vs. 
OKC Thunder (16-3, 8-2 road) at Los Angeles Clippers (11-6, 9-2 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 9:30 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 107.9 (2nd), Clippers– 106.8 (7th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 101.2 (11th), Clippers – 105.2 (25th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (7th), Clippers – 91.0 (17th)
View from the enemy: Clipperblog
Lob City versus Thunder U. If you’re not pumped to watch this one, I think you need your fan card revoked. Oklahoma City has always had some issues winning in Staples against both tenants, but this one is going to be especially difficult because the Clippers aren’t just good. They’re really good. Having two All-Stars in the starting five tends to do that.
Tonight kicks off quite the run of games for OKC: Clippers, at Dallas, home versus Memphis, at San Antonio and at Portland. Then three more road games after that (Warriors, Kings, Jazz). This is one of the more difficult stretches the Thunder will have to endure, but it’s one at a time and it starts tonight against the Clippers.
Los Angeles coming in: The Clippers last played yesterday beating the Nuggets.
1. The matchups. Before the season, I went on record saying I thought the Clippers presented the Thunder with the most difficult set of matchups. Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook always have a major tussle, Blake Griffin is a load for anybody and DeAndre Jordan is like Tyson Chandler in the sense that Perk isn’t going to be able to run the floor or jump with him. OKC has one big edge as the Clips don’t have a good defender for KD, but this is one of the few times the Thunder don’t possess an obvious edge in matchups across the board.
2. Prepare for frustration. Between Blake Griffin and Chris Paul’s overreaction to fouls and dramatic falling, you’re bound to yell at your TV at least 75 times tonight. You’re going to be annoyed and frustrated. You know Perk and Griffin are going to tangle. You know it’s happening. Let’s just hope Serge Ibaka gets another one of these on Blake.
3. X-factors. I think this game might be decided by which X-factor player shows up biggest. Mo Williams has been fantastic scoring off the bench for the Clippers lately and the Thunder of course have James Harden. I can definitely see this being a battle between stars that comes down to which teams gets a little extra from somewhere. If Harden outscores Williams, I think OKC wins.
Tip at 9:30 CT. Go Sob City.
All the highlight reel dunks and jackass attitude don't mean shit if you don't win games when it counts - in the playoffs. The playoffs are about two things: team defense and half-court execution. Either one of those traits when performed consistently will rob opponents of their collective will. Performed together consistently, they win championships. Dallas didn't win last year because of dunks and athleticism and sheer talent. They won because they consistently got good shots in clutch situations from their half-court offense, and because they were strong defensively when they needed to be - especially with Kidd, Marion, Chandler, and Stevenson.
Nearly every basket KD and Russ score is the result of their athleticism or ISOs or transition baskets...they rarely get anything easy in the halfcourt. On the other end, OKC isn't a terrible defensive team, but I have serious doubts whether they have that ability to shut opposing teams down when they need to in the 4th, and rob them of their will to win. They have some talented individual defenders, but the team D concepts seem to elude certain players.
I also have serious doubts as to whether Brooks is tough enough on his players and demands enough. I guess it's great to be known as a "player's coach" - but I don't recall that tag ever being applied to tough guy champions like Popovich, Rivers, and Carlisle. All 3 of those guys are known to hold their players accountable for everything. It may not always be nice, but it wins games.
@courtsense wish we could get our players to read courtsense's comment and realize thats what wins games...
@Thunder S Hey, don't get me wrong: 16-4 after 20 games is fantastic. But it has been the ugliest 16-4 I ever could've imagined - winning despite their glaring weaknesses, and because of their sheer talent and athleticism. I'd feel better if I saw some signs of a team-wide commitment to D and consistent half-court O execution.
It's not like these guys are still getting to know each other - this is 99% the same crew from last year.
@courtsense i think this is a fair assessment. I will note that i think the halfcourt execution has gotten slightly better, and at times the defense has too (though not tonight). i still wish Brooks would demand more from Russ defensively- its almost like he wants to protect him from not getting fouls. He can be a good defender, but the team and coaches and Russ need to value it as much as his offense.
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@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing Griffin did use his off arm on Perk
@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing he was teammate of Perk and won a champion together
we did rebound pretty well. and even on paint points, which considering all the high flying stuff, is kinda okay.
Maybe this loss will spark Brooks to work on Defense
@OkcBaby Or call Ron Adams
@ThunderWins@OkcBaby If Brooks doesn't stick after this season, do you think Adams would come back as Head Coach?
They can have showtime. I'll take quietly working from worst record in the league to best record in the league in three years.
@Thunder S That's a great comment...
