OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[adaniel]

At this point I am hoping its "bulletin board" material to get them fired up. Maybe I'm just delusional but I really think they pull it off tonight. Of course I have no idea what they will do if they make it to a game 7.

Told y'all

[dankrutka]

I want all the "journalists or media industries" to help-out in this discussion. How does KD score 25+ points in over 41 games this season, breaking a NBA record that was held by Jordan? ... get tagged w/ Un-reliable ?

Well, if you read the story you'd know that Tramel specifically contrasted how reliable KD has been this season with his shortcomings in the series.

Anyway, I don't believe the player-speak totally. I think this was a nice shot of motivation for KD. One more.

[ljbab728]

Golden State beats the Clippers so that series is going to a seventh game also.

[OKVision4U]

Well, Brooks did what he is supposed to do. Place his star player in the best position to win, by adding Butler to the starting line-up. Yes, I'm not a Butler fan, but I do appreciate Brooks' attempt to help add more offensive fire-power from the tip-off. And it worked nicely. Butler hit a key 3 in the first quarter that helped relieve pressure off of Durant. Memphis had to guard Butler and couldn't just "Load Up" on KD.

KD was able to have a little more "space" to shoot in and lanes were open for his mid jumper. Thank you KD! As Always, so reliable.

Brooks also brought in Adams, who had a monster game. The announcer even asked "where has he been this series?" So, KD has another 35 point game, I think we can look to see a big game on Saturday here at home.

KD, please don't let a couple of "knuckle-heads" with a type writer & a printer ever let you think you are not VALUED here, they Don't speak for us, the fans. This is your home too.

In the year 2014, we need KD and the Thunder.... we don't need a paper.

[Urbanized]

The Thabo/Butler switch worked primarily because KD stepped up his perimeter defense and smothered Courtney Lee et al. the entire evening.

Thabo's perimeter defense is the single thing that he excels at, and KD essentially negated the drop off that came from putting him on the bench. I appreciate everything Thabo has done for the team, but realistically the team probably can't/won't re-sign him as his contract expires.

If KD brings that type of defensive intensity on a regular basis it will allow another Thunder scorer to be on the floor from the start, which will in turn improve Russ' and KD's own effectiveness offensively. KD already has the length, quickness and game-awareness to be an elite defender, but so far he has mostly been satisfied to let others do the dirty work.

Not so much a criticism of him, but I think everybody learned last night how much better the team can be if he rolls up his sleeves and takes on another aspect of the game. It is the type of thing that elite players do as they ascend to Champion and Hall-of-Fame status, and if he takes this next step in his development (he will) the team has the potential to be virtually unstoppable.

[OKVision4U]

The Thabo/Butler switch worked primarily because KD stepped up his perimeter defense and smothered Courtney Lee et al. the entire evening.

Thabo's perimeter defense is the single thing that he excels at, and KD essentially negated the drop off that came from putting him on the bench. I appreciate everything Thabo has done for the team, but realistically the team probably can't/won't re-sign him as his contract expires.

If KD brings that type of defensive intensity on a regular basis it will allow another Thunder scorer to be on the floor from the start, which will in turn improve Russ' and KD's own effectiveness offensively. KD already has the length, quickness and game-awareness to be an elite defender, but so far he has mostly been satisfied to let others do the dirty work.

Not so much a criticism of him, but I think everybody learned last night how much better the team can be if he rolls up his sleeves and takes on another aspect of the game. It is the type of thing that elite players do as they ascend to Champion and Hall-of-Fame status, and if he takes this next step in his development (he will) the team has the potential to be virtually unstoppable.

KD was able to have intensity because he was not getting mugged on the offensive side w/ Butler in the game too. It is a balance that works best w/ a 4th offensive threat on the floor and not just 3 ( KD / RW / SI ). ..and the other guys were hitting their shots too.

Yes, they were all more focused on the defensive side of the ball, not letting them have the early 3 and Ibaka was not letting anything get to the rim. They played "deny" ball and it worked well.

