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Practice Report: Forewarned

by Royce Young on April 23, 2013 at 2:45 pm 949 Comments

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

Having two days off between playoff games is both nice, and horrible.

Nice because there’s time for the team to practice, a chance for everyone to regroup after a Game 1. Horrible because let’s get on with this thing! One game? Such a tease.

Plus, what is there really to say? The Rockets need to make adjustments, the Thunder have to adjust to their adjustments, and both teams want to play better. Can we play the game already?

“We had a great two days of practice,” Durant said. “We’re focused. We’re locked out. So hopefully we come out and have a good showing.” Keep Reading…

Kevin Durant: ‘I’m tired of being second … I’m done with it’

by Royce Young on April 23, 2013 at 11:48 am 169 Comments

KD is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated, the fifth time for him, and he gave a pretty serious quote to Lee Jenkins.

“I’ve been second my whole life,” KD said. “I was the second best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I’ve been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I’m tired of being second. I’m not going to settle for that. I’m done with it.”

(No one tell him he finished second in scoring this season and second on his own team in shot attempts.)

KD also says this, in regards to his friendship with LeBron and the perception from some that it’s holding him back. Keep Reading…

Tuesday Bolts – 4.23.13

by Royce Young on April 23, 2013 at 10:33 am 68 Comments

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider says OKC had the best Game 1 performance: “Since the Thunder led the NBA in point differential, it shouldn’t surprise that the weekend’s best game wasn’t even their best performance against the Rockets. Oklahoma City won by 30 at Houston in December. The start bodes well for the Thunder’s chances. According to Basketball-Reference.com, the last team to win the opener by at least 29 points and lose the series was the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals. All told, since 1960 teams so dominant in Game 1 are 29-2 in series.”

Berry Tramel: “Now you know why the Rockets, who have little answer for the likes of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, are overmatched in this series. They have no answer for Westbrook. Now you know why, when I asked Rocket coach Kevin McHale on Monday about Westbrook’s jaw-dropping play, he responded, “Which one?” Now you know why the criticism of Westbrook, who not so long ago joined LeBron as the most-scrutinized players in the NBA, has abated and why Westbrook just might make first-team all-NBA this season, at the expense of noted tweeter Kobe Bryant. Westbrook no longer plays basketball like his hair’s on fire. He is the fire. Sunday night, Westbrook had seven rebounds and seven assists in 181/2 first-half minutes. He missed out on a triple double only because he sat out the entire fourth quarter of the rout.” Keep Reading…

Practice Report: Game 1 counts for one

by Royce Young on April 22, 2013 at 3:21 pm 926 Comments

Christian Peterson/NBAE/Getty Images

It was a pretty clinical takedown of the Rockets in Game 1. The Thunder dominated the game defensively, holding Jeremy Lin and James Harden to a combined 24 points on 7-26 shooting.

The Rockets weren’t able to find anything in impactful in transition (20 points) and the 3-point line wasn’t there (just 8-36 from 3). The Thunder executed an excellent defensive gameplan that frustrated and stalled out Houston’s guards and creators.

“Make them be kind of selfish,” Serge Ibaka said of OKC’s defensive tactic. “When we switch against a team like them it makes them go one-on-one. That’s good for us. So for them they can take some tough shots, some contested shots. That’s what we want. That’s what we’re looking for.” Keep Reading…

Video: KD’s top 10 of 2012-13

by Royce Young on April 22, 2013 at 12:40 pm 32 Comments

Kevin Durant’s top 10 plays of the 2012-13 regular season as selected by the NBA.

In conclusion, KD is sick.

Monday Bolts – 4.22.13

by Royce Young on April 22, 2013 at 11:22 am 65 Comments

Berry Tramel: “The Thunder tried to downplay the Harden reunion angle, but Durant admitted it “felt a little awkward, looking across there and seeing him with another team. We gotta get past that.” The Thunder got past it just fine in Game 1 of this Western Conference playoff series. Most possessions started with Thabo Sefolosha dogging Harden, but when the Thunder switches — with Durant or Russell Westbrook or even Serge Ibaka moving onto Harden — it neutralizes Houston’s pick-and-roll offense. No one knows better than Oklahoma City how productive Harden can be in the pick-and-roll.”

Ben Golliver of SI.com: “The Rockets definitely got a taste of the best the Western Conference has to offer, and Harden’s attempt at optimism is in line with Morey’s pre-playoffs excitement. Given how the match-ups broke, this year was mostly about getting the Rockets’ young core their first set of playoff repetitions together, with an eye towards the future. The Rockets’ regrouping message for Game 2 should be simple: There’s no shame in getting blown out by the Thunder, who led the league with a +9.2 margin of victory, on an off night. Play sharper and shoot better and a more competitive contest awaits. That said, the series goal has crystallized quickly for Houston: try to avoid the sweep.” Keep Reading…

Thunder stomp the Rockets in Game 1, 120-91

by Royce Young on April 22, 2013 at 12:59 am 155 Comments

BOX SCORE

Scott Brooks was asked pregame what the key was to tonight’s Game 1 against the Rockets.

“Playing well,” he started, in your typical Scott Brooks non-answer way.

But really, when you look at this series, it’s pretty much as simple as that. If the Thunder play well — on both ends — the Rockets are essentially sunk. And tonight, the Thunder played well. More importantly too, they helped the Rockets play very, very poorly.

The best way to make the Rockets play bad? Stop James Harden. The Thunder harassed him again, which resulted in a dismal 6-19 shooting performance that included only three second half points. Harden though wasn’t really keen to give OKC credit for it, instead citing Houston’s lack of experience and nerves.

Keep Reading…

Rockets vs. Thunder: Game 1 Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on April 21, 2013 at 5:07 pm 2,734 Comments

vs.

Rockets (0-0, 0-0 road) vs. Thunder (0-0, 0-0 home)

TV: TNT
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CT

View from the enemy: Red 94

Game 1. Someone is taking control of the series. And with the Thunder at home and the undisputed favorite, the pressure is on them. The Rockets are young in inexperienced, but can play loose and relaxed knowing nobody expects much of them. Keep Reading…

Rockets (0-0, 0-0 road) vs. Thunder (0-0, 0-0 home)

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