OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[zookeeper]

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........

I have no clue what you're talking about. Could you explain how the NBA seeing things the way I saw it, and Bruce Bowen on ESPN saying the same thing, what did I say? Seriously? Dissolves to what? I am simply clueless.

[bradh]

I think the biggest beef people are having is the NBA is saying "precedent" in this case, but didn't hand out a single punishment for what happened in the ATL-IND game last night.

It appears Adams went for the nut shot and that's what set Randolph off. I love Adams, he's the master of the dark arts of basketball. Guys like that in soccer are great, too. Can infuriate the opponent into doing something stupid, and never retaliate or get caught.

[zookeeper]

Wait a minute...918town....were you insinuating I was talking race? Honestly, the white-black perspective did not enter. my. mind. Not once. I think it was thuggery on the court. That, my friend, doesn't mean just black players like Randolph. There are white thugs, black thugs, green thugs. A thug is a thug.

I am a bit surprised you make a comment like this and say it reflects on the state? Maybe you should read my posts. I am an economic social democrat (Paul Krugman should be Secretary of Commerce, Labor, Treasury - with Robert Reich and Elizabeth Warren in there as well) with a few libertarian or traditional views on some social issues. I didn't know playing rough basketball in the NBA and calling out the thugs for thuggery reflects any way other than being against that kind of play on the basketball court. Maybe you are being a bit reflexive - if not reactionary.

[zookeeper]

Pwitty: Only on this board? Try ESPN: Zach Randolph of Memphis Grizzlies suspended for Game 7 - ESPN
Watch the video. Bruce Bowen says what I said.

[bradh]

it was an attempt to shove. Zac Randolph would've knocked his teeth out with a true intended punch.

Haven't seen many NBA fights have you? I've never seen an NBA player throw a correct punch or fight in a way that wasn't more than flailing arms all over the place.

[BrettM2]

That was almost an insane San Antonio comeback. Up to 5 Game 7s. I'm hoping Portland finishes Houston tonight though.

[PWitty]

Pwitty: Only on this board? Try ESPN: Zach Randolph of Memphis Grizzlies suspended for Game 7 - ESPN
Watch the video. Bruce Bowen says what I said.

One analyst's opinion doesn't outweigh all the other analysts who disagreed with the NBA's decision.

Not to mention it's a little funny hearing Bowen say, "stuff like this has no place in the NBA", when Bowen himself is considered one of the dirtiest players in NBA history.

[bradh]

I agree hearing Bowen speak out against this is hilarious, but he was a lot like Adams, did everything to get under guys' skins, but he was never called or retaliated. That's an art.

[zookeeper]

One analyst's opinion doesn't outweigh all the other analysts who disagreed with the NBA's decision.

Not to mention it's a little funny hearing Bowen say, "stuff like this has no place in the NBA", when Bowen himself is considered one of the dirtiest players in NBA history.

Well, now that you mention it. Life is full of irony.

[Bellaboo]

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........

Fail.... as the NBA rule states, any deliberate blow to the face or head will result in a suspension. It was an intentional effort by Randolph, and that's why they left him home today.

And if push came to shove, Steven Adams would kick old man Zack Randolph's a$$. That punch hardly fazed him. Adams grew up a rugby player, a real contact sport.

[Bellaboo]

Watch this video from the NBA. It was a left elbow to the body, then a clinched fist thrown by Z-Bo to Adams jaw. Anyone that sees this any different is living in outer space.


Randolph Suspended One Game | NBA.com

[OKCJapan]

Read a couple of blog sites for the Grizzlies. IT seems that their fans and everyone in their camp is confident and more motivated that they will win game 7 without Z-bo. Conley was quoted saying that after a day, the injury was not as bad as he thought and will play. At what percentage, remains to be seen. I believe, the Thunder need to be very focused to come out and punch them first. I would have thought that all the the news would have stepped them down just a bit on their optimism for winning game 7. It seems to be just the opposite. They are a wounded animal backed in a corner. That can be very dangerous. We better be really prepared or we may see a repeat of game 5 where the Thunder get down big early and then have to play uphill the rest of the game and lose a close one at the end. I am still confident that we will win though.

[zookeeper]

Watch this video from the NBA. It was a left elbow to the body, then a clinched fist thrown by Z-Bo to Adams jaw. Anyone that sees this any different is living in outer space.


Randolph Suspended One Game | NBA.com

I posted this in #1160 and don't know how many actually watched it. Especially the right in front, close-in shot in the second half of the video. The look on Randolph's face at the moment he hits Adams with the closed fist is that of a boxer - putting a lot of force into that punch.

[ljbab728]

OMG, that Portland - Houston game was unbelievable. Houston was up by 2 with .9 seconds left. Portland tosses in a shot and they get up a prayer 3 pointer which goes in. Portland wins by one and eliminates Houston.

