OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[Urbanized]

I was at the game earlier this season when Davis hit his game-winner 3 from about 6 feet behind the arc. I turned to my buddy and said "that's probably going to come back and haunt us..."

[Roger S]

I was at the game earlier this season when Davis hit his game-winner 3 from about 6 feet behind the arc. I turned to my buddy and said "that's probably going to come back and haunt us..."

Yeah... I tried blowing really hard from Sec 209 to alter that shots trajectory...... Guess I need to work on my lung capacity for next season.

[okatty]

Yeah... I tried blowing really hard from Sec 209 to alter that shots trajectory...... Guess I need to work on my lung capacity for next season.

There was no jinx type karma from 112 that night either. That was an unbelieveable game!

For tonight's game Kings will be without Cousins, Gay and others. They need to broadcast the NO game on the big screen during the Thunder game! ha

[okatty]

Tonight - Go Thunder, Go Rockets! Find those old Harden jerseys people!

[Urbanized]

Russ just rung up with the technical that will require him to sit out a game...tomorrow night. Season over.

[okatty]

The nightmare continues. Add to your post that NO is up on Houston at half. YUCK.

[okatty]

NO loses...now we need the RW technical rescinded.

[dankrutka]

NO loses...now we need the RW technical rescinded.

It could be rescinded. It looked really weak. Also, the Blazers are really banged up with little to play for.

The season is on life support, but why does everyone feel the need to keep calling the season over before its over? It's a pet peeve. Let's just let it play out. We're still tied for 8th (without the tiebreaker) with two left. Thunder up.

[okatty]

It could be rescinded. It looked really weak. Also, the Blazers are really banged up with little to play for.

The season is on life support, but why does everyone feel the need to keep calling the season over before its over? It's a pet peeve. Let's just let it play out. We're still tied for 8th (without the tiebreaker) with two left. Thunder up.

Didn't look like he got the normal warning. Who knows how NBA will view this and how much heat they wanna take if they rescind it. Already had one taken back so might say already did him a favor. His 54 tonight gives him inside track on scoring title.

[Urbanized]

It's over unless the NBA rescinds the tech. Hardly being dramatic with that statement.

[dankrutka]

It's over unless the NBA rescinds the tech. Hardly being dramatic with that statement.

I disagree. The Blazers are missing Wes Matthews, Aaron Afflalo, and probably LaMarcus Aldridge. They just lost to the Jazz. They're a very beatable team even if Russ is out. Would I pick the Thunder to beat them without Russ? No, but it's possible.

The Pelicans have the hardest game by far - the scorching hot Spurs. If the Spurs still have something to play for then that's a likely loss.

While there's a good chance the Thunder won't make the playoffs, I have no clue what the purpose is in giving up with 2 games left. This Thunder team isn't good, but we've seen the Thunder do a lot crazier things...

[Urbanized]

Meh. A franchise scoring record, more than half of the points on the board and yet another triple double by Russ tonight, and they still lose by double digits. Not sure I buy that his teammates will suddenly play inspired hoop without him tomorrow night, when tonight they'd might as well have stayed in the locker room for the collective effort they gave.

[Jake]

Not to be a total downer...but if this team can't beat the Indiana Pacers, I don't know know if I want to see them play an actual good team in the playoffs.

Maybe Ibaka will be available for the playoffs if the team makes it.

[dankrutka]

Meh. A franchise scoring record, more than half of the points on the board and yet another triple double by Russ tonight, and they still lose by double digits. Not sure I buy that his teammates will suddenly play inspired hoop without him tomorrow night, when tonight they'd might as well have stayed in the locker room for the collective effort they gave.

Did you consider that the reason Russ' teammates didn't look good is because he didn't do a good job of involving them? I don't think the team quit or gave up on Russ, but it may look like that way when one dude shoots 43 (!!!!!!) times in regulation. I'm not blaming Russ as he's leaving his heart out there while trying to make due with what we have, but I think the Thunder would have been better served if 10-15 of Russ' shots had gone elsewhere. For example, do you think Morrow gave up or looked bad? He only was able to get 3 threes off (and made 2) while Russ shot 15. I don't think Morrow who is desperate to make the playoffs played uninspired nor did the other guys. Adams was diving all over the floor. McGary gave good effort. The Thunder were expending a ton of energy trapping guys in the corners and along the sideline throughout the 4th quarter (which burned them despite their efforts). Who specifically do you think gave up tonight? Without Ibaka and KD this team has some deficiencies, but that doesn't mean they don't care.

Again,we're talking about one game. Anything can happen. You can feel free to start your fan offseason early, but I'm going to tune in.

[dankrutka]

Not to be a total downer...but if this team can't beat the Indiana Pacers, I don't know know if I want to see them play an actual good team in the playoffs.

Maybe Ibaka will be available for the playoffs if the team makes it.

Oh... There's no question we'd have a tough time with the Warriors. Certainly could get ugly, but I hope we can find out and some of our guys get playoff experience...

[Jake]

I miss Kevin Durant.

