Merry Christmas Thunder fans. This one’s for you.
Remember all those games where Kevin Durant would come up just a little short in the fourth quarter when we wanted him to take over? Against the Lakers at the Ford Center. Against the Cavs. Against LA last night again. We knew KD had it in him, we knew he’d start to get it, but when was it going to happen? And tonight, Dec. 23rd, 2009, I think you saw what’s in our future. Kevin Durant, is getting it. That, for the NBA, is freaking scary.
The funny thing is, KD did something he hadn’t done yet this year prior to taking over. In a big spot with OKC down two in the fourth, he missed TWICE from the free throw line. A huge double-miss. OKC retained possession after the Suns tipped it out on the rebound, but Durant missed an open jumper on the inbounds pass. I think we all had another “Here we go again” moment, but after the momentary letdown, Durant took over. Took. Over. This wasn’t a meaningless game against a bad team. This was on the road at a place the Suns had only lost once, on the second of a back-to-back. Durant took his team to a higher place and carried them to victory. It’s what Kobe does. It’s what LeBron does. It’s what Wade does. And maybe this is the beginning of that for Durant. At least we can hope so.
I honestly don’t know what’s the biggest thing to take from this game. The fact Oklahoma City got back to .500 with a MONSTER road victory during this killer stretch, or Durant’s takeover. I’ll just say both. It’s funny, because with about eight minutes left, Phoenix had its second unit on the floor and the game was tied. I kept thinking, “OKC needs to extend this lead to four or five before Amare and Nash come back in. If they want to have a prayer, they’ve got to get some space.” What I failed to consider was that the Thunder had Kevin Durant waiting to re-enter. Nash and Stoudemire were awesome, but not as good as Durant. And in the end, that was enough for OKC to win 117-113.
I know tonight was about KD’s 38 points on just 20 shots, but really, up and down the line, everyone was big for the Thunder. Jeff Green had 17 points and nine rebounds, including one MASSIVE tip-in with about two minutes left. Russell Westbrook had 19 (8-17 shooting), seven assists and eight rebounds and really held Oklahoma City in this game with big shot after big shot. James Harden was huge off the bench with 14 points. Serge Ibaka continues to make me scream like a teenage girl every time he does something, as he added 12 points, seven rebounds and one block. If this season goes to good places, I think we can circle this game, star it, put a sticker next to it and then highlight it as a major turning of the corner. This team is getting it. THAT close the night before in Los Angeles and then getting over the hump in Phoenix. I can’t downplay how big this win was.
Notes:
- I nearly threw a candle at the TV in the second half. It just didn’t seem like OKC could get a call. Steve Nash just owns the officials. He says it, they do it. The final tally was 29 OKC fouls to 20 for Phoenix but at one point it was 25-13. And that’s another feather in the cap for the Thunder. The team was visibly frustrated with the officiating and they plowed through it. They overcame it and pulled out a win. That’s big for a young group.
- Again, Westbrook was awesome. I know the box score says he had five turnovers but keep in mind two things: 1) He didn’t turn it over once in the fourth and 2) Three of those turns were questionable. Two were offensive fouls and one he was hacked by Goran Dragic and didn’t get a call.
- The Thunder really had no answer for Amare inside. Nenad Krstic was completely overwhelmed. Nick Collison fought hard but couldn’t hang with him. Ibaka did the best on him, but still, Amare had 35 on 11-15 shooting along with 14 rebounds.
- I found it interesting that Thabo guarded Steve Nash for most of the game. Maybe that’s because Nash likes to hide behind screeners and shoot or fall away and shoot and maybe Thabo’s length could bother him. Thabo didn’t have a point, but I thought he played Nash well, especially in the second half. After nine assists in the first half, Nash had just three in the second.
- The Ibaka block on Stoudemire that led to a Harden dunk is maybe my favorite sequence of the season. My shriek of joy was so loud that I think my neighbors called the police on me.
