The Thunder seemed to be in control, but the Celtics, in their typical tough fashion, had Oklahoma City’s lead to three entering the fourth quarter. It was a three-point lead that felt to be in serious peril, knowing the way Boston defends and Paul Pierce’s knack for big crunchtime shots.
But with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the bench, the Thunder started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run, taking that three-point lead to 12. Reggie Jackson was the main spark, scoring all six of his points in a three-minute span. Kevin Martin finished an and-1 layup and Nick Collison hit a jumper. By the time OKC’s superduo checked back in, all they had to do was hold the lead.
“I thought everybody chipped in offensively,” said Scott Brooks. “That’s what you have to do. You don’t know who’s going to be the guy that makes the shot. All you want to do is execute the play and run it so we can get a good shot.”
The play of the second unit has been something that’s fluctuated this season, with impressive performances like today and horrific outings like what happened in Denver a couple weeks ago. The inconsistency stems I think from not being able to rely on a single player (James Harden) to provide consistent production every night. Martin is good, but he’s not a guarantee to put up 15-20 points. So what the Thunder second unit is appearing to figure out is that guys like Jackson, Derek Fisher, Martin and Nick Collison all have to sort of chip their way to that. Some nights, Martin can produce it all on his own. Other nights, it’s a group effort. That’s scary, but I do think there’s hope.
Most everything the Thunder have lived on is Westbrook and Durant combining to do most of the offensive work, or at least one of them. On this night, they scored just a combined 38 points, one of their lowest outputs of the season and probably the lowest in a game they didn’t sit out the fourth. Just 91 points is obviously low for OKC, but 32 came from the bench and 21 from the other three starters. Not pretty, nothing that stands out, but balanced and solid.
What makes that offensive balance look better though is because the Thunder played one of their stronger defensive games this season, especially in the final 24 minutes. The second half, the Thunder allowed 34 points and held Boston to 25 percent shooting (10-40). The fourth quarter the Celtics scored only 14 on 4-22. It was another late-game lockdown for the Thunder, a clutch defensive performance that was a staple of this team last season, but something that’s lack at times in this campaign.
Where the Thunder dug in most was on Kevin Garnett, who struggled to a 5-19 finish for just 10 points. Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka all pressed him hard, contested him in the mid-range and kept him off the offensive glass. Perk, who obviously has a pretty unique history with Garnett, took the matchup personally.
“Perk took on the challenge,” Durant said. “That’s his mentor, his guy who he looked up to, guy who he learned a lot from. And he took the challenge, making him take a lot of tough shots.”
The Celtics have been a much improved team since the Rajon Rondo injury, mainly because they’ve played faster while picking up their defensive intensity. Perk said he warned the team pregame that this was going to be a challenge in the halfcourt, knowing that Boston would really try and tighten the screws. And despite Durant going just 1-6 from the floor in the second half, the Thunder pulled out another home double-digit win, their fifth in a row.
Ugly and kind of gross, but very effective.
NOTES:
- The Thunder had only three total offensive rebounds in the game. Perk one, Collison one and Ibaka one. Collison’s was big though as he turned it into a slick baseline pass to Martin for an and-1.
- OKC’s margin of victory the last five home games: 26.0 points.
- Jeff Green returned to OKC. And he went 2-11 for eight points with two rebounds. An appropriate performance for him playing in OKC again.
- As for his reception, I’d say the ovation he got was polite cheering. Nothing robust, nothing too noticeable. Though Collison may have stolen his thunder a bit checking in with him as the crowd roared for Nick then barely seemed to notice Green.
- Collison was excellent. In 25 minutes he scored eight points with five rebounds and two assists. And his interior help defensive was just tremendous.
- Every single Thunder player was a plus.
- Ronnie Brewer saw some random minutes to start the second quarter. And he put up a three trillion.
- Ibaka was good, but battled foul trouble the entire game. Seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks, but good inside defense. Boston couldn’t get much going to the rim in the second half with Ibaka on the floor.
- Can’t deny it: Derek Fisher has played some solid bench minutes the last week. Six points in 14 minutes.
- Fisher walked to the scoretable to check in Doc Rivers yelled at him, “When are you retiring? No retired players!”
- I love that Martin is showing a little more of an aggressive side offensively, especially in using his dribble to create for teammates. He had three more assists today, two coming off a drive.
- Jason Terry got booed as he checked in and was clearly caught off guard by it. Looked around with his arms out and gave a “What did I do?” kind of look. I think he must’ve forgotten what a thorn he was to the Thunder in the 2011 Western Finals.
