vs. 
OKC Thunder (9-3, 3-1 road) vs. Boston Celtics (6-6, 3-3 home)
TV: NBATV; FS OK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:30 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 110.1 (3rd), Celtics– 105.0 (12th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.2 (14th), Celtics – 107.2 (26th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.7 (11th), Celtics – 91.8 (21st)
View from the enemy: Celtics Hub
It’s no big secret the Thunder put quite a bit into Wednesday’s game against the Clippers. They wanted that game and played like it. They needed some kind of statement win. Now that they have it, how do they respond?
On the road in Boston, a very quality opponent, the Thunder are tasked with following up an emotional, difficult win with another strong performance against a good team. Plus, the Celtics haven’t exactly looked as good as most expected, so they probably feel they have a chance to prove a little something here. They’re going to play tough, going to compete and going to try and rough up OKC a bit.
One other thing I can’t help but think about with this matchup: This was so very close to being the Thunder’s opponent for the Finals. That would’ve been nice, right?
Boston coming in: The Celtics lost Wednesday to the Spurs.
Three Big Things
1. Pace. The Thunder have been playing a tad slower lately and the Celtics are consistently one of the slowest teams in the league. The Thunder typically just play at the pace of their opponent, instead of really trying to set a tempo for the game. Most likely, this will be a bit of a halfcourt grinder, though any opportunity the Thunder have to run, they’ve got to take it. Because that’s a major advantage. Transition hoops are better than trying to break down Kevin Garnett in a pick-and-roll.
2. Rondo-Westbrook. Remember before the draft in 2008 when some people were trying to compare Westbrook to Rondo? Well, that was pretty stupid. Pretty awesome matchup though. I’m a little intrigued as to if Scott Brooks might use Thabo Sefolosha on Rondo some.
3. Old acquaintances. The first time the Thunder have taken on Jeff Green since the trade. Perk has squared off with his ubuntu brothers before, but this is the first look at Uncle Jeff on the other side. The trade obviously isn’t fresh anymore with Green missing all of last season, but still.
Tip at 6:30 CT. Go Basketball Team.
Iggy with 28 points? Stop playing. He scores. Who wouldve thought...
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@SergeIblocka @Old Man Game people dont respect rondo's jumpshot so they give him space and so he sees the floor better.i always thought defenders should pressure him
wasn't presti interested in shved at some point .what happend to that ? i watched a couple of twolves games and he is pretty good
@fuzzyman I'm guessing he was satisfied with the guard outlook at the time or didn't want to pay him as much as he got ($3+ million a year, I believe). He's had some nice moments but has been rough overall. I liked him at the time.
@Jooseppi he is a guy that creates a lot of good looks for teammates.he has poor shooting numbers but he gets into the paint and creates open looks i really like his game and we could use him now :D
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@SergeIblocka
As far as ages that have been disclosed, our youngest regular poster is 17 and our elder statesman is 59.
If the 59 year old croaks...would that move me up as the elder statesman of DT?
@El Prez
It had Robert DeNiro as the sports-obsessed dad. I think you'd enjoy this one.
@El Prez
I know. I'm just superstitious. :)
Hey . . . saw Silver Linings Playbook at the Warren this afternoon. I mentioned its sports slant just below.
It was dark humor. I wasn't actually wishing death on anyone on this board.
@El Prez
Can't like that one . . . just met this gentleman at the Clippers get-together the other night.
@ThunderChick2010 @SergeIblocka El Prez Profile---55, Libra, marrried, emotional pillar of stability.
@El Prez @SergeIblocka
. . . or the underwear for that matter.
@El Prez @SergeIblocka
I also got: Deer Creek, Modelo, Dakota, Brad Pitt dimple, pyromaniac, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Match Point, at least an 8, and, of course, you still don't wear the shirt. :)
@SergeIblocka im 6
@SergeIblocka DT demographic is from about 15-65. Majority is probably 20s and 30s though.
We lacked motor tonight.
Tonights buzzword is #motor
C. Douglas-Roberts scored 32 points i always liked him good guy dont know why hes not in the league right now.
@Lost Ones
If it means anything, I have his rating up to 75 on 2k12 The Association.
@guy on a buffalo hes probably better then some players on our squad tbh
@Lost Ones
He's better than some -ahem- one, of our starters.
@Lost Ones
So he must be a baller...
Only KD could have a bad game and still score 29 points.
@supreme35 If only it was 32.....
dang, why didn't he hit that last 3?
@Every_Day_Im_Thunderin' @supreme35 and the other 3 he missed
So Liggins is in T town barely 24 hours, laces 'em up and comes up with a triple double. I know its against lesser competition but when a guy does it that easily against D-Leaguers its generally a sign he's a legit NBA player. May be bringing him back up to OKC sooner than later.
@Old Man Game
He was threading the needle on some passes inside the paint
@Old Man Game link to boxscore?
@Lambchop http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20121123/TEXTUL/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp2021200003
@Old Man Game @Lambchop dleagues a joke.
"So.... how about serge? 17 points 13 boards on 7-11 shooting?"
"NO WE STILL SUCK!"
"Ok then..."
@Every_Day_Im_Thunderin' Serge has been earning his check lately. Good work big man
*looks at d league box score* yea that's why it doesn't matter.
So i was looking at the box score of the laker game. Its pretty crazy that even though there both starters and both played almost 40 minutes, dwight was +1 and kobe was -22
RT @talkhoops
Beasley with 2 points on 7 shots. Pushes season totals to 153 points on 175 shots. We can do this! #MoreShotsThanPoints
I'm really mad Jeff put 17 on us. If we won it would have been nice to see but we didn't so.
Cant we just say the guys were a little sluggish due to too much Turkey?
I mean. I dont think I can play 48 minutes after 2 servings. They'll be fine
@KeBron They all just looked off and lacked energy tonight except for Russ.
@supreme35 @KeBron That happened a lot last year
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@SergeIblocka
Just saw Silver Linings Playbook today. Part of the subtext dealt with how "mental issues" that manifest themselves as sports-related behavior are socially acceptable--even celebrated. Might wanna take a look. :)
@SergeIblocka thats a regular psychologist.
@SergeIblocka Yeah... thats a good idea. Go to a psychologist.... maybe then we will be saved from all the pessimism
If russ grows a beard will he get foul calls like harden?
@OKC035 nope i doubt he ever gets a 16 foul flop game.
@Lost Ones @OKC035http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-9VOWbbRb4&feature=fvwrel
@OKC035 If he starts flopping like lebron... maybe.
Man I am getting tired of being an Oklahoma sports fan. The other teams ALWAYS has the game of their lives against us, no matter what team or sport it is. Sick of the crap, when is it going to end and a championship come back to the state?
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@SergeIblocka I was 12 back in 2000 and I barely remember too, we've had all the chances in the world and never convert.
Also LSU, Florida, Miami Heat...Iowa State over OSU after the plane crash. This state is cursed.
@BlueLightSpecial @SergeIblocka Check back in June. We're not done here.
Perk was alright tonight.
@OBoy Jones III 1 rebound away from a single double
@OBoy Jones III Didn't bite us in the ass but he didn't do his job on the boards late.
@OBoy Jones III i guess for his standards.
@OBoy Jones III Meh still sucked too much to be a starting center