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Thoughts on our shooting guards – Part 1

by Joe on February 21, 2009 at 1:01 pm 15 Comments

I was thinking recently how similar Desmond Mason, Kyle Weaver and T-Bone Selofosha are in physical stature and then the thinking branched out into some similarities in their style of play. They are all within an inch or so in height (variously listed between 6’5″ and 6’7″) at around 6’6″, and all having skinny frames. Desmond is probably the bulkiest, but would still be considered thin. They all can play multiple positions and have a reputation for being above average defenders. None of them however possesses much of a jumpshot. These however are the guys that Presti has assembled at the shooting guard position.

I thought I would take a look at how these guys stack up so far and what direction the team might go with the position going forward.

First, here are Kyle Weaver’s averages so far this season as a backup wing coming off the bench:

G Min fg% 3fg% ft% stl blk ass rebs to pf pts

9 13.1 51% 40% 67% .4 .2 1.9 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.2 Keep Reading…

Thunder at Warriors: Pre-game primer

by Royce Young on February 21, 2009 at 12:42 pm 4 Comments

okc6 vs. gsw

Thunder (13-42, 3-23 road) vs. Golden State Warriors (19-36, 14-13 home)

TV: KSBI-52 (Cox 9)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 9:30 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.5 (27th), Golden State: 109.0 (11th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.9 (23rd), Golden State: 112.6 (28th)
Pace: Thunder: 93.8 (7th), Golden State: 97.6 (1st)

Finally! Our last game against the Warriors. I think this is maybe game 15 or 16 against them. I lost track.

Last night’s game was a pretty good warmup for tonight’s. Just like the Suns, the Warriors get up and down the floor. The Thunder went into Oracle Arena and snaked a one-point win last time they were there on a Jeff Green buzzer-beater, but in that game the Warriors scored a lot early, but the Thunder locked down when it mattered and got some huge stops. And ironically, that’s the last road win this team has had. But this Warriors team is playing pretty good basketball right now, having won four of five at home, all against pretty good teams (Portland, Utah, Phoenix, New York). Keep Reading…

Thunder 118, Suns 140

by Joe on February 20, 2009 at 11:23 pm 13 Comments

Box Score.

It’s been such a long time since we’ve had a good old fashioned butt kicking that I’m not really sure how I feel about it yet. As near as I can tell, the last time we got spanked by 20 points or more was January 7th, against the T-Wolves, in our one, really bad game of the new year. Now make it two.

There is something that I really don’t understand, some weird relationship between the new (old) found run and gun, seven seconds or less offense that the Suns are back to, and somehow becoming more intense on defense at the same time. How does that happen? How do you crank up the speed and play loose and free, and simultaneously get better on defense? It doesn’t work for Golden State. There’s no doubt this is the best defense the Suns have played against us in our three matchups, and they did it with small ball (less the big Shaqtus). The Suns started three guards (Nash, Barbosa and J-Rich), a small forward (Grant Hill) and Shaq, and the only other guys they used for the most part was Louis Amundson ( a natural power forward), Barnes and Dragic.

The answer seems to be sort of a pick your poison gambit: They assume they may get beat on the boards, and may not be able to protect the rim that well (even though they did), in exchange for a lot of fast and loose guys switching and playing the passing lanes like a bunch of hawks. It worked great tonight. The Suns got 14 steals, and forced 23 turnovers (and got 29 points off of them), and the Thunder never looked in sync except for a nice little run in the third. The rest of the time it was making my eyes bleed.

In the first quarter I had a pretty good idea that we were in for a long night when I counted the Suns getting to the rim on their first seven possessions. Keep Reading…

Thunder at Suns: Pre-game primer

by Royce Young on February 20, 2009 at 1:31 pm 30 Comments

okc5 vs. pho

Oklahoma City Thunder (13-41, 3-22 road) vs. Phoenix Suns (30-23, 15-10 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.3 (28th), Phoenix: 108.9 (10th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.4 (21st), Phoenix: 109.4 (18th)
Pace: Thunder: 93.6 (8th), Phoenix: 94.7 (4th)

As much as I love trades and roster moves and all the shifting pieces, I’m kind of relieved to get it back on the basketball court. The last few days have been pretty nuts and it will be nice to get back to what’s actually important – the game on the floor. (Though I’m sure Brian Davis and Grant Long will be sure to spend 75 minutes discussing every bit of the minutia that occurred this week. I know. I can’t wait either.)

