vs. 
Nuggets (46-22, 16-19 road) vs. Thunder (50-17, 30-4 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma; NBA TV
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.9 (1st), Nuggets– 110.2 (3rd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.9 (8th), Nuggets – 105.2 (12th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.8 (8th), Nuggets – 95.0 (2nd)
View from the enemy: Roundball Mining Company
The Thunder are 1-2 against the Nuggets this season. The two losses coming in Denver, the one win coming in OKC. And just like the previous win, the Nuggets are coming in having played a grueler the night before. Which is obviously an advantage for the Thunder, but only something that sort of dilutes any achievement here.
Nevertheless, this Nuggets team is riding a 12-game streak and quickly mutating into this season’s token Scary Playoff Team. Splitting the four-game regular season set looks a lot better than a 1-3 run, with one of the losses coming at home. Both games in Denver were painfully close and could’ve swung OKC’s way on a play or two. The game in OKC was dominated by the Thunder. But lose tonight and that changes the viewpoint pretty dramatically.
The Nuggets are near unstoppable at home. But they aren’t in the Rockies anymore. The Thunder have a sparkling home record in their own right at 30-4, while the Nuggets have been average on the road.
Denver coming in: The Nuggets beat the Bulls in overtime last night.
Shootaround Sound
SCOTT BROOKS
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.
KEVIN DURANT
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.
Three Big Things
1. Get back. The Nuggets ripped OKC up in transition in the last meeting, running virtually at every opportunity in the first three quarters. The Thunder have to get back to the paint and build out. Live ball turnovers will result in two points the other way so ball security is key as well, but overall, it’s just about running back to your own rim and then building a shell from there.
2. KD. He cooked in the fourth against the Mavericks, kind of getting his offensive mojo back. More please.
3. Who’s the guy? The Nuggets have topped OKC the last two meetings because they got big games from Corey Brewer in one and Wilson Chandler in the other. If Denver is beating OKC, it’s going to have to a big game from someone else. Is it Danilo Gallinari? Is it Ty Lawson? Chandler or Brewer again? Kosta Koufous?
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Get Back.
I just don't understand how a guy like Kevin Martin went from being a legit number one scoring option, has dwindled down to a 3 PT specialist who's mediocre at the PnR. Did the dude say "Oh shit, I'm on a contender now. Time to loosen the button, and unzip my pants."
Its also sad to see we've completely abandon the Ibaka Pick n Pop, or set up from 16.
Dear Kevin Durant, Just be a scorer. You're not LeBron, you're not a facilitator, you're the best scorer in basketball. Do that shit. Facilitating at this point is just meaning turnover
@elginthunder
The funny thing is, If this was two, or three seasons ago. We would have been begging Durant, to become the facilitator he is today. He's not Lebron, nor as he as good as Lebron at playmaking for his team, but outside of Westbrook. Kevin is the only other real playmaker we have. Rjax is just now starting to blossom, and i don't know about you, but i don't think i trust the ball in the hands of Kevin Martin who's the third option for playmaking. This is where having Harden helped a'lot, and one can only think, that perhaps if Harden and our FO would have worked out a deal, Maybe just maybe we'd be better suited to beat the Heat. This team as contructed really has to rely on Westbrook, and Durant taking the ball handling responsibility. We are not winning the title that way, Especially when Miami has figured out the way to shut us down. The biggest move our Front Office can make is either signing Martin to a fair deal, and giving Lamb, and Reggie a shot, or moving some players for that third scorer.
@ElMexiThunder Valid point, but along with giving those 2 a shot the biggest move the FO should definitely look at is coaching. Brooks hasn't really done anything to show he's capable of stepping up and he's surely not growing the rooks, only Tulsa is
@elginthunder @ElMexiThunder
Yeah, but would you rather they sit at the end of the bench to rot every game, or would you rather them stay in shape, continue to be in their rythem, and have Tulsa's HC, and Thunder trainers actually knick pick the things they need to do to improve? We did that with Reggie a few times, even though i think it was the baptism by fire he got last year that really helped his growth but having that advantage is very valuable. We have one of the development programs in the league. If Brooks is too much of a dumbass to play our rookies with good potential, then we might as well have them improve in the D-League. Its essentially practice.
What was it that some said PJ3's potential was? A athletic Antonio McDyss?
Lamb apparently has All-Star potential?
You'd have to think Presti isn't going to let that go to waste.
Just blow it off and start getting amped for Clapton. This song always gets me in a drinking, party mood. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPkTGm4RtVM
@El Prez
I just google'd her.. She still looks the same right now at the age of 54.... Danm.... I don't care if she's old enough to be my grand-mother.
@El Prez Most of us were born in the 80s
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball @El Prez
'92. I'm what they call a 90's baby?
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball @El Prez early 80's old man but still the 80s
There are a lot of flaws, but I think in general, both Brooks and the TEAM need to get their head out of their ass. This team is absolutely coasting to the playoffs (exceptions are Westbrook and Jackson, imo).
http://dailythunder.com/2013/03/nuggets-outgun-the-thunder-114-104/
I'm not going to pull a Sigmund here, but how does Jeremy Lamb not get the minutes Fisher does? Could he shoot any worse or play any worse defense than Fisher did?
