Daily Thunder.com

Box Score

The Thunder took a sixteen point lead into the fourth quarter tonight, on the road without it’s Superman, and did enough of the little things to hang on for the win. The road victory tonight was only the fourth of the year for the Thunder, but it was the second win in Memphis and third out of four tries against the Grizzlies.

The Thunder shot 11-19 (58%) in the first quarter and opened up a 12 point lead in the first quarter. They used a starting lineup of Westbrook, Weaver, Sefolosha, Green and Krstic instead of the second half starters from last night that featured Nick Collison. The starters tonight were very effective on both ends of the court in the first, dominating in nearly every way except for the five turns. Thabo was especially exceptional, playing great defense, hitting a few shots and grabbing five rebounds.

In the second quarter our shooting cooled way off, but we were able to maintain most of the first quarter lead by hammering the boards and forcing 6 Grizzly turnovers (for 11 points). Read more…

Recap

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OKC Thunder (13-45, 3-25 road) at Memphis Grizzlies (15-42, 12-19 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:00 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.7 (27th), Grizzlies: 102.5 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 110.3 (24rd), Grizzlies: 109.5 (20th)
Pace: Thunder: 94.0 (7th), Grizzlies: 90.2 (22nd)

We return to the site of one of OKC’s few glorious road wins – the Fedex Forum.

So the big question is, how will Memphis play without Kyle Lowry? I mean, will Kevin Durant play? Well, Durant used crutches and wore a protective boot on his right foot when leaving the arena last night. Team officials list him as day-to-day, but the injury was severe enough that team officials took an X-ray, which was negative.

So we’re going to assume OKC is without KD for tonight. And much like last night, we all need to look at this as a possible big step in the right direction for the Thunder. Obviously Durant is our main man. But instead of this being Kevin Durant and four other guys, we need this to be five guys working together with one of them being Kevin Durant. It’s a lot like what OU dealt with recently without Blake Griffin. The team proved to itself that it wasn’t just one guy doing the work – they had a key role in this team too. And after last night’s overtime thriller, I think  some of the Thunder players maybe got that message too. Read more…

Preview

Word out of Cleveland says so:

Several league sources said Friday that Smith and his agent, Dan Fegan, have been talking to the Thunder about securing a buyout. The Cavs have expressed interest, setting up what could be intensifying negotiations ahead of Sunday’s midnight deadline for players to be released and still be eligible to join playoff rosters.

But with many factors at play, including the public positions on the matter of Smith and Thunder coach Scott Brooks, it is far from a sure thing.

So there’s that. I have a feeling it will happen especially with Smith sitting out the last five and with Malik Rose getting run instead of Smith last night.

And if you’re looking for a little Saturday afternoon reading, Joe and I answered some questions for MVN yesterday about the Thunder.

News

Box Score

Wow, what a game. Tonight the Thunder played a game that for me was one of the most exciting games of the season, and may become a very important game in the young team’s maturation process. The Thunder lost Kevin Durant, the NBA’s 4th leading scorer and go-to guy in the middle of the first quarter, on the road against a good Maverick team that is in the thick of the playoff race, and turned in one of it’s best defensive performances in some time.

This game was almost exhausting to watch, especially the second half and overtime. We were up by twelve with a little over 4 minutes to play, but managed to give it back. We had a 14-2 run in the fourth, followed by Dallas going on a 16-0 run of their own. We were down by five with mere seconds left to play when Westbrook went to the line for three free throws and wound up tying the game up by nailing a corner three after a miss and rebound of his third shot. It was just crazy. The Thunder have now lost 9 games by three points or less, and this one hurt like all the rest, but I was really proud of the hustle and no quit spirit.

When I saw that Kevin Durant went to the locker room with the gimpy ankle I wrote on my notebook ” If Durant doesn’t come back, I predict we have a good night defensively and a terrible night offensively”.  Well I was half right. It was a very good night defensively (for the Thunder) especially in light of most of the recent games, but offensively it wasn’t too bad. As you can see, our offensive rating was 106.9, which is above our season average, but below our numbers since the new year (about 110). The league average is about 108. Read more…

Recap

From ESPN.com:

Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant is day-to-day after he sprained his right ankle in the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Durant, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer was on crutches and wearing a protective boot as he was leaving the arena. He did not speak to reporters after the Thunder lost 110-108 in overtime.

