OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[Jake]

Beno Udrih outscored pretty much our entire bench. Yuck. That can't happen.

[OKCretro]

Reggie Jackson needs to look at himself in the mirror for a long time. He scored 2 points while his counterpart back up PG beno udrih scored 14. If reggie is timid again he should have a very short leash. Maybe not even a minute in the 2nd half

[warreng88]

Any idea why Adams only played three minutes? Was he hurt or just ineffective in those limited minutes?

[Laramie]

Not sure what was up with Adams playing only three minutes...

Although Perkins tied the game; he wasn't very impressive scoring. Several players on the Thunder roster need to step up. If Russell can't find K.D. open, he has few alternatives. Sefolosha will be a key on offense as well as defense.

Scott Brooks & the team are going to have to figure out something fast. You get down 3-1 in a series odds are near to impossible that you recover. Memphis has always caused match-up problems with the Thunder. Beno Udrih was 6-8 in field goals and 2-2 at the charity stripe.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - April 21, 2014 - ESPN

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

Reggie Jackson needs to look at himself in the mirror for a long time. He scored 2 points while his counterpart back up PG beno udrih scored 14. If reggie is timid again he should have a very short leash. Maybe not even a minute in the 2nd half

If we pull Reggie then you can kiss this season good bye. He needs to step up and Russ and KD need to make sure he's involved in the offense. You don't bench him pretty much under any circumstance. He's our best bench player and you win with your best players and lose with them... but you don't give up on them.

[dankrutka]

Any idea why Adams only played three minutes? Was he hurt or just ineffective in those limited minutes?

Scott Brooks doesn't trust young players. He always gives veterans minutes. Regardless of production or success.

[ljbab728]

The Western Conference is certainly showing how competitive it is after two games. After two in OKC, the Thunder and Grizzlies are one each. After two in San Antonio, the Spurs and Mavericks are one each. After two in Los Angeles, the Warriors and the Clippers are one each. After two in Houston, the Blazer lead the Rockets two to none. The favorites may be there at the end but I wouldn't bet the bank on it.

[PWitty]

When guys who are as offensively limited as Thabo and Perk are playing as many minutes as they have been, it's going to be tough for KD and Russ to do what they want to do on the floor. The defense doesn't respect those guys at all. Their game plan worked out perfectly on defense and they turned KD and Russ into volume jump shooters.

Tony Allen has been an absolute nightmare for KD with how he is shadowing him on the court. Did anyone else see KD wave Russ off when he was trying to pass it to him (KD) because he couldn't get any separation from Tony Allen? It ended up resulting in Russ taking a contested pull-up 3 when we were still down 2 at the end of regulation. Regulation ended up turning out alright for us, but we don't have the most creative offensive sets when we can't get the ball to KD in crunch time.

[Urbanized]

Those are excellent points. People like Barkley still try to make Russ out as some sort of ball hog, but it's the same old story as it has been since day one. When the starting lineup is in, if KD is struggling or can't get open (like just about any time he is being covered by Tony Allen, for instance) Russ has two choices; pass to someone who sucks at offense or try to carry the load himself. Thankfully the emergence of Serge as a mild offensive threat has eased this a bit, but casual observers and a few people who are just wrong-headed (like Barkley) misinterpret what is happening.

This really boils down to substitution and bench play. There are scorers on that bench. They just need to step up.

[Anonymous.]

Excited for tonight! OKC should have revenge on the mind, and Memphis should be amped for stealing HCA.

This first round overall is incredibly competitive. MIA is the only team to win both home games. Looks like Miami will cake walk once again through the weak-a$$ East.


On a side note, where are all the Harden trade haters? Those max dollars really showing up down there!

[dankrutka]

Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, and Caron Butler are our most capable offensive players beyond KD and Russ. They have to be involved and stay involved late for our offense to hum.

The most frustrating thing for me is Brooks allowing Russ to take 7 or 8 threes in a game. He's not a good 3 point shooter and it's lazy offense. Brooks should already have this established this is not okay by this point in the season and in this point in Russ' career. The fact that it's not really established makes me question Brooks abilities as a coach. There's just no way a good coach would let his team have such poor shot selection.

Big game tonight.

[Anonymous.]

I generally agree about Russ. Some of those 3 point shots with 15-20 seconds left on the shot clock can be devastating. I feel as if Russ gets so emotionally involved in the game and the momentum, that he tries to take over. And if he misses those shots, tries to make up for it on the D end. Which usually ends up in him taking a gamble at a blocked shot or double team steal, and the open guy scores.

Then you have those times Russ will hit those 3s at an absurd rate and he looks like a genius.

I don't think the issue is Russell, I think it is the fire on the defensive end. OKC stepped up at the end of regulation in last game, but where was that passion beforehand?!

Winners find ways to win. OKC tonight.

[dankrutka]

Then you have those times Russ will hit those 3s at an absurd rate and he looks like a genius.

I don't think the issue is Russell, I think it is the fire on the defensive end.

First, the times Russ hits threes at "an absurd rate" are pretty far and few between. And, Russ might be the biggest defensive problem. As you said, far too much gambling that's allowing easy buckets.

[OSUMom]

I generally agree about Russ. Some of those 3 point shots with 15-20 seconds left on the shot clock can be devastating. I feel as if Russ gets so emotionally involved in the game and the momentum, that he tries to take over. And if he misses those shots, tries to make up for it on the D end. Which usually ends up in him taking a gamble at a blocked shot or double team steal, and the open guy scores.

