vs. 
Denver Nuggets (1-3, 0-2 road) vs. OKC Thunder (3-1, 2-0 home)
TV: TNT (Cox 31, HD 730); FSOK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CT
Series: OKC leads 3-1
View from the enemy: Roundball Mining Company
The best way I think I could sum up the Thunder fanbase’s feelings right now heading into Game 5 would be a queasy confidence. Up 3-1 coming back home, that feels good. But any time you lose in the postseason, everything is amplified. Notably, the performance of Russell Westbrook and the consequences that came after.
It was kind of surreal hearing all the trash being tossed Westbrook’s way after Game 4. People saying things like this could be a “very big deal” for the team and even taking it so far to speculate on Westbrook’s future with the team because of it. (One radio pundit in OKC actually decided to doubt Westbrook would re-sign with the Thunder as a result of Game 4.)
But I think tonight’s game could be bigger for the Thunder than just simply winning and closing a series. This could be all about another big step in development.
Until this point, this group had largely avoided the negative side of the media. They had avoided having to answer tough questions about chemistry and shot selection the day after a game. But they had the spotlight on them yesterday. They had to face the music and for that part, they passed with flying colors. They all had each other’s backs, they stayed together and they didn’t waver.
What matters though, is proving that point tonight. This is a big game for Westbrook not because he needs to bounce back from Game 4, but it’s going to say a lot about his mental fortitude going forward. He can say he’s put it all out of his head, but it’s going to be hard not to have those critical thoughts creep in right at gametime. He’s going to have to try and play his game despite all the noise around him. And if he can, I think Game 4 could be the very best thing that ever happened to Russell Westbrook.
The team is absolutely in a position to win now and that’s obviously the main focus. But they haven’t lost side of the overall goal hovering over everything — the process. That’s what it’s still about. About developing, getting better, about learning. Here’s a big opportunity for not just Westbrook, but for Scott Brooks and the entire team.
Will they hang together and close out an opponent on their home floor? They failed in the first attempt. They didn’t play their game. They got sloppy, selfish and didn’t come ready to win. They almost put it off regardless but here’s another chance to squash the Nuggets and move on.
And more importantly, a chance to get better. Which might be the most important part.
Skeletor :@justin
When I clicked on this it said “invalid URl”
Copy paste the whole thing.
If Brooks played KD like tonight in last game or played Ibaka more minutes in 4th quarter in this game,it would be perfect for his coaching in this series.
Ibaka guarded our basket very well in the final minutes.
I have a suggestion Brooks. When Westbrook is garbage. Get Maynor in with more then 30 seconds so he can get the team back in it.
@justin
When I clicked on this it said "invalid URl"
OKC baby has an annoying shtick. 1. Champion Maynor and bash RW, 2. Champion Thabo facetiously by pretending its all Thabo's fault, and 3. say opposite of whatever common opinion is and counter logical arguments with meaningless expressions.
Just ignore it
Even when he missed 2 shots:) hahaha or somethin He hit two clutch FT and got Collison a dunk
Check out Durant's fourth quarter split in this series:
http://www.nba.com/statscube/player.html#Kevin-Durant|201142;season=p;splitType=period;splitValue=4
Start Harden:)
@Perkins Game Face
True. As Bill Simmons says, "I have some bad news for @blakegriffin ... I hooked up with my ex Kevin Durant tonight. We might be getting back together."
Thabo's fault
Proof is in the pudding. Nuff said. Stop falling asleep during the game. Players must keep you up at night.
Maynor may have provided the spark in the 1st, but nearly cost us the game in the second with his poor shot selection, inability to make layups, and attempt at hero mode
Mrs maynor lmao. Both westbrook and maynor had mediocre to bad games and we still won. Thank god for KD coming through in the clutch. Let's celebrate him winning the game for us tonight rather than harp on who almost lost it. Plenty of time to get back to the maynor vs Russ debate haha....
Anyway great to win a series... another step toward contention.
Maynor made some shots in the 1st quarter but that's about all he did... he left JR Smith open twice for threes, couldn't take care of the ball... Lawson / Felton blew by him easily. We needed the spark in the first quarter but other than that he wasn't very useful.
Tough series for Maynor having to defend those two.
But Jeff Green would have made a clutch three at the end to nullify all his faults
Let's postpone the Thunderfan Civil War until tomorrow. I'm going to go smoke an imaginary cigar, then off to bed. In parting, let's recap the series in video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWCAJS7Co8
g'nite okc. g'nite world.
*static*
Brooks did a lot better in this series than I anticipated. I'm pretty happy with most of his decisions, especially leaving Harden in late in many of these games.
he would have played 40 minutes, grabbed three rebounds, and ibaka would have played 20 minutes, blocking two shots.
@justin
@okc baby
I honestly can't believe you just insinuated that justin was a scott brooks fan. That's awesome!
Maynor is definitely clutch in the last two seconds of the 2d quarter from half court.
Oh God. I vent most of my frustration on the board to avoid being a jerk to my family in real life. But I might have really started cussing out loud, throwing things, etc. if we were still trusting Jeff Green to guard K-Mart and Nene.
