Thunder now has best record in the NBA

[Stan Silliman]

The Clips had a license to mug Harden without fouls being called all night long. The Clippers don't play nearly as good on the road so it's critical the Thunder end up with a better overall record. With Thabo, you've got someone who can guard Billups or Butler. Big factor in winning or losing. Last night, mostly due to sharp passing by Blake and Paul, these guys were wide open, uncontested.

I'd zone the Clippers with Thabo and Durant up top and Westbrook hounding Paul.

[MDot]

The Clips had a license to mug Harden without fouls being called all night long. The Clippers don't play nearly as good on the road so it's critical the Thunder end up with a better overall record. With Thabo, you've got someone who can guard Billups or Butler. Big factor in winning or losing. Last night, mostly due to sharp passing by Blake and Paul, these guys were wide open, uncontested.

I'd zone the Clippers with Thabo and Durant up top and Westbrook hounding Paul.

While I say that normally we would beat them we're talking about last night and last night we just wasn't going to beat them no matter who was on the floor. I say we won't lose to them more than twice not counting last night in the year 2012. I agree that we missed Thabo last night but I don't think we lost because of his absence and I doubt we would have won just because of his defense. It would have been a closer game but the Clippers were shooting lights out, period.

[Stan Silliman]

While I say that normally we would beat them we're talking about last night and last night we just wasn't going to beat them no matter who was on the floor. I say we won't lose to them more than twice not counting last night in the year 2012. I agree that we missed Thabo last night but I don't think we lost because of his absence and I doubt we would have won just because of his defense. It would have been a closer game but the Clippers were shooting lights out, period.

Injuries are part of life in the NBA. Can we win it all? Possibly. But can we win a majority of games against upper division teams -- Clippers, Mavs, Spurs, Heat, Bulls, Grizzlies -- without both Maynor and Thabo? I don't think so. We're pretty boastful about our league leading record but don't discount that a lot of our wins came against teams who were hampered by injuries. Spurs (Ginobli), Grizzlies (Randolph), Mavs (Dirk), etc.

Could we have won last night, even with Thabo? Probably not. But getting off to a hot three-point shooting night can sometimes be curtailed by the right defensive specialist. Plus you have to count Thabo as one more three-point shooter, and this year, a very good one. I'd match our 3-point guys - DC, KD, Harden and Thabo against most. When Westbrook starts jacking, we sometimes lose ground.

The Clippers had the good fortune to have ALL their components healthy and together at the same time. Billups & Paul had been out in several of their past games. Mo Williams, Chris Paul, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups and Randy Foye may be as lethal a group of outside shooters as there is in the league and combined with their inside game, they might be better than the Thunder, at least offensively.

[MDot]

Injuries are part of life in the NBA. Can we win it all? Possibly. But can we win a majority of games against upper division teams -- Clippers, Mavs, Spurs, Heat, Bulls, Grizzlies -- without both Maynor and Thabo? I don't think so. We're pretty boastful about our league leading record but don't discount that a lot of our wins came against teams who were hampered by injuries. Spurs (Ginobli), Grizzlies (Randolph), Mavs (Dirk), etc.

Could we have won last night, even with Thabo? Probably not. But getting off to a hot three-point shooting night can sometimes be curtailed by the right defensive specialist. Plus you have to count Thabo as one more three-point shooter, and this year, a very good one. I'd match our 3-point guys - DC, KD, Harden and Thabo against most. When Westbrook starts jacking, we sometimes lose ground.

The Clippers had the good fortune to have ALL their components healthy and together at the same time. Billups & Paul had been out in several of their past games. Mo Williams, Chris Paul, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups and Randy Foye may be as lethal a group of outside shooters as there is in the league and combined with their inside game, they might be better than the Thunder, at least offensively.

I agree with all that except we beat the Mavs with Dirk, but we also got blown out by them with Dirk. Losing Maynor has hurt us but if we were to lose Thabo for the entire season as well it would make a significant difference I believe, those 2 are bigger assets than many realize. Thabo has also become an amazing 3-point shooter this season in addition to his defensive presence, and Westbrook generally hurts us when he starts jacking up shots but sometimes he helps us quite a bit by jacking up shots, i.e. the Boston game.

Us leading the NBA record wise is something we can be proud of but we're only 20 games in of a 66 game season. Ultimately the best team will be the team raising the trophy this year not the team who finishes the regular season with the best record.

[dankrutka]

This team needs to keep improving throughout the season to win a title because they're not there now... but never put too much into a game like last night. Does anyone remember how awful the Mavs were before the playoffs started last year? They looked terrible.

[OSUMom]

Didn't want to start a whole thread for this question, so going to put it here.... why is it that every team we play lately has ONE player with God-like shooting ability, for just that one game?

[ljbab728]

It looks like we can overcome a few hot hitting players, but the current West Coast road trip looks like it's going to be all nailbiters. Overtime last night and a last second win tonight. As I've mentioned before, the Thunder would have lost those kind of games in the past.

[MDot]

As I've mentioned before, the Thunder would have lost those kind of games in the past.

I agree, even as recently as the beginning of last season they probably would have lost this game. I believe this year the Thunder are 7-1 in two possesion or less games counting tonight's win.

[dankrutka]

I agree, even as recently as the beginning of last season they probably would have lost this game. I believe this year the Thunder are 7-1 in two possesion or less games counting tonight's win.

This can be looked at 2 ways:

1. We're a good team that has learned how to win close games.
2. We're not as good as our record indicates as our record in close games is deceiving.

I think the answer lies somewhere in between. I think we have a pretty good team, but there are some pretty big flaws (e.g. too many turnovers, terrible offensive movement, bad defense lately) that could cause us to lose a tough series. We'll see in time...

[ljbab728]

This can be looked at 2 ways:

1. We're a good team that has learned how to win close games.
2. We're not as good as our record indicates as our record in close games is deceiving.

I think the answer lies somewhere in between. I think we have a pretty good team, but there are some pretty big flaws (e.g. too many turnovers, terrible offensive movement, bad defense lately) that could cause us to lose a tough series. We'll see in time...

Of course they're not a perfect team but you still have to admit that they have a toughness and confidence in games decided late that they haven't had before. That was my point. In the NBA all that counts is wins and loses. It doesn't matter how many are in overtime or by one point.

[MDot]

This can be looked at 2 ways:

1. We're a good team that has learned how to win close games.
2. We're not as good as our record indicates as our record in close games is deceiving.

I think the answer lies somewhere in between. I think we have a pretty good team, but there are some pretty big flaws (e.g. too many turnovers, terrible offensive movement, bad defense lately) that could cause us to lose a tough series. We'll see in time...

I agree with everything you said whole heartedly, KT. As you said it seems they are somewhere in the middle and as ljbab said they're getting the job done and getting the win most of the time.

[OSUMom]

They have definetly gotten better at closing out a game. Nothing worse them watching a team fall apart right at the end and blow a winnable game. They are doing a good job at not just keeping it together, but almost stepping it up a notch right at the end.