X-rays on Durant’s ankle came back negative. He finished with a season-low six points.

“I don’t know how long he will be out,” Oklahoma City interim coach Scott Brooks said.

Replays showed Durant stepping on Dallas forward Josh Howard’s foot while drawing a foul with 7:13 left in the quarter. He remained in the game for about three more minutes before walking off the court with a slight limp. Trainers examined Durant on the bench before he headed for the dressing room.

Durant, who averages just more than 26 points per game, had scored at least 30 points in nine of his last 10 games. He trails only Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in scoring.

I doubt he will play Saturday against Memphis out of smartness, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem serious at all. Sucks that KD got just six when he was well on his way to another 20-point game giving him 13 straight, an NBA season high.

News

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Thunder (13-44, 3-24 road) at Dallas Mavericks (34-23, 20-8 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:30 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.6 (27th), Mavericks: 108.9 (12th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 110.3 (24rd), Mavericks: 107.2 (13th)
Pace: Thunder: 94.0 (7th), Mavericks: 92.0 (14th)

Is it weird that I still get really excited about basically every Thunder game despite the team being 31 games under .500? That’s weird right? I guess it’s because the team is darn fun to watch, win or lose. So that’s a good thing. Sort of.

But the Thunder come into tonight’s game against Dallas on a six-game skid (seven in a row on the road), while the Mavs have been playing well lately winning 9 of 13 as they’re entrenched in a battle for the West’s eighth spot. So Dallas shouldn’t be taking OKC lightly at all tonight. Shouldn’t.

The biggest problem during this six-game losing streak is that the Thunder’s giving up 115.6 points a game. The Thunder have surrendered 100 points or more in 11 of their past 12 games. That’s, uh, poor defense. And Dallas scores the ball pretty well. So let’s hope OKC scores it back. Read more…

Preview

Bill Simmons talks about the financial situation of the NBA and mentions why he thinks the Tyson Chandler deal fell through the way it did: New Orleans tried to give away Tyson Chandler (only its third-best player) for expiring contracts before [the Oklahoma City Thunder] vetoed the trade because it “didn’t like his physical” (or, as many insiders believe, because co-owner Aubrey McClendon had second thoughts about taking on Chandler’s contract since McClendon reportedly lost close to $2 billion in the Wall Street crash).

Durant reminds this writer of… Kobe?: “And yes, it’s not a fair comparison. Bryant was playing on a championship team with Shaquille O’Neal, while Durant is doing his best just to keep his team in games on a nightly basis. It’s a valid argument that on this Thunder team Bryant’s numbers very well could be higher than Durant’s, but that’s not necessarily the point. The point is that at 20 years old very few players are able to produce as much as efficiently as Durant is doing this season. Not a new concept to be sure, that Durant is a very good player with greatness written all over him, but it bears notice. It’s also worth noting that Cleveland’s LeBron James has better overall numbers at the same age – his 2004-05 season – but that his shooting percentages weren’t nearly as high as Durant’s. In fact, if you add together the shooting percentages in all three categories for any player in the top ten in the league of scoring, none of the other nine can touch Durant. And yes, this is a bit of a long way to say that Kevin Durant guy is going to be pretty dang good…” Read more…

Bolts

It seems like every team out there is after Joe Smith. Like the three buzzards in the Jungle Book, they’re just perched on a limb waiting for Sam Presti to pay Joe his money and turn him loose. Cleveland’s salivating over him. Boston wanted him but settled on Mikki “hands in the pants” Moore instead. Phoenix really needs him. Most think Smith is going to get bought out soon and snatched up by a playoff squad.

But it hasn’t happened yet. And quite honestly, who knows if it will happen at all. And if it doesn’t by March 1st, it ain’t happening at all (players waived after March 1st can’t be included on playoff rosters). But why? Why wouldn’t OKC waive Smith and why wouldn’t Smith want to be waived? He’s extremely attractive to a lot of teams because his contract is up this year and because he’s a valuable veteran that can provide court savvy and points off the bench. He’d save the Thunder some money and he’s not really adding much as is. So why not?

