Ibaka missed practice, still probable for Game 3 though

Randolph is going to abuse Collison next game for sure now...

http://newsok.com/thunders-nick-collison-is-a-company-man/article/3565187?custom_click=lead_story_title

justin :You know, as much as I try to like Perkins and what he brings to the team, I can’t help but look at his 4.6 playoff PER, his 110 DRTG (worst on the team in the playoffs), the fact that the defense in the playoffs has been seven points better per 100 possessions with Perkins OFF the court, his 44.6% TS, his outrageously high turnover rate, etc. and wonder if we could have gotten someone better to put next to Ibaka.
I mean, his DRTG was acceptable in the regular season, but this stuff is troubling. I’d feel a lot better right now if we had waited to give Perkins that extension.

Has me concerned too. Im not sure the extension was necessary before the end of the year.

@Gavin

We won't get dwight

The only thing I would change for the next two games is to deactive ivey and active Cole!

You can never go wrong having another big ready to play...

I'd like to see okc acquire another late 1st or early second round pick. some surprisingly nice value there in a generally weak draft I think...klay thompson from wsu is someone who is really flying under the radar...led the pac 10 in scoring, similar skill set to harden. harper from richmond would be nice as well. getting a couple of guys like that could help ease the scoring distribution if harden gets the starting nod.

@justin
If he's not starting next year, something is very wrong.

@Daniel
I can see 2 ways to solve this problem:
1. Trade them into 1 superstar
2. 'Recycle' them into high draft picks

We won't keep Harden if he is benched for the next two years that's for sure.

The thing I'm worried about isn't so much Perkins, but whether we can afford to keep Ibaka and Harden. I know we'll be able to keep at least one of them, but two may be a stretch depending on how much of a leap they experience next year.

Perkins was not my first choice for center upgrade. He will be a great defensive player should he regain most of his pre-injury capabilities, but the high turnovers, and possibly low scoring efficiency (in our offense) might remain.

justin :
Maybe I’m worrying too much because he’s clearly not 100% but if we don’t get 2009-2010 Kendrick Perkins back next year and for the next four seasons, I think we’ll all be wondering who else we could have gotten.

healthy Perk is a beast. I watched some of his games back in 2009 and he erases pretty much anyone driving into the lane.

@dream catcher

Still, his productivity is very poor. We better hope his recovery goes well.

@Daniel
I prefer Ginobili or Odom. They are fine coming of the bench.

And if Howard is available, Ibaka, Harden, Maynor, Aldrich, Lat's right + 2 picks for Howard.

Howard Pleiss
Perkins Collison
Durant Cook
Sef Ginobili
Westbrook Ivey

Dynasty.

justin :
Maybe I’m worrying too much because he’s clearly not 100% but if we don’t get 2009-2010 Kendrick Perkins back next year and for the next four seasons, I think we’ll all be wondering who else we could have gotten.

He will be fine. He is just 10 months removed from an ACL, MCL, and PCL tear. Takes a lot of players 1 year of playing time after recovery to get back to 100% and feeling good.

Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL in 2008 and was out for 1 year, his first year back he was not the same, and it wasn't until this past year he was looking like the old Brady. Which was 2 years recovery time.

Tony Allen tore his ACL and MCL in 2007, and hasn't been the same, although this year he has been close to where he used to be.

I'm guessing next year Perk will be around 90%, and in the 2012-2013 season he should be as close to 100% as he will get.

Maybe I'm worrying too much because he's clearly not 100% but if we don't get 2009-2010 Kendrick Perkins back next year and for the next four seasons, I think we'll all be wondering who else we could have gotten.

You know, as much as I try to like Perkins and what he brings to the team, I can't help but look at his 4.6 playoff PER, his 110 DRTG (worst on the team in the playoffs), the fact that the defense in the playoffs has been seven points better per 100 possessions with Perkins OFF the court, his 44.6% TS, his outrageously high turnover rate, etc. and wonder if we could have gotten someone better to put next to Ibaka.

I mean, his DRTG was acceptable in the regular season, but this stuff is troubling. I'd feel a lot better right now if we had waited to give Perkins that extension.