[Snowman]

Read a couple of blog sites for the Grizzlies. IT seems that their fans and everyone in their camp is confident and more motivated that they will win game 7 without Z-bo. Conley was quoted saying that after a day, the injury was not as bad as he thought and will play. At what percentage, remains to be seen. I believe, the Thunder need to be very focused to come out and punch them first. I would have thought that all the the news would have stepped them down just a bit on their optimism for winning game 7. It seems to be just the opposite. They are a wounded animal backed in a corner. That can be very dangerous. We better be really prepared or we may see a repeat of game 5 where the Thunder get down big early and then have to play uphill the rest of the game and lose a close one at the end. I am still confident that we will win though.

He may not be the best source for how he is, he tried to return in the game and lasted like thirty seconds. Hopefully for his sake it is not bad but the odds are pretty low he will be near 100%

[SoonerDave]

OMG, that Portland - Houston game was unbelievable. Houston was up by 2 with .9 seconds left. Portland tosses in a shot and they get up a prayer 3 pointer which goes in. Portland wins by one and eliminates Houston.

I saw that and could not believe the finish. I've historically never been a huge basketball fan, but even I have to appreciate the quality of games we've seen in these playoffs. The execution on that inbounds play for the winning 3-pointer was flawless, and the very guy who tipped in the garbage for Houston with .9 left to give them the apparent game-winner was the same guy late to rotate over and cover the guy who shot THE game winning 3 for Portland. Amazing stuff, and I didn't really have a dog in the fight for who won. I'll admit perhaps a slight bias toward Portland winning, but in general it was just exciting basketball.

Now we *have* to make sure to win tonight to remind Harden why he should have stuck with a winner (insert snarky laugh here)

[SoonerDave]

He may not be the best source for how he is, he tried to return in the game and lasted like thirty seconds. Hopefully for his sake it is not bad but the odds are pretty low he will be near 100%

I think its got to be at least some face-saving. I heard blurbs from too many reporters/blogs that indicated he was hurt a lot worse than was reported, and if he had been remotely able to play the other night, he would have, but literally, physically could not. I know from watching football all my life that hamstrings can be really annoying and take a long time to really heal, so its hard to say how this will really affect him going into tonight. He could start and play the whole game, or pull his leg funny in the first 30 seconds and be done for the game.

GO THUNDER.

[SoonerDave]

Read a couple of blog sites for the Grizzlies. IT seems that their fans and everyone in their camp is confident and more motivated that they will win game 7 without Z-bo. Conley was quoted saying that after a day, the injury was not as bad as he thought and will play. At what percentage, remains to be seen. I believe, the Thunder need to be very focused to come out and punch them first. I would have thought that all the the news would have stepped them down just a bit on their optimism for winning game 7. It seems to be just the opposite. They are a wounded animal backed in a corner. That can be very dangerous. We better be really prepared or we may see a repeat of game 5 where the Thunder get down big early and then have to play uphill the rest of the game and lose a close one at the end. I am still confident that we will win though.

If the Thunder can perform the way they *had to* the other night, but then let it slip away at home by not being *EVERY BIT* as intense, and focused, all while starting Butler again, then we'll be back to questioning their mettle on and off the court. I think Durant did, in fact, take it to another emotional level the other night, and would be crazy not to do everything to put his team right back in that same emotional condition. Here's the critical difference, however - if we can smash them in the mouth early, really take out their will, I think there's a MUCH greater chance Memphis will fold. If Conley is less than 100% and with Randolph out, at some point you have to realize there's a limit to how much of your team you can lose and still expect the same level of overall performance. Keep in mind that I think Randolph was their leading scorer in the game where he played at least a certain number of minutes - something like 16-18 points per game. Someone will have to make that up.

And I think someone needs to put super glue on Sefalosha's chair to ensure he has exactly the same game experience he had the other night

Sure wish I could be there

[Dennis Heaton]

Thunder wins Game 7, 113-92.

[PWitty]

Losing Randolph isn't as big of a blow as losing Conley (if he can't play effective minutes). Randolph has been terrible for the most part this series and the Grizzlies have been better both offensively and defensively when he is on the bench, believe it or not. I don't have the efficiency numbers on me at the moment, but it's not even close if I remember correctly. The Grizzlies still have a huge mountain to climb though, and I expect the Thunder to lead this game by double digits throughout.

[dankrutka]

Losing Randolph is gigantic for the the Grizzlies. He draws a ton of offensive attention. He's been less efficient than normal this series (he's still had good games), but he creates a lot if open shots for other guys. Most all the Memphis people I've read are pretty low on their chances without him. I agree I'd rather lose Z-bo than Conley, but losing either is pretty disastrous. However, the guys behind them are capable of having good games. The Thunder still better be focused.

[Easy180]

It is a big blow since the dude averages 17 pts 10 reb a game...My bold prediction is we will see a ton of three point attempts from Mike Miller...They will just hope he is on fire

[Urbanized]

I honestly think Steven Adams' secret to getting under the skin of these guys is clandestine nut shots. I'm not kidding. Old rugby trick. And of course it is one that Serge has pulled before too.

[Dennis Heaton]

I am hoping the Grizzlies don't have a Reggie Jackson on the bench that ends up having a breakout night.

[Teo9969]

I am hoping the Grizzlies don't have a Reggie Jackson on the bench that ends up having a breakout night.

It's like all of them have already had a breakout game.

Udrih was that guy I think. Made a name for himself in this series.