- Oh yeah, Eric Maynor. He looked a little nervous. And why wouldn’t he be? He had a wild day. He was in OKC four hours before the tip getting a physical, showed up in Phoenix and basically walked on the floor. Things were very simplified for him. He basically dribbled up, and passed to a cutter. And he did a good job of it (two points, five assists to just one turn in 12 minutes). There were flashes and once he gets more comfortable, I promise you, he is going to be a perfect fit.
- With Maynor running the second team, I’m not all that scared to say OKC might have a top five bench… in the LEAGUE. Yes, I’m serious. The emergence of Ibaka, the addition of Maynor, Harden scoring and creating, Collison scrapping, it’s a great unit. They came in and started the second quarter on a 9-0 run right away. They outscored Phoenix’s pine-riders 34-12 tonight.
- The way Westbrook attacked Steve Nash is how he should go after everyone. I’m almost convinced that Westbrook has that little 15-foot jumper. He just hasn’t made it thus far. The fact that he takes it and is encouraged to take it tells me that he’s capable of knocking it down with regularity. And really, he NEEDS to make it. It opens him up to a whole other level offensively. The thing he needs to do is harness it and not get carried away. Stay in the flow, stay in rhythm. When he does that, he’s excellent.
- I have no idea why Jeff Green kept leaving Channing Frye. We all know Frye can shoot for a big man, but I can understand making him prove it. After one 3, or two, well then maybe you start covering him from deep. But after FIVE, I don’t think you leave him at all.But he kept sinking in the lane and helping, leaving Frye at the line ready to knock down a moneyball.
- Speaking of Frye, every time I look at him, I think of the two bad guy twins, Spike and Iggy from the Super Mario Brothers movie. His head just looks too small for his shoulders.
- Ibaka and Stoudemire jumped against each other three times! How crazy is that? And Amare won all three. Those three extra possessions were almost the decider. Right before the third jump with Ibaka, you could see Durant trying to tell Serge something, but clearly Serge wasn’t understanding.
- How about Russ’s dunk attempt from halfcourt? Just about six feet short on it.
- OKC turned the tables a bit tonight: The Thunder took 12 more shots than the Suns, had 16 offensive rebounds and won the battle of the boards 48-38. Oh, and just 11 turnovers.
I’m trying to tell myself that I shouldn’t get that excited about this win and that it’s a long season and that really, it’s just one of hopefully many more. But I just feel like this is a potential turning point for this team. Durant took over. Westbrook controlled the game. Green was huge as a role player. The bench was awesome. And on the back end of a road trip that most everyone expected them to come back two games under, they shock the Suns at home to pull back to even at 14-14. I don’t care what you say, at this moment for this young team, it’s big.
Next up for the Thunder: Saturday at home against Charlotte. No letdowns please.
Royce :@justinWell I’m just looking at it as an extra possession because OKC COULD have gained possession either by winning the jump or securing the ball before the jump.
I meant extra possession like it was an offensive rebound.
The definition of possessions in the NBA is a bit confusing. An offensive rebound does not result in an extra possession, it extends the current possession. It does result in an extra shot opportunity. The reason for this is so that possessions are equalized between teams. So jump ball either extends the possession or ends the possession for the team that had the ball. The only way to get an extra possession is to have possession at the beginning of the quarter and the end of the quarter. This is essentially why getting the last shot matters (though it's pretty obvious you don't want to just give the other team another shot).
But shot opportunities matter, for sure, even if technically they're not another possession. To get a handle on shot opportunities we have to look at offensive rebounds, turnovers, fouls, etc. It's basically impossible to figure out exactly how many shot/scoring opportunities a team had from the box score (and no, shot opportunties is not a stat per se that I know of, its not a technical term, its just a description. Those who follow advanced stats can probably shed more light on how this kind of thing is tracked.)
We now return you to your regular programming.
@Steve H
Actually, Krstic isn't on a Player Option next year. ShamSports.com has the most accurate salary data, and he lists Krstic's 2010-11 year as a guaranteed year.
