent, but come on, he is just keeping the seat warm in the starting lineup for harden. That starting SG spot is harden's, and i am hoping brooks realizes he needs to give it to harden before the end of this season