Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal writes that Memphis has other options other than Z-Bo: “The Griz spent the second half of the regular season proving they are hardly a one-hit wonder. And their Plan B when the opponent crowds Randolph has been increasingly effective in the playoffs. Just ask the San Antonio Spurs, who sent two and three players at Randolph only to get stung by the Grizzlies’ other weapons in the first round. Memphis is confident it can also punish Oklahoma City for double-teaming because Randolph is a willing passer and his supporting cast is conditioned to attack.”
Berry Tramel on if Game 2 is must-win: “But how about teams that go up 2-0 by winning twice on the road? That gives a team a 2-0 lead with three home games left, if needed. Seems like that would be an even more sure shot for the team in front. Not so. In NBA history, 14 teams have won on the road the first two games of a seven-game series. Eleven have gone on to win the series. That’s a 78.6 percent rate.”
KD on Osama bin Laden: “I’m not big on rejoicing because we killed the enemy,” Durant said. “Jesus wouldn’t do that. …It’s big for our country. It’s someone they were looking for a long time. But I’m not into rejoicing over a killed enemy.”
Chris Mannix of SI: “But as much as Oklahoma City tries to downplay the outcome of this season — “learning experience” is a phrase tossed around often by Thunder personnel — this team is built to win. Kevin Durant is an elite scorer, James Harden was one of the best sixth men in the league in the second half of the season and the addition of Kendrick Perkins has given Oklahoma City a formidable front line. The Thunder are young, sure. But in a wide-open Western Conference, there is little reason to think that they can’t make a deep run. How deep could depend on Westbrook. He’s the wildest of wild cards, a player capable of lifting the Thunder out of a cold shooting stretch or burying them with sloppy play. Another game like Game 1 and the Thunder could find themselves in a nearly insurmountable 2-0 hole. But if Westbrook can manage the game better and use his superior skills to create more opportunities for his teammates, Oklahoma City can get right back in this series.”
Jenni Carlson: “Who knows why he is pressing so hard? Maybe he feels the stress of being an emerging star in this league. Maybe he wants to prove himself worthy of his All-Star nod. Maybe he hopes to lock up a max contract in this summer’s negotiations. Maybe he’s trying to be the man on this team. Only Westbrook knows the answer, but everyone sees the result. He is trying to score. He is trying to attack. He is trying to do too much. Westbrook needs to make an adjustment. If he would just relax and let the game come to him in Game 2 and every other playoff game from here on out, he’d be fine. Actually, he’d be better than fine. He’d be great. So would the Thunder.”
Just a note: Three out of the four teams lost Game 1 on their home floor in the second round. Not everyone is panicking in L.A. and Chicago.
Sam Amick of SI.com: “Oklahoma City needs Perkins to re-establish himself inside if it intends to bounce back against a Memphis team that isn’t playing like an eighth seed. “I take full accountability of this game,” Perkins told reporters after the Thunder’s first home loss of the postseason. “I feel like I let us down.” Perkins is one of the few difference-makers in this league whose worth can’t be gauged by a box score. There is, after all, no mainstream statistic for successful screens, altered shots, perfectly executed defensive rotations or tone-setting stares. As a result, opposing coaches and players routinely downplay his impact as some form of basketball mythology.”
Russell Westbrook and the Patience Index.
Greg Bishop for the New York Times Off the Dribble blog: “Lo argues that if more fans had been more vocal, the Sonics would not have left. His reasoning: the team would never have traded Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, its two best players. Attendance would not have dipped. The league would not have allowed Bennett to move the franchise. A local buyer would have been found. I’m not so sure. But I agreed with Lo when he said the thought of the Thunder’s winning an N.B.A. title made him nauseous. “I’d be so mad,” he said. So would an entire region. Because in this series, whether the Thunder wins, or the Grizzlies win, basketball fans in the Pacific Northwest will lose.”
Sam Smith of Bulls.com writing something dumb: “But in those first four games, Westbrook’s so called “usage” was 35.7 percent to 27.8 percent for Durant, perhaps the most effortless shooter in the game with constant mismatches. Yes, there it was again Sunday with Westbrook taking more shots than Durant and then lobbying him balls in a an apparent funk when he wasn’t. I’m not close to that team, but it seems to define Pat Riley’s famous Disease of Me. Westbrook is an All Star now, a member of the World Championship team. He plays like a guy who wants to be “the man,’ the guy with his own team. He’s looking like a latter day Stephon Marbury, and not just because of Sunday’s loss. Westbrook plays often like a pouty Kobe was with Shaq, though the Lakers did win.”
ScottThunderFan :@DizzDai
No…I’m holding Perk to what he said: “You’re gonna see a different Perk come Tuesday”
Gotcha. I hope he bodyslams someone.
@DizzDai
No...I'm holding Perk to what he said: "You're gonna see a different Perk come Tuesday"
@Floppy Punch!
we are 7-10 on Sundays this season. At one point earlier this year we were 2-8, so we've gone 5-2 in our last 7 sunday games, including the loss to Memphis. Still, thats crazy that our Sunday record is so terrible.