I'm glad to see other people here on Christmas Eve. I was hoping I wasn't the only one.
We still need to earn the respect with the fouls from the refs, we should have won against the lakers if it wasnt for the fouls difference. I think maynor even after just 1 game is the best backup PG we could put on the floor, better then ollie and better the livingston, once he gets practice time in with the team i expect more great passes and he is fast and can slash in for layups. Between him and westbrook we have one of the fastest PG combos in the league. Maynor will hopefully add scoring to the 2nd team so we get to a 100 points more often.
I think krstic will continue to start, but his minutes are already dropping and I think that will continue, but I think they want ibaka to primarily play against 2nd team centers mostly, unless we start ibaka at PF and have green come off the bench, he would score better that way and give the 2nd team a boost.
Yeah I love how his game can miss with some teams bigs, but the opposite is also true. I would love to keep him if he would sign for less after his contract and be a role player.
Yeah, there's no reason to get rid of Krstic. It's definitely good that he's playing fewer minutes, because that means we've got other guys contributing, and he's not the kind of guy you want in there for more than 30 minutes a game, unless he's really stroking the ball. (pause)
With Ibaka playing so well and Nick continuing to give good minutes, we've got a pretty solid rotation of guys that do different kinds of things. The only way I see us changing up is if we get a good trade offer, and even then I'd say it's more likely that Etan is moved than any of those three guys.
@dirkdajerk
He has a player's option he could exercise next year, but I can't imagine him opting out or getting more than we are slated to pay him. If another team wants him in a deal that lands us a "back to the basket center", I'm fine with moving him (If Nawlins shops Okafor at the deadline, they would need a decent replacement like Krstic). More likely that he is here next year, and possibly beyond, as our back-up 5, which I am also fine with. I like the fact that Brooks is reducing his minutes to get Collison and Serge more burn, but don't really see a need to drop him from the starting unit until a new 5 is acquired.
Totally agree about Krystic, Ibaka put the death knell on his starting center role last night in my mind. He (Krispy) might make an excellent role player off the bench. His 18-ftrs would really mess with other teams second string bigs. However, I doubt this is a role he would accept quietly, and he is probably a bit overpriced for it.
There was a funny moment in the Laker game the other night where Ibaka went down under the basket, and Kobe and another Laker went to help him up, and you see Russell and Green I think it was kinda shove them out of the way like "Keep your slimy Laker mits off our GOLDMINE!!!"
What's yalls thoughts on Krstic...
Can he be traded? (obviously he can...but would he)
How much longer could he stay? (Not that I don't like him...but like it's been mentioned before, we need a back to the basket center...defense is always nice too.)
So pi$$ed I missed the game...but hey I had Christmas with the wife.
I was real worried bout the Suns pick and how it might not be a great pick like we had hoped. Looking at the box score they have 85 points in 3 players, sure they are awesome, but if one player slips up any...It will be really hard for them to win games against even New Jersey (okay maybe not NJ....) Suns bench is pathetic.
I know much has been written about Ibaka at this point, but holy crap. Do you guys realize how far he's come since the beginning of the season? Remember the athletic rangey f/c who had no clue what he was doing on either end of the floor and who got by on pure hustle? This is not the same player. It's unbelievable how fast he's learning. He's playing the most difficult position on the floor and seems to pick up another nuance or two every game. If every team knew what we know about him now, how high would he have gone in this year's draft? I guess after you spend five straight years picking raw project centers in the first round, you're bound to hit eventually.
I think the 'turn' for the season would be last night against the Lakers if anything. They played outta their minds! And it continuing on to tonight is incredible... It kinda reminds me of the New York Giants in 2007, in week 17 they played the Patriots tough and lossed a close one (AKA Thunder vs. Lakers), then continued hard throughout the playoffs with their momentum and won the superbowl. (Not that the Thunder are making the playoffs now, or winning a championship). We've put together two great back to back games, and maybe our swagger will continue!
