vs. 
Ok. City Thunder (44-28, 20-15 road) at Philadephia 76ers (26-47, 12-24 home)
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: 6:00 CDT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 107.3 (15th), 76ers – 105.5 (20th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.5 (6th), 76ers – 109.3 (19th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.8 (14th), 76ers – 91.5 (22nd)
View from the enemy: Philadunkia
We all remember what happened in Indiana two weeks ago. The Thunder was flat, unfocused and unready. Well, here’s another chance at a game like that. Let’s hope that Pacer game was a lesson learned.
Because if OKC doesn’t, this road trip could get a little ugly. First Philly tonight. Then Boston Wednesday. And then wrapping up in Dallas Friday. Tonight’s game is the must-win of the bunch because the two that finish it won’t be easy. Honestly, 1-2 would be a quality trip, especially with the way Boston is playing.
Philadelphia coming in: The 76ers are probably playing some of their basketball of the season right now. They pulled off two big wins against Milwaukee and Atlanta, most recently beating the Hawks on Friday. However, they are just 12-24 at home.
THE MATCHUPS
Jason Kapono has been starting the past few games at small forward for Philly. Kevin Durant plays small forward for the Thunder. I think you should be able to put two and two together here. KD could be in store for a big time game. Andre Iguodala is a quality scorer at shooting guard who could also see time on KD, but as far as Iguodala’s scoring, hopefully Thabo busts out the lock down on him.
Jrue Holiday has been playing better, but Russell Westbrook should handle the UCLA rookie tonight. Elton Brand isn’t what he used to be, so I actually like Jeff Green, matching up inside with him. Brand is still good for a 20-15 game every now and again, but those are few and far between now. Marreese Speights is a big body on the block that can rebound and block shots and Samuel Dalembert is virtually the same player. OKC’s trio of Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka and Nenad Krstic will have their hands full with the interior game of the 76ers tonight.
The Sixers don’t get a bunch of scoring from their second unit, but then again, unless James Harden is producing, neither does Oklahoma City. Harden needs to get bakc on track for the Thunder and add that punch off the bench. As we know, that’s a pretty important aspect of the Thunder offense.
For whatever reason, these type of games just terrify me. It’s a should-win, on the road against a fairly bad team. Yet, I worry. But if all goes as it should and OKC comes out with a good focus (which I expect they will after the Portland loss), this shouldn’t be an issue. The matchups favor the Thunder almost across the board and last time they played Philly, OKC overwhelmed them. So hopefully it’s more of the same this evening.
Tip at 6:00 CDT. Go Sound That Comes After Lightning.
@justin
I didn't say I was tough, though I'm glad you see me that way.
Face it, you were dead wrong.
Lets move on.
Ahh it had been so long since a good justin-don flame war... I gotta say i missed them a little bit.
@The Don
Is that all you've got? I thought you were supposed to be the internet tough guy? Is this the part where you tell me you know what you're talking about because you 'play ball'? I bet when we traded for Chandler you (like the rest of the OKC fans, myself included) were giddy and not caring about his lax reputation or three years $34 million remaining on his contract. You were happy for the upgrade.
Whatever. After saying I wouldn't, I went ahead and made the argument again. I'm sure such glib remarks as 'he's a loser' and 'he sucks' constitute an argument on the ESPN boards, but not in my book. :)
Please just admit you were wrong like you were about Okafor, and lets move on
@The Don
You think he'd do that in our practices? Philly's a team with no leadership from top to bottom and their players run amok (Speights, Iggy, etc.).
The devotion for 'high character' guys is admirable but a small market team isn't doing itself any favors by eliminating half of the pool of NBA talent from consideration based on hearsay and rumors of poor character. Even the Spurs, who we supposedly model, have been known to take on players who didn't work out elsewhere and make them into productive pieces of their organization. You can do that with good leaders. I recall that was part of the justification for acquiring Tyson Chandler. Argue about work ethic all you want, I don't remember anyone complaining about Chandler's poor reputation when he was traded here.
