Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
The playoffs were special. So many memories, so many moments. Things to talk about for years to come, things to lie about how you were totally there to see in person even if you weren’t.
Kevin Durant started making moves toward already becoming a playoff legend. (Seriously, KD had a pretty unreal postseason when you look back on it.) There were dunks, blocks, great passes and just the type of stuff that is almost hard to watch because it’ll make you miss this team a whole lot already.
It didn’t end up the way we all dreamed, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some fantastic plays and moments to relive. Here are my top 10.
10. Eyes in the back of his beard
The punctuation to a great seven-game series victory over the Grizzlies. Game 7 was so terrifying but with a wonderful second half close, the Thunder punched a ticket into the Western Conference Finals. And this no look dime from James Harden to a trailing Kevin Durant was the icing on an already tasty cake.
9. Not today Nene
Serge Ibaka didn’t have the best series against the Mavericks, but don’t forget what an incredible influence he had on the opening round against the Nuggets. He blocked ??? shots in the series, including nine — count ‘em, nine — in Game 5. The best one though was his stuff of Nene in the closing minutes that kept the Thunder breathing and opened the door for a legendary moment from KD.
8. Fear the great facial hair
OKC’s lone win in the Western Conference Finals came with some harumphing and media manufactured controversy as Scott Brooks sat Russell Westbrook the entire fourth quarter as the Thunder bench (plus KD) closed out the Mavs. What made this possible was an incredible takeover from Harden who showcased his insane skillset in Games 2 and 5. In Game 2 he scored 23 points and hit a number of tough, contested shots to give OKC a huge win.
7. Russ finishes the half with a flourish
If you were looking for one play to really showcase Russell Westbrook, I’d suggest this one as at least a candidate. Always playing off the cuff, always ready to make a play. And in the Thunder’s Game 1 win over the Nuggets in the opening round, Westbrook punctuated the first half by breaking Denver’s back in the closing seconds with a signature tomahawk.
6. The Backpack
Somehow, this become one of The Stories of the playoffs. Kevin Durant and that dang backpack. He’s worn it all season after road games but you don’t take to a press conference table during the regular season. When he showed up after Game 3 in Denver with it on, immediately it had people talking. Why’s he wearing it? Is that for style? What’s in there? And when James Harden joined him with a backpack on after Game 5′s crushing defeat in Dallas, I just about fell out of my chair laughing.
5. Nick denies Dirk
Really and truly, this wasn’t even close to Nick Collison’s best play of the postseason. And that says it all about Nick. I could really think of only one “highlight” type of play and it’s kind of just a placeholder for his fantastic effort against some really talented players. His work against Zach Randolph was remarkable. His effort against Dirk — who even with Collison playing incredible defense had a historic series — was awesome. It’s never flashy, but it’s always so very important. Honestly, Collison might’ve been OKC’s best player in the postseason. Seriously.
4. KD teaches us English
This was just sick. I don’t know what else to say. Nasty, filthy, dirty, disgusting… sick. That kind of basketball ability is just superhuman.
3. Icing the Grizzlies in triple-overtime
Cross, cross back again between the legs, behind the back, pull-up… pure money. What KD did to Shane Battier in triple-overtime of Game 4 against the Grizzlies was pretty much mean. For a 6-11 guy to show off that kind of handle and then rise into a money jumper. Unfair.
2. The Nine
It was one of KD’s first legendary playoff moments. The type of finish that we’ll be talking about for a long, long time. With his team facing a potential return to Denver and a scary Game 6, KD took over Game 5. It started with Durant setting up Harden for a huge 3. Then KD handled his business, scoring the Thunder’s last nine points to clinch the series. And afterwards, he made sure everyone knew exactly whose team this is.
1. KD hammers over Haywood
Magic Johnson said it was the greatest playoff dunk ever. I’m not sure about that, but considering the circumstances — the Western Conference Finals — and the spark it created for his team, KD’s stuff over Brendan Haywood certainly ranks up there. It’s got to be the best dunk of this postseason and probably the top poster of the entire season.
