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There’s a harsh reality a team has to face when it falls into a playoff hole. Blame starts flying. Fingers get pointed. Heads are called for. The other team can’t possibly be better, so it has to be someone’s fault, so why not start with the head coach? The Thunder are backed into a corner and have to respond at home, otherwise their season will end the same as it did a year ago. Some are putting jobs on the line with this series, but I find that completely ridiculous. Don’t fall into that grass-is-greener-overreact-at-everything trap. At least not yet.
But still, what could Scott Brooks and his staff be doing different and how much blood is on their hands?
1. Grade Scott Brooks through two games.
Royce Young, Daily Thunder: C. I realize a lot of people are upset with Brooks. Upset with the stubborn rotations, the weird attachment to Derek Fisher and most importantly, that the Thunder are down 0-2. I didn’t like the way he managed Game 2 at all. Blame Brooks if you like. He’s fine with the responsibility. But at the same time, a coach can only do so much. “Outcoached” is an easy word to drop around but in the same way Brooks “outcoached” Mike Brown, Gregg Popovich is doing the same to Brooks. At a certain point it becomes more about personell and matchups, something of which it’s becoming increasingly clear the Thunder don’t have compared to the Spurs. Brooks has obviously erred in a few crucial areas. Would we have a different result than 0-2 though? I doubt it. Players gotta play.
Patrick James, Daily Thunder: Incomplete. I have no choice here, because I was among the thousands of Oklahoma City area residents who didn’t have power for most of Game 2, so I had to rely on the voice of Matt Pinto instead of my eyes. But based on what I have seen, I don’t think he deserves worse than a C for now. So he’s getting out-coached by Gregg Popovich. Does that make him special? The Spurs haven’t won 20 straight games because Scott Brooks can’t do a good enough job against them.
Clark Matthews, The Lost Ogle: C-. I’m not down on him for sitting Serge in the 4th quarter of game 1 (Serge had been abused in one-on-one defense against Duncan and he can’t/won’t guard guys who drift to the perimeter), but Brooks has been destroyed by Popovich. For a guy who has recently own Coach of the Year, you’d think it would be a little closer.
2. Should Brooks consider making a drastic move?
Young: Yes. That’s definitely not Brooks’ style, nor the Thunder, but it’s kind of now or never. I think I have a better chance getting a 10-day contract than Brooks changing his starting five, but he seriously needs to reconsider. I will sing the praises of Perk all day long for his interior defense and pump his value, but I’m not too dumb to realize he doesn’t have much value in this series. A starting five pairing Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison makes a lot more sense. A rotation adjustment that brings Harden in earlier and gives OKC more time with the three-guard lineup could help. The Thunder are a good team, but you can’t leave bullets in the gun at this point.
James: No. Call me crazy, but reinventing yourself on the fly to beat a team that has won 20 straight in four of the next five games is probably not going to get it done. You’ve got to go with the system you’ve been working with all season and play to your strengths. A change I’d like to see that I don’t consider drastic would be to reduce Derek Fisher’s minutes, but not necessarily by plugging in Westbrook. The Thunder briefly played without a traditional point guard in the March 25 home win over Miami, letting James Harden handle the ball. (His season-high seven turnovers were unrelated to that development.) A small interior but big perimeter lineup of Kendrick Perkins/Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant, Harden, Thabo Sefolosha and Russell Westbrook could be a mix of defensive and offensive ability that could swing a quarter or two.
Matthews: Sure, why not? What do they have to lose? They have to win four of the next five games against a team that hasn’t lost at all in something like two months. There has to be a drastic shift in momentum, and one way to do that is to pull out all the stops. Don’t leave anything on the table.
3. Is it over?
Young: It sure feels that way, but I’d be a total hypocrite if I said yes because I didn’t think Game 2 was must-win. Still, winning four out of five against a team that hasn’t lost for almost two months seems like quite the task. Not impossible though. It starts with one, and it has to happen in Game 3. I get the feeling if the Thunder can just break through once, it could get them started. They’re good enough to win this series. But time’s running out.
