John Hollinger writing on how defenders like to hold KD: “That seems terribly puzzling at first, unless you watched what took place off the ball. Oklahoma City had plays designed for Durant to get the ball from Westbrook, but he never get anywhere near it thanks to opponents’ strategy of walling him off the ball in those situations, using superior strength to prevent Durant from breaking free. “At the end of the game they like to hug Kevin,” said Westbrook, “and grab and hold him, so sometimes I have to be able to create a shot for myself if Kevin can’t get the ball. I definitely try to get it to him but when I can’t I have to get a shot myself.” Durant, for all his offensive skills, is one of the weaker players at his position physically, and that’s something opponents try to take advantage of by muscling him away from the play.”
Chris Tomasson for NBA.com: “Not if Martin’s advice continues to work for Nene. Martin, who arrived in Denver in 2004, and Nene, who showed up as a rookie in 2002, are by far the two Nuggets with the longest continuous tenures. “They can’t guard him,” Martin said of Nene. “He’s too quick, too strong. They might try to body him up. But he can go around them. But I don’t feel they can guard him. So the only thing they can do is frustrate him.” At least the “Beast” didn’t have that problem in Game 1.”
Scoop Jackson of ESPN.com: “So can a “college” team actually win an NBA championship? Without making too much out of one win, the answer is: Most definitely. And one of the differences between the Thunder team in these playoffs and the one that showed up here this time last year is that it knows it now. Now, can they show it and prove it to the 15 other teams left standing? With every game, can they generate more fear? Brooks said during the game Sunday that the key is making stops and making 3s. He realizes for this team, it’s really just that simple. He knows just how good the Thunder really are, not just how good they can be. The anti-Heat, that’s what they were called in a recent GQ story. Who are we to disagree? The lightning has already struck. And once that happens, we all know what follows.”
Ten commandments for Thunder fans.
Numbers for the Thunder on TV. Not bad, but not great either.
In this week’s Sports Illustrated poll, 166 NBA players were asked, “Who do you want shooting with the game on the line?” Kobe Bryant led the way with 74 percent, followed by the Kevin Durant (8 percent), Dwayne Wade (3 percent) and then Ray Allen and Dirk Nowitzki with 2 percent each.”
Tim Legler said OKC is the best team right now.
Nice piece urging all Oklahomans to jump on the Thunder bandwagon.
Darnell Mayberry on Denver possibly doubling Durant: “As Durant struggled before our eyes, many observers called for the coaching staff to revert to simply running him off screens. That strategy, after all, was always when Durant was at his best. But he never would have blossomed into a complete player that way. Never would have reached his full potential. Because of those growing pains, Durant is now able to shred Denver in Game 2 if the Nuggets do send a nightly dose of double teams.”
Remember the weird scene at the end of a Thunder-Suns game where two Phoenix players got tossed? Well, the NBA has fined both the ref and Zabian Dowdell for it.
I just reported the information and noted it was a small sample. I didn't make any conclusions. I left it up to the reader to use as they saw fit.
cdub00 :
Keith :Can’t wait for tonight. Thunder are looking to finish strong at home, Wings looking to finish off the Coyotes in a sweep. Here’s hoping we get our defensive heads on straight out of the gates, falling in another huge hole isn’t smart. Here’s hoping the role players actually play their roles, and not just end up as afterthoughts on the box score. Here’s hoping Thabo plays less against a team that is a terrible matchup for him. And, here’s hoping the Wings can end the series and rest up for round 2.
Guess you didn’t read the stat posts that Crow posted…we are actually BETTER with Sef ON THE FLOOR against the Nuggies. Why would we want him to play less? *eye roll*
why do you always gotta attack people? are you having a bro-mance with Sef, last time i check Sef was a proffesional baller and a duty of being pro is to be able to handle the hate and pressure you get from people.
Keith :Can’t wait for tonight. Thunder are looking to finish strong at home, Wings looking to finish off the Coyotes in a sweep. Here’s hoping we get our defensive heads on straight out of the gates, falling in another huge hole isn’t smart. Here’s hoping the role players actually play their roles, and not just end up as afterthoughts on the box score. Here’s hoping Thabo plays less against a team that is a terrible matchup for him. And, here’s hoping the Wings can end the series and rest up for round 2.
Guess you didn't read the stat posts that Crow posted...we are actually BETTER with Sef ON THE FLOOR against the Nuggies. Why would we want him to play less? *eye roll*
Pruiti with a very good breakdown of what adjustments Denver needs to make. http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/4/20/2122389/denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-2011-thunder
Lots of good video here.
According to Synergy Sports Technology, during the regular season, the Denver Nuggets were No. 8 in the NBA in terms of points per possession allowed on pick-and-roll situations. Offensively, the Thunder were No. 8 in the NBA scoring 0.88 PPP on pick and roll sets. In Game 1, the Thunder ran 25 pick-and-roll sets, scoring 36 points, good for a PPP of 1.44.
The biggest problem that I saw with the Nuggets in Game 1 is that they were giving too much space to the ball handler coming off of the screen, allowing him to pull up and knock down the midrange jumper.
@Daniel
Wow.. What a classy guy.
@Daniel Plainview
Tolstoy is worthwhile, just don't tackle War and Peace on your first crack. I'd recommend "The Cossacks" - much shorter and easily digestible, has a bit of relevancy to the 21st century as it focuses on 19th century warfare between the Russians and the Chechens (yes, they have been fighting that long)
Also, you MUST read Mysterious Stranger. It's a real mindfrack for people who just associate Twain with stories about frog jumping contests and whatnot.
@shiki
I wonder if that does it for Shaq's career?