[Urbanized]

...You can feel free to start your fan offseason early, but I'm going to tune in.

Actually, I'll be in attendance. For somewhere approaching the 300th time since the NBA came to OKC. I'm hardly a fairweather fan.

[Urbanized]

And I very purposefully said "collective effort," because I know there were a couple of good INDIVIDUAL efforts. Just not enough to win a game without Russ. My point remains; no Russ, no win. Pet peeve all you want, but Russ is NOT the Thunder's problem.

[Laramie]

We lost today's game because our players couldn't hit free throws:

Thunder were 11-28 FTM-A (39.3%). They missed 17 free throws; if they could have hit 10 of the 17 they missed--they would have hit 21 of 28 for 75% which is still below their team updated average (76.1%).

Free throws are something the individual player has to work on to improve that phase of his game. Adams (51%) should work on this deficiency because it is probably both a physical & mental player psyche.

Thunder's FTM-A against Pacers:

(51%) Adams 0-6
(62%) Waiters 0-4
(70%) Collison 1-2
(91%) Morrow 1-2
(84%) Westbrook 7-11
(78%) Kanter 2-3
Player free throw season percentage

Box Score: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers - Box Score - April 12, 2015 - ESPN

Thunder Free Throw Stats (.761) Oklahoma City Thunder 2015 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - ESPN

[okatty]

FT shooting really was unbelieveable! There was plenty to go around but the idea Waiters is only 60% from the line since coming to the Thunder is amazing to me.

Two things from the Thunder TV broadcast last night - they gloss over the Russ suspension thing, and at one point they actually said (OUT LOUD) that "when you get the ball to a wide open shooter like Andre Roberson good things will happen". He happened to have made the shot, but to actually say that ....wow!

[Laramie]

FT shooting really was unbelieveable! There was plenty to go around but the idea Waiters is only 60% from the line since coming to the Thunder is amazing to me.

Two things from the Thunder TV broadcast last night - they gloss over the Russ suspension thing, and at one point they actually said (OUT LOUD) that "when you get the ball to a wide open shooter like Andre Roberson good things will happen". He happened to have made the shot, but to actually say that ....wow!

The telecast & broadcast crews are true homers...

Westbrook tries to get other players involved, with the exception of the bigs, Augustin & Collison; some of the other players like Roberson, Singler, Jones don't possess the confidence that they can score.

My observation: Adams & Waiters both arch their free throws high in the air; therefore if they don't go through the net they usually bounce high off the rim or rim-backboard combination without a chance to get love from the either.

[PWitty]

Did you consider that the reason Russ' teammates didn't look good is because he didn't do a good job of involving them? I don't think the team quit or gave up on Russ, but it may look like that way when one dude shoots 43 (!!!!!!) times in regulation. I'm not blaming Russ as he's leaving his heart out there while trying to make due with what we have, but I think the Thunder would have been better served if 10-15 of Russ' shots had gone elsewhere. For example, do you think Morrow gave up or looked bad? He only was able to get 3 threes off (and made 2) while Russ shot 15. I don't think Morrow who is desperate to make the playoffs played uninspired nor did the other guys. Adams was diving all over the floor. McGary gave good effort. The Thunder were expending a ton of energy trapping guys in the corners and along the sideline throughout the 4th quarter (which burned them despite their efforts). Who specifically do you think gave up tonight? Without Ibaka and KD this team has some deficiencies, but that doesn't mean they don't care.

Again,we're talking about one game. Anything can happen. You can feel free to start your fan offseason early, but I'm going to tune in.

I have to admit, I take a small bit of pleasure in seeing you call Russ out for not involving his teammates. Every time I've brought up Russ being selfish with his numbers since Durant went out you've gone to bat for him and disagreed with me.

Taking 43 shots in a game is insane. Especially when you consider he was under 50% on the night.

[Laramie]

Breaking News
5 minutes ago

Westbrook avoids ban after NBA rescinds tech

The NBA has rescinded a technical foul against Russell Westbrook, meaning the All-Star will not face an automatic one-game suspension while the Thunder battle for a playoff spot.

Source: Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball Clubhouse - ESPN

[dankrutka]

I have to admit, I take a small bit of pleasure in seeing you call Russ out for not involving his teammates. Every time I've brought up Russ being selfish with his numbers since Durant went out you've gone to bat for him and disagreed with me.

Taking 43 shots in a game is insane. Especially when you consider he was under 50% on the night.

I wasn't calling out Russ' game in general and there was nothing wrong with his shooting percentage. But 43 shots is waaaayyyyy too many. Russ has never taken that amount and I'm pretty sure it was the highest shot total in a regulation game in the NBA in years. I also didn't say Russ is the Thunder's problem. Russ still distributed okay, but guys need more shots for the team to have any kind of offesive flow or identity. Is anyone really arguing that it is good for Russ to take 40+ shots in a game?

But good news Russ is back. Lets get these wins and see how things play out.

[Urbanized]

Aparently Kobe Bryant is good with it: https://twitter.com/kobebryant/statu...84147516190720