Henry Abbott of TrueHoop on Russell Westbrook: “Kevin Durant has notably better efficiency with notably lower usage than his teammate. There’s also just something about seeing the point guard dribble up, pass not even one time, and take a shot. You only get so many of those before the basketball gods get antsy. Realize this is no condemnation of Westbrook, a wonderful young player. Just a “things to work on” kind of note. The point is merely that if his three or four toughest shots per game were, instead, passes, then the Thunder’s offense would be better.”
Shoals with more on Westbrook: “Then there’s Westbrook, who lives in some alternate dimension halfway between the Thunder’s nerdy virtuosity and the Grizzlies‘ unhinged defiance. The question may not be is Westbrook bad for Durant, but do Russell’s teammates even really understand him anymore? It’s entirely possible that Westbrook may be an altogether more ambitious kind of ball-hog, one whose differences with the team are philosophical, not personal. And in that, they’re more of a problem than ever.”
Mike Tokito of OregonLive.com: “Last night’s game was a classic, but it did little to settle the brewing controversy about Westbrook’s shot selection. He took 33 shots, making 15, while Durant took 20, making nine. It continued the playoff-long trend of Westbrook taking way more shots (22.1 per game) than he did during the regular season (17.0), while Durant’s attempts haven’t varied much during the playoffs (20.2) from the regular season (19.7). Compounding the issue is the fact that Westbrook’s assists are down to 6.7 per game in the playoffs, from 8.2 during the regular season.”
John Hollinger of ESPN.com on Westbrook: “Another aspect that gets far too little attention, and has really become apparent to me in the two rounds I’ve spent covering the Thunder in these playoffs, is how frequently plays called for Durant break down. In those situations, Westbrook is basically forced to improvise a shot — sometimes a poor one — because he’s often the only other Oklahoma City player on the floor who can reliably generate a halfway-decent look. Despite all that, there’s an unquestionable tension in his game, a fight between the yin of aggressively using his athleticism to take over the games and the yang of getting the rock to Durant. I’ve seen him try to take over games that Durant had already taken over. I’ve also seen him tilt too far the other way (though admittedly less often), and ignore a promising matchup because he’s trying so hard to be a “true” point guard. Either way, he can’t win. Not unless Durant takes 65 shots and Westbrook plays like assistant coach Mo Cheeks, which has no chance of ever happening.”
Berry Tramel writes that Memphis doesn’t have an answer for Westbrook: “Frankly, if Durant wants more shots, he need not look at Westbrook. He need look in the mirror. Westbrook hasn’t been ignoring Durant. Hasn’t been derelict in his point-guard duties. Hasn’t passed up passes to the two-time NBA scoring champ. If Durant wants more shots in this series, he’s going to have to work harder. Battier and Allen aren’t going to let loose of their grip. Aren’t going to give him six inches of space. Last round with Denver? Next round with Dallas, should the Thunder advance? Maybe the game eases for Durant. No Battier, no Allen. But Memphis has the Durant antidote, which can lead to Durant being a mere decoy. That’s not all bad. Brooks said the Grizzlies’ commitment to stopping Durant can create mini-fast breaks on the backside. That’s because the Thunder has Westbrook. Butch to Durant’s Sundance Kid.”
Zach Lowe of SI: “The misconception about the Thunder’s late-game offense is that the team isn’t running plays — or that Westbrook is breaking those plays to isolate. That’s wrong. The Thunder are (usually) running plays, but they’re either running them very late in the shot clock or running them without a backup plan — or both. The result is that if defenses are able to stymie that first action, one of the Thunder’s stars is left holding the ball with the shot clock running down and a bunch of inactive teammates watching. Because Westbrook is the team’s nominal point guard, he’s often left to create for himself in bad situations.”
Sebastian Pruiti for Basketball Prospectus on Westbrook’s postgame: “In limited opportunities this series, Westbrook has had some success posting up, scoring six points on five total post up possessions (1.20 Points Per Possession) on 60% shooting. With the much smaller Mike Conley defending him, Westbrook can easily use his strength to back him down and then use his athletic ability to finish at the rim.”
@Thunderman
You're right, it is, because we are equally as good at responding to a loss. That being said, you guys have the momentum, so, we will see. Either way, think it will be somewhere between what happened in game 1 and game 2.
Anyone think the Bulls can beat the Heat? Ya me neither.
gr8ball83 :@ThundermanThe Thunder win Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference second round 100% of the time.
Can't argue with sound logic.
