Preseason Thoughts: Suns 88, Thunder 76
The Suns beat the Thunder 88-76 in OKC’s second-to-last preseason game, one in which Kevin Durant, Nick Collison and Derek Fisher all sat out. The Thunder shot just 38 percent, hit 2-19 from 3, turned it over 19 times and didn’t crack more than 22 points in a quarter.
It was a game well deserving of only being seen on an illegal Internet stream.
The takeaways:
- Kendrick Perkins played for the first time since dislocating his finger in the preseason opener. He started and played only in the first half for 10 minutes total. He scored two points with two rebounds and two assists. Nothing all that notable about it, either way.
- Steven Adams once again impressed. In 26 minutes, 10 points, eight rebounds and a block. It’s becoming more and more obvious every time out: I don’t see how you keep Adams out of the rotation to start the season. He’s not only overtaking Hasheem Thabeet, he’s putting a wide gap between him. Adams had a few issues with turnovers, but he’s keeping his fouling in check and while he still gets caught watching the ball in pick-and-rolls (he gave up a couple backside alley-oops tonight), he’s pretty sound overall. Adams just makes positive impacts when on the floor.
- With Durant sitting out, it opened the door for Jeremy Lamb to be more assertive offensively, and it didn’t go well early. He started 1-7 from the field, but played probably his best half of preseason basketball in the second 24, hitting 3-4 while getting to the line, pulling in rebounds (nine of them!) and setting up teammates (three assists). He finished with 13 points and if he he had hit his free throws (just 5-9), he could’ve had a nice little line.
- Reggie Jackson was the best player on the floor tonight, going for 18 points on 7-17 shooting with four assists. He got a little carried away with his 3-point shot, taking six and only making one. Any time he attacked the rim, it was pretty positive.
- The delay of game stuff is out of control.
- In the first half, after the Suns were pegged with a technical for a delay of game, Jackson had Lamb take the free throw in an obvious effort to give him a little boost. But Lamb missed it and immediately slapped his hands together. Again, his second half was better but I keep coming back to it: He’s playing on edge. He feels each miss and has a buzzer go off when he misses a couple in a row. He’s obviously pressing.
- The best thing from this game was Gerald Green’s dunking. There’s just something special about it.
- Lamb is absolutely at his best on the move. In the first half he curled off a screen and knocked down a smooth jumper. He also looked good as the handler in the pick-and-roll in the second half. He’s really a pretty underrated passer and creator. Where he’s seems to have struggled most in preseason is in knocking down the shots he should be knocking down, and taking contested spot-ups.
- I like Andre Roberson’s activity, his athleticism and his length, but it’s hard to see him seeing any playing time anywhere except for Tulsa this season. Just too raw.
- Perry Jones had a nice little game, scoring 12 points on 5-9 with three rebounds. He splashed a few mid-range jumpers and finished a couple shots at the rim.
- Thabo: 1-9, 0-4 from 3. This preseason, he’s 3-17 from deep. Yuck.
- Markieff Morris got tossed in the first half for elbowing Serge Ibaka in the face.
Next up: Against the Bulls in Wichita on Wednesday
