Holly MacKenzie of TBJ on Russell Westbrook: “In other words, I think we’ve been kind of unfair with respect to how we’ve criticized the play of Westbrook during this postseason. It’s easy to do and it makes sense if you’ve only watched a handful of Thunder games this season, or glance quickly at a stat sheet. As with everything else in life, the easy way isn’t always the right way. It’s not fair to Westbrook to paint him as problem child when dissecting Thunder losses, then forget about our arguments when discussing Thunder victories.”
John Hollinger of ESPN.com with his breakout playoff players: “In the Memphis series, Harden has proved particularly valuable as a ball handler. He has 21 assists in five games, including 17 in the three Oklahoma City wins, and although his jumper has betrayed him, his ability to get to the free throw line has provided a nice boost. Harden has made all 24 free throw attempts against Memphis and for the postseason has earned 48 trips on just 68 field goal attempts.”
Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com previews tonight’s game: “The biggest factor that could hold Memphis back from extending this series could very well be playing time. Thunder stars Durant and Russell Westbrook played just 31 and 25 minutes respectively in Game 5, the perfect follow-up to the Game 4 triple-overtime marathon which saw both players log more than 50 minutes. At times in this series, Durant’s ability to get open and Westbrook’s decision-making have taken a hit late in games. They should be nice and fresh for crunch time on Friday night.”
Nate Robinson started a stir in Seattle by saying OKC has the best fans ever. And I enjoyed this piece by Kevin Pelton on the uproar: “More notably, I think the reaction in some quarters to Robinson’s tweet reflects an issue worth discussing. With Oklahoma City making a deep playoff run, it’s been impossible for Seattle fans to avoid the team. My brother, who until April had not seen a Thunder game since the move, is suddenly watching (and rooting for the Grizzlies). TNT is running graphics about the last time Oklahoma City advanced so far, which invariably came thousands of miles to the west with different colors and a different nickname. This is as painful for me as anyone. It’s difficult to think about how KeyArena would be equally raucous in support of a talented, exciting and hard-working team with bright young stars. Ultimately, though, it’s important for Seattlites to remember what we’re upset about here, and it’s not the presence of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s the absence of the Seattle SuperSonics. Despite the reminders, with each passing day the Thunder’s ties to Seattle diminish.”
Some lady is trying to make Ellen “Thunder Girl.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on Westbrook making second team over CP3: “The big surprise is Russell Westbrook, second team All-NBA point guard over Chris Paul. That’s just insanity. Westbrook was a force this season. He was blistering, hyper-aggressive, and carried nearly as much of the load as Kevin Durant while also playing the most difficult position in the league. But for him to have gotten the votes over CP3 is simply madness. Paul was the biggest reason for the Hornets’ return to the playoffs and at times, was the best point guard in the league (if you consider Derrick Rose to be beyond positional elements).”
"despite the reminders, with each passing day, the Thunders ties to Seattle diminish."
Agreed. And for all fans I think the sooner the better!
diddoff :
Most important game in franchise history and it’s friday the 13th.
It is for them as well
Twistdov :
Regarding Ellen as a Thunder Girl: no, thanks!
Lol
@Sammy
Or, we could just start Harden and quit having to think about these things so hard, lol.
Sammy :@Ozarkhick
Perk’s TS is 45% in the playoffs. 51 TS% since he came to OKC. That’s pretty terrible, but combined with the frequency with which he turns the ball over (about one in four times), he’s just one of the worst options, even in a lineup full of bad ones.
Considering he shoots FT's so poorly, and never gets his TS% inflated by made 3's, that means he's literally close to a 50/50 proposition. Turnovers can be minimized given the situation and how you get the ball to him. They are partly offset by his misses having a higher probability of being rebounded or tipped back at the rim. I don't think out other offensive options in the first 6 minutes have been a 50/50 proposition, have they?
And if he gets fouled, so what if he misses the free throws? He drew a foul and made the other guy feel the burn. Better than what we're doing on most possessions in the first 6.
I readily admit his post game is below average in terms of finishing especially, I'm just saying look at how the other crap we are trying out in that particular game situation is working. If we are going to give perk 4 looks from the block there, why not do them early on to get the other players tired, keep them honest, maybe pick up some fouls in the process, hell we might even coax the other team to break strategy and leave a non-Thabo perimeter player.
Also, when Perk gets low he's gonna jack an ugly flat shot 9 times out of 10, but before he gets too low he is capable of making assists out of the post, which could also compensate for the possibility of turnovers (which can be controlled by getting him the ball in a more planned, controlled situation).
