Monday Bolts – 4.25.11
John Hollinger of ESPN.com on OKC: “That future begins now, it seems. With the Thunder one step away from the second round of the playoffs, and a potential home-court advantage awaiting them should Memphis defeat San Antonio, it appears — youthful mistakes and all – these kids are ready for a deep playoff run. It may have been a day of fantastic finishes, but the really fantastic part here is that a group that was 3-29 a little over two years ago can realistically discuss making the conference finals.”
Andrew Feinstein of Denver Stiffs: “I fear that we’re witnessing the evolution of a great team before our very eyes and unfortunately it’s not the one that has “Nuggets” on the front of their jerseys. It seems as though our pesky, upstart, once lovable Nuggets are merely going to be the first victim as this Thunder squad rolls through the 2011 post-season eating up the competition in its wake. Looking at the Thunder objectively (as I believe we can now that we’re down 0-3), they have all the makings of a championship team. Two superstars? Check. Size? Check. Depth? Check. Good role players? Check. Role players who can make big shots? Check. Good coaching? Check. Ability to protect the rim? Check. In fact, if the Nuggets were to play the Thunder 100 times I think we’d lose about 85 of them.”
Are the Thunder the best in the West right now?
Roundball Mining Company after Game 3: “They protect the rim, they communicate to get back in transition and they do not hesitate to make a move or shoot when getting the ball in good position. More than anything they display a tremendous amount of hustle on the boards which is the sole reason the Thunder are winning regardless of how well they shoot from the field. Denver has been respectable in terms of allowing offensive rebounds and OKC has exposed them to the tune of 11.67 offensive boards per game.”
Darnell Mayberry: “Monday’s game should be a good test for the Thunder. The close-out game is notorious for being the toughest game in a series. It’ll be interesting to see how the Thunder responds. I originally picked the Thunder in 5 largely because I thought the Nuggets would be good enough to win at least one on their home court. But also because closing a series on an opponent’s home floor is no easy task. We’ll see just how good the Thunder is Monday. A side benefit to taking care of business Monday is two additional days of rest in addition to whatever amount the Thunder would already get before the second round. And it should be plenty. The Memphis-San Antonio series looks like it’s going 7.”
NBA Playbook with a great look at the final possession of Game 3.
Arron Afflalo doesn’t think the Thunder is better than the Nuggets: “I think they’re good,” Afflalo said. “They’re good. They’re a good basketball team, but do you reverse it and say we’re the best team if we make five more free throws and we win the game? Now we’re up 3-0. Now we’re so much better than them? No. They won the game. That’s just what it is. The object is to outscore your opponent and they’ve done that. Whether it’s by them being a better basketball team or by us making improvements, either way we just need to find a way to win.”
Pretty cool to see all the people that traveled to Denver.
How the World Championships benefited a bunch of players.
Chris Tomasson for NBA.com on Ibaka’s big night: “One might think Serge Ibaka grew up dreaming of having an NBA playoff game like the one he enjoyed Saturday night. Actually, the Oklahoma City forward never had even seen a playoff game on television until after he left his native Congo for Spain five years ago at the age of 16. “I can’t say when I was in Congo, no,” Ibaka said. “When I was young … I didn’t even know there was playoff.” Well, a lot more folks in the Congo might know about the NBA playoffs now than prior to Saturday. In Game 3 of a Western Conference first-round series at the Pepsi Center, Ibaka totaled 22 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in Oklahoma City’s 97-94 win over Denver, which gave the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead.”