@Floppy Punch!
I know we have an incredibly bad record on Sundays, which are almost always early games. I had the same thought.
@bouzi4real
Here is part one (and the Ibaka comment). There's a link to part two at the bottom.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/part1/110503&sportCat=nba
I love having Sefolosha out there to shut down Tony Allen to start games. Really gets everyone on the right track.
@Daniel
could you provide the link, good sir?
Simmons had a large comment on Westbrook and Ibaka in his column today, check it out if you haven't.
Everytime harden caught the ball he looked like he had a football in his hand instead of a basketball and thought what the hell do I do with this
Any way to know what the Thunder record for early games is?
Heres to Russ being patient tonight. Not giving up on his teammates. Trust
@james1
Harden goes to the rim. Which is good. But he turns the ball over some
@james1
Yes he needs to man up just a little more. But i appreciate that he knows who the star(s) is/are.
If Russ doesn't come back to form soon I will Pull a Sarah Palin and blame the media...lol
(Disclosure: I really dot wish to offend anyone that likes this woman. Just a joke please Palin fans don't go crazy on me ;))
DizzDai :I hope Harden has a good night. When Harden balls we win!!!
Sometimes I think Harden is a little bit misunderstood. He is the type that is not going to force bad shots for the most part, he's going to defer to the stars for the most part and he's not going to shoot a shot if he's not feeling it. I think he's too much a team player sometimes. I heard him interviewed in the Denver series and the interviewer said he had a bad game the first game and he corrected him and said he didn't have a bad game he just didn't score very much. That he played good team ball and defense which is what he was suppose to do. Sometimes I think we have expectations of him to score more than he has of himself. He penetrated a couple times in the last game and got hacked and they didn't call it and he pretty much shut it down after that. I think he needs to take a little more responsibility and the coaches need to emphasize how important it is to the team for him to be assertive.
Lot of Star gazing
justin :@DizzDai
He’s pouting all the time lately. Complaining too much, etc. Hopefully he grows out of that.
He really didn't pout or complain much at all last game. He talked to the ref a couple times but he wasn't near as crazy as he was in the Denver series.
kfmsooner :@DizzDai Harden is the key to the series…
Harden and the overall lack of effort where my two biggest disappointments of that last game.
Harden might as well have been benched for the better part of that game. He played slow,scared, and defeated. I would have rather had Nate or Cook out there jacking up threes than an invisible SG. He must step it up or we will end up needing to have the dynamic duo scoring 70 a game again.
And that effort starts with leadership. Russ crying like he has CP3 out there does not help either. Honestly KD was the only besides Serge that i liked seeing on the court in game one. Perk needs to anchor that D better. If not i would rather settle for.................Small Ball :)
@DizzDai
Harden is the key to the series...
I hope Harden has a good night. When Harden balls we win!!!
BALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!
gotta bring the Defense tonight
and tell russ to take off his saddle so he doesnt try to carry the team
@soggybizkit
I wish Derek Fisher was playing for Memphis.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I second that!
I want the russ from last years playoffs...
@justin
He's pouty, but it's more of a frustration at himself. He's been this way for a while. Remember his little melt down at the 1st Clippers game last season. The kid is emotional. We know that.
But to compare Russ to "pouty" "i-hate-my-teammate" "trade-me" Kobe is silly.
The thing that bugs me is not that people are pointing out Russell's flaws, it's that he gets tagged with the press when it was our defense that lost that game with a poor performance. We've won before when Russ was shooting poorly and turning the ball over. National media may have missed that fact. But our poor defense should be getting the negative publicity instead.
keep the faith everyone.... we know the thunder are a very good bounceback team.... we can do this.... russ will bring us home.... beyyaaahh
@Fuzzy Logic
Russ gets extended no matter what it takes. He's a star. No question. He needs to develop and grow up, but you keep him.
My biggest grip about RW is not the shots, hero mode, turns, etc. That stuff will work itself out. It's the whining. OMG. After every non-call. He has got to stop that crap. It gets in his head and just contributes to the larger and larger chip on his shoulder.
@DizzDai
He's pouting all the time lately. Complaining too much, etc. Hopefully he grows out of that.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I'm not big on him comparing Russ to "pouty" Kobe or Starbury. Russ plays with passion. That's why we like the Honey Badger.
gr8ball83 :@gr8ball83Just KD was out, and Green took 21 shots too, I think hero mode Russ was necessary that game…
Hero mode is widely accepted if it results in a win.
I'm still bummed Russ didn't get a trip dub in that game. He needed just one more assist.
I don't see anything dumb about what Sam Smith wrote - I think he's right on. Russell's usage is too high.
But you still sign him to a max contract.
I don't see anything dumb with what Sam Smith said. Russell's usage is too high.
ScottThunderFan :@DizzDai
I’m holding him to it….
Him being Westbrook?
Sure he needs to relax, but how many times can he pass to wide open players and get nothing in return. They decide not to take the shot or they just fumble the ball. Westbrook is trying. Yes he makes mistakes, but he is trying.
I think those shots are not being coached in practice. We should have offensive set with more than 1 or 2 options.