At least then we could see Lamb get some actual, meaningful NBA minutes. If he sucks, then we'll finally know.
@Aren't
I can't handle the Lamb talk tonight. It might drive me to drink.
Why are we hoarding all of these draft picks, in a bad draft no less? Don't we already have a bunch of rookies and sophomores who get no pt and get turnpiked to the 66ers back and forth? We are in win now mode, not develop rookies mode anymore. We should have flipped them for somebody who could come in and help right away. Portland was trying to give away Hickson for example. I feel confident putting him out there with Faried anyday
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball Yeah, I was just thinking about that. We're going to take a guy with this Raptors pick who Brooks most likely won't play anyway.
This comment has been deleted
@MJOKC because nobody in NCAA is a difference maker, and Parker, Wiggins, Randle, and Gordon aren't eligible for the draft until 2014.
@OBoy @MJOKC I would have gotten a big also, or a knockdown shooter
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball @MJOKC We should have gotten Ronnie Brewer! he fits that description.
@MJOKC @OBoy Fine, say we manage to draft the best prospect with the Toronto pick which is currently projected to be 10 anyways. He won't play so doesn't help up 1 bit. We could have flipped the picks for a Jared Dudley, DaJuan Blair, JJ Hickson, JJ Reddick, etc. guys who you can put on the court the next day and know what you're getting
@OBoy @MJOKC Faried rebounds which typically translates and is athletic. We looking at all these slow footed centers (slow transfers too) and the dude who just tore his ACL.
But again, it wouldn't matter if MJ was in this draft. He's going to be in Tulsa all next season anyways or we'll do a draft and stash so we don't have to pay somebody because our owners are cheap
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball @MJOKC You can never really judge a draft unless there is a bonafide superstar there. I thought Kyrie Irving was just ok in college, but I have been proven wrong.
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball @MJOKC how many considered Chandler Parsons or Kenneth Faried "difference makers" while they were in college?
@MJOKC @Thunder, Love, & Basketball good point, there are stars in the draft after this one but that does us no good if we're not in the top 2.
I'm not too worried honestly. I can still see OKC finishing with the 1st seed out west and HCA. They have about 2-3 reasonably tough games left but if you look at the Spurs schedule, they have a heavy end of March schedule and a handful of tough games still coming up against playoff teams. By comparison, 13 of 15 are against playoff teams including against OKC for Spurs where as it's 8 of 14 against playoff teams for Thunder.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/schedule/
@GoodKid I am worried, I don't like the direction of this team as much as I used to from the front office down. I already prepaid, but I might turn my tickets in if I am that unhappy with our offseason moves or lack thereof.
@Thunder, Love, & BasketballHey man, you get the privilege of watching the Thunder live as often as you can, cherish that because there are people in 49 other states, not to mention overseas who will never watch a Thunder game.
@Thunder, Love, & Basketball someone who supports the team will gladly take them off your hands. dont worry
@GoodKid
I'm not worried, but i was really unhappy with tonights game.
Why is Cano MVP
I guess its been said, but on the bright side Westbrook's decision making tonight was outstanding. He 6 assists and just 1 turnover, but he should have had at least 12 assists. He also took no bad shots. He shot 10-21 but missed like 3 layups and was 0-4 from 3 but they were all wide open and 2 with no time on the shot clock I believe.
@OKC035 missed 3 easy layups?
@DanielLawler Are you asking me? He had the one right at the end of the half, one that rimmed out but Ibaka tipped in, and one that rolled around on the rim for like 5 seconds before Martin got the offensive board.
@OKC035 I missed some of it, was having to do school work but still had it on
If Alex Len is really as skilled offensively as everyone says he is (don't watch college ball), I am stoked we may be able to pick him up next year
@RWolverine Think along the lines of a longer, more athletic Nick Collison.
@Eff Rocky Bry Bry Nick was an awesome offensive player in college and now he can't do squat. That comparison actually has me worried
@RWolverine @Eff Rocky Bry Bry len will never be good
@RWolverine I watch a lot of bball and I dont care for him at all. I can't imagine anyway he will be good in the nba.
@RWolverine I like zeller a good bit for okc. But I know they need a big but still would love to get oladipo, bennett, muhammad
@RWolverine word, he is going to lead the 66ers to the finals
Reggie Jackson could be really good.
@Aren't He'd be better if he wasnt trying to run an offense and instead just looking to score, to me.
@cfountain @Aren't
well maybe if he wasn't trying to run an offense with Fisher, Collison and Brewer on the floor. None of them could make anything.
@SexyWatt @Aren't I'd like to see him with Lamb/Martin/Brewer/a Big.
@Aren't
Could being the key word. But i am liking him more and more.
@SexyWatt @Aren't I don't want to say too much too soon, but he looks like he could be pretty dang good. He's been a consistent, encouraging thing the last few months.
@Aren't @SexyWatt @Aren't i;ve loved how he's been able to get to the basket for some dunks.
@Aren't SOmeone please lock this guy ins a gym this summer with a basketball and a shooting coach. If he could become more consistent from three he could be great.
@Old Man Game @Aren't he could still be very useful even if he can't shoot. Just work on passing and becoming an elite defender. Russ and Thabo have improved from 3 every year, I would be confident in a Reggie-Russ-Thabo-KD-Serge lineup to close games.