- It makes me think too, wouldn’t it be great to just pick a random guy and make him enemy No. 1? Like Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Korver or something. Treat him like he’s just the WORST. Boo him when he checks in, every time he touches it, every time he gripes at a call. I don’t know why but this sounds hilarious to me.
- When Durant crossed over Garnett, KG had a look on his face after like, “Wooooooo he got me there.”
- Martin gets pretty incredible elevation on his jumper. It doesn’t seem like he should be able to get off the shots he does in traffic, but it’s because he gets up so well. And he’s 6-7, which we tend to forget.
- The high schooler who scored a game-winner in the wrong basket is a guest of the Thunder today, sitting next to Aubrey McClendon. Also, after the game Westbrook gave him his game-worn shoes off his feet and signed them.
- Doc on KD: “I’m a defensive guy, but I’ve given up on trying to figure out how to stop him. I’m not kidding. I’m not sure there is a way.”
- Doc on Perk: “He’s a great player to have on your team when you have great players. He knows what to tell them and he backs them up.” Doc said that Red Auerbach told him every team needs an “instigator” with Rivers saying Perk would probably be the captain on the All-Instigator team.
- Not sure how I feel about Jeff Green’s hair. I’m glad he’s in Boston so I don’t really have to worry too much about it.
- Avery Bradley is an outstanding ball pressure defender. One of the few guys I’ve ever seen actually be able to cut off a Westbrook drive.
- The Thunder survived a lot at the free throw line (27-33). Durant didn’t shoot well, but went 11-11 from the stripe.
Next up: At San Antonio on Monday.
http://dailythunder.com/2013/03/monday-bolts-3-11-13/
OKC this year 7th all time in SRS. Spurs 20th.
@[censored]
what is SRS?
@[censored]
Something Really Sexy.......Singing Randy Savage.....Stings Really Suck??????
@AlexR44 @[censored]
Simple Rating System?
@[censored]
Bolts are up. There goes my chance to know what the hell SRS is.
8 of the other 9 teams in the top 10 of SRS won a title. 1972 Bucks the only one that did not.
http://www.nbadraft.net/mock-draft-tracker-19
Good Morning Daily Thunder.
I know our defense can be better but I just want to run this across you guys real quick.
we're one of the toughest team to score on in the paint, we're limiting opponent's to 60.9 percent at the rim which is good enough for 5th in the league.(Those that are ahead of us are not contenders). Also guys, we're limiting teams to 54.5 percent within five feet which is 2nd in the league.
if we can tighten up a little bit more on D, with our deadly offense, we're going to be smiling in june.
@SniperJones035 Our shot defense is good. Everything else defensively we're about average (forcing turnovers, defensive rebounding, fouling).
@[censored]
it was the same last year in the regular season. in the playoffs all that change except the finals.
Here's a look at five NBA prospects who have a lot to prove next week -- before it's too late.
Alex Len | C | Maryland Len and Maryland have both been mild disappointments. They have had their moments, though. Len was awesome in the opening game against Kentucky and in a huge win against Duke in February. But in between, he was much like his team, maddeningly inconsistent. Maryland's poor guard play this season had something to do with Len's relative lack of touches, but he can't totally pass the buck. A number of scouts I spoke with love Len's tools, but they feel his motor and instincts run a tick slow. A huge ACC tournament for Len and Maryland could propel them into the NCAA tournament and push Len back into discussion for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Alex Poythress | C | Kentucky It's hard to believe that Kentucky, which was ranked in the preseason as the third-best team in the country, might miss the NCAA tournament. An injury to Nerlens Noel combined with the uneven play of three key freshmen -- Poythress, Archie Goodwin and Willie Cauley-Stein -- have a lot to do with it.
Poythress, especially, came to the Wildcats with significant draft buzz. A number of scouts, early in the season, thought he could be the No. 1 pick. Poythress has looked the part on occasion, but his freshman year has mostly been a head-scratcher. He is blessed with freaky athleticism and a number of tools but lacks the confidence to assert himself with regularity. When he's engaged, there's a wow factor there, but more and more it's been hard to get him playing the way he's capable of. If he catches fire in the conference tournament and can propel Kentucky to the final game, his stock will start rising again -- fast.
Isaiah Austin | PF | Baylor Baylor has been another disappointment. Blessed with frontcourt and backcourt talent, the Bears were projected to be one of the top three teams in the Big 12. After a solid start, the wheels have fallen off in February and March. The same could be said for Austin. He was projected as a top-10 pick to begin the season and has put together a number of solid games, but his lack of strength and position, paired with some true stinkers in the past month, have given scouts serious pause. Unless he explodes in the next week with a string of great games, he'll probably be better off returning to school for his sophomore year. I doubt he'd go in the lottery.