James: No way. I still feel exactly the same through two games as I did before the first: The Spurs are amazing, and they’re likely to beat the Thunder. The Thunder missed out on their best chance to win, which would have come with a road split. But two emotionally charged wins in Oklahoma City turn the whole thing around. Four wins in five games? Well, if anybody in the NBA can do that, it’s the Thunder. Maybe no one can, because the Spurs are that good, and OKC will go down to the champs for the third consecutive year. But the Thunder are too good, too proud and too hard-working to be dismissed without having played a single minute in this series on their home floor.
Matthews: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?!?!
Hey Mathews, seriously? You think GERMANS bombed Pearl Harbor? I am mpressed with your knowledge.
@timduncan21 Forget it, he's (still) rolling. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/quotes (I'm writing it off to youth...)
Eh,,, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Then we kicked their ass. The Germans, they didn't attack shit. We just geared up and stomped em. Your welcome France. And let's leave the coaches alone. 1 series doesn't determine the future of a franchise. How bout, Perk, Naz and RJ to Memphis for Marc Gasol. Ooooooo! Wouldn't that be special!? I can dream....
@Newyorklahoman Forget it, he's rolling.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/quotes
Hate to say it but Charles was right. OKC = jump shooting team and right now they are getting muscled by a team that plays virtually perfect offensively.
I've been unhappy with Brooks for too long. We need an offense. I hope Presti makes a change.
I really don't see Brooks being replaced by anyone, at least this year and next. If there is a move that is made in the coaching staff, it's all the assistant coaches, who can have a big influence on the X's and O's while Brooks just keeps motivating the guys and one day becomes able to make sudden in-game changes
The main alternatives to replacing Brooks if Presti is uncomfortable staying the same would be 1) to replace Cheeks with a more forceful, more separately empowered by Presti, lead assistant (probably a defensive guy) or 2) replace most or all the assistants.
@Crow Only problem is Cheeks is the main reason Westbrook is the player he is today. You take Cheeks away Westbrook might stop improving.
@Thunderbuzzy Possibly. Only the insiders really know what Cheeks has been able to do and not able to do.
This is a harder task to overcome then Pearl Harbor
I'd start with the starting lineup and change the rotations. Perk shouldn't see the floor unless the Spurs go with Duncan/Splitter together or there is major foul trouble for Ibaka/Collison.
I'd go with a starting unit of Russ, Cook, Sef, KD, and Ibaka. Harden, Collison with Fisher getting limited minutes, and using Ivey/Hayward too.
I don't mind using Fisher as a floor space but if Fisher is gonna play when Parker is on the court then one of Westbrook/Ivey need to be on the court with him.
Just let the guys loose. Switch everything, get in passing lanes, muck the game up and make it like a pickup game with no rhythm or flow. Push the ball of turnovers/rebounds and attack the basket.
Sometimes you have to make a change. Look at the finals last year, Carlisle puts Barea in the starting lineup in game 4 and the Mavs win the next 3. Changed the dynamic of the series. With a 5% chance of wining this series why not make a change? If it doesn't work you go back to normal the next game, if it does maybe you've found something to change the series.
@ThunderUp12 I don't really feel the starting lineup is that crucial. If Brooks kept the lineup the same and subbed Perkins out for Collison or someone a few minutes in it would be virtually no different. You can alter the team without messing with the starting lineup and still get the same effect.
For the love of God before you bitch about history Google "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor." Then watch the movie.. its got Ben Affleck in it. I think Michael Bay directed it so you know it has to be good. Its basically a documentary..
@Fistermantastic
Its a line from a move. Don't be sooo anal about it.
@Fistermantastic Ben Affleck was in Animal House?!
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/05/practice-report-one-at-a-time/
Since when did the german's bomb pearl harbor? xD
@Trent_H_Shredz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI
In the language of organizational and leadership studies, the Thunder face an adaptive challenge rather than a technical one. Technical challenges, like learning a zone defense, or getting better at defending the pick and roll, are ones that can be addressed by developing new skills or learning new techniques. Adaptive challenges cannot be addressed this way - they must be addressed by changing the system, structure, and mindset. I fear that the Thunder are facing an adaptive challenge in the Spurs. And while the team may preach making adjustments like getting better at defending the pick and roll, closing out on the 3-point shooters, etc, when I watch these games, I don't think the Thunder's defense has been for lack of effort or skill. Rather, it is the structure and design of the Spurs offense to create mismatches, capitalize on dribble penetration, and to always find the soft spot in the defense that will enable an open shot. Defending this offense when it is executed to the level the Spurs have executed will not happen with more effort or adjustments.