@gr8ball83
Very Good!!! I was worried. But Don't tell AllHeartGritGrind. (That sounds like overconfidence)
Lol
@Thunderman
The Thunder win Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference second round 100% of the time.
Does anyone know stats on how many home teams win game five in playoffs? Just curious.
Also that GQ article on Royal is awesome, except for the aforementioned Bob Evans bull ish. and our Zoo is top 5 in the country. Journalism sure smells like work doesnt it? The meme that OKC is a backwater that makes no sense to have bballers in is getting really old.
@AllHeartGritGrind
I'm glad you're here, you're saying good things. it's been a tight series, it will continue to be. I'm sure confidence in our guys is part of it, and it's normal, and I can definitely see how it could be annoying to MEM fans, but it was to us when DEN fans were confident as well. Just part of being fans.
Again-always good to hear a reasoned perspective that doesnt have Thunder goggles on, though we are pretty good on here, I think, at not being shy to criticize when we do stupid stuff (either the team or commenters)
welcome!
@gr8ball83
He could just tat the value stache on. He could also use one of those cool teardrop tattoos.
Sammy :Talks about how he started actively looking to take charges after his pre-season ankle injury before last season once he realized he had zero lift anymore.
That's interesting.
@Smokey
Nothing particularly statistically noteworthy other than his amazing +/- numbers (the raw +/- leaderboard over the last two seasons reads: LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Nick Collison and Dwight Howard) and his extraordinary ability to draw charges (led the league in charges/minute over the last two years). Mostly just a lot of quotes heaping praise on Nick. Talks about how he started actively looking to take charges after his pre-season ankle injury before last season once he realized he had zero lift anymore.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
i'm more worried about him getting this done than the tattoo thing...
Collison tweeted:
If i had a handlebar moustache then cut off the top leaving the sides and called the look the “absolute value stache” would it be cool?
we win the title this year easily if Nick has that.
@Smokey
Nice.
If Nick gets a tattoo, it should simply be +23
Thunderman :@Jax
Raging Bile Duct
Agreed. This is a Thunder blog, supporting a Thunder team, talking about Thunder players, Thunder analysis, Thunder beat writers amongst Thunder fans. We should stop and worship the greatness that is The Grizzlies?
If you thought I was expecting you to worship the Grizz, you couldn't be more wrong. Just a little mutual respect was all, and I see that from MOST of the posts on here. Like I said, not here to stir the pot. Most of the Thunder folks who have commented on our fan sites have been respectful, and we welcome them to continue to post. By the way, 3SOB, although it is in the TrueHoop network, is not a good representation of a Grizz fan site at all. Royce does an excellent job with DailyThunder, and for a similar take from our side, you should check out http://www.memphisflyer.com/blogs/BeyondTheArc/. Much better written than 3SOB, and although Chris can be accused of being a homer at times, it is mostly unbiased coverage and solid analysis. Not as many comments as you guys, but all of the comment posters reside here: http://boards.grizzliesonline.com/
@Sammy
No Insider. Anything of particular note from that article you could share?
Also, Nick needs a tattoo. He needs to one-up Kirilenko. What should he get? I'm thinking something like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/77/KeepOnTruckin%27.jpg
Hollinger has the best Collison profile I've read for his PER diem today:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-110511
(Insider)
Remember when we were worried about Collison's slow start after coming back from injury and inking that extension. Yeah, about that...
Also, that article features the most Scott Brooksiest Brooks quote ever:
"It's just one word: He's a winner," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "The guy just gives everything he has, every fiber of his body is for the team.
Struts :I’ve been to one north of Syracuse, it’s nothing special.
Then the imaginary one that is Oklahoma's favorite must be better.
I've been to one north of Syracuse, it's nothing special.
A quick follow-up:
Judging from the Bob Evans website, there are 8 locations in New York.
There are 0 in Oklahoma.
Whatever...
@Thunderman
LMAO.
ThunderUp
LoudCity Tonight.
Sammy :@Grolgar@Smokey
It’s a parody of all other long-takes on individual players. What feature on an OKC player would be complete without mentioning how you guys still ride covered wagons and use AOL dial up?
OMFG what's wrong with AOL?!?
*giggle*
Sammy, like it or not you are now an honorary Okie. I'll send you the paperwork.
@Sammy
wait, you don't have to get AOL free minute CD's in California and New York? WTF??????
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Agreed. This is a Thunder blog, supporting a Thunder team, talking about Thunder players, Thunder analysis, Thunder beat writers amongst Thunder fans. We should stop and worship the greatness that is The Grizzlies?