I'd also like to know what the TS% is on all our other non-Perk-post options during the first 6 minutes this series with our starting lineup on the floor. Seems like it would easily be <40% by my eye and recollection.
@Daniel
really good piece...make me hope Seattle gets a team soon so we can take this negative vibe away from the thunder because after watch this piece it makes me realize that the thunder being in okc is way more important to their city and community as far as positivity and hope then it would have been if the sonics were still in Seattle....off topic i seen a guy with an alternative black thunder jersey in that piece that was pretty nice....very nice!!! (in my borat voice)
@Ozarkhick
Perk's TS is 45% in the playoffs. 51 TS% since he came to OKC. That's pretty terrible, but combined with the frequency with which he turns the ball over (about one in four times), he's just one of the worst options, even in a lineup full of bad ones.
I assume they will extend this summer. I "might" prefer to wait, but waiting is not a cost free option. If the team waits, Brooks and his agent could be understandably pissed, possibly. If Brooks and his agent choose to wait, they might make more money next summer perhaps with further success to point to and with other teams actively bidding but will they take that approach? It will probably get worked out in a mutually agreeable fashion between those 2 parties.
Pretty good OTL segment on the OKC bombing and the Thunder today. It was a short, maybe 10 minute long piece but it was still great. I’m sure they’ll post it on the website later for those who missed it.
Crow :Talk of River’s extension reminds me that Brooks only has one more season of his deal (I believe). Will they extend this summer or wait? That is a pretty big decision.
I would not be surprised to hear them extend this summer. If we make it to the Finals, they'd be fools not to and, well, Presti is no fool.
@Sammy
If memory serves me correctly, I haven't seen any helpers coming in to try to strip Perk during opening sequences in this series. Perk is competent enough at passing out of double teams to pay that off. They'd rather bear hug KD and RW. So let him drain them.
Here's a link to a guy that appears to have never watched a Thunder game before: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/chris_mannix/05/13/grizzlies.thunder/
He says that in Game 5 Westbrook wasn't great (11 pts, 6 assists, 3 TO's) in 25:12 of playing time, while sitting out the entire 4th quarter? They'll let anyone write for SI these days.
Talk of River's extension reminds me that Brooks only has one more season of his deal (I believe). Will they extend this summer or wait? That is a pretty big decision.
@Ozarkhick
Part of the reason I didn't go for an avatar before is they are all so small it is hard for me to see much detail in any but the simplest, clearest ones. I'd probably prefer the avatars be 2-3 times bigger, if the site software allows sizing.
Sammy :@OzarkhickNot that 1-4 are good options, but I generally prefer them to:5. We waste 14 seconds off the shot clock trying to fee Perk on the left block. If Perk happens to catch the ball, he spends 4 seconds gathering his wind before pounding the ball into the court (risking it getting stolen by Memphis’ quick hands) and slowly backs his man up. If by some miracle he doesn’t travel during this sequence and he actually gets his 6ft line drive hook shot off, well, congratulations. Personally, I’d have rather just had KD or RW blindly drive it and hope for the foul.
How is that any different than Thabo taking a 3 pt shot with 12 left on the shot clock that barely even makes it to the rim? If we weren't treated to that happening at least once, if not twice, in the opening minutes, I'd agree. However, since we feel it necessary to waste at least one possession to start the game, might as well pound the post.
@Ozarkhick
Not that 1-4 are good options, but I generally prefer them to:
5. We waste 14 seconds off the shot clock trying to fee Perk on the left block. If Perk happens to catch the ball, he spends 4 seconds gathering his wind before pounding the ball into the court (risking it getting stolen by Memphis' quick hands) and slowly backs his man up. If by some miracle he doesn't travel during this sequence and he actually gets his 6ft line drive hook shot off, well, congratulations. Personally, I'd have rather just had KD or RW blindly drive it and hope for the foul.
@Smokey
Right now it's about the ex-Baylor bball coach, but they said later on in the program they'll talk about OKC.
You don't try to hit Perk with a bullet pass late in the shot clock, but if you purposefully try to get him the ball in the mid-post early in the clock, he can usually get plenty of leeway to carefully collect the ball, and then dribble 153 times while taking 1/2 inch steps backward. That's where Gasol loses a little spring in his step.
I don't think this is overreaction at all. Have you watched how we start games offensively this series? How can a few Perk plays backing in from the mid-post hurt? The Grizz's defensive aces won't stray far enough from KD and Westy to come strip the ball away. And if Perk picks up a foul or two, so what, he always does that and that just means we get Collison earlier.