I fear that this series points to the limitations of talent and athleticism and energy. I believe that OKC is the more physically gifted team. However, the Spurs have a superior offensive system that maximizes the talents of its players and puts incredible pressure on every single defender. And if the Spurs go on to win this series, it will be because they have a better system and players who understand that system and execute it with discipline and creativity.
I am still rooting for the Thunder to win and think they can pull off a game, maybe two, with sheer energy and willpower. That's saying a lot given that no one else has been able to beat this team. But here's hoping that in the offseason, when this series is over, that the Thunder will be able to meet this challenge not just by doing the same thing better but by designing a better system.
@yanche
Our offense is a joke. Its not just our defense. Alot of our plays get busted or broken. I know no team runs play perfectly, however alot of teams have a 2nd, and even 3rd option when they run plays. The Spurs do, if Parker can't find anything with the PnR, he passes it out to whoever else is at the wing, so they can see what they do, they'll usually wait about 6 seconds, if nothing they'll toss it to Duncan, or Splitter in the post. When its Parker, and Diaw, Parker drops it off to Diaw, then Diaw decides to either pass it, shot fake and roll, or straight up take someone off the dribble. If need be they'll go back to Duncan. The crazy thing is all 3 of those options can either be a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at any given time.
With us, as soon as our play gets busted, we burn off 10 seconds trying to do it, then the boys due to lack of technique get lost. As soon as our play gets busted, its either a half hearted PnR with Perk or Ibaka, that leads to either Russ, KD, or Harden taking a forced shot. Thats our offense.
@ElMexiThunder @yanche Totally agree. I understand KD is deadly in iso situations, but there are better ways to put him in those situations than having him essentially post his man up five feet behind the 3 point line, and then spend half of the shot clock trying to get him the ball.
@dollarbillrussell @ElMexiThunder @yanche That is what makes the Spurs so deadly. They shoot such a high percentage because every look they get is completely wide open. These guys can knock down shots all day long in the NBA if they are wide open. If we could get some of our guys open looks and I mean OPEN looks instead of coming off a screen in a clustered area...they might shoot better also
@ElMexiThunder Yeah, I agree - i don't think we can play significantly better defense. at some point, you just can't defend great offense. however, i think our offense can be much better than it is today. but i think our system has to evolve to be much more complicated, fluid, and flexible.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. WOW, you don't even know your own history.
Back to basketball. Some analysts are saying Thunder need to play faster, others say they need to slow the game down. Whichever way you slice it, you can't beat the Spurs. They are simply better at basketball.
@crystakke (Forget it he's rolling.)
Playing Derek Fisher just compounds the mistake of paying Derek Fisher
@matthews Don't Want to act like a know it all, but Japan Bombed Pearl Harbour. Not Germany
Guys...it's a line from "Animal House". Clark knows who attacked Pearl Harbor.
@TaoMaas What is Pearl Harbor?
@TaoMaas I guess it's possible that Clark neither knows who bombed Pearl Harbor nor has seen ANIMAL HOUSE. And then his last answer would be a truly extraordinary, accidental joke! This seems unlikely to me, however.
I can't wait for the Olympics to start!! I hope KD is the closer over Kobe!
@FF_pickups Kobe would complain until KD was traded to another country.
@EVDebs @FF_pickups As An Australian I'd like to negotiate a deal. We'll give you Andrew Bogut, and the Draft Rights to Nick Naitanui
So how is our draft workouts going anyone know?
@Lost Ones I'd like to know this too. Wonder where we could find this info
@JimboSlice @Lost Ones royce needs to wear a wig and dress up as a thundergirl to get inside info
@f5alcon I just had a gag reflex with that visual
What is up with Livefyre? It isn't automatically updating... or is that just me? :( I thought so
The Thunder Lost 2 close is games on the road, where they played effectively at times, against the spurs both on offense and defense. In Saying that a few things have to happen for OKC to play up to they're potential in this series
1. Russ-Harden-Thabo-KD- Ibaka is OKC's best lineup. long and fast enough on defense to disrupt the passing lanes and recover. For OKC to win all these guys need to play 40 or more minutes.