Then you have those times Russ will hit those 3s at an absurd rate and he looks like a genius.

I don't think the issue is Russell, I think it is the fire on the defensive end. OKC stepped up at the end of regulation in last game, but where was that passion beforehand?!

Winners find ways to win. OKC tonight.

It's not just necessarily threes. It is the run up with the ball, stop and pop off a jump shot. He gets in a rhythm making them and he's a hero. And he does make those a lot. But when they aren't falling, he just blew a possession all by himself. Over and Over.

[Mel]

Two in the paint is better than a missed three in air.

[Pete]

Watching this ugly game makes you really appreciate the crowd in OKC.

Tonight, Memphis has been ahead pretty much throughout in a critical playoff game, yet their arena isn't nearly as loud and energetic as the 'Peake.

[SOONER8693]

Right now, this Thunder bunch looks like a team with a lot of quit in them.

[OSUMom]

Durant missing some open shots. I know there has been some good defense on him (especially with the no-calls) but not all of it. He's in a shooting slump. Which sounds silly when he scored over 30 last game and over 20 this game. But for him to miss half his free throws? There is the game right there. He best get over that in a hurry. Like before the next game.

[Anonymous.]

Man another whacky game with a 4 point play to force OT... This has to be the oddest series in a while.

I'm not sure what coach is doing putting Perkind and Thabo in for the entirety of OT, but it is obvious to everyone else but him, that they don't stick a defender within 10 feet of either of those guys. Add in the fact that Ibaka never touches the ball in the final 10 minutes, and there you have FIVE grizzlies defenders to guard TWO thunder players. That just doesn't work. I am not trying to board the cliche "fire the coach" train, but we essentially played identical games back to back now with ZERO adjustments. In fact, he actually played less adjustments because once again Adams didn't sniff the floor.

Side note, Butler is trash this post season... I would rather have Fish or Jackson out there in his spot every time he checks in.

I think OKC is done unless we win tomorrow night, and I could see Brooks getting a phone call shortly after if we do end up losing Round 1.

[SoonerDave]

I think OKC is done unless we win tomorrow night, and I could see Brooks getting a phone call shortly after if we do end up losing Round 1.

What bugs me about this team, and I make no pretense of being a big basketball expert, is that they look great when things are working, but when someone comes and smashes them in the mouth, they struggle to respond. Its almost like they expect the other team to just, kinda, swoon, and when they don't, they get a little...well....pouty. They should be tougher than that. Yeah, the team is still relatively "young," but they're hardly a "young team" anymore. They should know better.

Now I don't know what you do about a coach leaving Thabo and Perk in which essentially guarantees FIVE on two and nothing but horrendous shots in OT.

And I agree completely that if we don't win tomorrow night, sayonara. Someone on this team needs to show some leadership, grit, toughness, whatever, and kick everyone else in the tail. Thought that was kinda what Perkins was supposed to do to some extent.

[dankrutka]

I'm not sure why people are talking about Adams coming in. Perk played one of his best games of the season. He actually contributed offensively and continued to hound Randolph defensively.

The biggest problems are (a) our superior bench is contributing absolutely nothing and (b) we play undisciplined offensively and, to a degree, defensively. For Westbrook to take 13 threes is an indictment both on him and Scott Brooks for letting it happen. He's a poor three point shooter. He shouldn't take more than two to three a game. Instead of fighting for the best shot, we have a lot of late game "hero" ball that is is predictable and lazy. Serge Ibaka, despite his effectiveness, is zoned out late in games offensively - Brooks, Westbrook, and Durant can all be blamed for that.

All of these problems are same issues that have plagued Brooks his entire career, and without a dynamic third offensive threat like Harden, our offense stagnates and becomes predictable. Despite all of this, there's no reason we couldn't still take this series. Game 4 is a big one...

[OSUMom]

Anon, I'm with you on Butler. Was this guy all show and no go when it came to reg season vs playoffs? I thought he was some big time veteran. Doesn't he have a ring? How much did we pay for him? I'm feeling a bit like we got suckered in that deal and everyone (not necessarily here but like national press) thought it was going to be great for us.

[Bellaboo]

Durant missing some open shots. I know there has been some good defense on him (especially with the no-calls) but not all of it. He's in a shooting slump. Which sounds silly when he scored over 30 last game and over 20 this game. But for him to miss half his free throws? There is the game right there. He best get over that in a hurry. Like before the next game.

Durant began his slump about 6 or 7 games from the end of the season. I think it's fatigue. He went 0 for 8 from 3 last night. No way he shuould take a long 3 to end regulation. KD and RW missed 7 free throws last night....Game. The bench has dissappeared, I think there is some infighting going on, epecially when Ray Westbrook is putting tweets out during the game that Brooks be fired. If they don't get it resolved, we can kiss it goodbye. Presti will have to make some hard decisions this summer then.

[OKCisOK4me]

If we take this series 7 games and lose, Brooks will not be fired. His winning percentage is too high for that to happen (can't include first season as interim coach).

Name a solid candidate that you think would take an open coaching opportunity seriously here?


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[zookeeper]

They pay these guys millions of dollars to especially show up at playoff time. Mind boggling.