Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
With the way the game started, I really didn’t see a 15-point blowout happening. Russell Westbrook turned the ball over on the first two possessions. New Orleans jumped out to an 11-2 lead as David West started 6-6 from the floor. By all appearances, this was going to be an ugly game. The crowd was quiet, the Thunder was coasting a bit through the first 15 minutes and they were turning the ball over.
And then Emeka Okafor stepped to the free throw line.
New Orleans trailed by just five minutes before halftime. Okafor caught all air with his first attempt. The crowd responded with a cheer. Okafor gathered himself, took a deep breath and proceeded to airball his second attempt. The Ford Center exploded. Following the second empty attempt, the Thunder went on to outscore NOLA 54-44, running away with it, 98-83.
Russell Westbrook flirted with another triple-double tonight, finishing with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Kevin Durant scored 29 on 11-19 shooting. Jeff Green scored 10 points and had nine rebounds. The team shot 47 percent, outrebounded the Hornets by nine and allowed just 83 points en route to win No. 20 at home. Wipe off the hands, pack up the lunch pail and go home and kiss your wife. Another day at the office, kids.
The one not so excellent thing was James Harden went to the locker room early in the fourth quarter. Reports are a strained right hamstring that he sustained late in the second quarter after an awkward fall. The way it looked, I think he’s going to be fine. Just a little tweak.
Notes:
- The Hornets were just 14-43 from the floor with eight turnovers after halftime.
- We saw D.J. White for the first time in a couple months. White looked good in four minutes, scoring five points on 2-4 shooting. His midrange game is just pure.
- Harden started the game out with a white headband. For whatever reason, he switched to his usual black band at the beginning of the second quarter. In the first, Harden had zero points on 0-1 shooting. After that with the black headband, Harden scored six points, all in the second quarter.
- The Thunder could not get a shot at the rim to drop in the first quarter. I counted five misses at the iron. Durant missed two and after rimming out an and-1 chance, he was visibly frustrated.
- KD took 10 shots in the first quarter and scored 11 points. So for the rest of the game he took nine shots and scored 18.
- OKC is 21-3 when Nenad Krstic scores 10.
- David West was pretty unstoppable tonight. He had 33 on 14-22 shooting. Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison had issues with his back down, fadeaway jumper move. He’s a tough guard when that jumpshot is falling.
- I think it’s a conscious thing that Durant doesn’t chuck buzzer-beating halfcourters. At the end of the third tonight, it was pretty clear he waited until after the horn went off to chuck it. Is he that concerned about his percentages? I don’t blame him. I would be.
- Hey man you’re a friend you know… where you’ve been or where you go…/stabs foot with a steak knife
- Serge Ibaka with 12 points and nine rebounds. Another impressive game from Chewie, but how about the 4-4 from the free throw line. That’s a great sign.
- Only two Thunder players were a minus for the game: White and Eric Maynor.
- The game was played at an extremely slow pace of 89.0. But OKC finished with a 110.1 offensive efficiency rating compared to 93.3 for NOLA.
Not else much to say about this game. It was tight, it was neat and that third quarter was fun. OKC wins the season series over New Orleans and even though there’s really no fear of it, the Thunder has the tiebreaker. Oklahoma City is 15 games over .500, winners of six of seven and have a very good shot at win No. 40 Friday night at home against New Jersey.
Next up: Home against the Nets Friday.
add: Russell's steal rate has gone up since he's been off the ball more . . .
Jax Raging Bile Duct :@Kev
Nice breakdown.
One trend I think I am noticing in your scores lately, and you might be able to check this quickly, I don’t know, but earlier this year Russell was constantly getting a -4 score, and now I see more +4 scores. Is this a result of his improvement? I know you changed your scoring methods recently, so that might also attribute to the change. Or maybe I’m just not keeping track that well.
excellent point - he IS doing better - he doesn't have as many flaws as hje used to - for example, he has been getting back on defense better (although he still has room for improvement). Also, Brooks has helped by playing him off the ball alot and putting Thabo on the point in some games . . . earlier in the year he would put Thabo on the point starting the second half - now (in some instances) he starts Thabo on the point . . . Russ is much better off the ball . . .
Not to pick nits as Simmons would say but Ollie had a minus as well for the game (-4). DAMN YOU KEVIN OLLIE, STEP YOUR GAME UP!!
West, Boozer, Gasol, Aldridge, Amare..
The only two PF's in the the playoff chase this year that Green does 'OK' against are Dirk and whoever is on the Spurs since Duncan's playing center. Though Blair did kill us one game.
@justin
West a top 10 offensive PF in the league, so im not too worried about him scoring on jeff green, but landry is a different story, and hopefully he is just in a funk and gets out of it by the playoffs.