Kevin :
justin :
Gives himself a ‘D’ for how he played, wants to get down to 265, will work out with Westbrook and Harden in L.A.
Is this really going to happen? Westbrook, Rose, and Love all seriously improved when they worked out together. If Harden and Perkins are going to join them, OKC’s going to be unstoppable.
Not gonna lie. Would there be as awesome a team as those 5 playing together, some pickup ball? Yeah, I know you'll say Howard for Perk, but man. Whoa. So does Russ or Rose play the 1? Size puts Russ at 2 for me. Big Perk setting screens for K Love to pop threes. Man.
I listened to Brooks' press conference and he comes across as a good & sincere guy and, it turns out, aware that there is more work to be done. He has a different wording and tone (and perhaps timeline), but it is not a completely different assessment than the view of "critics". Presti said there was plenty of room & need for improvement too. Brooks is going to get more time to see if he can get the team to greater heights. If he does, he will get a lot more praise & satisfaction and a lot more financial benefits.
Some disagreements exist with his play-calling, player management and rotations but much of that is interest in the product and interest in the goal.
Some would prefer a different leader but isn't that just about always the case in sports and in business or politics too?
Some people boil over with hate or sports-hate at times in other threads on Brooks and other stuff but I saw nothing in this thread that I would call hate or even sports-hate really.
Most will make mistakes, small or large. I probably would take some things back I've said about basketball players & managers or at least say them differently upon reflection, when in a different state of mind. In the name of being brief and to the point and clear and strong, sports commentary can be cold. How much tolerance to have of that will vary. For others or for yourself.
Sam Presti praised Thunder fans for passion and compassion and looking at the big picture he got that right. Some are more mindful to balance passion for the goal with compassion for the people pursuing the goal. It is a good thing for many of us to try to remember. Ultimately the main thing to monitor and calibrate is yourself. Try to do right with your thoughts & words and, if you slip, try to do better in the future.
That's your take on it.
One guy said he wanted Adelman. One said he'd prefer Cheeks. A couple discussed Adelman in some role with the team or bringing on one or more of his assistants. Brook's name got mentioned briefly about twice. I don't consider that hate. I consider that basketball talk. Opinions and options.
Brooks haters in full bloom I see. lol
Correction: I probably should have reviewed the detail closer. Turns out Adelman was an assistant for the Blazers for awhile before he got the Head Coach job and the job passed from his father in law to somebody else for 2 1/2 years before he got it. Family ties would still seem to have played an important role but it wasn't quite as fast track as I had previously thought.
Maybe Adelman would consult while waiting for something bigger and better to come along or maybe he would later if something bigger and better doesn't come along.
justin :
Gives himself a ‘D’ for how he played, wants to get down to 265, will work out with Westbrook and Harden in L.A.
Is this really going to happen? Westbrook, Rose, and Love all seriously improved when they worked out together. If Harden and Perkins are going to join them, OKC's going to be unstoppable.
@JJJ
Thanks for the link.
I liked some of the points Presti emphasized.
If you hired Rick Adelman as a consultant I'd think you'd have to be pretty clear upfront whether he was going to have input on hiring, immediately or down the line. I am not sure he'd accept a consultant only position. Many Coaches and GMs would be nervous to do that. Maybe especially after Houston.
DJ 7 :
I know one thing though, we may not be a vacation spot like Miami, or a mass market like New York or L.A., but the vets who still have a little something left and want to win a title before they are done would no doubt be looking at us.
That will be interesting to watch to see who offers / who is offered what in return and what if anything is accepted.
Turner's biggest negative was probably just being a loyal Adelman guy in the power "situation" or struggle.
It sounds like Morey wants a bigger foothold in the coaching group and that Adelman didn't use Morey's stuff as much as Morey wanted. In McHale they may have someone willing to cede a lot of the detail work to others.
Rick Adelman is the son in law of Jack Ramsay, who was the Blazers coach a long time ago and probably helped Rick move from community college coaching up to the NBA (with the Blazers) in one step. Rick was a pretty good NBA player too, so it wasn't just that of course.
correction: NBA lifer "Rick Sund" is the only NBA guy to hire him besides his Dad’s teams.