There’s no secret as to what Phoenix is going to do to tonight. They’re going to score, score and score some more. After firing Terry Porter and promoting Alvin Gentry who vowed to put the team back at its “breakneck pace,” the runnin’ Suns have put up 140 and 142 points the last two games. Granted, it was against a Clipper squad that really doesn’t really enjoy playing basketball right now, but still, 282 points in two games is darn impressive. It would take a P.J. Carlesimo team two months to score that many points. Keep Reading…

Friday Bolts: Now we can get back to actually playing basketball… Edition

by Royce Young on February 20, 2009 at 9:14 am 6 Comments

And if you haven’t heard, the Thunder waived Mo Sene last night to make room for Sefolosha. I know. I miss him thunderbolt2313 already too.

NOTE: Something that every major outlet has been reporting is that in exchange for Sefolosha, OKC gives up the lesser (which actually means higher, or least favorable) of either the Nuggets or Suns pick in 2009, which Hollinger worries one could end up in the lottery. Well, the Suns pick is for 2010. OKC owns the Spurs’ and the Nuggets’ 2009 picks. Just a clarification there.

UPDATE: Tyson Chandler just posted a story about the whole trade thing on his website: “The next day I was getting everything straight with my family and packing up stuff. The kids were going to go back to California with our parents and I was going to head out to Oklahoma City and start looking for a house for the following year. Until then I was going to be in a hotel. On my way to the airport I get a call from my agent again and he says “Don’t get on the plane.” And I’m like “What?” He repeats, “Don’t get on the plane. There’s some problems with the trade, I don’t know if it’s going to go through.” So I go back home and he calls me back to say the deal is not going through. Meanwhile, I’m like “WHAT?” Next thing you know, I’m getting calls from a couple of the Hornets people, and they’re saying, “We’re looking forward” and this and that.”

Lots of Thabo love from ESPN’s Daily Dime. Lots: “Kevin Arnovitz: It might not be the splashiest deal of the day — and it’s certainly a fall-off from the Tyson Chandler trade — but I like Oklahoma City’s acquisition of Thabo Sefolosha for a late first-round draft pick. Oklahoma City has incredible offensive firepower on its roster. What OKC needs now are some players like Sefolosha who can give them some length and toughness on the wing. For the Thunder to become a perennial playoff team in the West, they’ll need a defensive stopper or two, and Sefolosha can excel in that regard. He can guard four positions and rebound the ball without hurting them offensively. In other words, he can provide the Thunder some reliable glue for all those nice pieces.”

John Hollinger grades OKC’s trades: “I love this deal for the Thunder. They’ve needed a shooting guard all season, especially one who will defend and doesn’t need the ball much. Sefolosha pretty much fits the description on all counts, and he should be a perfect fit as their starting 2 going forward. He doesn’t have great offensive gifts, but he could become an elite defensive stopper in time. The Thunder trade one of their three first-rounders in what shapes up as a fairly lame draft, but there’s a chance that the pick (the lesser of Phoenix’s or Denver’s) will end up being in the lottery. In a related move, the Thunder waived Mouhamed Sene, one of their recent lottery picks to try to fill the center spot for the franchise. I’m guessing you won’t hear that name again unless you’re a big fan of FIBA qualifying tournaments. Grade: A-”

And on the Rose/Wilcox deal: “This is a bit of a come-down from Tyson Chandler. But the Thunder got some payola out of it for agreeing to take Rose, and I’m sure Clay Bennett appreciates that. The Thunder might get a few more ducats out of it if Rose agrees to a buyout so he can sign with a contender — perhaps returning to San Antonio. Grade: C-plus” Keep Reading…

Trade Reaction: Thunder wheels and deals at the deadline

by Royce Young on February 19, 2009 at 3:37 pm 22 Comments

The first thought that came to my mind when I saw the Thabo Sefolosha trade was this. After the Malik Rose deal we were all wondering what was going on. Where was our wunderkid GM? But now Presti does something like this, and totally redeems himself.

