Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
With all that’s happened, it’s kind of easy to forget the Thunder’s season begins a day from now. And not only against a great team, but on the road against a team that would very much enjoy some payback.
“We know them well and they know us well,” said Scott Brooks. “They’re very difficult to guard and stop. They pass the ball. Last year they probably had some of the best passing games I’ve ever seen since I started playing basketball or coaching basketball. They are so well versed. They’ve had a lot of games at a high level and they’ve been together a lot of years … They do things that you know is coming and some of the things are hard to stop.”
Besides facing the Spurs, Brooks is tasked with trying to work in a new player and a figure out a new rotation completely on the fly.
“It’s exciting,” Brooks said. “It’s a great part of the job is always trying to figure out ways to get better. A lot of times you have to improvise on the fly. We’re a no excuse team. We’ve only had our guys for a few days of practice but when they step on the floor tomorrow night we expect them to play at a high level and expect them to know what we do.”
Here are the primary questions: How does Kevin Martin fit with the second unit? How does he gel with Nick Collison? How deep will Brooks go? Who is the backup center? How many minutes will Hasheem Thabeet get? Where does Perry Jones III fit? Not even Perry Jones III knows that.
“I have no clue,” Jones said Wednesday. “We’ll have to find out tomorrow.”
Seems that we’ll find out a lot tomorrow.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On who the backup point guard will be: “What time is the game tomorrow? 8:30? So we’ll know about 9:15, we’ll know. Or you will know.”
Brooks on Thunder-Spurs being a rivalry: “I don’t get in to that because if you do and you put more emphasis on one team, you have to have 29 rivalries and you have to really believe that. And if you don’t I think it sends a mixed message to the players that this game is more important than another game. But from a fan’s perspective I’m sure you can say that.”
Brooks on people counting out OKC: “Counting us out? That never, ever will bother me. You have to learn how to block those things out. But the guys I see every day — Perk, nick, Serge, Kevin, Russell — I’m very confident in that group. And I believe in the group and I’m ready to coach the group. I’m not worried what people are saying, we’re good or we’re bad, the trade’s this, the trade’s that. That’s behind us. We’ve moved on. James was good for us. But he’s no longer here. We have guys here that are committed, they’re excited to be here and they want to be here and we’re going to make the best out of all of them.”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On his first NBA game: “Every rookie is excited for their first NBA game. I’m really excited. I just can’t wait to get out there and compete with these guys and see how the hard work we’ve put in will unfold.”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On being back: “It feels good to be back here in front of friends and family. I know I’ve got more support here than anywhere else. It feels good to be somewhere you know you’re going to be.”
On getting released: “When they released me of course I was upset. But soon after I had to figure out where I was going, where I was going to be for the year. But then the next couple days they talked to my agent and he called me and said we might get a deal with Oklahoma. And I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/11/thursday-bolts-11-1-12/
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/11/thursday-bolts-11-1-12/
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
hah .. you win
@twistdov Only by a hair my man, only by a hair.
Some notes:
Houston, if they remain healthy will stay in the playoff hunt. But one of two things have to happen: 1) Jeremy Lin has to take, not dabble with, taking more of the scoring load and 2) Asik has to get a consistent offensive game. I just don't like the complementary pieces around. Parsons played 42 minutes and got 11/7/6, which is not bad, but he will need to have more of a scoring punch. The assist numbers were good, but they also had 20 TO. Giving a 1.4 AtTO ratio. Delfino I think is going to be the X-factor for the team moving forward.
LA, there is some real troubles here. If Nash is actually hurt, then you can prolong that chemistry building stretch some 2x the amount he is gone due to rehab. If Kobe is actually hurt, then you can prolong that by 3x since Kobe is the centerpiece. If neither misses time, then back on track. They should go out and get Shelvin Mack or Shaun Livingston. Both of which I think would be an upgrade over Steve Blake.
For tonight, I think OKC will win by 11 points based solely on the fact that I think SA will start slow, plus their performance last night did not impress me one bit.
