vs. 
Dallas Mavericks (0-2, 0-1 road) vs. OKC Thunder (3-0, 1-0 home)
TV: TNT (Cox 31, HD 730)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 106.8 (11th), Mavs– 93.8 (26th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 101.4 (12th), Mavs – 110.4 (24th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.4 (11th), Mavs – 99.7 (2nd)
View from the enemy: The Two Man Game
The Thunder have seen the bad guys from Big D twice already, but those didn’t count. This one does, so here’s the real chance at a little payback for the Western Conference Finals. The Mavs are spinning a bit so far, looking a tad complacent after winning their title. But that’s a team that will get it together at any time, and it could start tonight with a statement over the 3-0 Thunder.
Dallas coming in: The Mavs last played Tuesday, getting walloped by Denver.
Three Big Things
1. All eyes on Russ and KD. Tonight’s game is on TNT so you can be sure there will be an iso camera locked on Westbrook and KD during every timeout, high-five or bathroom break. How will Westbrook respond not just to the noise of today, but to his 0-13 performance last night? I get the feeling KD might have a slow night and Westbrook carries OKC. Seems like it would be fitting.
2. Defending Dirk. It was the biggest challenge for the Thunder last season and Serge Ibaka seems to have got a better feel for it. We’ll see Nick Collison, KD, Perk and Ibaka all try their hand at Dirk tonight.
3. Who’s motivated more? The Thunder are 3-0 and are coming off a rough and tumble game in Memphis last night. The Mavs are rested but wounded. Dallas would seem to want to take this as an opportunity to announce they’re fine, but the Thunder don’t tend to drop games easily on their home floor.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Best Friends.
Adding one more comment to get off that ugly number.
What was the Bench scoring difference? We were down like 10+ each half or something.
Must say, I've been waiting two years for the Ibaka kissing-the-ball write-up. Rooooyce?!?
For anyone interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wfFuzPDu2L8
@JBDW Dats for last year Dirk. My house! -KD
KD with 6 assists for the 2nd time this season. Last year, including the playoffs, he had 6 assists only 4 times.
Thabo's stat line: 13 minutes, 0 pts, 0 rbds, 2 asts, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 TO, -19
.
Delonte West, whom Thabo guarded for a large portion of his minutes: 15 pts, 50% shooting, 6 asts
.
What does Thabo bring to this team?
@kfmsooner the rotation is flawed bc it doesnt allow adjustments thabo could drop 20 and hes still coming out of the game with 6 min left in the first quarter, or like tonight and most other nights the team starts out awful on offense and he stays in til 6 min left in the 1st (even though we called a timeout at 8 min left in the first)
I think that when we get off to these slow starts both harden and collison should both enter the game because they really get the offense going with ball movement
or start harden, but that makes too much sense
@OBoy@kfmsooner It STINKS that ball movement still seems to be an issue. Or moreover, off the ball movement. I liked the piece Royce linked that addressed Hardens off-the-ball movement. Looks like they are trying. Unfortunately, (I love Brooks) it looks like they have not progressed in this aspect this off-season.
@OBoy I disagree. When Thabo hits shots, he stays in. Brooks goes too long with Harden on the bench. Against memphis, Sef hit a couple of shots and JH didnt come in until the 3 min mark of the 1st quarter.
@kfmsooner Westbrook guarded him majority of the time. Sef didnt get any touches
@OkcBaby Not correct. The first half when Sef was in and West scored, it was on Sef. Sef had plenty of touches...he can't do anything with them. He is a horrible offensive player and he can no longer play elite defense.
@Thunder S +/- not always the best eval. Westbrook was + last night.
@OkcBaby how do u explain Thabo -19 and harden +22? coincidence?