I'm watching the Jeff Green tip in and we're very lucky he didn't get injured on that play. His leg almost got caught under the Suns player who looked like he was setting up a chop block.
I like that Russ did not attempt a three pointer in this game.
I'm still uneasy about him taking those jumpers but we definitely needed that offense from him today regardless.
Maybe he hits them a lot in practice because it seems like Brooks isn't too upset by him taking those shots.
He's still shooting sub 40% from the field on the year and even the the last five games he's at ~38%..
@niimits
I completely agree with this line of thinking. I think Russ has that pull-up jumper, he's just been missing it. But when he is off, he shouldn't grind it into the ground. But imagine him getting more and more comfortable with it over the next three seasons. He could be a DYNAMIC offensive player.
I love that we got this upset victory to bring us to even. Especially since we should be favored to win our next 10 games.
Sorry I never got back to you guys's responses on my previous post about Russell, but see the last two games show exactly what I was talking about. He is still taking those jumpers, except now that they are falling no one complains about it. He has that shot, it doesn't always fall but you know its there. I guess he just needs to learn to stop taking them(when its off), but he will get there. I play just like him, I rebound a lot (for 5'8")and try to drive in every now and then, but whenever I am open I take that jumper from the top of the key (as does he), thats why I felt like I had an idea of what was going through his head.
You saw the few possessions he tried to drive into too much traffic and came out empty handed, he didn't get too many calls either. (I hear everyone say when the shot isn't falling, take it in) I think it works the other way too, when you cant finish inside, step back and take those open midrange jumpers.
Other than that AMAZING win, my roommate is a suns fan, so I am gonna enjoy that while I can!!!!!!!!!!!!
dylan :
Channing Frye looks like Nick Cannon on HGH
That's a good call. I like that one.
@andrew
if we displace Suns,it is best of all.
but If we can be in playoff,jazzs、spurs or blazer could be victim
Kev :
excellent point – they need to show up against Charloote and not just assume that a win will come just because it’s at home . . .
It is more than that. In the next 19 games there is no reason why we should not win at least 14 with at Cleveland and at Dallas, and Denver being the toughest and add in 2 "whatever" losses. That would put us at 28 and 19. This next 5 weeks may be the easiest part of our schedule.
Channing Frye looks like Nick Cannon on HGH
@andrew
Hopefully Phoenix :)
Kev :
Serge Ibaka (-3)
Ibaka fouled out in the fourth quarter, and three of his six fouls were “and ones”. If he’s going to foul, he needs to make sure and stop the opponent from scoring.
I'd agree with you except at least two of those fouls weren't actually fouls.
Kev :
The last two games show your character. The home team came back to erase a defecit, but we didn’t wilt and manage to take both games to the wire. A split was a success for this mini road trip.
I was skeptical before, but now I am convinced the Thunder will go to the playoffs (barring a major injury) – the Maynor acquisition sealed the deal . . .
Who do you think we will displace out of the current top 8?
Thanks for big Z,thunder stays the ninth of west
I love the picture.. Can anyone else see the "OH S@!# this is not going to work" look in Russ's eyes?
Keith :@KevCharlotte, despite the record and inability to score most nights, is a playoff team in the East. Now, the middle and bottom of the East are considerably worse than the middle and bottom of the West, but OKC should still be looking at this as a playoff team. In all honesty, we are in the same position as Charlotte, likely an 8th seed if we make it at all. Let’s see them treat this game like the playoffs (as they should treat every game), and not coast on their talent (which makes no sense, EVERY NBA team is talented).
I get your point, but I'm betting that they think the Charlotte game will be a lot easier than the last two . . .
it's a typical "trap" game . . .
@Kev
Charlotte, despite the record and inability to score most nights, is a playoff team in the East. Now, the middle and bottom of the East are considerably worse than the middle and bottom of the West, but OKC should still be looking at this as a playoff team. In all honesty, we are in the same position as Charlotte, likely an 8th seed if we make it at all. Let's see them treat this game like the playoffs (as they should treat every game), and not coast on their talent (which makes no sense, EVERY NBA team is talented).