Justin still thinks we dont need Thabo and Maynor
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@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing He has good hands and better feet. Bur you are right. He is a flopper, cry baby and arrogant
@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing K-Mart is enough
@shiki@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing yeah he might have a good go. Nick seems to have a hard time with players like that, smarts and all.
@deleted_1998213_Don'tStoptheSergeing his athleticism is pretty stellar, but you are right. it is enough for good under the rim work, and a decent mid range. Such a weird time for PFs in NBA.
Playing with Collison can give Harden more chance to driving.It is very important for him when he is cold outside the 3Pt line.But he cannot get this support more.
KD can shoot anywhere but Harden's shot location is only at rim and 3pt line,it limits him.I dont know whether it is coach's choice or his flaw.But if he can shoot like russ from mid range and Russ can learn Harden's euro step,our offense will be incredible
As bad as it looked it wasnt that bad of a loss. 12 pts If the bench could have helped get the lead back, we would have been right back in the game.
@OkcBaby If Thabo had played...If we had hit our FTs....If we played a little more defense...If a third player had any sort of offensive night...If the last 1:15 of the second quarter hadn't been crazy....if...if...if
@EVDebs Exactly
Guys.... : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3v6YiU6RXdU
0:01. Just click it over and over.
@C-Wil Perk is not allowed online or watch ESPN
thabo sefolosha not in the lineup really hurt. there hasn't been a game where it was more evident that this team needs thabo in the starting lineup. he could have been a defensive solution to paul in the 4th that would have kept the thunder within single digits.
and goodness I hope that we clobber the Mavs. Would be too much arrogance to handle with Jet running around on the court like a buffoon.
Over/Under on when Perkins has normal dreams again? 12 years, 15?
Reggie needs to control the game. He doesnt need 10 pt.s. His game management needs to improve. But hes still learning the game. Hope it comes soon.
@OkcBaby not saying he needs to score 10 every night, just to be capable of it
the roster as of now relies on harden and when he's off we have to hope cooks having a good week
Reggie needs to prove he's capable of scoring 10 points in a close game or we need to pick up someone, harden.serge, and cook are too streaky to be the only other scoring options
Griffin head cant get any bigger
We didn't play nearly as bad as the score. I'll take our team vs theirs every night with the given effort levels involved. Chris Paul is an amazing human being though.
@SammyThunderer They take those same 24 3s again doubt they hit 50%.
That was just plain nuts
Did harden have the flu tonight?????
@OBoy he was home the last two days, probably was getting too much action
@OBoy hahaha "flu like symptoms"
As much as I was a start-Harden booster, our rotations with Thabo seem to make much more sense, most of the time. While I want to vent at Brooks, who didn't seem to do much specifically to battle a ridiculously hot team with coaching/plays/strategy, he does show wisdom with the rotations. love em or hate em, we missed it tonight.
If Thabo is the secret glue holding this team together, we are in big trouble.
@ThunderWins no secret, just some rhythm to the lineups, and options to have a bit taller defender. and keeping Harden in his role as a creator. We didn't manage that well to start the game and it dug us a hole.
I think as thunder fans we had seen so many foolish games,so I dont know why you look likes so disappointment.
career ender for perk tonight
@Remify
Nah... I suspect the next person who tries to do that will end up onn their ass... My money is on Terry, Carter or Marion.
@ThunderBelize his confidence is in the gutter, hes gonna see that dunk 50 more times this year, not to mention hes playing like shit this year. krstic, where are you?
Crappy loss, flukey momentum swing to end the half. We didn't play well, they played astronomical. An 11 point loss is actually not as bad as it felt.
Can we adjust? Can we really step up our defense? If not, it's worth worrying about. Not worried yet. Just frustrated.
KD makes the second FT to cut the lead to 5, they dont run up off a miss and make a wide open 3. whole different game.
@Remify yep. momentum will kill you, and they used it better than any team has yet this year. i doubt it will happen like that again this year. combine that with bad to mediocre play from us and we lose.
@walrusmuse@Remify Positive outlook on the game, I like that. The Clippers just brought more to this game but who's to say if it could not have been a lot closer. We even had a chance to do some things at the end but blew those opportunities too. It wasn't there for us tonight.
Now lets take our whipping on Sportscenter and move on.
Will there be a thunder player ranking for this game?:)
@OkcBaby Easy KD + WB co stars of the game
No one else showed up
@ThunderWins KD was getting destroyed on D. So was Westbrook and turning the ball over way to much.
@OkcBaby@ThunderWins Caron Butler is a nice player, but he gets his season high tonight? C'mon...that's a lack of D.
@OkcBaby@ThunderWins Defensive player of the game was Thabo.