You give Westbrook whatever it takes to keep him around.
@Fuzzy Logic
Contract won't be able to be offered until after a new CBA.
props :
andrew :
DizzDai :I’m sick of everyone putting Russ under a microscope. At least his extension will be a little smaller when all this is said and done.
His agent is an idiot if he settles for anything less than a max extension this summer.I agree though, I am really tired of the talk about Russ. It’s overshadowing an incredible playoff performance by KD.
agreed. RW gets max. and deserves max. his ceiling is too high.
i’m not the slightest bit worried about RW. his poor play won’t cost the series. and if he turns it on, he can (help) win a series.
The front office are idiots if they offer Westbrook a max deal this summer before the CBA and lockout are resolved.
Sorry but I don't see how you offer Westbrook a max deal at the potential risk of not being able to re-sign Ibaka and Harden.
As much as I love his game I'm perfectly fine with a wait and see approach to extending Russ.
@gr8ball83
Just KD was out, and Green took 21 shots too, I think hero mode Russ was necessary that game...
@DizzDai
wasn't that when green and KD were hurt? I wouldn't pass much to any of the other guys either if that was the case.
@DizzDai
I'm holding him to it....
justin :The problem is that all this stuff with Westbrook has been happening since the All Star break and nobody said anything. Now all of a sudden it’s the playoffs and people are flipping out even thought his has been an issue for a much longer time. Some of it is on Westbrook but some of it is on the coaching staff, too. 30+ USG is not what you want from Westbrook at all, and at this point does he know another way to play?
It's been happening before the break. Remember the triple overtime game in Jersey? Russ simply stopped passing the ball in that game.
I still think most of the blame is on the coaching.
@ScottThunderFan
I love Perk's third person quote...
"You're gonna see a different Perk come Tuesday."
alexfromgermany :I agree with KD on this one. It was the right decision and he had it coming, but it seems kinda low to celebrate anyone’s death. I’m just happy the world is a better place without him now.
Agreed.
KD's made the leap to being a consistent performer, but Russ, Harden and Ibaka are wildly inconsistent. Never know what you're going to get from those 3 on offense or defense on any particular night. It's going to take patience, waiting for those 3 guys to mature, for this team to become a true contender.
Not developing Aldrich into an energy role player over the past year looks like a mistake to me. OKC could really use an X-factor player right now, someone who surprises the opponent with energetic bench production. Think of the contribution Aldrich made to Kansas during the championship game his freshman year.
Nazr looks done. Collison is great on position defense but is just not athletic enough to get a lot of offensive rebounds or putbacks. Aldrich, if he had gotten, say, 700 minutes in the regular season, would be a perfect fit.
I agree with KD on this one. It was the right decision and he had it coming, but it seems kinda low to celebrate anyone's death. I'm just happy the world is a better place without him now.
pinkybebop :russ will come around.. maybe tonight. i can’t imagine handling the pressure at his age or any age really.
when are people going to get over seattle losing the team? it’s SO ANNOYING. a few years is plenty of time to accept the situation. were they hoping the thunder would blow it here and the team would “rightfully” be sold back to someone in seattle?
i’ve checked my email about 6000 times since yesterday hoping more tickets will be released.
Rose, and KD are only a few months older than him and they are handeling it.
pinkybebop :
russ will come around.. maybe tonight. i can’t imagine handling the pressure at his age or any age really.
when are people going to get over seattle losing the team? it’s SO ANNOYING. a few years is plenty of time to accept the situation. were they hoping the thunder would blow it here and the team would “rightfully” be sold back to someone in seattle?
i’ve checked my email about 6000 times since yesterday hoping more tickets will be released.
Totally Tickets has lower seats at $105, club seats at $89, and uppers at $25. Tickets are actually pretty cheap for tonight's game given it's the Playoffs.
I still think its coaching. Russ is told to take the shot if the primary I the party can't get open.
andrew :
DizzDai :
I’m sick of everyone putting Russ under a microscope. At least his extension will be a little smaller when all this is said and done.
His agent is an idiot if he settles for anything less than a max extension this summer.
I agree though, I am really tired of the talk about Russ. It’s overshadowing an incredible playoff performance by KD.
agreed. RW gets max. and deserves max. his ceiling is too high.
i'm not the slightest bit worried about RW. his poor play won't cost the series. and if he turns it on, he can (help) win a series.
The problem is that all this stuff with Westbrook has been happening since the All Star break and nobody said anything. Now all of a sudden it's the playoffs and people are flipping out even thought his has been an issue for a much longer time. Some of it is on Westbrook but some of it is on the coaching staff, too. 30+ USG is not what you want from Westbrook at all, and at this point does he know another way to play?
To put in perspective how well KD has been taking care of the ball this postseason:
Out of the top 100 playoff players (using PER), KD's turnover ratio is less than everyone except Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, Keith Bogans, Jodie Meeks, Peja, Mike Dunleavy, Evan Turner, and Jamal Crawford. Crawford is the only one of those players that is in the top 40 of playoff PER. Pretty freaking incredible.