I think the simple answer is that he wants to stay with the Thunder. That’s it. He likes where he’s at. He’s said already that he’s got no desire to latch on to another team and chase a title in his twilight. He likes where he’s at. He likes playing with these young guys and I think he wants to have a hand in building this budding franchise. Sure the team may be 13-44, but like everybody that has a functioning brain, he sees how bright the future is. And he wants to be part of it. Read more…

Commentary

Dime asks who’s better: Kevin Durant or Danny Granger: “He’s 6-10 and was put on Earth to shoot jumpers. Is there a better combination than that? People say that LeBron James is the toughest guy to guard in the League right now, and I’d probably agree with that. But within a couple of years, I honestly think it’s going to be Kevin Durant. First of all, he’s still as physically mature as a cub. There’s something awkward about KD when he’s walking in the street – he’s still 2-3 years away from being as fully coordinated as he will become. So what will happen when he becomes a touch more explosive, a bit more fluid, and most importantly, more confident going to the basket? Pair that with his already automatic jumper, and what do you have? At Danny Granger’s age (25), KD will be the next Kobe Bryant.”

The Blowtorch lists players he thinks he could beat in a fight and two Thunder-ers made his list: “This is me. I am 6 feet 5 inches tall, and I weigh around 220 pounds. I am 25 years old. According to this 2006 survey, I’m just about the average NBA player, except the 4ish years of experience. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to be called up from the Glendale Heights Park District Men’s A League. I’m surprised, too. I’m pretty even-keeled. I don’t have a terrible temper, but I also won’t back down from a confrontation. Two Sundays ago, I nearly started a riot at my men’s league game, due to an intentional foul. While I’m not actively seeking out fights, if someone were to start one with me, I’m going to defend myself. Of course, I’m a genial fellow, so I haven’t been in a legitmate fight since 4th grade when I beat up Mike Punkachar in my living room.”

Bill Simmons had The Soup’s Joel McHale on the B.S. Report and they talk Sonics. Big ups to Joel McHale.  They start the Sonic talking at about 27:30.

Ping-pong derby: “The Thunder might have surprised itself with some rollicking performance through January and February, but that hasn’t allowed OKC to climb out of the Dungeon of Suck. After back-to-back wins over the Kings and Blazers early this month, Oklahoma City has reeled off six straight losses against an admittedly tough schedule. It actually does get a bit easier soon.” Read more…

Bolts

Taylor is back at it again with more awesome stats to digest. Since we all (hopefully) know what each stat means, we’ll just go with the box score. And if you forgot what a CHBA is click here for a quick reference guide.

As Taylor said in his email the Could Have Been Assist category really backs up the gripes we all had with the Thunder missing so many open jumpers.

Interesting to note how the “Could Have Been Assist” really backs up a lot of the comments in the post game write up.  Against the Warriors the team had 26 assists compared to 22 CHBA.  Against the Lakers the Thunder had 17 assists compared to 33 CHBA.

Also, Taylor added a “Points Created” category as well as success rates for high and low post play. Read more…

Commentary Stats

Hardwood P Hot, Not or So Five Minutes Ago: “HOT – The Oklahoma City Thunder. SO Five Minutes Ago – The Atlanta Hawks. NOT -The Houston Rockets … HOT – Bragging that you said the Blazers should have taken Kevin Durant in 2007. SO Five Minutes Ago – Saying “Kevin Durant sucks.” NOT- www.firekevindurant.com”

Get on the OKC bandwagon now so that you can say you were on it when it wasn’t cool: “Now it is my pleasure to introduce you to the Oklahoma City Thunder and their bandwagon, which, trust me, has plenty of room for us all to hop on. Some of you might be wondering why I would talk to you about hopping on to the bandwagon of a team who is currently 13-43. My response to you would be that yes, usually the term hopping on the bandwagon refers to cheering for a team because they are winning. But this one is different, because people are going to hop on this team’s bandwagon regardless. Not only are they becoming one of the NBA’s most exciting teams to watch, but they are also on the verge of being a monster franchise within the next five years.”

Steve Aschburner on the value of Joe Smith: “Now, though, Smith has a chance for something better than a nice fit. He has made a great living, but he has a shot at a tremendous late-career transformation. Until last spring, Smith never had made it out of the first round of the playoffs, playing only 26 games in six trips across his first 12 seasons. Last year, he got to Game 7 of the second round with the Cavaliers. He could go further, perhaps much further, this time around, if only he would make noise and rock boats. But that’s not Joe Smith’s style, and it hasn’t been his career.”