[Urbanized]

You have that backwards. True, he wasn't getting mugged because Butler was in the game, but what allowed Butler to be there in the first place was KD's willingness to shoulder the load of the perimeter defense. Having the third scorer with no defensive drop off made Memphis account for another guy, which allowed the Thunder (including KD) more spacing, better passing lanes and more open looks. The ultimate key to what happened last night was a more balanced defensive effort.

[Anonymous.]

Brooks must have cleaned his ears out after game 5. Our first adjustment all series and it is a blowout. Who would have thought playing Thabo and Perkins less with more Jackson, Butler, and Adams would have worked?! Oh that's right, everyone BUT Brooks.

Regardless, it looks like Durant has that beast mode look again and we should stomp them out tomorrow night in the 'Peake.

Great to see the Clips/Warriors wearing each other out, too. Should be a fun round 2 if we make it!

[OKCisOK4me]

Several people I know can attest to the fact that I personally picked this series to go 7 games. Let the crying commence if we lose at home on Saturday and let the 'all that crying for nothing' commence on Saturday after we win because it's on to the next series where everyone will cry and complain if it goes 7 games too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SoonerDave]

Several people I know can attest to the fact that I personally picked this series to go 7 games. Let the crying commence if we lose at home on Saturday and let the 'all that crying for nothing' commence on Saturday after we win because it's on to the next series where everyone will cry and complain if it goes 7 games too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would love to hear if Conley is really going to play for Memphis....lots of varying stories about how badly he's hurt, with many of them leaning toward hurt-worse-than-it seems. Huge, huge factor going into tomorrow night.

And I wish I had my own "ticket oak" for tomorrow night's game!

[OKCisOK4me]

Yeah, I'm not for sure on what his status is but I'd bet the team is preparing for his presence. They seem to think on The Franchise that his injury is not bad and due to his competitiveness, he will play on Saturday night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Anonymous.]

Randolph suspended for Game 7.
For the punch on Steven Adams.


As if tomorrow couldn't look any better for OKC. Conley, now Randy.

[BlackmoreRulz]

Couldn't believe that Thabo got a DNP last night, hope he hasn't completely bailed on the team, we're going to need his abilities against the Clippers and Spurs/Blazers.

[Mississippi Blues]

^article with video

Grizzlies' Randolph suspended for Game 7 | NBA.com

[Klop]

^article with video

Grizzlies' Randolph suspended for Game 7 | NBA.com

Wow

[Pete]

Wow is right.

This is a pretty big deal.

[Jim Kyle]

You have a definite gift for understatement...

[PWitty]

Z-Bo got hosed. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that we won't have to match up with him tomorrow night. But I don't see how that is worthy of a 1-game suspension for game 7 of a Playoff series. I thought it was pretty obvious he was going for a shove and his hand just got up too high initially. Like SVG said, if Z-Bo had intended to punch Adams then he would have gone down like a heavyweight boxer in a late-round KO.

Not a bad turn of events for the Thunder though.

[zookeeper]

Seeing that clip I don't see how anybody could justify letting him play. I like Abe Lemon's old saying, which went something along the lines of, "If it goes so far that if it happened on the street, you'd be arrested, it's too far for the basketball court." Amen, Abe. If Randolph had done what he did - (not the shove but the fist to the face) - outside the arena, he would have been arrested for assault.

That punch literally knocked Adams (as big as he is) off his feet! Randolph is getting off light. NewsOK's Vine video shows just how violent it was.
https://vine.co/v/MrDr9ZmKvlU/embed (click the center of the pic)

That's not basketball - that's thuggery. It has to be stopped in the NBA and this was a good call in that they are saying it doesn't matter what game you'll miss. Assault another player so blatantly on the basketball court and you're out the next game. Gutsy call by the NBA.

