John Hollinger of ESPN.com: “Nonetheless, we have the beginnings of a pattern here, too, and it’s not a good one for the Thunder. Whatever you think of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, they allowed Oklahoma City to play an offensive style that often had the middle empty to open driving lanes for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. In the first two games without them, we’ve seen how the dynamics have changed. The Thunder committed 19 turnovers against a packed-in Laker defense and scored only 31 points in the second half, stats that would be easier to attribute to the opponent were it not for the fact that the same thing happened to them on Friday in Orlando — when they came out of the break with a 40-point clunker and shot 33.3 percent for the night.”
From ESPN Stats and Info: “The Thunder had a chance to tie the game with under ten seconds remaining before Kevin Durant missed his shot attempt. Over the last three seasons Durant is just 2-12 on game tying three-point field goal attempts in the last minute of regulation or overtime. Only two players over that span have taken at least ten such attempts and made a lower percentage of those attempts: Kobe Bryant (1-10) and Aaron Brooks (1-10).”
I don’t like to point out dumb sportswriting that often because I’m sure I say my share of dumb things, but this column from NESN.com is seriously one of the dumbest things I’ve read.
Darnell Mayberry on misses opportunities: “The final minute was discouraging. Kevin Durant had a Ron Artest strip the ball from him with 49.9 seconds left and the Thunder down three. And when Bryant missed a jumper, Serge Ibaka secured the rebound to give the Thunder another chance. Westbrook then dribbled around like a chicken with his head cut off before barrelling down the lane for a charge. And when Lamar Odom missed two free throws, the Thunder wasted two more chances to tie when Durant missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key and James Harden misfired on a trey following a tap out by Nick Collison.”
A game column by me at CBSSports.com.
Darius Soriano of Forum Blue and Gold: “Besides making things hard for Durant, the Lakers also tightened up the defense on Westbrook. After hurting the Lakers by getting to his spots and knocking down his mid-range jumper in the first half, LA made it a point of emphasis to deny Russ his angles and contest his shots whenever possible. And while Kobe did a good job of funneling Russ to specific spots on the floor and not giving up easy looks, holding Westbrook down really was a team effort. Every time he drove the Lakers bigs were there to contest his shot and either alter it to force a miss or foul him to make him earn the points at the line.”
Andy Kamenetzky of ESPN LA: “It wasn’t always the prettiest of games for Bryant, who missed 14 of his 22 shots, got stripped on a few occasions while over-dribbling, and seemed too caught up at times with the proverbial battle within the battle. In particular, the obsession with proving James Harden couldn’t guard him was obvious.” One moment I LOVED but forgot to mention in the post game was Harden slapping at the ball after a foul on Kobe. No fear in the beard.
Kurt Helin of PBT: “This game really tells us little about what would happen if these two teams hook up again in the playoffs because we don’t know what the Thunder will look like with Kendrick Perkins in the paint. He will certainly make life harder for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, the Lakers bigs will dominate the game as they tend to against when these teams meet up.”
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writing on markets: “It’s not always about getting to the big city, by the way. Players from the diverse backgrounds of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili do fine in San Antonio, and Bosh was in a worldly place like Toronto — before he hit the escape button. Saying stars push for the bright lights is an oversimplification. Kevin Durant, having already won legions with the low-key contract announcement in the summer as LeBron James staged a PR nightmare, didn’t care about market size in Oklahoma City. He cared about market quality.”
Nice piece on how Ron Artest defends KD.
Fran Blinebury on the Perkins deal: “Nobody is saying that OKC is making a panicky move or pushing in all of the chips on the table to win one hand. At 26, Perkins is just entering the prime of his career and could be a physical and emotional anchor for the Thunder for years. Nobody is saying they are skipping steps or cutting corners, only that it was time to press down a little more on the accelerator.”
Quit freaking out. This is a speed bump on the road to a championship.
innocent bystander :
DizzDai :I’m already tired of people suggesting that we lost our offesive get-go because we are missing Green and Krstic. Didn’t we just play the Lakers and Magic? Two of best paint defending teams in the league.
yes, but they didn’t stop us from scoring points
before tradeMagic game: 124-125Lakers game: 94-101
after tradeMagic game: 111-88Lakers game: 90-87
88 and 87 now as opposed to 125 and 101 then
Yes, the offense is weaker, but on the other side, look at the defense. We gave up 124 and 101 points to the Magic and Lakers in our first game.