HoopsWorld rookie rankings: “In the last two games, Westbrook has dropped averages of 25 points, 9.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, showing once again that he’s going to be right there with Derrick Rose as the greatest point guard of this draft. The Thunder may not have done much in the win column this year, but give them time. Behind Westbrook and superstar-in-the-making Kevin Durant, they’ll be spectacular someday soon.” Read more…

Bolts

There’s a reason Kobe Bryant is like, awesome. On two separate occasions the Thunder closed to within one of the Lakers, but somebody was inconspicuously missing from the court. Like a coiled snake, Kobe sat patiently, waiting to get his chance to strike again. The camera flashed over to him and with the Ford Center rocking and the Thunder riding a monster wave of momentum, Kobe’s face was expressionless almost like he was saying, “It’s cool. I got this.” And when the Mamba returned, L.A. scored on nine straight possessions and took control of the game, pulling away to a 107-93 win. It’s just what he does.

One big thing to take from this game for OKC – and it’s been a theme in other games as well – is to seize the moment. Kobe Bryant is sitting on the bench and you’ve closed to within one. The crowd is ROARING and you’ve got the ball. Realistically, you could maybe go ahead four or five points, forcing Phil Jackson to reinsert Bryant well before he wants to. But instead, OKC throws the ball away, kicks it out of bounds and misses wide open jump shots. It’s like they sensed the urgency of the moment and tried too hard to make the big play. It’s one of those things that you snap your fingers and just chalk it up to the youth of the team. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

The most major key in the game: The Lakers hit open shots and OKC didn’t. Simple stuff. But that’s why they’re the best team in the league and OKC is third worst. The Thunder shot 42 percent and L.A. hit 53 percent. Jeff Green was off (4-14), Earl Watson was himself (0-4) and Nenad Krstic was off (2-8). Kevin Durant and Kyle Weaver were the only Thunder-ers to consistently hit shots (another 32 for KD along with 10 rebounds and six assists, making that nine of 10 he’s scored at least 30). OKC missed a ton of open looks and I counted 11 point blank misses at the rim with most of them being clean looks. That’s a potential 22 points. I just headbutted my coffee table. Read more…

Recap Lakers

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Los Angeles Lakers (46-10, 20-6 road) vs. Thunder (13-43, 10-19 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:00 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.7 (27th), Lakers: 114.2 (1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 110.3 (24rd), Lakers: 105.5 (7th)
Pace: Thunder: 94.0 (7th), Lakers: 94.7 (5th)

The Lakers are the league’s best team. There’s no doubt in my mind (or many other’s for that matter). And the Thunder are record-wise, one of the three worst. The Lakers have won 15 of 17 and OKC has lost eight of its last 10. The teams are sort of headed in opposite directions currently. But you know what? For some reason, I’m feeling a big Thunder win.

You crazy?

1) They’re hungry. The Thunder have been playing so much better in 2009 but not many outside of this state seem to notice. They want respect and they think they could earn a little tonight. And you see it all the time in sports with long seasons – one team comes out unfocused and flat, going through the motions and expecting to win while the other comes out with fire because it has something to prove. I’m banking on this. Read more…

Other Lakers

Meet me. My TrueHoop question and answer is up and hopefully you’re not as surprised as Daniel that I don’t look totally “dweeby”: “It’s been a tough first year for the Thunder. Honeymoon aside, how are you coping? Oklahoma City fans are in a strange place right now. With the team playing so much better in 2009, it’s almost like we don’t even notice the 13-41 record. The brightness of the future is blinding us from seeing our current state. Which is a great thing. It’s much more fun to think of what could be rather than what is.”

Thabo hurt Earl Watson in practice yesterday. I knew this was a good pick-up for the Thunder: “One of two players acquired by the Thunder at the trade deadline, Sefolosha split open the area around Watson’s right eyebrow with an elbow as he drove to the basket during practice Monday. Watson had to leave the court and get three stitches before returning in a grey hooded sweatshirt and a bandage over his eyebrow.” NOTE: A few of my favorite comments from Thunder fans: “A great move by Presti, that’s why he’s a genius,” and “I’ll pick up his jersey when they make one,” and my favorite, “If Watson even misses one game because of this I will personally bear Thabo’s children.”