@okc baby
I'm not sure if there's another player I'd rather have shooting the ball at the end of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarters.
I say we all take shots WITH each-other rather than AT each-other.
Just my take...
Call in sick tomorrow, peeps! Let's do this!
Sorry Mr. Brooks you got to stop sleepin in the same bed with the players. Maynor brought us back from 9 down and had like 7 oven them not to mention the buzzer 3.
Imagine if we had Jeff Green in this game down the stretch defending Nene.
LOL. Mrs. Maynor. After the Jeff Green trade okc baby was whoring herself out to Jeff Green and Nenad championing the destruction of our offense with their departure incessantly
@Smokey
Sleep is for those who decide to NOT celebrate the biggest win in OKC history! (unless they dream of Rumble kicking Nene in the sack!)
@okc baby
Maynor was no better than Westbrook in this game offensively, and was even worse on defense. Hate to break that to you, Mrs. Maynor. But it's the truth. He took 7 shots in 12 minutes (!) and had 3 turnovers to 2 assists. Plus the bad defense.
Even in that first quarter into the 2nd we weren't getting much in the half court with Maynor in, most of it was in transition...
Westbrook was making a lot of good passes to shooters who couldn't shoot in the 3rd quarter.
I'm looking for the "DT Comment Party". Is this the correct address? TTFU!
How many hours will it take to calm down enough to go to sleep?
nickgibson96 :@Skeletor
Yeah at times it was frustrating. But he has been a solid PG off the bench during the series and the regular season.
Right and we wouldnt even be in the game if he didnt come in the game in the 1st quarter. He didnt get back into the game until there were only 40 seconds left in the 3rd. And the team was out of wack by then. Not to mention Westbrook was garbage most the game.
I made it home! Hell YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSS!!
I didn't go nude. (Wifey said no!) ;)
Ozarkhick :
justin :Durant finishes the series averaging 32.4 points on 62.7% TS. 18 assists to only 7 turnovers.Crazy series.
Reggie Miller-esque.
for emphasis
Yeah at times it was frustrating. But he has been a solid PG off the bench during the series and the regular season.@Skeletor
I would rather Memphis as well..
Tony Parker has lit us up every regular season game. Either way it will be a tough series.
If Russell really did say to KD, "You takeover" then I'm really impressed with Russ swallowing his ego
I'd rather play Memphis. Spurs would light us up on the perimeter. I think our improved interior defense will make it more difficult for Memphis.
I still want home court advantage
@ThunderHorn
Edit, that Spurs game was actually with Krstic and Green. Point remains that it was complete domination on the glass.
Great win. Russ clearly let the criticism get to him, either what was said in the media or what the coaches got to him b/c he had a bad game. Passing up on shots, taking some bad ones, however he played smart ball down the stretch.
Would much rather play the Spurs in round 2 than Memphis. You really want to deal with Randolph/Gasol and the trio of athletic wings they can send at KD?...Allen/Battier are 2 of the best perimeter defenders in the league, and Sam Young is another athletic guy they can throw at him.
Much rather have a worn down SA. Can't see their bigs being much of a factor. The last game we played them was without Green/Krstic(and no Perkins/Mohammed)....we killed them on the glass 54-37(13-4 offensive rebounding edge). You add Perkins/Mohammed to that mix and we should control the glass all series.
You also don't have to double any of their bigs which allows the perimeter defenders to stay home on the shooters.
Plus they don't have anyone that can really check KD. RJ...maybe but if KD gets him into foul trouble who are they gonna throw at him? Hill? Neal? Manu? Bonner?
Give me the Spurs.
justin :
Durant finishes the series averaging 32.4 points on 62.7% TS. 18 assists to only 7 turnovers.
Crazy series.
Reggie Miller-esque.
I love these two tweets:
"RealSkipBayless Kevin Durant: CLUTCH GENE. Scored 16 of last 20. 2 late FTs, jumper. Late block on JRSmith. Great kid turning into great player."
"sportsguy33 I have some bad news for @blakegriffin ... I hooked up with my ex Kevin Durant tonight. We might be getting back together."
I know what they're talking about on 1st and 10 tomorrow
Where can you get a link of the press conference quotes
Joshua G :
I hope SAS wins in Memphis and then Memphis wins in game 7. That way we get a tired team with HCA.
I see what you did there. Well played.
@Barrett
He had 2 def rebounds. That's the only thing that showed up in the box.
Durant finishes the series averaging 32.4 points on 62.7% TS. 18 assists to only 7 turnovers.
Crazy series.
I hope SAS wins in Memphis and then Memphis wins in game 7. That way we get a tired team with HCA.
Joshua G :
I only saw basically the last quarter (due to the Spurs game being aired). How in the world did Cook not take a shot? Did they never get the ball to him on offense?
I don't think Cook ever touched the ball.
It feels so nice to be done with this series. Very hard fought these last three games were and now we sit trying to decide who we want more between SA or Memphis. Memphis is looking really scary but we'll have Home Court. SAS will be tired and worn after winning in 7 but we forfeit the HCA. Difficult choice, but I give MEM the slight edge atm.