I think it’s a great deal. Sefolosha is an extremely athletic 6-foot-7 small forward/shooting guard that was still finding playing time while being buried behind Larry Hughes, Ben Gordan and Luol Deng. We knew there was no way OKC was going to actually use all five of those first-round picks the next two years so you have to judge value here. And with this year’s draft Thabo Sefolosha > a late first-round pick. Big time. The Bulls needed to clear room for John Salmons and the Thunder really needs help at the two and three. Think about it – who backs up Kevin Durant right now? Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Answer: nobody. The Thunder’s got Russell Westbrook and Earl Watson at point. Kyle Weaver and Russell Westbrook at the two (and Desmond Mason of course). Kevin Durant at the three. Who’s playing behind him? Damien Wilkins? I don’t think he counts because he sure ain’t playing. Keep Reading…

OKC gets Malik Rose for Chris Wilcox and Thabo Sefolosha for first-rounder

by Royce Young on February 19, 2009 at 11:28 am 87 Comments

UDPATE: Marc Stein reports:

“Chicago’s Thabo Sefolosha is headed to Oklahoma City for one of the Thunder’s five stockpiled first-round picks in the next two drafts.”

Who is Thabo Sefolosha you ask? He’s a 24-year-old third-year player from Vevey, Switzerland. The 6-foot-7 swingman is making just under $2 million per and he has two years left on his deal. He’s played in every game this year for the Bulls but he’s getting just over 17 minutes a game. He’s averaging 4.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg and 1.5 apg. No word on which pick it is OKC had to give up. (Obviously it’s either the Nuggets or Spurs pick this year, I’d assume. Hopefully it’s not the 2010 Phoenix pick.) UPDATE: Ian Thompson reported that OKC will send its least valuable pick between its Spurs or Nuggets first-rounder. Nice.

Marc Stein has just tossed out this rumor:

“It is not immediately clear if this would be two separate trades or a three-way exchange, but I’m hearing that Oklahoma City’s Chris Wilcox — who went back to the Thunder on Wednesday night when the Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded — and Chicago’s Larry Hughes are New York-bound.

To complete the transaction(s), Oklahoma City would get Malik Rose and Chicago would receive Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson. Trying to nail it all down for you.”

UPDATE: Marc Stein reports the deal is done. Malik Rose and cash to Oklahoma City for Chris Wilcox.

Cash considerations sweeten the pot a bit, but it still doesn’t make a ton of sense to me unless as Clark said, it’s a favor. But there’s still an hour to go…

Wilcox’s deal expires at the end of this year. Malik Rose’s does too. And Rose is 34 and has played in just 18 games this year and is averaging a whopping 1.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg. Why make this trade unless Wilcox desperately wants out? I don’t get it.

Thursday Bolts – Trade Reversal Edition

by Royce Young on February 19, 2009 at 9:41 am 16 Comments

Niall Doherty of Hornets247: “I’m not sure. I’d like to throw a party to celebrate this, but OKC aren’t sending Tyson thunderbolt2312 back for no reason. Remember, they’re not playing for anything this season, so they must feel that the injury is something that will effect Chandler’s play beyond the next few months. Best case scenario, the Thunder are being overly cautious and Tyson will be healthy and ready to help the Hornets make a good playoff run this season. Then we can worry about shedding salary in the summer, or perhaps put together a more fan-friendly trade before tomorrow’s 2pm Central deadline. Worst case scenario, Tyson has some serious health issues, meaning he can’t help us on the floor and we’re stuck with his contract. Then we might have to settle for a real ugly trade to avoid paying the luxury tax next season.”

Henry Abbott: “And don’t you think the Hornets wish, now, that they would have admitted the trade was about money? Instead, they told everyone they really wanted Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox. But hey, Tyson, buddy … we didn’t really mean that. I wonder if perhaps we also learn a little something about why the Hornets may have been willing to make a lopsided trade. Not that they were trying to dupe the Thunder, but if the medical staff has long-term worries about Chandler, then that might be one more reason to make a move.”

John Rohde: “The Thunder wanted Chandler big-time, which means it must be something pretty ugly for the Thunder to rescind the trade. Chandler has battled toe/foot/ankle injuries this season, which has limited him to 32 games. Yahoo Sports reported late Wednesday the trade was nixed because Chandler had a horrid case of turf toe.” Keep Reading…

Thunder (13-42, 3-23 road) vs. Golden State Warriors (19-36, 14-13 home)

Oklahoma City Thunder (13-41, 3-22 road) vs. Phoenix Suns (30-23, 15-10 home)

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