But without the terrible defensive frontcourt of Green/Krstic, we only allowed 111 and 90 points this time around.
Yes, the offense takes a hit, but the defense is already seriously better just with Green and Krstic being gone. And we haven't even added Perkins and Mohammed yet!
I think we can make up the offense somewhere, with the defense getting SIGNIFICANTLY better. We were 28th in points allowed in the paint. That number alone guaranteed we weren't going to make any noise in the playoffs. Now, we at least have a fighting chance.
@KingGondo
this is exactly right. perkins will bring the obvious thing we've been needing desperately, interior defense... this is where most "elite" teams destroy us.. not only that, but our rebounding should improve drastically, another area we've struggled. given those two things, teams will struggle much more to score so much on us, thus, not making us expect KD and Russ to go off for 30 every night. sure, we'll hope to get something extra out of Ibaka, Perk, Harden and Cook to make up for Green and Krstic's absence, but this little "purgatory" before Perk arrives isn't the end of the world people are acting like it is...
@innocent bystander
Chicken Little called and wanted everyone to know that the sky is falling!
Lefty :@justin
He could be, sure, but based on Maynor’s track record so far, I’d doubt it. Plus, one bad shooting game for Maynor is not enough to make that kind of change.
He would say something like that. Hes a maynor hater. Not to mention 0 turnovers and ran the offense well.
I still worry about our turnovers. The last few weeks there have been way to many turnovers, and they all seem to come at bad times. Especially yesterday.
The offense will be fine once these guys play a few games, and get back in to synch.
@KingGondo
@justin
Those about sum up my thoughts
No matter if Green and Krstic were offensive power houses, the Thunder weren't going to win anything meaningful with them.
@innocent bystander
Thankfully, we won't need to outscore most teams on a nightly basis after this trade. I predict that we're going to start stifling mediocre/bad teams and more consistently winning by 8-10 points.
Even if you have a good offensive system going, it's difficult to consistently rely on offense to win games. But defensive effort is the one thing you can control, and we're gonna be really tough to score on with our length and (newfound) inside presence.
@justin
re-read Hollinger's article
neither Hollinger or I are suggesting that Green and Krstic were offensive powerhouses, because clearly they weren't. But we had system in place that the players had become comfortable with and that worked. That has now been completely disrupted. And Brooks is utterly befuddled about how to fix it.
@innocent bystander
can you read royce's new post please?
@DavyTheWise
the players who replace Green and Krstic won't solve the problem
The problem is NOT that we're short-handed. The problem is that the system that Brooks and the players were used to has been completely disrupted. It will take a lot of games and lineup experiments and individual adjustments before we figure out a new way to be as potent offensively as we were before the trade.
Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic's contributions to the offense can be easily replaced.
@innocent bystander
Yeah, but as we have already been over and over we didn't have our players who replace green and kristic. we are starting collison who is a PF at center and really only had one true center play who is a rookie. what we are getting at is that reacting to it that way is incredibly short sided and borderline foolish if you ask me. the team needs us to support them even more so now while they are adjusting.
I'm not worried about anything except how the fans react. And Brooks ability to adjust his lineups i suppose.
We had an offensive setup with the old roster that was chugging along at a pretty high rate -- how many articles had been written this season about our higher octane offense?
Since the trade, we can no longer run the lineups and rotations that Brooks (and the players) were used to. Opposing teams have more success just by just bearing down on KD and Russell. Brooks is stumped about how to re-arrange the lineups and the new bigs won't help the offense all that much.
I think Hollinger's article is pretty much right on. We've got troubles.
gokc :
Good quote from artest speaks to the effectiveness of cole aldridge and nick collison and the screens being set in the first half… “they were hitting me with some of illegal screens early. I was getting hit a lot.” they did a good job getting him open, but then later they were’nt hitting me with those screens”.
http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=6165618
Well there you go.
@innocent bystander
Actually, it's 88 and 87 as opposed to 125 and 94. We didn't win that Lakers game.