Another gem of a comment at Denver Stiffs:
"I haven’t had a memorable dream in over two weeks. Last night however I had a dream as clear as HD, that the Nuggets went into halftime leading 59-47. The announcers (Reggie being one of them) said the Thunder would not be able to come back at this point. That’s when they showed a replay of Durant holding his ankle.
I’m wishing injury upon anyone, but I haven’t had a dream that clear in a long time…Here’s hoping my subconscience knows something I don’t."
@Daniel Plainview
Haha! If you read through the other posts on my blog, it's mostly riddled with elitist movie and TV reviews and various lists. The Thunder, movies and music - the 3 loves of my life.
@Ozarkhick
No, but I do love me some Gogol. Ove yeat to read CHeckov or Tolstoy but I have most of tehir works on my shelf - yes, Im that recovering intelectual douche
@rachaellove
What elitist movie reviews? Ill read.
Daniel Plainview :*poison the well, I think is how you spell it
Mark Twain would have written it pison as well, so you're in good company. Have you read "The Mysterious Stranger"? If you like Dostoevsky, I think you might appreciate it. It's hell and gone from "Tom Sawyer".
@Lefty
Thank you! I should probably stop writing elitist movie reviews and focus on the Thunder. Those post tends to go over better. :)
*poison the well, I think is how you spell it
I posted in the forum about Kenyon saying that Denver had to change how they defend KD quite a rational post from one of the writers over at Denver stiffs, named Nate Timmons, and he thanked me. Not all Denver fans are as youre making them out to be. And, hey, ive contributed to the hatred as well. Lets not pison teh well even worse just because a hand full of Mad rabid fans. Go Thunder!!
@John
I think our players want to beat them after all the crap from the past week (especially after game 1). They may not talk about it, but if they remember the "worst team in history," you know they'll remember Denver acting like we stole the game.
@John
well between the 2 of us I think we have it under control, no worries!
@gr8ball83
Thanks for the reassurance. I'll be there too. Screaming my head off. It's just my nature to worry, though.
Ozarkhick :
From a Denverstiffs poster, who calls himself “thewiseone” :
I think the nugs shud try to injur Russel Westbrooke, what do you think?
Wonder if its that douche bag, Kisla, who writes similar garbage for the post?
@rachaellove
It was a great article, too! Well done.
@John
Don't worry, I'll be there to make sure we don't lose
I'm worried about tonight. I'm not sure exactly why, maybe just the fact that we've won 3 straight against the Nuggets. While I think we are a better team, I'm not sure that we are that much better and I'm afraid that the law of averages may catch up with us tonight. It will be extremely important for us to play a smart, defensively tough game. Denver will be coming at us with all they've got because a Thunder win tonight will make it very difficult for Denver to win the series. A Nuggets win, and it's another story altogether. Let's go boys and come out focused and ready to play. Thunder Up!
Man, I really don't like the Blazers, but I wish Roy would make a miraculous return. Phoenix's medical staff should see what they can do with him...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnL7.pw0CWl9_iqf54D8EiG8vLYF?slug=mc-spears_blazers_roy_emotional_dallas_loss_042011
Shaq May Be Out For The Year
Celtics are in big trouble now,they must miss Perk
http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/4/20/2122544/shaq-may-be-out-for-the-year
I freaked out when I got an email showing a pingback to the Bolts this morning! Thanks, Royce!
Man, our players have really held on to the "worst team in history" talk from 2 seasons ago. I like it.
@Chas
Well, they have looked like a totally different team from end of regular season to playoffs, in a good way. So, I don't think it is a huge factor in their performance. But, with Franzen getting all but assaulted every game, Zetterberg still nursing a sprain, and Lidstrom being an old man by sports standards, it never hurts to have fewer games of wear and tear in the playoffs.
@Josh
My brother was up in Tulsa last weekend for some job training, and I guess he was wearing a Thunder t-shirt and he met more than one person who had never even heard of them. smh
@Keith
The Wings need all the rest they can get huh.
Another year of the thunder in the playoffs and another year of tulsa sports radio spending ten mins on the thunder and then proceeding to talk about the drillers, spring football, local high school baseball prospects, and arena football.
So they don't think that Ken Mauer was the supposed derogatory comments but they fined him anyway? Double technical strikes again!
J/K I'm sure they're just covering up for their boy.
Basically, I would just not read Denver Stiffs if it is getting you guys this upset.
I feel good about tonight's game. And if we get a W tonight, I have a hard time seeing us lose 4 out of the next 5. They need to play well tonight, but I think we'll win.
Can't wait for tonight. Thunder are looking to finish strong at home, Wings looking to finish off the Coyotes in a sweep. Here's hoping we get our defensive heads on straight out of the gates, falling in another huge hole isn't smart. Here's hoping the role players actually play their roles, and not just end up as afterthoughts on the box score. Here's hoping Thabo plays less against a team that is a terrible matchup for him. And, here's hoping the Wings can end the series and rest up for round 2.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19490 Susan with her take
Ozarkhick :From a Denverstiffs poster, who calls himself “thewiseone” :
I think the nugs shud try to injur Russel Westbrooke, what do you think?
sigh. Oh well, I guess that every team has fans like that. But...I am about sick of the whining and crying from the team, the coach and the Denver media. Get over it and just play basketball already.
Ozarkhick :From a Denverstiffs poster, who calls himself “thewiseone” :
I think the nugs shud try to injur Russel Westbrooke, what do you think?
Every day makes me loathe the Nuggets and their fans even more. I didn't think this was possible. I hope we win by 30 tonight and sweep the SOBs.
From a Denverstiffs poster, who calls himself "thewiseone" :
I think the nugs shud try to injur Russel Westbrooke, what do you think?