Tony Mitchell | SF | North Texas Mitchell had a chance to do for North Texas what Damian Lillard did for Weber State last season. Alas, Mitchell has been a pretty big dud all season. His team is terrible, and he has struggled to lead it. He is still a great athlete and a versatile defender, but any notion that Mitchell has star potential was wiped clean this season. It's hard to imagine he'll stay at North Texas, but it's equally hard to imagine he has any shot at the lottery after this season.
Myck Kabongo | PG | Texas Kabongo is the most intriguing player on this list for me. After sitting out the first 23 games thanks to an NCAA suspension, he's come back for the final few weeks of Texas' season and has been, for the most part, great. With the exception of a rough game against Oklahoma State last weekend, Kabongo has proved to be an efficient scorer and passer and has looked like a first-round pick. If he could get Texas past the first few rounds of the Big 12 tournament, he still has a chance to move way up our Big Board. Scouts really love the talent. They just need to see a little more.
@okcjim Are these projected to be low first rounders? Where-about would you say they'd fall to as of right now?
@ou_sasThis was an ESPN article. Len is the only top 10 of this group projected right now. Poythress is probably top 15. I don't think we're that interested in the others. Maybe Kabongo with our first.
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@MJOKC http://twitpic.com/cadd0e MJ, did you see this one last night? Funny.
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@MJOKC Bwhahahaha
@MJOKC That dude is on everyone's poster... and not in the good way.
"@RealSkipBayless
Thunder should have plenty of time to rest up for @SA tomorrow nite. OKC should win that one easily. Westbrook, big game. No Tony Parker."
I hate this type of bet hedging. If Westbrook does in fact do well in the game and the Thunder win, Skip will say "I give him no credit, it was obvious, it was expected, etc. etc." If the Thunder lose, Skip will rip into Westbrook. For Westbrook in Skips world, this is literally a no win situation. No matter what Westbrook does, he can't get any praise but he has a legitimate chance to be lambasted.
@FF_pickups "Plenty of time to rest up". It's the Thunders 4th game in 5 nights. The Spurs have been resting and gameplanning for 3 full days. Skip doesn't know anything more than the schedule for the nights game and the box score from the previous night.
Nobody takes Skip Bayless with any degree of seriousness. In the back of his mind---he probably wishes he was the man Dan Patrick is. You know, someone fair and knowledgeable who can conduct an interview without it looking like Jerry Springer Live. I like Craig Humphries' work on the air, but I always cringe when he invokes his NW Classen days and his friendship with Bayless on the air. To me...Skip Bayless is the epitome of how the ESPN 24/7 cycle of sports reporting has actually made viewership in the world dumber. I actually enjoy Stephen A Smith's insights, it's shame he does this show with Bayless.
@FF_pickups @RealSkipBayless @SA Every game that Westbrook plays is a lose-lose with Skip.
@FF_pickups I think we ought to take up a collection and see if we can come up with $25,000 to have Serge punch Skip in the nuts.
@FF_pickups @RealSkipBayless @SA 1st problem is that you're following Skip Bayless. 2nd problem is taking anything he says seriously. I look at him like I would a clown. I get a cheap laugh, but don't get work advice from him.
@Tronchaser I don't take him seriously, lol, but he shapes opinions of casual fans.
@MJOKC @Tronchaser @FF_pickups
At this point, do even casual fans take him seriously?
@MJOKC @FF_pickups Speaking of that. The nice lady I was sitting next to yesterday was yelling "3 SECONDS! 3 SECONDS!" after BOS shot, got the RB, shot again, got another RB, and shot again. I told her that it resets after every shot. She looked at me and said "I DON'T CARE!"
Well, ok then. lol
@FF_pickups Meh, fair enough.
@Tronchaser I don't think you are a casual fan. 99% of the posters on DT aren't casual fans.
@FF_pickups Not this one. :)
I always hate games against the Clippers because I know there's going to be plenty of "veteran savvy" going on on the court. Jersey pulling, arm grabbing, lots of foul calls for the person initiating the scrum. Generally just manipulating and working the refs. Pierce more than anyone likes to muck up a game through the officials.