So Tyson Chandler played for the Hornets last night and had 15 and 10 in 31 minutes. We’re cool… we’re totally cool. Read more…

Bolts

Kurt from Forum Blue and Gold did this yesterday and I am shamelessly stealing his idea. But hey, he got his idea from Facebook, so it’s cool right?

1. This year, OKC has lost six games by six or less, six by four or less and seven by two or less. That makes 19 losses by six points or less, which leads the league. You turn just half (we’ll say 10) of those games into wins and the Thunder would be 23-33. That doesn’t look that bad at all. Heck, they’d be just 5.5 games out of the eighth spot in the East.

2. Joe Smith has played for nine different teams and twice for two of those teams (Philadelphia and Minnesota).

3. Kevin Durant’s middle name is Wayne, Clay Bennett’s is Ike, Kyle Weaver’s is Donovan, Desmond Mason’s is Tremaine, Scott Brooks’ is William and Jeff Green’s is Uncle – I mean, Lynn.

4. After I wrote the piece about Kevin Durant and the 180, he’s since been shooting at a 192 and is at 178 on the season.

5. Kevin Durant is one of the fastest players ever reach 3,000 points. Michael Jordan did it in 108 games, LeBron James in 133 and KD in 134.

6. The only (positive) categories OKC ranks in the top 10 of the league in are rebounding and free throws attempted and made. The Thunder are fifth in offensive rebounding at 12.3 a game and fourth overall at 43.1 a game, OKC ranks ninth in free throws attempted and free throws made, hitting 20 of 26 on a nightly basis.

7. Of the games I actually made a prediction for in previews, I am 7-3 and the Thunder is 3-7. I don’t know what that means, but it seems like it means something.

8. The Thunder have been tagged with the second fewest technical fouls in the league with 19 (San Antonio has 18). And in 43 games as head coach, Scott Brooks has yet to be hit with a technical.

9. So far, Rumble the Bison is 0-2 on dunks and the team is 0-3 with him as the mascot. Good start!

10. I have been to an estimated 20 NBA games (between the Hornets and Thunder) and I have never been out of Loud City. Thus, I have dubbed myself to friends and family as “The Mayor of Loud City.”

11. Matt Pinto, the radio voice of the Thunder, has been the play-by-play man for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Dallas Mavericks, the Charlotte Hornets, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

12. At this point last year, the team was 15-41.

13. Kevin Durant averages 39.9 minutes per game which is second in the league in that category. Last year, he got 34.6 minutes a night.

14. Scott Brooks has played on eight professional basketball teams in three different professional basketball leagues. He also is arguably the most famous person from Manteca, Calif., alongside *famous* race car driver Scott Speed.

15. The reason Kevin Durant wears No. 35 is in honor of his childhood mentor and AAU coach, Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35.

16. In 2006, Nenad Krstic was voted the third most eligible bachelor in Serbia by their version of People Magazine.

17. Joe Smith leads the Thunder in career points at 10,870. Desmond Mason is second with 7,754. Chucky Atkins is third with 6,656. Earl Watson is fourth with 4,279. And Kevin Durant is fifth at 3,066.

18. After ranking near the bottom in points per game for the first month and a half of the season, the Thunder are now at 19th in scoring at 98.3 ppg.

19. Russell Westbrook has had five 30 point games. For comparison, Derrick Rose has had zero, Michael Beasley zero and O.J. Mayo six.

20. Jeff Green and Kevin Durant have combined to hit 151 three-pointers on the season. The rest of the entire team has hit 81.

21. Russell Westbrook graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif, also the high school of Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Jeff Green graduated from Northwestern High in Hyattsville, MD, also the home of the late Len Bias and Cleveland Brown’s corner Leigh Bodden.

22. Kevin Durant has taken 102 more free throws than the next closest Thunder player on the team (Russell Westbrook, 293).

23. When Texas played at OU in 2007, I yelled something slightly rude at Kevin Durant and I swear he looked up in my direction. I wish every day I could take it back. But at the time I totally meant it.

24. OKC is 9-12 when scoring 100+ points, but is 5-33 when its opponent scores 100 or more.

25. Currently, the highest paid player on the Thunder is Malik Rose ($7.6 million). Nick Collison is No. 2 ($6.3 million) and Earl Watson is No. 3 ($6.2 million). Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook make a combined $11.1 million this year.

Other