OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[Laramie]

LaMarcus Aldridge is an absolute freak.

He is a very strong herculean figure, who if very dominate on the offensive boards.

Great game! Statistically we could have very easily won this game. Their three-point shooting made the difference.

Portland was 8 - 23 (34.8%) 24 points; Oklahoma City was 5 - 11 (45.5%) 15 points, a difference of 9 points in a 7-point loss.

23 personal foul were called against the Thunder; 16 on Portland.

Free throws: Trailblazers 15/17 Thunder 21/24

[dankrutka]

I don't think 3 point shooting was the difference. We shot more efficiently so I wouldn't consider that a deficit. If I were looking to one factor, I'd say it was their offensive rebounding/second chance points.

Tough loss on the second half of a back to back. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[Laramie]

I don't think 3 point shooting was the difference. We shot more efficiently so I wouldn't consider that a deficit. If I were looking to one factor, I'd say it was their offensive rebounding/second chance points.

Tough loss on the second half of a back to back. Nothing to be ashamed of.

You know something, the more I analyze this, you're right on target. We blew several opportunities right under our goal. This is also K.D. worst turnover night.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10081713

[Laramie]

Well it was time. Portland ends OKC's winning streak tonight.

OKC was playing the second game of a back-to-back (@Sacramento Dec. 3rd) on the road to a Trail Blazer squad which had a one day rest before playing at home (Dec. 4th).

We'll see what Portland can do when they play back-to-back on the road against New Orleans (Dec. 30th) and meet the Thunder at the Peake on the 31st. The Thunder will have a one day rest in between as they meet Houston at home (Dec. 29th).

[OKCisOK4me]

That NYE game against the PTBs would be a damned good game to go to. They've gained victory over every team they've lost to on the road thus far. For now, I'm more concerned about our home game on Sunday against the Pacers. Two Georges got me worried.

[Stan Silliman]

I kept wondering whether Thabeet would be long enough to bother or alter Aldridge's jumper or, at a minimum, force Aldridge into driving into Ibaka's blocks. It could be a strategy to test out in practice and see whether or not Thabeet can disrupt LaMarcus's rhythm.

[dankrutka]

I kept wondering whether Thabeet would be long enough to bother or alter Aldridge's jumper or, at a minimum, force Aldridge into driving into Ibaka's blocks. It could be a strategy to test out in practice and see whether or not Thabeet can disrupt LaMarcus's rhythm.

Brooks probably just should have brought Perk back earlier. Perk is the best at keeping bigs from establishing their position. Thabeet is long, but not at all a great one-on-one defender, especially on a mobile guy like Aldridge.

[Anonymous.]

That NYE game against the PTBs would be a damned good game to go to. They've gained victory over every team they've lost to on the road thus far. For now, I'm more concerned about our home game on Sunday against the Pacers. Two Georges got me worried.

At a glance IND looks scary, but their schedule has been relatively weak. Only notable win is over Clips, IMO.

[Richard at Remax]

Good win last night in New Orleans. There were a lot of thunder fans there. Like the previous game I went to down there the atmosphere is just lousy. No one really stands up or gets into it. A lot of golf clapping going on. If they could channel 25% of the passion they have for the saints towards the pelicans it could be a tough place to play.

[Easy180]

Good win last night in New Orleans. There were a lot of thunder fans there. Like the previous game I went to down there the atmosphere is just lousy. No one really stands up or gets into it. A lot of golf clapping going on. If they could channel 25% of the passion they have for the saints towards the pelicans it could be a tough place to play.

I thought the same thing. What a crappy fan base, but then again there are tons of other things to do down there and their team sucks

[Laramie]

New Orleans is building a good foundation with pieces like Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans. Eric Gordon isn't worth the $14.2 million he is being paid. Davis is out with an injury (a non-displaced fracture in his left hand).

We've been fortunate to win two road games with key players out: @Sacramento (DeMarcus Cousins-center) and New Orleans (Anthony Davis).

worthy cook: "A lot of golf clapping going on." Let's not give the New Orleans fans that much credit; more like the applause you would hear at a symphony.

[Stan Silliman]

Brooks probably just should have brought Perk back earlier. Perk is the best at keeping bigs from establishing their position. Thabeet is long, but not at all a great one-on-one defender, especially on a mobile guy like Aldridge.

I think Perk got into foul trouble. I wanted Thabeet so that Ibaka could guard the other postman. Aldridge is a great mid-range jump shooter and offensive rebounder. But, I don't see him as a great interior passer, which means Ibaka can help when Aldridge blows by Thabeet.

I think Thabeet can bother Aldridge's jumper, obscure his vision, force him to arc the shot higher. He's not a great defender but if he's not asked to do too much, like take charges or move his feet a lot, he can set up Ibaka to be the backup defender.

[Anonymous.]

