Wednesday Bolts – 12.26.12
Ben Golliver of SI.com on OKC’s big problem: “The question, then, becomes whether or not Perkins should be on the final five. Looking to his box score line for reasons why he should be included is a fruitless task: Perkins finished with four points, five rebounds (all defensive), one assist, four turnovers while shooting one-for-five from the field. Of note, the Heat regularly left him to jump Thunder ball-handlers when he set high screens and he has no ability to make them pay for that lack of respect with his shooting and lack of mobility going to the hoop. If he’s not rebounding in volume (he wasn’t) or effectively captaining a team defense (he wasn’t, at least not when it mattered most), it’s difficult to comprehend Brooks’ thought process in riding him. Even on some of the Thunder’s successful late defensive possessions, Perkins found himself switched onto James on the perimeter. Surely, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and company will see that on tape and find opportunities for exploitation.”
Tom Haberstroh of Heat Index: “Can we just start the 2013 Finals already? Even offseason pals Durant and LeBron were jawing at each other by the end of this game. The Thunder absorbed a big blow in the first half when their three-time leading scorer sat out with foul trouble, but they managed to stay in the game thanks to free throws. Tough loss, but why so many minutes for Kendrick Perkins?”
From Elias: “Kevin Durant: 2nd player in NBA history to score 30+ points on December 25 in 3 straight yrs (Oscar Robertson is the other- 7 straight years).”
Michael Wallace of ESPN.com: “As the cliché goes, actions speak louder than words. Repeated outcomes tend to speak even louder. Sure, six months have passed since James won his first championship by overwhelming Durant and the Thunder. But at least one thing hasn’t changed: Oklahoma City still doesn’t quite stack up well against the Heat. And until the Thunder figure out that they can’t beat Miami at its own game — that the old 3-on-3 Hoop It Up, small-ball only plays in the Heat’s favor — the ultimate outcome between these teams won’t change when titles are at stake.”
Kurt Helin of PBT: “And with all that, it was a six point final score in a game the Thunder had a shot in. They need to play at their peak to beat the Heat and we didn’t see that on Christmas just like we didn’t last June. Like the protagonist in an action movie, the Heat are going to have to play at a new level to beat the Heat in a series. Oklahoma City may have that in them but their margin for error is small. And we saw too many little mistakes. But it’s close. It could be different if they meet in the finals. And if that happens, I’m good with it.”
Kelly Dwyer of BDL on OKC’s offense: “Of course, this all can’t be placed at the feet of Martin, a player working in his prime in a career that has been continually underrated. Most of his teammates are, scarily, still years away from their respective primes; so a year-older Thunder team can’t help but improve from season to season. We’re hoping the same can be said for Scott Brooks, a few years into his first head coaching gig – he hasn’t exactly shut down the Kendrick Perkins experiment (KP is averaging just about as minutes this year as he did last season, with only a small dip in December as compared with November), but his work at developing movement has to be applauded.”
Lil Wayne either loved KD’s dunk, or hated it.
Berry Tramel: “But here’s my question. With 44 seconds left in the game, after a timeout, with a Heat possession in which OKC absolutely had to have a stop to have its best shot at victory, why was the Thunder’s best defender not on the floor? Why was Thabo Sefolosha sitting on the bench? Brooks doesn’t like to situationally substitute, and I suppose there’s something to that theory. Certainly helps the flow of the game when the same group can play minute after minute. But in the final minute, there is no flow. Basketball becomes a football game. A play, then a huddle. A play, then a huddle.”
Darnell Mayberry: “Immediately after Bosh’s dunk, Westbrook, Durant and Perkins all turned to Martin and chewed him out for not rotating. Perk was inching over to double LeBron James, and, apparently, it was Martin’s job to rotate to Bosh, Perk’s man. Durant pointed directly at Martin and bellowed “That’s you!” I don’t know the ins and outs of the Thunder’s offensive and defensive schemes, but it looked to me as though Durant was every bit at fault as Martin. KD was in the lane, with inside position on Bosh. Martin was dropping toward the corner from the right wing, keeping a body on Dwyane Wade.”
Per ESPN PR: “Thunder/Heat gets 23.2 overnight rating in OKC & 15.9 in Miami — both market records for reg-season ABC game. (Tulsa did record 10.9)”
Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com: “Break down the angle-by-angle replays all you want, the Thunder’s reality coming out of this game is the same as it was when they lost four of five in the Finals. There have been plenty of platitudes about how that series was closer than the result. The same could be said of Tuesday evening. But the Thunder may have to evaluate their strategy against the Heat if they hope to turn this tide around. They have their reasons for what they’re doing — this well-regarded organization always does — but the results continue to create question marks that it seems they must address.”