DizzDai :
I’m already tired of people suggesting that we lost our offesive get-go because we are missing Green and Krstic. Didn’t we just play the Lakers and Magic? Two of best paint defending teams in the league.
yes, but they didn't stop us from scoring points
before trade
Magic game: 124-125
Lakers game: 94-101
after trade
Magic game: 111-88
Lakers game: 90-87
88 and 87 now as opposed to 125 and 101 then
Good quote from artest speaks to the effectiveness of cole aldridge and nick collison and the screens being set in the first half... "they were hitting me with some of illegal screens early. I was getting hit a lot." they did a good job getting him open, but then later they were'nt hitting me with those screens".
http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=6165618
kfmsooner :@KingGondo
The reporting wasn’t quite as bad as the Seattle story that had OKC with a $113m payroll in a season or two, but it’s still pretty shotty reporting…
Haha, so we are not going to pay Jeff Green the max? Are you sure? Its weird cause all the hype around the other two max players who were traded and not so much for Green. Does Boston know he is going to demand the max? Sorry, that article really got to me... Cant stand it when someone makes something up, and then uses the fiction they created as a reference to validate their point.
Yeah, one of the "signs" that he is unhappy is his new team photo where he isn't smiling. Did they ever look at his Boston photo? I don't remember it being all sunshine and unicorns either.
Deadspin and Bleacher Report have to be read with context in mind. Bleacher Report is for fans who want to blog their sports opinions. It's about as worthy of a read as most any message board or comment section. So the two are in the same vein, but there is a distinction. You can't put it beyond deadspin to post hearsay and conjecture, but they do make an effort to pay for materials and "proof" (ie: Brett Favre pics). They at least go through the motions of editing and discussing story angles and content before they publish.
They have their place.
This whole, perkins is unhappy cause i saw a photo of him is the same old thing reporters from big markets have already done. They look down on oklahoma and so they know everyone else does. They did the same thing when the thunder first moved and were saying durant would leave the first chance he gets.
Have you guys seen KD's blog page? I didn't know about it until his tweet about it today.
http://kevindurant35.com/category/blog/
@KingGondo
I'm hoping Perk will be okay. Surely he saw yesterday how much the Thunder need him in the middle. Uncle Jeff and Nenad were thrilled to see how welcomed they were in Boston. Perk needs to suit up and see that we need him even more here.
@dragonbug82
you think his next book will be available on amazon?
deadspin is such a joke. I hate it when real media outlets pick up on their tabloid stories. As far as Perk being happy here, I think that question will be answered by whether he resigns or not.
Yeep... that's what Perkins looks like all the time. Nothing to report. Thx, Gondo
Let me know if you still can't see the image, I'll try to rehost it.
@Mark!
It's just a quick blurb with no sources, with one picture of Perk from his first media day:
http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2011/02/sadperk.jpg
Idiotic, especially since Perk's default facial expression is "scowl." Anyone who watched his interview with the media or heard what he has to say about staying in OKC knows that this is the media trying to create something where there's nothing.
@KingGondo
i know man. these idiots are acting like perkins was all smiles all the time and never frowned until he was here in okc. jesus lol. When hes on the court hes in serious mode. Plus he said in a recent interview he was interested in coming to okc anyways, he asked his publisher about it and stuff. Man, haters gonna hate lol
@TaoMaas
I agree with you, and I hope you are right!
@KingGondo
I can't access deadspin. What's it say?
The lakers have three 3+ game loosing streaks this season.
1. Nov 26 - Dec 1: Jazz, Pacers, Grizz, Rockets
2. Dec 21 - Dec 28: Bucks, Heat, Spurs
3. Feb 13 - Feb 16: Magic, Bobcats (w/ Nazr), CAVS
I'd say none of those stretches are more difficult than our last three. Especially under the trade cicumstances. I'm not worried about it.
Also, I hadn't seen this until today, but i thought it was a pretty good little article. http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/16553/lakers-vs-thunder-what-to-watch-with-matt-pinto
I'll be really pissed if Murphy and Bibby get bought out and sign with the Heat...
@KingGondo
The reporting wasn't quite as bad as the Seattle story that had OKC with a $113m payroll in a season or two, but it's still pretty shotty reporting...
