The Thunder kick off their set of games that don’t count tonight in Hidalgo, Texas, against the Rockets. And while Scott Brooks has said the starters will play fewer than 20 minutes and might not play at all in the second half, the preseason really isn’t about them anyway.
This is going to be about Cole Aldrich, Hasheem Thabeet, Daniel Orton, Perry Jones III, Hollis Thompson and Eric Maynor. That’s who the preseason is big for.
Will Aldrich cement himself as Perk’s backup or is there a chance for Thabeet or Orton to slide in? Does Perry Jones have a shot at regular rotation minutes? Can Hollis Thompson impress enough to make the team? How does Maynor look coming off that knee injury?
The preseason definitely isn’t about winning or losing, it’s about extending the lessons of camp into a real-life setting. And it also means basketball is pretty much back.
When: 7 PM CT
Where: Hidalgo, TX
Radio: WWLS 97.1 FM, 640 AM
TV: None
OKC’s projected starters: Russell Westbrook, Daequan Cook, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Cole Aldrich
The game isn’t on TV tonight in Oklahoma City, but you can try this stream out to watch it.
#Commentnumber1400
Isnt Cole better then Nazr? Isnt that all we want? We are upgrading at least two of last year's positions with this year's rotation, not to mention some guys should improve.
Damian Lillard about to get a triple double
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/10/five-thoughts-okc-falls-to-houston-in-the-preseason-opener/
Reggie and Eric did OK tonight. Russel was above average... Thinking about adding a veteran to that mix to take away valuable young player minutes.
#CheckingMyCellPhoneForDFish
Feel free to thank me at your leisure. Brooks is making changes!!! Just like you asked.
@Scott Brooks That last inbound play was one of the better ones I've seen since you've been here. Where'd you get that Scotty?
Presti.
Rautins would have made that last shot that Cook missed. Go Cuse!!!!!
@AndyDickan No one wanted overtime. It's the preseason.
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@SergeIblocka No I did not, but can you tell me how to get Comcast? I live in Houston, if that helps.
@SleepEatThudner @SergeIblocka I just laughed so hard the beverage came out my nose!
No Rautins? Come on coach!!
@AndyDickan lmao thats the first mention of him in this thread
I don't know if someone's answered this already, but does anyone know why no Hollis Thompson tonight?
@OKman WTF? And here all this time I thought the Thunder signed Holly Thompson.
@OKman
Perhaps he joined the Deep Thigh Bruise club?
@ThunderChick2010 @OKman Don't let DB know about this. Thabo, Serge and HT. Unimaginable.
@OKman Secret weapon.
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@SergeIblocka I'm holding out hope. I've been as down on him as anyone but I saw signs of life tonight. Still waiting to see how he plays against rotation caliber talent because he was pretty poor against Asik and then had most of his better moments against 3d and 4th string type guys.
@SergeIblocka Collison
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@SergeIblocka collison can guard most backup centers
@f5alcon @SergeIblocka 'fraid so.
So I see there are some people who are upset with time management in this game. May I remind you that its preseason. Furthermore, Lazar will be stepping into a larger Derek Fisher/Nazr Mohammed type role so I'm trying to get him integrated into the team. He will play 40 minutes a night during the season.
Your welcome.
@Scott Brooks * You are
@Grolgar You son of a b*tch. DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM!?
@Jay Cutler @Scott Brooks @Grolgar Dude, how did you get such a hot wife when you're such an obnoxious asshole?
And is it true that you're actually the long-lost 4th Baldwin brother?
@Scott Brooks @Grolgar That's the funniest thing I've seen on here in a while.
@Jay Cutler @Grolgar Settle down, nerd. Go throw an intercept or something.
@Scott Brooks @Grolgar I know who are you are. My dinner guest for next Wednesday night.
@Scott Brooks @Grolgar I'm Welcome, you just told me that.
Did we win or lose? I never watch or listen to preseason games? These games are nothing more than evaluation tools for coaches. We all knew coming in both Cole and Thabeet are limited--that won't change. Who looked better...Action Jackson or Eric? To me---that will be the most compelling story to come out of this camp.
@El Prez Thabeet stepped on a Rocket (I think it was Morris, and yes I know that sounds ridiculous). Can we get an updated TSN on him?
Since Perk rarely seems to play and seldom if ever steps on opposing players...I got exited below and elevated Thabeet's TSN from 19% to 27%. BUT...I've since come to my senses and realized it's preseason. Thabeet is still locked in at the TSN gradient of 19% -- which was his rating coming into camp. Even with the absence of our faux enforcer...Thabeet will have to do more than intentionally step on Morris or some other Houston Rocket in a preseason game to elevate his TSN rating.
Dr. El Prez -- TSN Guru
I knew it was a joke. i was just fucking with you. Even Dr. El Prez has to let his hair down ever so often. It can't all be work 24/7 on the TSN Postgame Panel.
@El Prez It was kind of a joke. He has this weird spot in his hair that looks like it got accidentally bleached. With the quality of the stream some people thought he had a leaf in his hair.
Why would a grown man playing in the NBA have a leaf in his hair? Dr. El Prez didn't just fall off the proverbial turnip truck. If by chance he did actually have a leaf intentially placed in his hair..then he should be in the WBNA. I would hope when when Dr. Hollinger unleashed his PER Model he didn't have to field questions in realtion to Hakeem Thabeet smoking weed and walking around like Candace Parker.
My junior year at John Marshall we had an All-City running back by the name of Lee High. I can't remember specifically what I said or did...but I seriously pissed off Lee High. Compared to Lee High, Perk is a puppy dog. My son actually has a four month year old chocolate lab named Perk. When he does something bad, which isn't ofetn...we call him Perkins. I'll be babysitting Perk this week-end as my son will be in Dallas for the RRR. Both Perk's are lovable puppies. I love to party with big Perk sometime.
@El Prez Does the fact that he seems perpetually high and that he may or may not have walked onto the court with a leaf in his hair detract from his rating or does the preseason factor still apply?
@El Prez
Trying to picture El Prez calling Perk a "faux enforcer" to his face . . .
@El Prez Reggie looked better overall, but Maynor was jacking up shots, something he normally doesn't do and doesn't have the shooting ability to get away with.
@El Prez Reggie looked better to me
@OBoymuzik @El Prez Maynor is still coming along, I didn't like Reggie's 3 TOs but he definitely looked more confident and was scoring the ball nicer than Maynor.
Someone on our coaching staff loves Lazard. My guess is Brooks...
@BallSoHarden There we go!
Game threads are terrible news for my typing ability.
Ok so I didn't watch but I'm somewhat bothered by the fact lazar got substantially more minutes than jones, Maynor, or Jackson; three guys who I feel definitely needed more in game evaluation time than he did. What did I miss?
@JimboSlice The Comcast Sportsnet announcing team said on Comcast Sportsnet that you should sign up for Comcast Sportsnet because you might like Comcast Sportsnet.
@PNT I heard you like Comcast sports net, so I decided to put some Comcast in your sports net so you can Comcast while you're sportnetting
@JimboSlice he started
@JimboSlice The accidental coining of the nickname "Lazard" than only me and EST appreciated.
@Jooseppi Ahhh.. Yeah I can see that not getting much appreciation
And Thompson as well forgot to add him