Did you know “Top Gun” was released 25 years ago Monday? Seems like only yesterday that I wore out my VHS copy of that movie when I dreamed about being a Navy aviator. Alas … I’m not.
Anyway, the occasion allows me to unapologetically rip off Bill Simmons and use one of my favorite column themes of recent years: giving out “awards” based on quotes from a movie or television series.
As it turns out, there are plenty of famous “Top Gun” lines that apply to the Thunder’s postseason run so far. (And for the record, the kindergarten-ish version of myself disagrees with the IMDb average rating for “Top Gun” of 6.6 out of 10 stars. To this day, I stick with my original rating of about 14 out of 10.)
Don’t tease me.
Serge Ibaka’s offensive explosion in Game 3 of the Denver series gets this one. His career-high-tying 22 points proved to be perhaps the biggest factor in a three-point win. His 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks per game playoff average line has been huge for the entire playoffs. But if Ibaka can put up 20+points in any given playoff game, I’d find a hard time believing anyone could beat Oklahoma City that night.
If his jumper is on and he’s energetic on the offensive boards, how can you beat the Thunder if other scorers have even an average night? Denver played well in Game 3, but Ibaka’s performance tipped the scales as much as anything else that night and OKC took a stranglehold on the series. If Ibaka puts up 22 against Memphis tonight, there might be another airport party at Will Rogers tonight.
Since Game 3 in Denver, Ibaka hasn’t approached that kind of scoring, but has still done his job. Foul trouble and Nick Collison’s stellar play limited him during Game 4 in Memphis, but he’s still been a monster on the floor without a lot of points. Still … gimme some more 20-point games from that guy!
I feel the need … the need for speed!
This goes to Oklahoma City’s mostly awesome transition game in the Memphis series. The Thunder is a staggering +37 in fast break points against the Grizzlies. The Thunder needs not only to keep running the floor when opportunity strikes, but continue playing good transition defense when Memphis runs.
I thought Eric Maynor exemplified not only the hustle but the heady play shown by the Thunder in defensive transition in a moment during Game 5. Late in the first quarter with the Thunder breaking out of its funk, Memphis had a fast break with under a minute left and the Thunder down by three. But Maynor was smart enough to realize the Thunder had no team fouls in the last two minutes, so he fouled Greivis Vazquez on the floor. OKC set its defense for the inbound, the Grizzlies missed a 3-pointer and Hared tied the game before the quarter ended. It was on from there.
It’s classified. I’d tell you, but I’d have to kill you.
This goes to whatever the plans are to improve the Thunder’s late-game execution on offense. At this point, no one seems to know what they are. The overall strategy seems to be, “Let’s get stops, and then KD and Russell are good enough to get us what we need to win.” And that’s fine, so long as it’s mixed with some “Let’s attack the paint,” as well. And that last part isn’t always there.
For much of the season and especially in the Grizzlies series, when the Thunder has erased deficits or expanded leads, it’s getting into the lane and getting to the foul line that has fueled the surge. When leads crumble or deficits mount, it’s marked by jump shooting and tentative play. The absence of consistent, multi-game spells of good ball movement shows up most in the playoffs. But that can be mitigated some when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are attacking with success.
I still think more mature offensive play and play design will come as the Thunder players age. But it’s already apparent that the team can contend with the current model. So whatever plan is there to get the Thunder crunch time baskets in these playoffs needs to include a healthy dose of slashing wing players.
You can be my wingman any time.
Russell Westbrook. Enough said.
Jesus, this guy’s good!
This is Kevin Durant’s award for the Game 5 fourth-quarter performance against Denver. Also enough said.
Talk to me, Goose.
Communication off the court as much as on it helps the Thunder be the team that it is, so this award goes to all of the players. The now-famous team meeting called by KD after the Game 1 loss to the Grizzlies exemplifies it all. Kendrick Perkins, with his championship experience and earnest desire to be a vocal, positive influence on the team, knew that meeting would bring the team closer together, and he knew KD had to be the guy to call it. The players got together, came together, and turned things around.
And this also helps with all the flak Westbrook is taking. If the Thunder players are as close as they seem to be, I think it really is possible to block out all the outside noise or even bond together more closely because of it. If the players can all look themselves in the eye and talk about the team, and show through effort and practice that they’re serious, then none of it matters. And, by all appearances with their exuberant friendliness on the court and bench, there are no divisions in the locker room because of that communication and hard work.
I’m gonna break high and right, see if he’s really alone.
This goes to Maynor and Harden for being able to find Daequan Cook for open 3-pointers a few times, but we need to see it more. Cook is averaging 11 points in the three Thunder wins against Memphis and less than a bucket in the two losses, and Maynor and Harden are the ones who who are charged with getting the shooter his shots.
