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JAMES HARDEN
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It is such a hot topic and point of concern for Thunder fans head coach Scott Brooks didn’t even wait to be asked about how his big man is doing.
“Perk’s still day-to-day,” he said before anyone could ask the question. The coach didn’t provide much more insight when a follow-up was asked.
“He’s still just getting treatments and working with our medical staff, in a couple of days we’ll see where he is and go from there, but he’s still just day-to-day.”
As we pointed out in this space yesterday day-to-day can mean a couple of days, like with James Harden and his concussion or it can mean almost a couple of months as it did with Thabo Sefolosha and his sore right foot.
What all this means for Kendrick Perkins and his strained hip muscle only Perk and the medical staff know for sure and they’re not talking. Even Scotty doesn’t like to approach them about things like this because he doesn’t want to try to rush the process.
KEVIN DURANT
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Last season Perkins played at anywhere from 60-75 percent full strength as he recovered from knee injuries. Will he be able to begin the second round playoff series at that level? Or will he need to be fully healed before he can play?
“That’s the medical staff’s and Perk’s call,” answered Brooks, “And everybody else involved. It’s all about the player, you can’t put a guy out there if it’s gonna jeopardize anything. If he’s ready to go he will be out there. And one thing we all know about Perk, he’s as tough as they come as a competitor. He will do everything in his power to be out there.”
But the bottom line is, “if he’s not ready he’s not ready,” Brooks stressed.
So the Thunder head into this second round not knowing for sure yet who they will be playing or who will be in their starting lineup.
An answer to the opponent could come late tonight. If the Lakers beat Denver then L.A. it is, if the Nuggets steal a win at Staples Center then that series goes back to Denver for Game 6.
Thunder players and coaches will be glued to their HD TVs tonight watching that game but to a man they would admit no rooting interest.
SCOTT BROOKS
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“Naw,” said Kevin Durant. “Just whoever wins that’s who we get matched up with so it really doesn’t matter. They’re two tough teams, really tough teams, we always have problems with but it’s gonna be fun.”
“I’m not rootin for anybody,” said Los Angeles native James Harden, “whoever wins, wins.” Harden did say he’ll watch with more interest than most regular fans, “I’ll be watching different players and how they’re playing and different matchups that I might be guarding, things like that.”
“Lakers-Denver whoever we play they’re both good teams, I’m gonna watch both as a fan and as a coach, this will be a good night to relax and enjoy NBA basketball,” Brooks told reporters.
So, I just saw the following post from a Mavs fan elsewhere.
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The Mavs need to make a trade with the Denver Nuggets and acquire Danilo Gallinari 6'10" SF and JaVale McGee 7ft Center real cheap. Then acquire Deron Williams PG from New Jersey. Then Cuban and Nelson need to turn as much energy and focus over to acquiring Goran Dragic and Chase Bodinger from the Houston Rockets. Keep these current Maverick Players on the Roster.
Projected Starters:
PF - Dirk Nowiski of Course. C - Ian Mahimi SF - Danilo Galinari SG - Goran Dragic PG - Deron Williams Backups
PF - Brandon Wright C - JaVale McGee SF - Chase Bodinger SG - Jason Terry PG - Delonte West
Reserves
Kelenna Azubuike Rodrigue Beaubois Dominique Jones Shawn Marion
Players traded or waived.
Brendon Haywood Vince Carter Jason Kidd Yi Jianlian Lamar Odom Brian Cardinal
These moves are very feasable and financially they make since, in addition, with these players the Mavericks can easily become a formittable opponent in the Western Conference and the Finals. Most importantly, the Mavs will NO LONGER be the oldest team in the league.
@Jooseppi yea but the nuggets arent trading mcgee and galinari for anyone on the dallas roster but dirk
@Ryjay1993 Apparently' the OP's idea was that a sign and trade with Terry would do the trick. Dallas fans are fun.
@anonymous12345 @Ryjay1993 I imagine there is some Terry cloning involved. Seems plausible.
@Jooseppi @Ryjay1993 According to his projected rotation, Terry is still on the team. So who knows
@Jooseppi What, no Dwight?
@anonymous12345 I assume a Dwight/Paul/Wade deal is plan B.
@Jooseppi Uh, why would Denver trade Gaillinari and McGee for any combination of those "trade assets"?