Pacers smacked the Spurs last night in SA. They will have a hard time in the 'Peake tonight coming off of that.

[Praedura]

Pacers smacked the Spurs last night in SA. They will have a hard time in the 'Peake tonight coming off of that.

Yeah, hopefully they expended a lot of energy for that win. And it's a quick turnaround for the next game. But I gather that Indiana is a deep team, so they're still going to be a very tough customer.

If we win tonight, we'll tie San Antonio for win/loss record. So I believe we'll take the #2 spot based on better home record and last 10 game record -- though I'm not certain about that (I forget the exact rules).

[Laramie]

The Thunder appears to be maturing right before your eyes--especially at home where the crowd is very vocal and enthusiastic; the home team feeds off that.

[Bill Robertson]

We just dominated the #1 team in the East from wire to wire. Yes, they played last night and yes, it's early in the season. But this is still a good (great?) Win.

[adaniel]

FWIW the starters for the Pacers rested during the 4th quarter during the Spurs game so we definitely did not get a "tired" team. Good win, too bad the ESPNers are so busy falling over themselves about Kobe's return to even mention it.

[Teo9969]

Indiana was still tired and has played a ridiculous stretch over the last week. Certainly I think OKC proved they could win tonight, but if this OKC squad is shooting 61%, not even the '96 Bulls would beat them. But 61% is hard to shoot against air, so that much is an aberration. I certainly wouldn't expect a season average of better than 50% (OKC shot 48.1% last season and that's the highest mark in OKC).

But it's good to see your potential every once and awhile, and play toward that.

[Laramie]

10-0 Home vs. 5-4 Road

Durant, Thunder Top Pacers - ESPN Video - ESPN

That NYE game against the PTBs would be a damned good game to go to. They've gained victory over every team they've lost to on the road thus far. For now, I'm more concerned about our home game on Sunday against the Pacers. Two Georges got me worried.

Thunder took care of business at home against what appears to be the best in the Eastern Conference right now. So true, as Anonymous mentioned, the Clippers appear to be the only good competition we've played so far.

Indiana was still tired and has played a ridiculous stretch over the last week. Certainly I think OKC proved they could win tonight, but if this OKC squad is shooting 61%, not even the '96 Bulls would beat them. But 61% is hard to shoot against air, so that much is an aberration. I certainly wouldn't expect a season average of better than 50% (OKC shot 48.1% last season and that's the highest mark in OKC).

But it's good to see your potential every once and awhile, and play toward that.

OKC definitely have the pieces in place. Keeping this tandem together will be a challenge You saw this on display last night as to what our Thunder can do when they're hitting on all cylinders. It's going to be interesting when we return the favor and play in Indy.

[warreng88]

10-0 this season at home and who do we play next at home? The Lakers... This Friday night... Better believe that will be a loud one to be at. Then we play Orlando (Where's MonkeesFan?) who are 6-14 and then Chicago, Toronto, Houston and Portland to finish out the year at home. We could be 16-0 at home by the end of the year. The only back to back we play over that stretch is @Spurs on 12/21 and then Toronto (with the newly acquired Rudy Gay) on 12/22, so I guess that could be a trap game.

[Bellaboo]

10-0 this season at home and who do we play next at home? The Lakers... This Friday night... Better believe that will be a loud one to be at. Then we play Orlando (Where's MonkeesFan?) who are 6-14 and then Chicago, Toronto, Houston and Portland to finish out the year at home. We could be 16-0 at home by the end of the year. The only back to back we play over that stretch is @Spurs on 12/21 and then Toronto (with the newly acquired Rudy Gay) on 12/22, so I guess that could be a trap game.

I think Pete deep sixed him when he continuosly used the F bomb awhile back.....


Gay got traded from Toronto to Sacremento.

[OKCisOK4me]

So glad we manhandled the Pacers last night! Now only if we can work out our road woes. As long as we win half of our road games or more, we'll be looking fine (at least that's what the media guys said on the radio). I'd like to have that road record we had a couple or few seasons ago.

[CaptDave]

Please tell me Dean Blevins was incorrect in reporting a rumor the Thunder were considering trading Jeremy Lamb to Cleveland. Lamb and Jackson are developing into an impressive backcourt combo.

[soonerguru]

Please tell me Dean Blevins was incorrect in reporting a rumor the Thunder were considering trading Jeremy Lamb to Cleveland. Lamb and Jackson are developing into an impressive backcourt combo.

Deano is often wrong. Don't sweat it. Presti knows what's up more than Deano.

[dankrutka]

Please tell me Dean Blevins was incorrect in reporting a rumor the Thunder were considering trading Jeremy Lamb to Cleveland. Lamb and Jackson are developing into an impressive backcourt combo.

I think he got this from a very unreliable source. Blevins really should have been fired years ago.