Thunder crush the Mavs in Game 1, 108-70
Well, then. I don’t know I’d say that was unexpected, because most everyone had a pretty good feeling the Thunder are a lot better than the Mavs.
But to be up 59-33 at halftime. And then 93-51 after three quarters? It was so bad that when the Mavs opened the fourth with the first five points, it felt pretty significant. They had cut the lead to 37.
So, yeah, this wasn’t really something to be anticipated.
It was pretty obvious in the first three minutes what was happening. The Thunder started with a 9-0 run, and with playoff intensity back in the building, they flew all over the floor, playing the kind of defense everyone had been desperately wanting to see all season. Maybe they were saving something. Or maybe it’s only one game.
Let’s just get to these here notes.
NOTES:
- Kevin Durant appeared to be very excited to be back in the postseason. He yelled. He clapped. He pumped his fists. He was so fired up for this game that I thought he might hurt himself from excitement.
- For a brief moment, Billy Donovan didn’t stagger Westbrook and Durant. It appeared to be more of an on the fly move rather than a pre-planned decision. Durant didn’t sub at his normal midway mark, so to get back the minutes, I guess Donovan went two minutes without KD.
- One of the many things the Mavs can’t adjust for is the Thunder’s rebounding ability. The margin was 56-33 tonight, and outside of breaking Collective Bargaining and signing or trading for new players, that’s not likely to change much.
- If Serge Ibaka was saving himself for the playoffs, then well worth it. He looked like a completely different player tonight. His activity on the defensive end was 2012-ish, and offensively he shot the ball well, and with confidence and little hesitation. The one shot he missed, a corner 3, was the only one he hesitated on, getting caught in between a pass and a shot as Wes Matthews stunted at him with Durant semi-open on the wing.
- I hate saying these type of things, because it’s not actually correct, but you know what I mean: Ibaka might be the Thunder’s most important postseason player. (Obviously Durant and Westbrook are but you get my point.)
- I actually expected to look at the box score and see more than five turnovers for Westbrook.
- I was so impressed with the way Andre Roberson played against the Spurs, and it seemed like there were some real signs of player development in that game. And in the first quarter tonight, he put the ball on the floor and attacked the basket with confidence, getting a layup. Then in the third quarter he did it again, this time driving and dropping off a nice pass to Steven Adams after help came. Those are important things.
- Not to nitpick — okay, to nitpick — but Westbrook was a little 3 happy early on. The early clock 3s aren’t terrible necessarily, but with the way he can get anyone basically anything, including himself, you have to think he should save those for later in the clock.
- I’m just saying, Kyle Singler has a history of stepping up in tournament play.
- So here’s the deal with the sleeved jerseys: The Thunder are 8-0 in them this season. And the players have kind of gotten superstitious about it. This made seven straight home games they’ve worn them. I’m picturing a world in which the Thunder make the NBA Finals, and wear those hideous things.
- Cameron Payne was inactive tonight with a sore hip. Donovan said it’s likely he’ll be available for Game 2.
- The “coaching” storyline can be so overrated. Rick Carlisle is an awesome coach. One of the absolute best in the game. But he can only coach the players he has. And same for Billy Donovan. So what happens in these types of things is Donovan doesn’t get credited for his team playing well, and Carlisle is set up to get the benefit of low expectations. It can be a pretty dumb thing.
- There was a defensive possession the second quarter that was just spectacular. So many rotations, so much activity, so much intensity.
- The Mavs were a +4 in the fourth. Classic Thunder, giving away a lead in the fourth again.
- This was the fewest points the Thunder have allowed in a first half in the playoffs. Previous was 34, twice, both against Memphis.
- It then became the fewest points they allowed in a playoff game, topping 72 they allowed against the Grizzlies in 2011.
- This was the biggest margin of victory, topping the previous of 29, which was done twice. Against the Lakers in 2012, and against the Grizzlies in 2011.
- Monty Williams was at the game tonight, sitting in section 104 with his children. It’s the first game he’s been at since the tragic death of his wife in February.
- Billy Donovan: “Obviously going through what he went through and knowing where his family’s seats are and where his wife would be sitting, I’m sure that probably took some time to even get to that place. I was watching a Dallas game, one of ours at home, and I got to the end of the tape and stopped the tape and we were walking off the court and I just saw him do this (waving across the court) across the way. So I think the difficulty of going back into those seats is challenging,” he said. “I’m really happy he wanted to come back and be a part and watch. It was great to see him.”
- Fine, I’ll ask the dumb question: Could this type of blowout win actually potentially backfire? I mean, not that the Thunder should’ve artificially let the Mavs back in it or something, but you do have to wonder about motivations and all that stuff. It might be easy to relax a bit for Game 2. I have a feeling that one’s going to be a tad bit closer.
Next up: Game 2 in OKC on Monday