@Kev
Nice breakdown.
One trend I think I am noticing in your scores lately, and you might be able to check this quickly, I don't know, but earlier this year Russell was constantly getting a -4 score, and now I see more +4 scores. Is this a result of his improvement? I know you changed your scoring methods recently, so that might also attribute to the change. Or maybe I'm just not keeping track that well.
I just seen that we are tied with Phoenix right now I know its really does not matter but its pretty cool that we caught up with them agian!
justin
I think it would be a barrier if Green didn't improve, I also 100% believe he will improve. He isn't as new to the position...but he is still learning.
Whoa!
"•Is anybody else growing concerned about Jeff Green’s man-to-man defense? In consecutive games, Carl Landry took it to him, then West had his way tonight. Green does a lot of great things on the floor, but there are a lot of matchups against Western Conference power forwards that aren’t favorable for him. Typically, it’s written off because they can’t defend him at the other end. But at what point in the Thunder’s “process” might Green’s man-to-man defense become a barrier if not improved?"
Darnell getting the picture!
clarkem :
Royce Young :
clarkem :I just heard a solid Royce Young and daily thunder the best thunder blog around shout out on the sports animal on my way home from work. Not gonna lie I got pretty excited hearing that.
Really? From who?Was this tonight after the game?
Yeah it was tonight when they allow call ins. I couldn’t hear the name because I wasn’t paying attention till I heard your name and Daily Thunder. I hope whoever it is isn’t too shy to admit it was them. THat was awesome.I can’t remember who it was that was the first to reply from the show but he intelligently said something along the lines of, “uh huh, yep.”
that was me!
I was hoping some of my DT peeps would be listening - glad you were. I had never called in to a radio talkshow before and didn't know if it was pc or not, but I figure if people can give shout outs to random friends and family, I can give one to the DT family.
Go Thunder!
@Ray
Yeah, there was one play in the second half where Ibaka got a pass about 3-4' from the rim. Instead of going up strong for a dunk or at least a layup, he did a fade away jumper and missed.
Good Win. Go Thunder!!!
White seems to be playing some good ball. Contesting shots and gaining position for rebounds. The Thunder are not giving away anything. I love it.
I think that Ibaka sometimes needs to finish stronger at the rim.
Sorry so late, I am watching the late broadcasting of the game. Serge Ibaka is doing an amazing job. I loved the line up with Collison, Ibaka, Harden, and Durant. They had Maynor as point guard. If they would have had Westbrook in the line up, that would have made it perfect. Anyway, even with Maynor in it seem that the game change to the Thunder's favor. They didn't score much, but the defensive mentality was diffently there. Note: Serge is 245lb / He has gained 25lb since he has been with the Thunder. He and Collison are great together on defense. I really hope that Sam Presti will keep Collison.
This cracks me up:
How about Emeka Okafor’s two botched free throws? Kevin Durant had the line of the night when I asked him about it: “I was just playing with him on the video game earlier and he was hitting jumpers, so that was a shock to me.”
Via Darnell Mayberry.
http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2010/03/11/thunder-98-hornets-83/
They miss more like that Westbrook to Green flub in the 2nd quarter and the ban will be enforced again.
@Brad
Yeah, he had an alley-oop ban before the all-star break and then lifted it. He said they were doing a better job of making the pass in practice. Trying to remember where I read that.
I played pick up in high school with the Italian Stallion.. he can shoot the 3.
@j-mo
lost seats but added the terrace sweets and i believe luxury boxes...they aren't loosing money.
From the ESPN recap:
"Attendance was 18,203 as Oklahoma City recorded its 18th sellout in 31 home games. That matches last season's total, when the Ford Center's capacity was 19,163."
I didn't realize that the remodeling being done took almost 1,000 seats away. Even if only $10 seats were lost, that's about $420,000 in potential ticket revenue over a season.
@Nax
I heard he wasn't too fond of it. I must have misread that somewhere.
I know it's been mentioned before, but I love that Coach Brooks has let these guys throw alley-oops to one another. Very fun to watch.
@clarkem
Oh well I salute that fair reader. Very nice.
And that response sounds like a Craig Humphreys classic.
Royce Young :
clarkem :
I just heard a solid Royce Young and daily thunder the best thunder blog around shout out on the sports animal on my way home from work. Not gonna lie I got pretty excited hearing that.
Really? From who?
Was this tonight after the game?
Yeah it was tonight when they allow call ins. I couldn't hear the name because I wasn't paying attention till I heard your name and Daily Thunder. I hope whoever it is isn't too shy to admit it was them. THat was awesome.
I can't remember who it was that was the first to reply from the show but he intelligently said something along the lines of, "uh huh, yep."