@Gavin
Let's trade Nate for all 4.

Now many old teams start to close their champs window, we may be able to 'help' them pushing the reset button quicker. Trade Nate Robinson for Ginobili or Odom or Richard Jefferson or Pierce.

If we could just keep the pieces we have right now for the next 10 years, I'd be ecstatic.

@james1

I don't disagree, I just thought Darnell's response was funny.

We couldn't get afflalo near as cheaply as Thabo. If we want Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, KD and Perk we can't afford any more close to expensive pieces.

@Skeletor

probably, but you never know. he could buy into the role like ginobli. fun to think about, but I don't think they could afford all of those guys anyway. the best option is still to trade thabo, start harden. try to acquire some bench scoring through the draft or a cheaper free agent. the way harden is playing defense thabo is just expendable at this point.

trading thabo sounds beautiful to me, but then you're still asking Harden to come off the bench, which will ultimately lead to him bolting

trade thabo for an early second round pick. sign afflalo. perfect.

In all seriousness, I do think Nate and Royal being suited up holds some value. They really do bring an energy to the team from the bench. The guys seem to feed off of it too. But putting them in suits might diminish their fun and activity.

I think Nate rob is going to stay activated. Can you imagine the emotional lift it would be to the rest of the team to see their designated towel-waver knock down a couple threes in memphis? That's the kind of thing that can break an opponent's back.

@Mark!
Nate would play before Royal. For example, look at the box score against the Bucks in the season finale.

Nate 19:21
Ivey 8:12

@DC

Ivey is activated because he might actually play.

Nate is activated so he can wear a uniform. Much less restrictive than wearing a suit. He's active down there. 12th man of the year, baby.

Thabo 3P Shooting, Makes / Attempts - %

'09: 0.4 / 1.6 - 24.3
'10: 0.5 / 1.6 - 31.3
'11: 0.4 / 1.3 - 27.5

Afflalo 3P Shooting, Makes / Attempts - %

'09: 0.6 / 1.5 - 40.2
'10: 1.3 / 3.0 - 43.4
'11: 1.5 / 3.6 - 42.3

Just two players going in two different directions

@justin
Don't you know they're one and the same?

I think the thunder should try to draft a three shooter, although I like the chef, he is inconsistant

DarnellMayberry Darnell Mayberry@JPthunderup@DarnellMayberry
Any chance thunder go after afflalo this offseason? (No. That's what Thabo's here for)

@DC

My guess would be a respect thing. I think being a former role player gives Brooks some insight into the psyche of those players. He seems to go out of his way to avoid slighting a player. At least that is what I tell myself when I wondered why Harden was not starting, especially when our opponent didnt have any strong wing scorers.

Here is my point I don't understand why Ivey and Robinson are both activated and Cole (another big) is not... this series it is about the big people...

banging against each other and once we get one of our big people in foul trouble or injured we can't play the Memphis the way we need to play in order to win.

sorry typo... Probably

Gasol picked up a lot of sloppy rebounds and points near the end of the game during game two... Perkins and team did a great job keeping hin and Z-bo out of the paint...

So we've had probably, probable, and properable. I'm now officially confused on Serge's status.

Cole does not even have to play a long period of time... just enough to lean and bang on Gasol so he feels the pain!

Even if Ibaka is ready to play on Saturday it would not be a bad idea to active Cole and let him bang on Gasol as well... The more big bodies we have the better the defense.

ok I do not like the tv schedule that OKC and Memphis received for this round of the playoffs... but I do like the fact that Ibaka has 4 days to rest of knee and ankle.

If Ibaka is listed as properable for Saturdays game why does Brooks not activate Cole and have another big man?

I would deactive Royal Ivey or Nate Robinson and active Cole and hope Ibaka can still play on Saturday.

@Sammy
typo humor.

@dylan
Nice...

What the hell, is everyone here just drunk now?

I'LL TELL YA WHAT GRANT, THAT KELLY CRULL REALLY HAS MY STICKMAN ON THE HIGH SIDE

(Brian Davis voice) "Justin to Royce, nice assist!' That's great teamwork, my friends!"

Go Thunder!

dylan :probably what

Probably probable.

probably what