@Grolgar
I've lived here for several years now, I'm still amazed at the variety of restaurants, and quality. I mean seriously, I didn't even know there was such a thing as Ethiopian food, but we've got a Ethiopian food restaurant and its good stuff
@Grolgar@Smokey
It's a parody of all other long-takes on individual players. What feature on an OKC player would be complete without mentioning how you guys still ride covered wagons and use AOL dial up?
@AllHeartGritGrind
I get it. I often check in on opposing team blogs. I'm actually a bit disappointed the Grizz don't have a more active online community somewhere.
I had a tremendous amount of respect for the Grizz going into this series, but even I underestimated your mental fortitude. A big part of that is because whenever I looked at your roster over the regular season, I was curious why you guys didn't have a better record, and I figured it was due to mental lapses; I figured those lapses would show up in the playoffs and they never have. I had OKC in five, even after game 1, but I'm not shocked to see the series where it is now.
@AllHeartGritGrind
I think it was said earlier, but most of us would have rather played the Spurs. Home-court advantage was the only benefit in playing the Griz. I feel a bit of a kinship with your team and it's fanbase. You remind me of us. I can't think of a better compliment (comming from a Thunder homer.)
@AllHeartGritGrind
Oh for crying out loud. It's not a stretch for a Thunder fan to think that after 7 dominant quarters that the series could be over in 5 games after starting with a one game hiccup.
Read the comments before the series started, and most of the commenters on this blog were debating which team to face, and the only real reason Memphis was picked was for HCA. There's no disrespect going on.
Smokey :
Sammy :This made me laugh. A lot.http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2011/05/profiles-in-obscurity.html
They had me up until the flaming pile of bullsh!t that is:
“a city whose best restaurant is generally agreed to be a Bob Evans and whose zoo’s prime attraction, a chimp named Mwami, keeps escaping his enclosure, as if even he would rather be in Tulsa.”
I’m certain this guy has never been to Oklahoma. What the masses will swallow is disturbing.
And for the record: I’ve never heard of Mwami, I’ve never eaten at a Bob Evans (had to google it to find out what it was,) and I’ve never even MET anyone who’s actually been “cow-tipping”
When are you guys going to stop being myopic rubes? (just saying that last line makes me giggle with irony)
*shakes fist dramatically at imaginary GQ writers*
(No, I’m not really angry. When they stop writing the obligatory “Oklahoma sucks” line in every article that concerns Oklahoma/Oklahomans I’ll stop typing the obligatory “go #@$% yourselves!”)
Agreed. Since I moved to OKC last year I've been amazed at the number of quality local restaurants (try any of the Good Egg restaurants). I've never even heard of Bob Evans. Stupid.
Sammy :@Barrett
I actually think AllHeartGritGrind has been pretty reasonable and friendly.
Thank you Sammy. I'm not here to stir up trouble. This is your guys' message board. I am just a big fan of the Grizz, going back to their move to Memphis, and am (not surprisingly) getting enough coverage from ESPN about this series between two small market teams, so I came here to get the opponents' take on things. Overall, you guys are pretty respectful and rational. I just posed a question based on some of the comments I was seeing that gave me the impression that some of you guys expected this series to be an easy win for the Thunder. Going back to some comments pre-Game 1 that I saw claiming the Thunder would handle us in 5, and some even suggested a sweep! Been checking the temperature on here ever since. No harm intended.
@TaoMaas
Thabo would be a poor offensive player no matter what system he is in because he can't shoot and is mediocre at finishing.
@Grolgar
yikes, they hand delivered mine to my office... I ordered them yesterday. You might tweet at them, they responded to me
TaoMaas :
I’d tell Thabo, “Every time your defender takes his eyes off you, cut to the baseline and attack the basket. We’ll get you the ball.”
This x infinity.
I have lots of respect for the heart the Grizz have shown. I just felt halfway through game 3 that we were about to rip you heart out and win in 5. You guys bounced back well. You can absolutely win the series. However, I still feel our A game beats yours everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.
PS this is a Thunder forum. Spy if you want, but don't get mad that those partial to OKC post.
@Grolgar
Not sure, but I think it's 2 kids doing those shirts too.. lol
Memphis has shown that they know how to handle KD and Russ. So, to beat them, we need Thabo, Serge, Nick, Harden, Maynor, and Cook to contribute. A bucket or two each, along with a couple of free throws, ought to be plenty. That's not asking too much, is it? I've said it before...and I'll say it again. Thabo is getting a bum rap about his offense because he's been given the "Jeff Green syndrome" where we ask something of a player that's not really his forte. Harden is a much better shooter than Thabo, but even he isn't worth squat when all we ask of him is to camp out beyond the 3 pt. line in hopes that someone will eventually pass him the ball. I'd tell Thabo, "Every time your defender takes his eyes off you, cut to the baseline and attack the basket. We'll get you the ball."