I should have done this last night when I couldn't sleep. First let's look at Collison and Perk's minutes plus +/- in The Finals: Perk 115 minutes or 23 minutes per game with an overall -25 for the series, Collison 82 minutes or 16.4 minutes per game with an overall +13 for the series. While I was back there---I traced Harden, Fisher and Thabo's shooting and +/- for the series as well. Harden 18-48 .37.5% -11, Thabo 8-27 .29.6% -24, Fisher 11-26 42.3% +4. I think we all forget how much both Harden and Thabo struggled in tis series. I think Fisher played too many minutes against Miami, but he wasn't the reason OKC lost in five games. Maybe...looking forward it would tell us to maybe play Perk less, Collison a bit more, Fisher a bit less, and experiment with Ronnie Brewer some in the event Thabo is not effective in the series....if we get there.
@El PrezAny + Fisher had in that series was a result of who was in with him. He averaged 5 points per game in almost 26 minutes per game and obviously doesn't bring much of anything else defensively, rebounding, assists or otherwise.
Good Morning Family and Friends :) (DT). I'll start the morning with a little survey on westbrook. Various measures indicate the Thunder is better when he's more, not less, aggressive. We're 33-2 when the fifth-year point point guard registers an offensive rating of 110 or better this season, and 64-20 when he scores at least 20 points over the past two (years). ---like if youlike an aggressive westbrook.
@ Blood-Game I think we all like aggressive Russ now that he's just "aggressive Russ" and no longer "Bad Russ". "Bad Russ" did dumb things and all the wrong times. "Aggressive Russ" scares the crap out of opposing teams with his smart play.
Since I had trouble falling asleep last night, I went back and looked at the five games we played against Miami in the Finals. I just needed to refresh my memory on what Derek Fisher's minutes were in that series in comparison to James Harden and Thabo. I think some people forget how much Derek Fisher played in that series. James Harden 160 minutes or 32 minutes per game, Thabo 128 minutes or 25.6 minutes per game Derek Fisher 127 minutes or 25.4 minutes per game. Thought it was interesting just to take a quick look back --minute and role wise should OKC get back to the Finals versus the Heat. I forgot to look at Collison and Perk's minutes in that series. I might do that before going to work. Especially Collison, because he should be a guy seeing more time against the Heat.
@El PrezCollison struggles against more athletic players and he has trouble with Bosh and he has trouble protecting the rim against the Heat. He's better than Perk but I think Serge is still our best center option against the Heat because he does pretty well against Bosh defensively, he can protect the rim and he can shoot better and rebound as well or better than any of the other big men.
Depending on how small ball Brooks goes against Miami...I'd say something like Serge 26 minutes, Nick 18 minutes, and Perk about 16 minutes. Serge's overall defensive acumen needs to be better against Bosh and the Heat. They move the ball quickly....touch, touch, touch and Serge seems out of position many times against them.
@El Prez Perk played 117 total minutes (23.4 minutes per game) and nick played 83 total minutes (16.6 minutes per game).
Guess I will watch tonight's game on the ol' netbook. #don'thaveNBAtv
@D-MC (DT Heavyweight Champion) same here...pretty pissed about it.
mornin'
@BallSoHard Mornin'. My brain is running an hour behind.
@Tronchaser me too...i don't think i'll catch up until we Fall back
Good Morning DT! Happy Monday(?) and Happy Game Day! :)
People really overreact to these Clipper dunks for some reason. That wasn't the dunk of the year. I think KD's dunk on Gortat was better than that.
@Old Man Game that was an amazing dunk man....and i love talking crap on the Clippers.
Honestly centers don't get extra credit when they're dunking on point guards in my book.
@Old Man Game I think anyone over about 6ft tall I don't get impressed by dunks from them. Once they get about 6'10" ? Seriously, it's a bunny hop so who is dumb enough to think of it as other than a safe shot? Good grief - Thabeet can grab the rim flat-footed.
just saw that dunk, had to go to youtube to find it but jesus that was just mean as hell lol
also to all you guys saying we win tomorrow and take the 1st seed, just stop, just cause they DONT have tony parker doesnt mean shit. The spurs are the spurs . Im not writing them off at all, we could easily go there and be to arrogant and lose that game. They understand how important this game is too, and you wont be seeing pop resting anyone , unless we just blow them out by the 3rd quarter, which wont happen cause we just dont do that to the spurs lol.
root for the thunder, hope for a win, but never say its guaranteed. :)
@Legendary_Dork
Maybe its just me, but I think the Thunder have figured the Spurs out. Not saying a win tonight is guaranteed, but 5 out of 6 isn't a fluke. Maybe thats me being arrogant, but lucky for us, Brooks has yet to put me into a game, so it shouldn't affect the outcome too much.