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SCOTT BROOKS
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We didn’t really expect to hear anything any more definitive about the playing status of Thunder center Kendrick Perkins than what we heard from head coach Scott Brooks at high noon.
When asked if Perkins was still day-to-day with his strained hip Brooks answered, “yes,” and then he admitted, “I haven’t seen him yet today but he’s with our medical staff getting worked on and I’m assuming in the next couple days we’ll have a better understanding.”
An MRI conducted Sunday revealed no tears in the muscle, just a strain. Trouble is those can take a while to heal and remember Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha was listed day-to-day for about a month and a half with his sore foot.
As reporters tried to glean any further information about the potential seriousness of the injury Brooks was asked if Game 5 in the Dallas series had been today could Perk have played? Scotty thought about that for a moment then said, “probably not.”
Of course there is no Game 5 today, not even an official practice as the Thunder prepares to play either the Lakers or the Nuggets in the second round.
“It was nice to get that series over because you never want to give a team a chance to play another game if you don’t have to.”
Especially a game against a Mavs team that might have suddenly had hope, best not to even chance a walk down that path.
After ending things early with the Mavericks, Oklahoma City won’t start the next series until Saturday at the earliest so Brooks can give his players some time to rest and also work them pretty hard too.
“We’ll probably go a hard (practice) and then a light one and when I say light those practices will have a lot of running but not a lot of contact, just get our timing down and get a lot of shots up.”
A long layoff between games can be a blessing (Perk has time to heal up) and a curse (everybody else has to stay sharp) so it will be a fine lien the coach and his staff will have to walk in preparing practice schedules.
“We have to keep our timing sharp and we do that by competing against each other in 5-on-5 situations or 3-on-3 or even 1-on-1. The good thing about our guys is they love to practice and get after each other.”
They’ve been known to get after each other a little too much in these sessions, “and that’s when I have to step in and kinda tone it down a little bit,” Brooks said, “cuz they don’t like to lose even against each other.”
But until at least this weekend, each other will be the only opponents they’ll have.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/05/thunder-player-power-rankings-first-round-edition/
Assuming that we make it to the WCF, and assuming it's the spurs that get there, I would posit that our success depends entirely on whether or not Russ can maintain his defensive intensity on Tony Parker.
I think we own the point guard position with Wesbrook's Offensive production and ability to guard small and average speed guards, such as Sessions. I hope Durant could pick up his Defense though, I don't want to see Ebanks, or MWP getting double digit games. I still favor the Thunder in the SF position though. The PF is going to be interesting, if Ibaka could guard Pau like he did Dirk, then It is a push, but if Ibaka can humble the Lakers defense with some jump shots, than the Thunder are favored in the PF position. The Center position is interesting. If Perk can hold Bynum to averages of 15 pts 10 rebounds like he did during the season, then I think We can dominate against their starters.
The bench play is going to be interesting. Harden might be defended by Ebanks, but Ebanks reminds me of Shannon Brown though and although they were solid bench players I think Harden can still get his on Offense. The point play from Fish can be in his favor. Blake isn't going to be that hot and I think Fish is more proven in the clutch anyways. Collisonn on Jordan Hill is going to be tough. HIll is really good at getting offensive rebounds. I think the X-factor is going to be Deaquan Cook. We are going to need his 3 pt. shooting to space the floor, to leave it open for Harden to penetrate or give Harden a chance to go one-on-one.
It seems like the Thunder are getting the Lakers is the 2nd round. I believe that the x-factors for the Lakers are Ebanks and Jordan Hill of the bench
Everybody knows that Thabo Sefolosha OWNS Kobe Bryant. The Lakers have ZERO chance of beating the Thunder in a series unless Joey Graham officiates all 7 games.
@FF_pickups *cough* joey crawford, if joey graham was officiating he would call in our favor
So we all know OKC blows at defending the pick and roll. On the other side of the WC bracket, Tony Parker has been destroying Utah with the pick and roll. We've already seen what has to be done to shut that down (get Royal on their ass), but will Scotty actually do it?
@Watson BTW, is the set the Spurs run, similar to what JH was running at the end of game 4 for the thunder?
@Watson I'd really like to see Collison out there defending Tim, because Tim is the one usually there with Parker or Ginoblli doing the Pick and Roll. And Then have Ibaka out there as a Help Defender down low in the post. Collison would make smart decisons and if Tim is still on him with the ball in his hands, he'd try and drive or shoot over him. It'd be a plus if Tim settles for a mid-range jumper; if Tim decides to drive then Ibaka would be there to attempt to meet him at the rim. Ibaka has a high probability of altering or blocking the shot. Westbrook defending Parker, that is going to be tough. That would have to be a one-on one match up. The Thunder can't afford to help because Parker will be able to kick it or dish it into the post where there would be an open big (i'm looking at you Ibaka!)
@Watson Well, Russ has been great defensively in the playoffs so far. If he can keep that up, that will change things against Parker. We've seen that Russ has the ability to defend the pick and roll well against an elite PG (see: Clippers and Paul).
@TempBoy Brandon @Watson Russ excels at locking down off the ball shooting guards, ie. denying the ball chasing through screens... On the ball, he's not nearly as effective. I'm sure he can step it up, but he's going to get into foul trouble trying to guard Parker too agressively.
@TempBoy Brandon
It's true, if we lower Russ Westbrook usage so he can focus his energy at that end, he can be that All Pro Lockdown defender!