@sammasaaron@kfmsooner They put together good halves but for some reason they always revert to their old ways. Not all Thabos fault
@sammasaaron@kfmsoonerNope going to agree to disagree. Theres no movement or passing
@OkcBaby@kfmsooner When a player looks confused/scared catching the ball on offense, that is not a good game. Furthermore, just look at his stat line. It's terrible. And while he's still playing above average defense, it has tailed off to the point that playing Harden or Cook doesn't make a significant difference in our team defense. Thabo kills our spacing not just because he isn't a shooter, but because teams know he won't shoot the ball, PERIOD. Watch any offensive possession from this game. Dallas' D will be giving Thabo 15 ft while he stands on the perimeter. How many 3's did he shoot?
@sammasaaron@kfmsooner U must have been sleep the last 3 games or dont know what a good game is
@OkcBaby@kfmsooner How many times are the two of you going to broach this issue?
@OkcBaby@kfmsooner If this is him playing well, I'd hate to see him play poorly.
@kfmsooner Wrong, Thabo has been playing well
@kfmsooner for real, thabo should only be playing if harden is not playing well or needs a rest... he should play less than cook... hes had a good start this year, other than this game, but still... he played about 4 minutes too much in this game
@kfmsooner fine chocolates from switzerland?
So after the shot Durant yells something akin to "this my muthaFn court!"
From Elias: Kevin Durant has scored at least 30 points in each of the Thunder's first four games this season. Durant is the second player in the last 25 seasons to score at least 30 points in each of his team's first four games of a season. The only other player to do that in the last 25 seasons was Kobe Bryant in 2005-06. If Durant scores at least 30 points in his next game, he will be the first player to score 30 or more in each of his team's first five games since Michael Jordan in 1986-87.
Just got back from the game. That was unbelievable. I can't believe it was only the FOURTH GAME OF THE SEASON. Felt like a playoff atmosphere for sure. And damn did it ever feel good to beat THAT team and so dramatically at that.
Serge should buy KD a present for bailing him out after he missed those 2 free throws! Then again, KD bailed himself out also for leaving Vince Carter wide open for 3.
Also Perkins was pretty awful in this game.
I would love to see them put a full 48 minutes together.
@Greaper22 You will. Who knows when, but it will happen. While this is late December, it is still only game 4 of the season. It seems like we should be on the 23rd game or something by now, but we're not. I think us fans need to adjust the same as the players do. We didn't get enough of a pre-season.
The fact that they can win games this sloppy just says how much talent they have.
I love how Westbrook was the farthest from Durant when the shot went up but was one of the first ones to jump on him on the other side of the court after the shot went in. Yep. They hate each other.
Great win and shot by Durant but again terrible performance down the stretch. Harden was open almost every possession.
@[censored] I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for 4th game in 5 days.
...That'll probably be the excuse for a lot of sloppy basketball by a lot of teams this season.
@ou_sas I would too if this wasn't the same kind of stuff happening all of last season... there does some to be some element of growing pains where we're turning the ball over trying to move it around creatively which is fine. But the end of game execution two-man show will make it difficult to win a title.
@[censored]@ou_sas they did try to run the kd at foul line play a couple of times. dallas was pushing them out further and further so it was harder to initiate. Also a couple of times they were in zone and it looks like we didnt plan zone plays. could have tried harden pick and roll more tho.
re-watching the last 4 minutes right now.... WOW... this team is not safe for the faint of heart or those recovering from surgery
Why is Hoosiers on NBAtv right now, instead of an endless loop of KD's buzzer beater?
KD for prez!
Thunder own the NBAs best record
Thabo: -19
Harden: +22
@TC_42 Thabo -19 in 13 (!!!) minutes...
.......... ( SPEECHLESS )
KDFTW! Royce, put that on a shirt with some weird non-Thunder colors. I might buy it!
Still alive for 66-0!
I'm such a schitzophrenic Thunder fan. One minute happy, the next sad, the next angry, then happy again. I need medicine. Roll on!
@Greaper22 Such is life as a Thunder fan. It's a thrilling ride, but make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your tray tables are in their upright and locked position.
@Greaper22 You're fine. IF you aren't, then we're all in trouble.
@Greaper22 such are the vicissitudes that define our existence
I'll have to look up that V..... word. Just wait till these Thundereers get their sealegs.