@DeMolay_Thunder it would be funny if lakers miss the playoffs
@f5alcon @DeMolay_Thunder I thought a most telling stat last night was DH finished with 33 points, 14 Rebounds and still finished with a -2 in +/-
@Durienne @f5alcon @DeMolay_Thunder I'll wait and see what his +/- (raw and adjusted) looks like after 500+ minutes.
@Durienne @f5alcon Lol MVP for the Lakers thus far? Mega World Problem.
@f5alcon It's a distinct possibility if these injuries are piling up this early in the season. I think Brown will last as coach no longer than Christmas.
@f5alcon I think the Lakers brass is smart enough to distinguish between a bad coaching system and injuries affecting a team. I'm thinking they already have a panic button that sends an eviction notice to his office ready, and I'm almost sure they had that installed after last year's playoffs.
@DeMolay_Thunder maybe, though if they are injured he has an ecxuse
@f5alcon @kennygee90 would be a sad panda if that happened.
@Tronchaser @f5alcon Lakerboy = Sad Panda
@Tronchaser @f5alcon He had to console himself with a Laker board last night after the loss.
Didn't get to see the Rockets-Detroit game, but just got through watching the highlights on nba.com. Detroit isn't a very good basketball team, but still nice to see James have a big night. D Cook played five minutes, but didn't score. Cole did not play. James played 44 minutes--from what I saw--he won't be able to leave the floor much with Houston's overall team.
@El Prez Taking into account that it was Detroit. Harden has only had 2 practices with the Rockets and he already seemed to have a good feel for his new teammates, racking up 12 assists. He truly does have a very high basketball IQ and I can see more FA players wanting to go and play with him.
Offensively--James has always had a high IQ. He makes guys around him better on that end of the floor. He sees the floor....offensively. I could see certain players want to play with him, plus--you get to go the yacht parties. You can throw a lot of yacht parties with $80 million in qwan. 'Show me the money, Jerry McGuire!'
@Skyline @El Prez lin looked like a waste of money though
Probably an overpayment. But most teams have several.
@f5alcon @El Prez Last night (again vs Det) we watched a #2 guard drop 12 dimes. But that is what Harden does. If you are another top player you will want to play with Harden. You know that you will get the ball.
My fantasy team isn't that bad!
@D-MC yeah this league is gonna be close, though me and bmulle are crushing the total stats
@f5alcon Westbrook should help me out tonight in a few departments. You definitely are killing it in rebounds and blocks. I apparently have no three point shooters.
@D-MC westbrook is your 2nd or 3rd best 3 point shooter
@D-MC A weeee bit early.
LakersReporter To repeat, Kobe's foot is real sore. He's favoring it a bit walking to the bus. Not something he can make worse, but it'll hurt. 11/1/12 1:08 AM, LakersReporter Nash on his lower leg: "I’ve had contusions before but not necessarily in this spot. It’s kind of frustrating." 11/1/12 1:26 AM
@tydude They're so screwed. Epic, epic meltdowns to come.
@twistdov Steve Nash is really old and Dwight is not a good fit for the team
@KellOne @tydude @twistdov Mike Brown is hardworking and smart but he looked totally confused, paralyzed, detached and useless these last two games.
@f5alcon @tydude If Dwight is picking up fouls like crazy though, Russ is licking his chops.
@tydude dwight has been fine, but with nash sucking the pnr isnt very useful. Gonna start 0-3 after the clippers game
@tydude @twistdov This Laker update brought to you by LifeAlert. "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"
The same people who are hanging nooses from their ceiling fans after Harden had a big game were looking for a bridge to jump off after the Green trade . . and Westbrooks first season. . .and Reggie Jackson's struggles last year . . . and the Lakers aquisition of Howard and Nash . . . and our loss to the Mavs 2 years ago . . . someone needs to add extensions to their crib rails.