[zookeeper]

Just saw this video from Bruce Bowen on ESPN - he is absolutely, 100% spot-on. There's no room for this in the game of basketball. Period.
Zach Randolph of Memphis Grizzlies suspended for Game 7 - ESPN

[BrettM2]

Z-Bo got hosed. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that we won't have to match up with him tomorrow night. But I don't see how that is worthy of a 1-game suspension for game 7 of a Playoff series. I thought it was pretty obvious he was going for a shove and his hand just got up too high initially. Like SVG said, if Z-Bo had intended to punch Adams then he would have gone down like a heavyweight boxer in a late-round KO.

Adams getting knocked so far away from the initial point of contact is equivalent to a late-round KO for normal people. After seeing a picture of his sister and hearing about his childhood, I'm not sure anyone in the NBA is going to KO Adams.

One of the national writers put on twitter that the intent would be irrelevant because he did make contact with the head. That's an automatic suspension.

[zookeeper]

You know, with this idiot's history - they should pay him for two weeks and say goodbye and never let him back anywhere near the NBA. Talk about bringing this stuff to a stop, and quick!

He looks more like a boxer anyway - look at his face while he punches Adams. Watch enough to see the view from the front and close-up.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/or...olph-video.nba

[918Town]

Seeing that clip I don't see how anybody could justify letting him play. I like Abe Lemon's old saying, which went something along the lines of, "If it goes so far that if it happened on the street, you'd be arrested, it's too far for the basketball court." Amen, Abe. If Randolph had done what he did - (not the shove but the fist to the face) - outside the arena, he would have been arrested for assault.

shows just how violent it was.
https://vine.co/v/MrDr9ZmKvlU/embed (click the center of the pic)

That's not basketball - that's thuggery. It has to be stopped in the NBA ... Assault another player so blatantly on the basketball court .....Gutsy call by the NBA.

Wow! I've stopped caring about the nonsense that was spewed on this board years ago. However, this is par for the course, and enough is enough. You've checked all the boxes, all the key words, except the most overt, flagrant ones that wouldn't conceal your true agenda. As it has been stated before by pwitty, it was an attempt to shove. Zac Randolph would've knocked his teeth out with a true intended punch. But that's not important, when there's an opportunity to discuss or analyze a controversial event it always dissolves to this. And many on this board wonder why our state is viewed in such a negative light around the nation. They say the outsiders have it wrong........

[PWitty]

Adams wasn't knocked off his feet, he was mid-stride so he stumbled back a few feet and then avoided Randolph and walked away.

I might be mistaken, but didn't Z-Bo finish out the rest of the game? If the play was "blatant thuggery" and a straight up punch as some of you are saying, then he would've been ejected on the spot. It wasn't like the refs didn't see it. They stopped play and called a foul, but they didn't think it warranted anything more than that. It was nothing more than a frustration shove. Mike Scott gave George Hill a two hand stiff arm to the face last night and I haven't seen the league hand down any sort of punishment to him. The only difference between the two plays is that Scott was in a face-to-face confrontation and Adams didn't see it coming.

Anyways, my point is that the NBA justified the suspension by saying it was a punch. It wasn't a punch. I've never seen a guy throw a punch with both hands at the same time. The vine you linked shows it perfectly. The contact was with the bottom side of his closed hand and his forearm. It was a hard shove directed at Adams' upper body and he made contact with Adams' neck and face. Those are two very different things.

The only folks I have seen who thought that was deserving of a suspension are on this board. The entire ESPN pre-game crew and the commentators in the Dal-SA game thought the NBA overstepped their grounds.

I'm as big of a Thunder fan as anyone else in this thread, but to act like that is a 100% deserving of a suspension is nuts. People wouldn't be so shocked at the league's decision today if that were the case.

[Jake]

If DeJuan Blair got suspended a game for accidentally touching Tiago Splitter's head with his foot after a scramble for the ball, then Zach Randolph deserves to be suspended a game.

Also, all the talk about the NBA being at fault, Zach Randolph shouldn't have let a rookie get into his head to where he threw a "close-fisted push to the jaw" as they were down double digits.