@The Don
OK so he's 'awful' (better than any center on our roster) and a 'loser' (more playoff experience than anyone on our roster). And the reason not to acquire him is a second hand quotation from a 76ers fan board..? Even if he did say that, so what? Etan Thomas isn't a saint, I recall Nenad Krstic saying inflammatory things in New Jersey, and the rest of our players haven't been in the league long enough to do anything negative.
He is not 'paid like a superstar'. One year, $12 million is not a lot of money, especially since if we're going after players of Dalembert's ilk (i.e. not huge acquisitions), then the money isn't going to be used anyway. You don't look at salaries in a vaccuum. There's context to evaluate.
Anyway if your argument against Dalembert consists of second hand quotes about his work ethic, even though he's having his best season this year, then I don't know what else to say.
I also remember a recent Philly Inquirer article on dalembert where the columnist was like "everytime i watch him working out prior to games, all he's doing is working on his 3 point shooting. Why the hell is this guy practicing 3 point shooting?"
Dalembert is awful and is a loser
The 76ers fans on their board were saying how he recently stated that "now that we are eliminated from the playoffs it is a burden lifted off us and I can play more freely"
Someone that is capable of a quote like that needs to be kept as far away from this team as possible. the fact that he sucks as a player and is paid like a superstar is just the cherry on the top
@Jared M
@dream catcher
Yeah, I don't think serge really needs to do any more work with his body, it's elite as is. Too much more muscle on his frame would not be that beneficial. He just needs experience, which will come with time (although it seems like his trajectory is on turbo mode because he seems to develop more with each passing game than your typical player does in a span of an entire season), and with work on his actual skills
@andrew
The reason is Eddie Jordan. Check out what Wizards fans have to say about him and how he handled Brendan Haywood.
Dally is very productive in facets of the game where we really need help. He won't fix our trouble offensively, but what center will? He'd add weak side help and good man defense to the starting lineup, he hits free throws, and he gobbles up rebounds. I dunno how we could do better at center unless we open up the checkbook big time.
There is a reason dalembert only plays 25 minutes a game.. If he is truly the force you say he is he should be getting at least 30..
I would like to avoid players who are known for their poor attitude and work ethic.. How would we even acquire dalembert? it is not like its going to just be a straight trade for krstic like you are somewhat implying..Philly is going to want something in return..
justin :@Bob
He’s better than ’solid’ or ‘good’ at those things, he’s top five in the NBA at blocking shots and rebounding (offensive and defensive). I forgot, what’s Nenad Krstic top five in the NBA at again?
He reminds me kinda of Serge Ibaka without a jump-shot. OK he is a great rebounder and shot-blocker but i still say he is too expensive and we need Nenad Krstic's offensive game.
@Bob
He's better than 'solid' or 'good' at those things, he's top five in the NBA at blocking shots and rebounding (offensive and defensive). I forgot, what's Nenad Krstic top five in the NBA at again?
justin :@The
Don
$12 million doesn’t really matter since it’s expiring, unless they plan on signing someone else to a long term contract or have other plans.
You wouldn’t trade Nenad Krstic for Sam Dalembert straight up? Philly might do it to save ~$6 million.
Anyway, I know you’re just trying to goad me so I won’t take it farther than that. Barring a major free agent acquisition, if you feel there’s a better use for our cap space that won’t impact our ability to resign our own players I’d love to hear it (won’t hold my breath).
Sorry but i dont want Dalembert at all. He's not a good offensive player, solid defender (shot-blocker) and good rebounder. If i would trade krstic then i'd for a young gun and not for a shot-blocking and getting older and older sammy dalembert.
@The Don
$12 million doesn't really matter since it's expiring, unless they plan on signing someone else to a long term contract or have other plans.