Hiring family, friends and family & friends of NBA friends is a lot of how that works.
Hire Turner too?
Not sure what happens with Cheeks and Bryant. They might just stand pat.
RJ Adelman was actually a scout for the Sonics in 2006-7 but went to Houston when his Dad was hired. NBA lifer is the only NBA guy to hire him besides his Dad'd teams but he played college ball and is a lawyer.
It would not be impossible, if folks were creative and flexible, to hire Adelman as a consultant. Let him have casual input over the summer with Brooks, then maybe play some role in training camp and be available to suggest things thru the season mostly over the phone or videoconference. Unlikely but not unimaginable. Maybe hiring both could add appeal for Papa Adelman.
@Crow
Royce Young :
Sorry you guys, Rick Adelman says he’s done coaching. He wants to be a GM though. So fire Presti?
(It’s interesting though. Evidently Houston welcomed Adelman back but wanted to fire his assistants.)
http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/29626719
Based on Royce's quote, maybe Houston wanting to fire Adelman's assistant (including Turner?) was part of the problem. I would love to have Elston on board for our offense. Part of his focus was dealing w/ coaching Adelman's offense. He got a few head coach interviews last season and nothing turned up, but he's a good assistant. I would die if we signed him on as an assistant.
Adelman has a son who has worked for NBA teams but I am not sure how good he is.
This Chris Finch that Morey is hot on promoting to assistant coach / coach of the future is a bit different story than I first thought. He is coaching the Great Britain national team (and a pro team too I think) but he is actually American. Successful Division 111 basketball player. Because he rebounded and blocked shots well among other things I assume he is not real small. Successful almost everywhere he went as a very young then just young coach (but not Germany) but still the best leagues he has won in were France (the 4th or 5th best league in Europe?) and the D-league where team winning is not often the top priority of most players. Probably will be at least a few years til he is a head coach. The assistant they are trying to get from Memphis is well regarded to but I don't know if they will get him.
Diaw or Kirilenko might be good role models for Ibaka to try diversify his game a bit. There was never any talk I can recall about what Ibaka learned from Green or could have. I would think there might be some that maybe he at least look at / considered but previously he was more a center and probably learned more from Collison and Krstic.
@Mark!
It kinda of surprises me that Turner isn't getting any interviews this season. A lot of the interviews seem like they are somewhat for show in several ways or wage bargaining or just idea gathering.
Turner should get an assistant job somewhere. I don't know that they could get to him to stay in Houston but McHale might be smart to try to give some continuity and historical knowledge.
shiki :@Crow
Is Kirilenko the same type with Diaw?He can pass ball,too,and had more steals and blocks
Yes they have a number of things in common these days.
http://bkref.com/tiny/EKNsk
Diaw is a better offensive player right now. Kirilenko is the better defender including getting more steals and blocks.
Kirlenko will be a free agent but I don't know what kind of money he will get offered or how long a contract. He is a little older (30).
Kirilenko was the much better player across his career but it is closer now. They are both role players these days. Diaw more of a PF recently but can go to C or SF some. Kirilenko can play either forward spot about equally well.
Unlikely they could get either but I would think either could play a useful role.
Man, this is going to be the longest five months. All I can say is I sure hope we don't miss games over this labor b.s.
This Westbrook exit interview is hard to listen to. Gross.
Hire Elston Turner plz
@Bryson
Mo Cheeks didn't do any better at philly lol.
@Royce Young
Adelman took a one year break in between all of his coaching jobs maybe he'll change his tune next year.
Bryson :
I’ve heard a lot about Mehmet Okur…I like the idea of signing him, but not long term, 3 years at max. I really like our young, athletic identity, because in my mind athletes trump all other types of players.
He expires after next season... no long term commitment required.
In the wake of this seeming coaching catastrophe, I say we swap Mo Cheeks and Scotty Brooks as head and assistant coaches.
I've heard a lot about Mehmet Okur...I like the idea of signing him, but not long term, 3 years at max. I really like our young, athletic identity, because in my mind athletes trump all other types of players.