I am big thunder fan, I have watched just about all the games on TV this season. And I also HATE that Cox Commercial, however by 15months old and my 3 year old LOVE it. Spider senses start tingling and they come running into the room every time it come on. So if you have an underdeveloped brain you might like it more.
O yeah that transition play were Russ threaded the needle to Jeff who threw down with his left had was OUTSTANDING!
clarkem :
I just heard a solid Royce Young and daily thunder the best thunder blog around shout out on the sports animal on my way home from work. Not gonna lie I got pretty excited hearing that.
Really? From who?
Was this tonight after the game?
Defensive Breakdown
The score came up +21, which is around average. Throw out Green’s dismal performance against Hornets forward David West and the rest of the team scored above average. Tonight I will break down three plays that show why the Thunder disposes of inefficient offenses.
Play #1 (1st Quarter – 2 minutes left)
Darren Collison (Westbrook) has the ball out top. David West (Ibaka) sets up shop at the right elbow (just right of the free throw line). Ibaka is playing behind him, so West gets the entry pass from Collison easily. After Collison passes the ball, Westbrook drops back to give Ibaka help if Serge needs it. Immediately thereafter, West pivots into the lane and toward Russell. At this point, all West has to do is kick the ball to Collison for a wide open three. Collison is not really a sharpshooter (on the year, 29-81, .358 from three) but those odds would be better (for the Hornets) than what actually happened. Westbrook digs in and strips the ball and the Thunder is off. Durant gets the ball and is fouled at the rack in transition. Our halfcourt offense is not efficient, but Brooks counts on plays like these to get quick looks at the rim.
Play #2 (2nd Quarter – 10:20 left)
After a pick out top, James Posey gets a step on Jeff Green and advances to the goal. Jeff Green forces Posey to spin back toward the middle (and towards the help). Posey pivots and continues his rampage inside. I called it a rampage because he’s not looking at up at all. Serge Ibaka is on the weakside deep in the lane. Posey barges in anyway. Meanwhile David West is wide open out top. The correct play for Posey is to kick it to West. Eric Maynor is the closest defender. If West had gotten the ball, I figure that Maynor rushes to contest the jumper. That would leave Darren Collison open. Again, Collison is not a great sharpshooter, but that’s better than a turnover. Ibaka forces Posey to put up a crazy shot fading away from the basket. This allows Jeff Green to get a good angle and swat the ball out of bounds.
Play #3 (3rd Quarter – 2:40 left)
David West (Green) has the ball in the low post. Green had been abused all game (and the last time these two teams met), so Brooks sent help. Westbrook ignored Collison and came in to double down on West. RW swipes at the ball while West turns to score. Westbrook misses, but still hangs around to bother West. Collison is WIDE open. Meanwhile the ENTIRE Thunder team is within a 5-7 foot radius of West. Now some would say that since West has been scoring all day, then why shouldn’t he keep shooting? Well, if the coach sends his entire team to dig in and bother a post player, then players are open. West ignored common sense and he turned to shoot. Westbrook got up and blocked the shot.
There were more examples, but you get the idea. These plays are part of the reason why the Thunder is dominant against lesser foes.
James Harden (+11)
Thabo Sefolosha (+7)
Kevin Durant (+5)
Russell Westbrook (+4)
Nick Collison (+3)
Nenad Krstic (+2)
Kevin Ollie (+1)
Eric Maynor (zero)
D J White (-2)
Serge Ibaka (-3)
Jeff Green (-7)
I just heard a solid Royce Young and daily thunder the best thunder blog around shout out on the sports animal on my way home from work. Not gonna lie I got pretty excited hearing that.
i was bummed Westbrook didn't get a triple double because he didn't play much at all in the 4th with the game out of hand.. going into the fourth, he had 9 assists and 8 rebounds, so he coulda easily got it.. oh well, just a small complaint on an otherwise fantastic night.. man, i love this team!
@f5alcon
Hey that's pretty cool.
@f5alcon
I saw Gana Diop airball two in a row once last year.
at the game today bobby the italian stallion from wild 104.9 was wearing a DT broingtons shirt
Mike :
I love that Okafor’s air balls got the crowd into it. That is priceless.
i have never seen a player airball two in a row.
@Cpt. C-Note
We hopefully will have clinched already so it will just be for seeding.
Yay Chewie!
Yup. Nice game for us.
btw...
Have you guys seen the April schedule for teams in the hurt in the West like Port, Phoenix, Utah, Spurs, Dallas, ect...?
It's gonna be the best/most nerve-racking month I've ever had as a sports fan. This is so cool. I love this game...
I love that Okafor's air balls got the crowd into it. That is priceless.