@justin
Well I'm just looking at it as an extra possession because OKC COULD have gained possession either by winning the jump or securing the ball before the jump.
I meant extra possession like it was an offensive rebound.
@Keith
I meant it can't mean extra possessions for the offense if the defense forces a jump ball.. that's correct right?
@justin
The jump ball can give an extra possession if the winner did not have the ball before the jump. It would essentially have counted as a turnover for the jump loser. In that way it could get extra possessions.
Keith :A team needs to do two things to prove itself as being good. First, they have to take care of business against the vast majority of teams they are supposed to beat. Second, they should steal a game here and there and keep it close against superior teams. I think OKC has done a lot of the second, but not much of the first. We are a good team, but how good (this year) isn’t going to come down to the games against LA, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, or Phoenix. How good we are is going to be determined by how well we handle ourselves against the Sacramento, Clipper, and Charlotte teams.
excellent point - they need to show up against Charloote and not just assume that a win will come just because it's at home . . .
A team needs to do two things to prove itself as being good. First, they have to take care of business against the vast majority of teams they are supposed to beat. Second, they should steal a game here and there and keep it close against superior teams. I think OKC has done a lot of the second, but not much of the first. We are a good team, but how good (this year) isn't going to come down to the games against LA, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, or Phoenix. How good we are is going to be determined by how well we handle ourselves against the Sacramento, Clipper, and Charlotte teams.
Nice writeup as always Royce..
The bench definitely has a lot going for it, if Maynor ends up with anything close to a jump shot it should be a very balanced unit. I still think that with three rookies, one of which that hardly speaks English, it'll be rough sailing. Lots of nice play but also lots of mistakes. Playing together and learning from each other will help, of course, and I agree this unit has the potential to be a top five bench, mostly depending on how Harden develops.. some good benches in the league (Atlanta, Dallas..)
Also just a nit pick. I might be wrong but technically I don't think gaining the ball back on a jump ball constitutes an extra possession for the offense.
Anyone know if there are going to be any streams online of the replay tonight? I'm stuck in Denver and didn't have internet access during the game.
deficit . . .
geesh - typos stink . . .
The last two games show your character. The home team came back to erase a defecit, but we didn't wilt and manage to take both games to the wire. A split was a success for this mini road trip.
I was skeptical before, but now I am convinced the Thunder will go to the playoffs (barring a major injury) - the Maynor acquisition sealed the deal . . .
Defensive Details
As you could guess by the score, it was not a defensive slugfest. The action was free flowing, which is typical for a Suns game. We were dissected by the pick and roll, but the offense carried us through. The team score was +7, which is good since it was -14 at halftime. Since it was a big win, most of this breakdown will be on the positive side. There were few defensive highlights, but I will point out one or two below.
Kevin Durant (+7)
Kevin made two key plays in the fourth quarter. With six minutes left, Hill drove to the baseline and appeared to have a half step on KD. Kevin recovered and positioned himself back between Grant and the bucket. He forced a brick by Grant, and this helped start the fast break. Later, with less than three minutes left, Amar’e Stoudemire drove the lane only to be stripped by Durant. That’s an example of two great defensive stops by one of the best scorers in the NBA.
James Harden (+5)
Late in the third quarter, Amare was about to drive past Nick Collison. Harden was there to help, as he used his quick hands to steal the ball on the drive. A few seconds later, Durant was finishing for the Thunder on the other end.
Nenad Krstic (+2)
Krstic’s score is helped by a steal on a long pass in transition from Steve Nash in the third quarter.
Eric Maynor (zero)
Nick Collison (zero)
Jeff Green (zero)
Thabo Sefolosha (-1)
Serge Ibaka (-3)
Ibaka fouled out in the fourth quarter, and three of his six fouls were “and ones”. If he’s going to foul, he needs to make sure and stop the opponent from scoring.
Russell Westbrook (-4)