Ok if we can't have adelman go get some of his assistants. We need some connection to adelman to make us feel better, or maybe just me.
So he's going to Portland.
@Royce Young
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
No screw that, Sam will do something about this!!! Maybe if we mention a REAL chance at a title he will!!
Sorry you guys, Rick Adelman says he's done coaching. He wants to be a GM though. So fire Presti?
(It's interesting though. Evidently Houston welcomed Adelman back but wanted to fire his assistants.)
http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/29626719
@shiki
His contract is massive, and he's getting old.
I know one thing though, we may not be a vacation spot like Miami, or a mass market like New York or L.A., but the vets who still have a little something left and want to win a title before they are done would no doubt be looking at us.
@Crow
Is Kirilenko the same type with Diaw?He can pass ball,too,and had more steals and blocks
@HappeninCat
Go to nba.com and click on the VIDEO link up top. Right below where the video is playing, select the Thunder as the team you wanna see. They should all pop up
Nevermind, found 'em.
Sorry to ask but - where are you finding the interviews at? Can't seem to find them on nba.com
They have to take Nate Rob to make it work salarywise. I'd think they might since they need PG depth and "excitement" for fans. They have a few young PFs now, including White. Might be a minutes issue. Not sure if Silas likes Diaw or not.
One way or another I'd prefer they add another big who can actually play now. Preferably one who can shoot & pass.
loplopol :
Hey Royce, did you find that Westbrook rebound over Chandler yet?
Sorry, I’m anxious to see that one again.
Doh, I forgot. I'll find that soon.
Diaw just turned 29 last month. '10-11 stats are mostly at or a bit better than his career averages. 82games says he took 40% of his shots inside. Basically neutral on Adjusted +/-.
Diaw's passing from a big man could open up lots of stuff, when he is outside or inside, to bigs or smalls, as the main play or as the secondary option or the improv. If MJ could cut his salary outlay again, I'd think he'd take it.
@justin
The article you referenced has an unreadable black background for me (reacting to my old browser or something) but that is good additional information, making the goal more realistic.
And Perkins's interview was very good. I dunno if he'll accomplish his goals, but he has me believing.
Serge's was good as well.
I dunno if Presti's exit interview is up yet, but he was on the Sports Animal today. Looks like they have a podcast of it
http://www.thesportsanimal.com/sectional.asp?id=23316&cid=22
@Crow
Diaw's an interesting name. Very good passer and decent defensive player when motivated...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwRuRxDmNk
Perkins in October 2009 (best season) says he was 268, and 320 when he came into the league.
N Rob and something for the last season of Diaw?
Miscellaneous fact: Nick and Nazr have the same agent. Not necessarily a big deal but if the money is the same and they want him, I'd think Nazr would stick around. I don't know how much he does with the young bigs but if he showed interest in that, that would be a fringe benefit.
Just looking at 5 other leading teams in the west at the moment to keep it shorter, 3 were better than average on both offense and defense in the regular season (Mavs, Lakers, Spurs) and 2 were only much above average on one (Nuggets on offense and Griz on defense). The Thunder were also better than average on both offense and defense.
In the playoffs, things got tougher and only the Mavs stayed above average on both. The Thunder were 2nd highest on average offensive efficiency but below on defensive efficiency. Same for the Lakers. The Spurs and Griz were below average on offense and just about playoff average on defense. Nuggets worse on both.
If the Thunder wants to win more next season they would be best off to be above average on both in the playoffs.
Given that, the plan is probably for Thabo and Perk to continue to see current minute levels.
The draft, free agency & trades might focus on adding even better defense. Any change in assistant coaches might be somewhat more likely to target that than offense.
Both the Lakers and San Antonio have indicated they are going to try to get better on defense. I assume the Lakers will succeed with that. Not as sure about the Spurs.
It seems pretty tough / unlikely to get better than the playoff Mavs were this time on offense. Defense might be the easier path towards gaining edge on them.
The Thunder could try and have room for offensive improvement in addition to defensive improvement. Denver and the Griz will probably try to improve their offense but not sure if they will make it priority 1 or 2.