Someone be drinking some nice kool-aid over there in Dallas.
@alvarex Some great delusion, for sure. I can't find it now but I saw a long thread of four or five Mavs fans 100 percent convinced that Dirk was hinting in the press conference that LeBron was coming to Dallas.
@f5alcon @Jooseppi @alvarex How hilarious would it be if Terry left for greener pastures and Dirk is left all by himself?
@Jooseppi @alvarex lol yeah, the funny thing is terry is a free agent so they cant trade him.
@f5alcon @alvarex Nah they'll just trade cloned Terry for them. And maybe another clone for Howard and Kobe.
@Jooseppi @alvarex the mavs dont have enough to get gallo or mcgee for sure roddy has "potential" but he is 23 and the chances of him improving significantly are diminishing.
wright is probably their best asset but he isnt going to bring in anything really good.
mahinmi is a decent piece too, maybe all three of those players and their draft pick could get them one decent player in return.
@Jooseppi ROFL
I watched most of the LA/DEN game and I was impressed by Javale McGee's play. he has serious potential.
@areayewhy I like McGee's game. He's been portrayed as not being the brightest bulb, but I think he's just young and will get better.
@TaoMaas @areayewhy I put him in the same category as JR Smith, and Nick Young... loads of talent, and lacking in the upstairs dept.
@Tronchaser @TaoMaas It looks like George Carl has reined him in. I only saw 1 or 2 silly mistakes last game. I'll put up with 1 or 2 silly mistakes if he continues to give the effort he has been giving.
@areayewhy he scares me, he is playing way better than nene.
Anytime! Anytime Kobe want it he be gettin it!! 45 points be nothin!!! He be doin dat wit a hundred different shots!!!! Try dat Durant!!!!! Dats rite!!!!!!! U cant!!!!!!! Suckas!!!!!!!!
@DudeBeAGangsta So, 45 points on 100 shots is good, yes?
@DudeBeAGangsta Needs more exclamation.
@DudeBeAGangsta and it cost the lakers the game, if bynum or pau scored more lakers would have won.
@f5alcon @DudeBeAGangsta Kobe Bryant was -6 for the game. Final margin for the Lakers was -3. They were better with him on the bench.
@DudeBeAGangsta "Anytime Kobe want it he be gettin it" was the prosecutor's opening statement at his trial
Goodbye Lord Stanley... :<
@ILikePancakes Goodbye.
@LordStanley @ILikePancakes 'Zark, I hope you have a list of passwords for all your troll accounts written down somewhere. Coz we sure miss Cougar...
Im Hoping The nuggets can stretch it to 7
Anyone think that Denver has a shot? Or will LA take it in Game 6?
@Tronchaser I think it's 40/60 (den/la) right now, maybe 45/55 if Denver wins in Denver.
@Tronchaser I think "yes" is my answer to both.
So, does anybody know if this means no Saturday game? Or is that still a possibility?
@Ozarkhick I think more than likely it'll be Sunday (assuming no game 7) just because its the Lakers and ABC likes putting them in that Sunday afternoon slot
@Ozarkhick Do you frequent RealGM? I've seen a guy(gal?) with your nickname
@ILikePancakes Yeah, I troll under the name Ozark over there.
Is anyone else enamored with these Stone lined non-stick pans they are always advertising on NBA TV? I can't say why but I'm just mesmerized by this.
Kobe should win DPOY...only he can completely shut down two 7 ft all-stars
@bmuelle2112 Thunder will moiderize him
@bmuelle2112 Freakin Kobe freakin Bryant, humbug
Denver is so lucky to trade felton for miller who saved this game.
@shiki Great job Portland way to give away the veteran savy Miller
intense game. good win. #DenverUp!.... wait...
I'm outta here. Sleepy-sleepy time. My REM sleep just got back to normal last night. Dissing the idiot Bynum isn't worth the sleep deprivation.
gasol brothers are being really assertive getting shots this postseason huh
@OBoymuzik If Marc touches the ball, a clipper flops against him. If Pau touches the ball, kobe threatens him. whatcha gonna do
Kobe with 43 points but was still a -6
@bmuelle2112
Along with 43 minutes... its gotta take a toll on the aging body
@CDSpark an he's got to go and play in high altitude in Denver
@bmuelle2112 nice avatar
@loplopol @bmuelle2112 two to go