@lafowler255
My L.A. and Boston references were just an example to compare to Cleveland's current situation. I DO criticize folks who make money their determining criteria because there is much, much more than dollars to consider. Since we're kinda talking about Perk here, I think that he's going to find that, in addition to making more money in OKC, his dollars will buy him a vastly nicer house than in Boston, his kids will go to quiter, safer schools, he hasn't really given up his chances for an NBA title, and he's now part of one of the most loved franchises in the sport. None of those last things show up on the dollars and cents chart.
Morris Peterson released...
Although it's stupid, it's worth noting that the "Kendrick Perkins isn't happy in OKC" story has been picked up by Deadspin.
http://deadspin.com/#!5772383
Sigh.
Nate will not beat out Maynor for minutes. Harden can't beat Thabo for the starting job, Serge didn't replace Green, Collison/Aldrich didn't start over NoNads. Brooks believes in player loyalty. That's a great strength and one of Brooks greatest weaknesses. It has hindered Harden's development along with Cole's. Hell, Brooks is so loyal he actually gave minutes to Cole over Nazr...
We don't need to sign Kapono. Where would he play? If Kapono was the second coming of Scottie Pippen, Cook/Thabo/Harden would still play ahead of him.
9 players is all Brooks will play when it matters...
Revenge is coming and it will be bittersweet.
KingGondo :
From the NewsOK chat with Mayberry:
Someone asked whether Harden will start before the playoffs.
His response: “Is Scott Brooks still the coach?”
Lol.
Nice... lol. I'd say thats a pretty good answer...
Does Brooks seem different in interviews since the trade? Like he doesn't know what to say sometimes.
From the NewsOK chat with Mayberry:
Someone asked whether Harden will start before the playoffs.
His response: "Is Scott Brooks still the coach?"
Lol.
@DJ R7
i mean don't tell me they all forgot about him when they signed Shaq. If i remember right, alot of them were even thinking of benching Perk for Shaw even if he made a healthy recovery.
@TaoMaas
Not everyone wants to go to L.A. or Boston or Miami... A lot do but not everyone. Some athletes careers are short lived so they may choose more money compared to Championship rings with less money.
But its always the persons decision whether to take the money or the better working invironment. So its wrong to criticize either way for the decisions they make.
I wasnt saying money is everything I just hate the Overpaid Arguements non-professional athletes make when a profession makes a money decision.
TaoMaas :@lafowler255 & JelloPuddinPup
There is more to life than just money. I work a job where we have routinely stolen the best and brightest away from our opponents by offering them less money, but better working conditions. In NBA terms, would you rather play in Cleveland for lots of money while enduring a record-setting losing streak or play for a bit less in L.A. or Boston so that you can play for an NBA championship or two…or three…or four?
i understand, and i have always been the one who would say that if i were a major player, i would take less money if it meant getting another quality player. Look at it like this though, if im a top 10 person in my field of work, i know what im worth, but my team wanted to offer me almost 15 million lest of the most i expect to be paid, that would tick me off, not only that but they go out and get a guy who i personally don't get along with to replace me while im on the bench. The fans turn thier support for him, and the team. I'm almost forgotten through out the regular season, and when i come back the same fans who turned thier favorism to the man who i didn't get along with, critic me for having a bad game or two.
If you were asking me i would be pretty pissed about what i said above, if i got traded to a team that would need me badly, the fans aren't spoiled, and i have a chance at being the leader for a championship team why not. Yes i will miss my friends, and yes i have lived in the other home for a long time, but i got overshadowed, and left behind a bit. to top it all off they still wanted me to take much less than i was expecting. Thats why Perk would sign here.
@TaoMaas
historically players choose money nearly every time. see miami not attracting many free agents for minimum wage
@TaoMaas
depends if you mean a couple million less or $15 million less.
@Joe
I agree on all counts. If the Thunder can't pick up a good SF/PF scorer on a waiver/buyout, then I say bring Latavious Williams down to help score the basket.
@lafowler255 & JelloPuddinPup
There is more to life than just money. I work a job where we have routinely stolen the best and brightest away from our opponents by offering them less money, but better working conditions. In NBA terms, would you rather play in Cleveland for lots of money while enduring a record-setting losing streak or play for a bit less in L.A. or Boston so that you can play for an NBA championship or two...or three...or four?