It works, I swear.
Daniel :The OTL segment on OKC is airing now on ESPN. Just a heads up.
ty ty ty
I would have missed it
@Ozarkhick
Slow motion robot of doom. Get it right!
I say we turn out the arena lights when the other team has the ball.
Think of our non-Perk-post options at the start of a game.
1. Westbrook drives. Floor isn't spaced. Multiple help defenders collapse. Bad Shot.
2. KD can't drive or post due to aforementioned problem. Stands on perimeter with defender who appears to be making out with him. Contested jumper, possible turnover.
3. Any shot by Thabo that isn't a put-back or some kind of runner that only happens during chaotic moments.
4. Serge Ibaka takes 15-17 foor jumper with a higher chance of being contested.
Why not post the slow motion robot? Probably more likely to get a rebound in those situations anyways, given the circumstances. We're already turning the ball over early. Got a better idea that doesn't involve Harden?
Sorry to beat the completely decomposed horse corpse, but...
The OTL segment on OKC is airing now on ESPN. Just a heads up.
From Tramel's cover it live chat over on newsok.com:
"The fans should wear the same collor of shirts as the visiting team. That helps the Thunder pick out its own players easier, while making the opposing players passing to each other harder to distinguish with the crowd as a backdrop."
That's just good thinking.
@Ozarkhick
I like it when one of our guys actually gets a shot up before Memphis gets the ball back.
@Ozarkhick
Uh, NO! Perk's touches are worse than when other players get it. You are being dramatic. Our starting lineup is not good offensively, but Perk is beyond "not good."
Sammy :
I’m terrified every time Perk touches the ball on offense.
Are you less scared by all the other ways we use our possessions with the starting lineup? That was kind of my point. Might as well drain them while floundering on offense.
@Smokey
lol thumb wrestling...
Daniel :@Grolgar1) Wade2) Dirk3) Bron4) Durant5) Z-Bo6) Rose7) M. Gasol Terry9) Westbrook10) Paul
I hope Westbrook makes it to 8 so he gets teh cool sunglasses smileyface.
blackngoldthunder :@SammyIf perk and serge didnt fumble the ball so much russ might actually add a couple assist to each game…
Those two... Those two need to do more thumbwrestling or something to limber up those skillet-like hands.
@Smokey
appreciate it smoke
@Sammy
im a little late i just notice you posted that about russell's TOs.....Valid point
@Grolgar
1) Wade
2) Dirk
3) Bron
4) Durant
5) Z-Bo
6) Rose
7) M. Gasol
8) Terry
9) Westbrook
10) Paul
@blackngoldthunder
Ah very good. Nice avatar pic btw.
@Sammy
If perk and serge didnt fumble the ball so much russ might actually add a couple assist to each game...
Thanks for pointing out there are still tickets on stubhub, I will be there tonight!
Who does ESPN have on their postseason MVP rankings?
TempBoy Brandon :@gr8ball83
Yeah, that’s probably the advice I’ll end up taking. (Unfortunately.. haha). And really, would love to see those pics.
RE: The Wire: Fantastic show. My 4th favorite drama of all-time, behind The Sopranos, LOST and Dexter.
Had me till LOST. Man, I want the ten hours back I wasted on that steaming pile.
I feel like Perk's TO% doesn't even tell the whole story; there's at least one or two RW TOs per game that are directly related to Perk's inability to catch the ball.
@Smokey
I was a eric maynor fan when they upset duke in 07 so i kinda followed vcu for a little while but the black and gold actually comes from my love for the steelers followed by my love for the thunder...
@Sammy
It's an adventure, that's for sure.
I'm terrified every time Perk touches the ball on offense.
@David
I like the idea of feeding Perk more, just so they have to deal with him inside. It must take its toll.
@BrettM2
I am at such a loss for words that it is worth explaining just how much I have nothing to say.
Ric Bucher picked us to win tonight so it looks like it's going to be game seven on Sunday.
@Ozarkhick
Agreed. As bad and ugly as Perk in the post looks sometimes, it's another dynamic to the starting offense. Bang Gasol and ZBo early and they get flustered it seems. We saw it in game 2
@blackngoldthunder
My pleasure. Are you a VCU fan by chance? (black and gold)
For those you wanting to channel your inner Robert Swift or Birdman:
http://store.nba.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11342367&cp=3207682.11001693#
http://store.nba.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11342387&cp=3207682.11001693
@Smokey
thank you!
@coxeysarmy
It's going to be the toughest win to get of the season. Let's hope our boys can pull it off.