Cook won’t do a whole lot more than stand in the corner outside the arc on most possessions. When Maynor and Harden play with Cook, typically in the first several minutes of the second quarter when KD takes a breather, they get him the ball with the best success when they probe the lane and kick it out to Cook. He doesn’t get many, and the Thunder doesn’t seem to run many, plays where the ball passes through multiple hands and gets swung around the court to exploit a shifting defense.
Cook played a huge role in denting the Grizzlies’ Game 3 lead and in building on the Thunder’s Game 4 lead. He hardly touched the ball in the Thunder losses. OKC needs to find him a few open looks per game to get the best out of him.
Mustang, this is Voodoo 3. Remaining MiGs are bugging out.
This one belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies. They bugged out in the third quarter as the Thunder made it clear the lead would not be relinquished. Grizzlies players themselves said they showed little fight.
I don’t expect the same tonight in Memphis. The Grizzlies will probably play with attitude. With the way OKC is playing right now, that’s only enough if the Thunder doesn’t bring the same attitude. If the Thunder matches the Grizzlies’ intensity, the Thunder wins.
Rose Comes off picks a lot not many people can once he hits that corner. but just like the Denver servies OKC will probably do a lot of switching off of Picks to try to get Rose free.
Truthfully I think Ibaka and perk will be the ones in the paint defending against Rose scoring at will. Last time we played Bulls Rose went right at Krstic because he was no threat at all and Green isnt a great shot blocker.. wont be as easy with Perk and Ibaka.
But Korver and Deng still shoot a lot and need someone with long arms(Thabo) guarding them when Rose starts kicking the ball out.
lafowler255 :
Both teams shoot a lot of perimeter shots and Im pretty sure if was play the bulls Thabo may end up either directly or indirectly(on a switch) guarding the current MVP
Thabo can't guard Derrick Rose.
Both teams shoot a lot of perimeter shots and Im pretty sure if was play the bulls Thabo may end up either directly or indirectly(on a switch) guarding the current MVP
@lafowler255
Who is Thabo guarding against the Bulls and Mavs that makes him valuable?
bosco :@Mark!
The logic behind it is that Brooks isn’t going anywhere. At least in the near future. The better option I think would be a proven veteran coach, but it isn’t happening. Trading Sefolosha would just make the rotations easier for Brooks. Just like the pf position at the start of year, the sg position is really a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Best if one (thabo) goes.
Why the hell would we trade a great defender that we are paying pennies for?
In this series YES Cook starting would spread the floor.. Again Harden shouldnt start cause he generates offense on the floor for the bench and plays a bunch of minutes at the end of games. Thabo can play spot minutes but against teams like Bulls Mavs and Heat you will absolutely NEED Thabo starting.
I find value in lineup performance analysis and would advocate lineup choice and match-up optimization but ultimately the measurement is at game level not lineup level. It is hard to build enough case about lineup change until there is disappointment and enough motivation for change but when you get there it is later than it needs to be and often too late at least for that series.
@justin
I've thought that some coaches start a weaker player to try to hide them there or to play out their mental model of what they want to see with a "defensive stopper".
But they (Brooks, Karl, Carlisle, others) seem to want a good option off the bench so when they "push a button" they tend to get a good response... and also look good doing that.
But it may also be that is easier on average to "win" "bench minutes" than it is "starter minutes" so maybe it is worth using more of your good stuff against the bench lineups?
@Mark!
The logic behind it is that Brooks isn't going anywhere. At least in the near future. The better option I think would be a proven veteran coach, but it isn't happening. Trading Sefolosha would just make the rotations easier for Brooks. Just like the pf position at the start of year, the sg position is really a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Best if one (thabo) goes.
Our starting unit is -6.48 points per 100 possessions against the Memphis starters.
ATH :@Perkins Game Face
If the Thunder win this year’s title with Thabo starting, does it mean we’re wrong?
We'll either be wrong or the team is talented enough to win through Brooks' mistakes. As has been the case all year....
justin :
Then again the smartest coach in the league IMO, Rick Carlisle, starts DeShawn Stevenson even though his starting unit is terrible and Stevenson is garbage. Their starting lineup is -14 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, but they have played less minutes than ours.
Carlisle doesn't pledge undying loyalty to DeShawn Stevenson in the media, though.
justin :It’s not so much that James Harden should start, it’s that SOMEONE has to be in the starting unit to stretch the floor. Harden seems ideal for me since he can also double as a secondary handler, but even Cook would be better than Thabo IMO.
My thoughts exactly. I think it's almost ideal to start Cook, as crazy as it seems. I've said the same thing to some friends. Thabo is killing our starting O. We do want Harden to come off the bench with that second unit, I get that. But having Cook out there would at least free up the lanes for Russ and KD more. And we don't really lose anything defensively against the Grizz with Cook out there instead of Thabo.