You wouldn't trade Nenad Krstic for Sam Dalembert straight up? Philly might do it to save ~$6 million.
Anyway, I know you're just trying to goad me so I won't take it farther than that. Barring a major free agent acquisition, if you feel there's a better use for our cap space that won't impact our ability to resign our own players I'd love to hear it (won't hold my breath).
Oh i forgot awful refs too.
Jared M :@The
Don
i hope the weight training staff helps Ibaka bulk up with out losing his quickness and quick leap. It’ll be interesting to see him. Man if they do a good job in that and he puts in the hours in his low post O…. Man’o man he will be beast! O yeah and work on his hand eye coordination!
I don't want him getting any bigger IMO. Just natural progression from age. He might lose some of his explosiveness if he gets bigger...
So glad this game is over. Awful Game, awful crowd and awful commentators.
@The Don
i hope the weight training staff helps Ibaka bulk up with out losing his quickness and quick leap. It'll be interesting to see him. Man if they do a good job in that and he puts in the hours in his low post O.... Man'o man he will be beast! O yeah and work on his hand eye coordination!
@justin
So what you're saying is that you're still on the bandwagon of having Dalembert on our team eating up $12 mil of our salary :)
Elle Oh Elle
Great defensive effort in the fourth quarter.. nice to see the guys have a sense of urgency after Iggy broke the basket.
If Mullens can do the same as Ibaka next season,that is so crazy
76ers announcers talking about how ibaka should soon find himself in the starting lineup
Ibaka has looked awesome on offense lately.
If everything goes right this summer, Ibaka should come into next season an absolute beast
Ibaka and Collison rarely play poorly as a unit.
@The Don
I've presented my argument for Dalembert many times. I'm not going to repeat it here again, but if you'd like, go and find it and poke some holes in it if you can. You have an interesting habit of taking the context of one game (16 minutes worth, in this one) to make an argument against me but mysteriously, you're never around when I initially make the suggestion. I wonder why..
andrew :
Ibaka never woulda passed it to Maynor for that wide open layup miss even a month ago in my estimation..
his development has been incredible.
Ibaka never woulda passed it to Maynor for that wide open layup miss even a month ago in my estimation..
How many layups have we missed this game? 20?
Missed 10 layups tonight!
WTF thabo just got hacked... awful refs once again.
We need to start Ibaka at PF next year... Even if it is next to Krstic that should solve a lot of our problems..
Young Bulls,come on
@justin
LOL @ you not repenting for your sin of lobbying for this bum
Shame on you. SHAME ON YOU
What is Green doing in there?
Sammy's a better fit with Jeff Green in the starting lineup IMO.
Sixers just dont have a bench. When you first see the starting line-up you ask yourself why they have such a bad record and when the bench comes in you see why...
Screw Durant's 25 points. Rest him. This is a marathon!
@The Don
Who do you think we should get? I know those two are crappy options! But anybody catches your eye for next season? I wish Beidrinis wasn't as hurt as much as he has this season. I think he would be a good option but after this season I am not so sure. O.. maybe Mullens will add some muscles, learn some amazing/consistent post moves, and buy into the Defensive philosophies of the team. A whole offseason could be huge for him! If you did not notice I am playing the huge optimist card.
The defense by this second unit has been much better than what we saw with the first unit in the third quarter. Ibaka / Collison is much better than Krstic / Green.
Maynor has a real nice crossover, he needs to use it more...
Harden with the 3!
you can see Ibaka develop from game to game...
seriously does serge ever miss?
@Bob
It's a combination. Stats are useful for verifying what you see with your eyes.
@The Don
Dalembert would be useful to guard the Brands/Randolphs/Bynums of the world. The bulky physical low block guys that Serge/Green/Krstic can't handle. Whether he's worth the price tag (if only through next year) would be debatable but the thought process is valid.
@justin
I think you believe the stats more than your eyes.
I love seeing Maynor hit threes..