@Daniel Plainview
Fantastic review, thanks.
Sammy :@BarrettI actually think AllHeartGritGrind has been pretty reasonable and friendly.
+1
gr8ball83 :just got my shirts from http://www.thunderupparel.com and I’m pretty stoked. I wish I had thought of those shirts… I bet they’re makin bank.
How long did it take to get your shirt? I ordered mine 2 weeks ago and still haven't got it...
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
What is your definition of "normal" that things were returning to? You said yourself that that was the first time you guys had played us with your new lineup. By that topical analysis, I would argue that game 1 was normal, in that it was an extension of us taking 3 of 4 from you in the regular season. By normal, do you mean that you guys returned to beating us simply because that is what is expected from a higher-seeded team? I definitely think you're right that it was an exception, in that we dominated you down low pretty much all game, but I think our definition of "the rule" is different. You seem think that the rule is you guys beating us, where I am suggesting the rule is this is a closely contested matchup. So, in that respect, yes it was the exception to the rule. Also, Perkins is not the difference in this series. The difference, especially the last two games, has been Collison's surprisingly effective defense on Z-bo. But Im not telling Thunder fans anything you didnt already know. Perkins can simply foul Z-bo, as evidenced by his fouling out twice thus far. Collison, however, can defend Z-bo and has done well when called upon.
Sammy :This made me laugh. A lot.
http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2011/05/profiles-in-obscurity.html
They had me up until the flaming pile of bullsh!t that is:
"a city whose best restaurant is generally agreed to be a Bob Evans and whose zoo's prime attraction, a chimp named Mwami, keeps escaping his enclosure, as if even he would rather be in Tulsa."
I'm certain this guy has never been to Oklahoma. What the masses will swallow is disturbing.
And for the record: I've never heard of Mwami, I've never eaten at a Bob Evans (had to google it to find out what it was,) and I've never even MET anyone who's actually been "cow-tipping"
When are you guys going to stop being myopic rubes? (just saying that last line makes me giggle with irony)
*shakes fist dramatically at imaginary GQ writers*
(No, I'm not really angry. When they stop writing the obligatory "Oklahoma sucks" line in every article that concerns Oklahoma/Oklahomans I'll stop typing the obligatory "go #@$% yourselves!")
Smokey :So… I’ve taken up watching the Wire, given how many times it’s referenced while talking basketball. Although it’s really good, it hasn’t yet struck me as good enough to sit through multiple seasons of catch-up episodes. Anyone want to confirm its brilliance and inspire me to continue with gusto?
@Sammy
I agree with Sammy. I was luke warm to the first season and shit just keeps building. The hype was monumental, and I was ready to dismantle its overrratedness. But it DELIVERS. Writing is amzing, performances are amazing. Carcetti, McNulty and Stringer bell are all British actors. Carcettis actullay Scottish. Stay with and you will believe
Barkley on Lupicas Radio show:
"if I'm Durant I'm saying: if any of you shoot this ball without it touching my hands, I'm going to beat the **** out of you in the locker room after the game."
@Sammy
agreed. Seems level headed compared to the Thuggets Stiffs crowd.
@Barrett
I actually think AllHeartGritGrind has been pretty reasonable and friendly.
@AllHeartGritGrind
What's your issue? No one on here is screaming about how much better we are than the Grizz. You are way too sensitive about a non-issue.
@James Church
That was a great article. Thanks for posting it.
Looking forward to what I think will be a very competitive game tonight, but hoping for a blow-out. Let's go Thunder!
@Sammy
Awesome, thanks. That's just the kind of encouragement I needed.
@Smokey
It's amazing. I would stick with it until at least halfway through season 2. I wasn't quite as hooked by the first season as a lot of other people, but once I realized what the series was doing in season 2 (where the scope opens and widens considerably) I just devoured the rest. Seasons 3 and 4 are the two best seasons of tv ever produced.
As I said after game 3, Thunder outplayed Memphis 7 quarters and Memphis outplayed the Thunder 5, but Memphis has two wins. Now it's harder to say. If you give Memphis quarter 1 of Game 4 and maybe quarter 2 (obviously), the Thunder Quarter 3 and 3 OT, and divvy up the OTs then it looks more like a wash, but minus the last few mins of Game 3 and OT, if the Thunder holds on to win that game, then Game 1 looked like an exception, as was stated above