Then again the smartest coach in the league IMO, Rick Carlisle, starts DeShawn Stevenson even though his starting unit is terrible and Stevenson is garbage. Their starting lineup is -14 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, but they have played less minutes than ours.
Perhaps Brooks is just living vicariously by starting mediocre players and keeping better ones on the bench. He only started 7 games in his career, he's living his dream through Thabo and Green.
@Perkins Game Face
If the Thunder win this year's title with Thabo starting, does it mean we're wrong?
bosco :@Perkins
Game Face
I’m sure of it. It’s the same thing as the Jeff Green situation. That’s why Presti needs to do his best to take care of it.
If our coach is unable to make rational decisions, why the logical course of action to trade away assets so the coach won't misuse them? That seems backwards to me.
No surprises here. Brooks kept Ibaka on the bench in favor of Green. He didn't care about advancing the development of an obviously more talented player because he liked Green's effort, ethic, tenure, whatever. This is no different.
Just like w/ Green, this is not an indictment of Thabo. Harden is the better player, the team plays better with Harden, Harden should get more minutes. Brooks forcing a square peg into a round hole does not make Thabo a bad player or a bad person. It just makes Brooks incredibly stubborn and short-sighted.
It's not so much that James Harden should start, it's that SOMEONE has to be in the starting unit to stretch the floor. Harden seems ideal for me since he can also double as a secondary handler, but even Cook would be better than Thabo IMO.
@Perkins Game Face
I'm sure of it. It's the same thing as the Jeff Green situation. That's why Presti needs to do his best to take care of it.
Do you think the further we get in the playoffs will be confirmation to Brooks that keeping this starting five is the right thing to do? That's my biggest fear, that he'll think as long as we're winning why fix what he doesn't consider to be broken.....
this is why thabo needs to be traded. you just can't trust brooks to make the right rotations. by that quote, you could infer that harden still won't start next year.
Chill!..
It's the 93rd game of this season. No time for starting something new.
Despite the well known dilemmas with Thabo, you don't get this far & do major tinkering.
It seems harden has played more down the stretch lately anyway, I'm pleased with that. First quarter doesn't mean as much to me (not worth starting the game thinking/wondering about lineup changes.)
We'll be fine... The previous 92 games have told me that.
Just keep repeating to yourself "I trust Sam."
It helps a bit
Right when you start feeling good about Brooks something like that comes out.
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.
@ATH
By this point it would've only surprised me if Brooks did make the switch now. Hopefully staying with this stupid decision doesn't hurt us tonight. I'm expecting to be down after about half of the first quarter though......
How can Brooks pretty much admit openly that Thabo is not needed because they don't have a perimeter scorer, yet still give him the same minutes?
I picture Brooks sitting at the press conference staring at the reporters as he points to his temple and says, "I got Kidneys."
The strongest steel.
I love you all
@ATH
You're harshing my buzz, man.
Nice stats in Susan's article: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19776 Like that Hollins "glared at his players" --- hoping for more of that tonight.
@ATH
You and I, let's keep our fingers crossed for next season. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. If that doesn't work, my plan B is to hope for another Presti trade that forces the issue.
This is infuriating.
"The biggest tidbit that came out of this morning’s shootaround in my opinion was Brooks saying he would stick with Thabo Sefolosha for his usual minutes even if Tony Allen again starts out guarding Russell Westbrook. Brooks admitted that he is expecting the Grizzlies to start Allen on Westbrook again but said the team is prepared for whoever Allen guards. But sticking with Sefolosha for his normal minutes doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The Grizzlies have outscored the Thunder three out of the five first quarters in this series. One was a tie. The other, a 28-17 Thunder advantage in Game 2, is what makes the first-quarter scoring, 112-105, as close as it is.
Those numbers aren’t an indictment on Sefolosha. Turnovers are the problem more than anything else. But now, the Grizzlies have found a way to exploit Sefolosha ‘s offensive weaknesses and, if Allen has any success on Westbrook, it could hurt the team. Going with James Harden earlier could alleviate some pressure. But Brooks won’t budge.
'No. Thabo always gets between the first seven or eight minutes depending on how the game is going,” Brooks said. “He’s done a great job with that all year. Thabo’s a big part of what we do defensively. He helps. This series he’s not guarding a premier wing player who’s looking to score because that’s not how their team is set up. But Thabo does a good job. The rotations are somewhat always the same with a little bit of adjustments as the game goes on. But we have two very good two guards who help us in different ways.'
Via Darnell, http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2011/05/13/thunder-confident-going-into-game-6/
IMDB rating of 6.6/10?? Complete insanity!
Nazr "Goose" Mohammed