@FF_pickups @TempBoy Brandon I'd really love that idea. That's what I've wanted for most of the season. I strongly believe he can be a shut down defender at the point guard position, while also being super efficient with his shots by lowering his usage. He has the length and the speed to keep guards in front of him but he is usually spent, running and gunning in the other end with the ball in his hands. If you can limit his shot selection and create plays tailored for him and Harden, then his defensive intensity can pick up in an instant. It's just awesome thinking about what the Thunder could be able to do
@Watson The answer, Watson, is no. Brooks doesn't have the guts to make that move.
@FF_pickups @Watson
Thats a curious statement to make about Brooks' guts. Brooks has shown in the playoffs he has the 'guts' to throw in whatever line up needed to win. We saw quite a few lineups against the Mavs that we hadn't seen all year. Hell, last year he benched Westbrook in favor of Maynor because he knew it gave them the best chance to win.
@FF_pickups @Watson Which very sadly will be our undoing.
@Watson it also depends how much we go small and if cooks hitting shots
If Perkins misses more than 1-2 games of Lakers series, OKC is in big trouble.
@courtsense he probably isnt going to miss any games.
You need to be prepared to tell Jax where he can get some of this optimism.
@courtsense
I wouldn't say 'big trouble' but I would say that it'll make things interesting. Do you think Kobe is going to let Bynum shoot more than him? No way, if you said "If perk misses 1-2 games AND Kobe shoots less than Bynum..." I might be inclined to agree.
@FF_pickups Bynum doesn't need more shots than Kobe to dominate - because Bynum's so much more efficient. 60+% on FG, killing in the paint, and drawing fouls against smaller/weaker defenders (Nick, Nazr) goes a long way.
@FF_pickups @courtsense Also, Kobe has an irrational need to challenge Harden when Kobe is about the only person Harden defends effectively.
@sammasaaron @courtsense
I'm not saying that Bynum won't be effective in small doses, I'm saying that Kobe will be ineffective in large doses and will be the best asset for the Thunder in that series.
I'm a physical therapist and that 10-14 recovery time that Darnell googled is something I would tell one of my 60 year old patients, not a professional athlete in his 20s
@andyworcester but 60 year olds aren't battling for rebounds against bynum....how long do you think it'll be?
@OBoymuzik @andyworcester Most people also don't have Physical Therapists working with them every day. Perk's going to be getting daily medical treatment, something that's a luxury for most of us.
@ou_sas Amen, and amen.
@sammasaaron @OBoymuzik @andyworcester Anger is one way to tough through pain. And if there's one team that makes Perk angry, it's the Lakers.
@ou_sas @OBoymuzik @andyworcester Also, Perk will lie through his teeth about how much pain he's in...although I don't know how much of that will be desire to get back on the court and how much is pure machismo.
@ou_sas @andyworcester good point
I think he will be ready for the potential game 1 on Saturday, but it's hard to tell just how hard he tweaked it with the limited info we have atm
I guess we are in a win-win with the Lakers/Nuggets series. If the Lakers win the next one, good, Artest has to miss Game 1 and things become a little easier for KD. If the Nuggest win the next one, good, Perk has a little more time to heal up.
I am so worried about Perk. I remember the look on Celtics fans faces when his leg went out in the finals and everyone knows they win that championship if he doesn't get injured. Now I can see our chance at a title hanging on a Perk injury and I'm getting really nervous.
@C_Dub it's just the worst timing possible, any other team besides the lakers and we can win without perk..hopefully he won't miss any time
@OBoymuzik @C_Dub What are you guys talking about?! FREE COLE!!! (/sarcasm)
@sammasaaron @OBoymuzik Who wouldn't want to see the two best centers in the game duking it out!!!!!
Rob Mahoney provides some Harden love on this day we're all concerned about Perkins: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1175045-on-james-harden-and-the-manipulation-of-the-slightest-window
@ou_sas I forget which team did it, but the only reliable defense of Harden's pick and roll I've seen is to trap him out past the 3-point line. He hasn't seen enough trapping to be good at breaking it down yet. Problem is, you're taking a huge risk if you resort to that at the end of a game when Westbrook and Durant are also on the floor.
@sammasaaron I know everyone is going to think I am crazy but it was Cleveland that ran doubles at the ball all night long.
@FF_pickups @sammasaaron haha your right!!!!
@sammasaaron @ou_sas yea bulls and celts trapped him HARD, but in a long series that will be very easy to counter somehow
@ou_sas @persiansooner13 @sammasaaron yeah as long as he's aware when getting trapped we can exploit it...sometimes though he will try to split the double team and turn it over
@persiansooner13 @sammasaaron It'll work until Harden realizes that to trap him, they're single-covering/mismatching on either KD or Russ. It's a gamble that might work once or twice, but you can't use it in a prolonged way.
@sammasaaron @ou_sas boston did it...i think the spurs did it after the first game...a few others have can't remember who tho
@sammasaaron @ou_sas Bulls
@ou_sas gotta love james does what he's been doing all season in game 4 and everyone says "he's been doing it all year!!!" while Russ hits the midrange jumpers game 1 he's been hitting all year and you hear "westbrook can shoot now!"
darnell googled hip strain like some ppl did here and came up with 10-14...he did say and i agree with him that he thinks if perk can walk he'll play game 1
hes gotta already have some zingers for bynum about his grey hair right?
@OBoymuzik I was about to post Darnell's doom and gloom column. The question arises though is whether Perk needs to be 100% to get in Bynum's head.
@ou_sas he might not be able to hang on the rim and roundhouse kick people..but i'm sure he's practicing an "ouch my hip hurt, and it made my hand end up on your face "
@ou_sas while mike brown puts in his new found love...britney griner ....oops i mean jordan hill
@OBoymuzik I figure he'd go out on crutches and just scowl at Bynum and somehow Bynum would end up with like 7 points 6 boards, and benched for the fourth quarter.