@slimjimzv The only one I was particularly worried about was the Harden trade. I understand that I am orders of magnitude less intelligent than Presti. I don't understand what kind of plan they have but I know they are committed to building a winner and making Oklahoma fans proud.
Presti has made the plan known all along... they want a sustainable team. They're not going to sell out long term success for a year or two championship window. Which not everyone is on board with.
@DeMolay_Thunder@slimjimzv
I think they would rather have 5 WCFs then 1 title and 4 first rd exits
@DeMolay_Thunder @slimjimzv oh and I meant than not then
@f5alcon @slimjimzv And you know what? I'm completely cool with that. That just means more Thunder games each year every year.
@slimjimzv I was ecstatic after the Green trade.
@justin_mia @slimjimzv And crying over Perk
@justin_mia @slimjimzv You've come across as a little brinksman-like with this one, but that's probably more because you're rehashing the same discussions about what Harden's worth actually is over the course of 15 threads and 5 days, with a new person every time, it seems.
@justin_mia @ou_sas @f5alcon @slimjimzv If the Thunder step back one year, not a huge deal. If they do not recover, the responsibility will be mainly be with Presti.
@ou_sas @f5alcon @slimjimzv While I understand Presti's position, I still can't agree with it. It seems more self-serving, and in ownership's interest, than the fans.
@justin_mia @f5alcon @slimjimzv Ego battle may have been spot on, especially - as I've said several times - if you're trying to negotiate a smaller deal and the other side is giving you nothing. Some of the speed may very well have been punitive of the agent as well.
The other thing is that - and I've said this before, too - I think Presti's trying to change his negotiating paradigm: "This is not a team that will pay market rate, they're going to try and pay what they think the player is worth and not one penny more." It's kind of an Anti-Knicks situation. If a player wants to stick around with KD and Russ, then they're going to have to take Presti's offer going forward. It's an expensive tone to try and set, but we'll have to wait and see the next couple of contract extensions to see if it works.
@ou_sas @f5alcon @slimjimzv The trade took everyone by surprise, he had three or four days before the extension deadline to find a better package, at the very least. Notice Houston didn't extend him until the last minute even though he was in town for a couple days? That's what usually happens. I can't figure out why he traded him so soon other than some kind of ego battle. Morey's trade would have been on the table through 10/30.
@justin_mia @f5alcon @slimjimzv I think Presti wanted to make the decision quickly to get the team moving on mentally, rather than having it linger out there in rumors or whatever. It's debatable whether or not that thought has any actual worth, but that's at least what I think he was motivated by. If you're going to end a player era, do it quickly and get to the moving on stage ASAP.
@f5alcon @ou_sas @slimjimzv I looked back at transactions since about 2003-04 and considering how good Harden is and the fact that they were seeking a trade with a full year of rookie scale left, the value that was returned wasn't enough. Al Jefferson is one of the very few others traded under similar circumstances and he was the main piece of the KG trade.
@justin_mia @ou_sas @slimjimzv Are there better packages out there, should he have held out for parsons to be included or houstons pick? I don't think the suns could offer something better
@ou_sas @slimjimzv I'm not one to overreact to anything, and I didn't like this trade before Harden had a big game. Mullens and Green both aren't good and I was glad to see them go. I think we should have kept Harden at whatever cost, but I can certainly understand Presti's mantra of sustainability even if I do not agree with it in this instance. The only thing that's difficult to come to terms with is the package that was gotten back for Harden.
Our offense will still probably be okay, Kevin Martin is not a bad player at all. Just hope he stays healthy.
@justin_mia @slimjimzv That's true. I think we as fans tend to overreact to any trade though. (Remember when Byron had his first double double in Charlotte and the board exploded with how Presti had made a bad trade?) I'm waiting to see if the team can maintain a high offensive efficiency with the new players before I really start to judge the trade. Plus, this may motivate KD to have a 33ppg season too, which I would not be opposed to.
@ou_sas @slimjimzv Did the same thing with Green when people thought he was a 20-10 PF.
@slimjimzv Nailed.