2. Allow the spurs to score inside. Don't foul anyone accept splitter
Giving up 2 points 70% percent of the time is better then giving up 50% from 3 for a defensive team. Give parker and duncan shots inside the Arc, and even if they hit a ridiculous amount because they're open, its better then if they have open shots from outside. 2 trust that turnovers and trips to the line will make up the point differential based on accuracy.
3. Move perk to the bench .
Perk Can't guard duncan, Collision Can't guard splitter. Splitter is the type of low post scorer that Perk is in this team to guard. yet due to rotations they rarely share the floor together. If perk played less minutes coming off the bench, that would allow perk to foul at a higher rate. something thats been shown to be effective against splitter. If you are playing the foul defense against splitter. OKC have plenty of bigs (Perk,nazr,cole, nick) who can all afford to foul with KD playing mostly PF
4. So Who Starts?
Either Cook or collision. Due to Thabo's Midseason injury, we know cook is effective in a role with the starting unit. It also helps that Danny Green's not a tough defensive cover. Though with Cook on the floor OKC lack an effective screener. However if they give KD the ball at the elbow or in a post up position he should be able to get good looks . and Russ playing Drive and kick would be more effective with 3 3pt shooters standing alongside him. However this means that Serge would guard duncan all game. but that might not be a bad thing.
5. will Duncan wear out? With Splat-a-splitter limits tiago's minutes, and forces duncan to play more. how many more minutes can he play at this pace? before his age starts to catch up to him. Maybe it doesn't but it should be worth finding out.
6. When to Rest Guys.
two of either KD, Russ and Harden should be on the floor at all times to keep the offense going. I like the idea of giving each of the perimeter players a rotated 2 minutes rest each quarter, except for the last, where its only a minute
Serge Can rest whenever duncan/and or parker is off the floor
7. Limit fishers minutes.
Fish shouldn't be on the floor with parker unless its the final seconds and the thunder have the ball. He's a backup PG who likes to shoot. Ivey can manage to hound parker full court for 4 minutes or so to give russ a breather, leaving fish 5 minutes which seems about right
Sorry for the rant, just needed to vent.
Also all of these strategies have been used over the course of the regular season due to injuries and roster composition. They work, and they are things that OKC has done at times all year
@jdstorm Really pretty spot on rant. Only problem is, numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 all won't happen because our coach just simply won't do it.
This has bugged me all year, but it seems we aren't even trying for offensive rebounds with all of our jumpshots. The coaching philosophy seems to be as soon as kd or russ thinks about a shot everyone sprint back on D to prevent a fast break. It's mind boggling that one of our guys shoots then 4 of the other team are surrounding the ball after the miss while none of the Thunder are even in the picture. Why can't we leave back at least one guy for a chance at a rebound?
@KellOne well our best offensive rebounder rode the pine the whole 4th qtr of game 1. that didn't help this problem.
But to Lost Ones, seeing that we're one of the most athletic teams in the league, I kind of doubt it's a personnel issue. 1-4 all can get back on defense in a flash. I think it's just a coaching decision.... you know, the usual.
@KellOne we dont have the personnel to get back on defense quickly its actually a good strategy with our roster.
@Lost Ones @KellOne I can see it being a great strategy if you are able to stop the other team on offense. Unfortunately we haven't been able to do that lol
We need to end this series quickly so we can interview jerry sloan.
Why do brooks always look stressed during every interview
@Lost Ones I've never once watched Brooks and thought to myself: "he seems completely confident in what he is doing." I really get the feeling that he's still mostly winging it, only the team isn't a bottom-feeder anymore, and therefore there's added pressure for the coach to actually appear to have some sort of plan.
@dollarbillrussell I agree. I noticed it when he said during the Lakers series that 'We'll figure it out'.
@Lost Ones because he reads DT and half of us are calling for his head
@cleandoe hopefully presti is reading as well.