San Antonio’s lights out shooting spoils Kevin Durant’s homecoming
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
One thing that’s nice about preseason is that your team can play an absolutely horrid game, yet you can sit back and say how it didn’t matter and then point out some positives. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing. The Thunder got walloped in Austin, 119-102, but it was a competitive first 21 minutes though OKC got completely run the last 27. It was 53-50 with 2:55 remaining in the first half. Then San Antonio went on to outscore the Thunder 66 to 52, and had stretched the lead out to 28 at one point.
But hey, it doesn’t matter! It’s just preseason and it doesn’t count! Which is good because I’d really like to forget that I watched that second half. And while the Thunder played some seriously sloppy defense throughout the game, it’s tough to defend against a team that hits 14-19 on 3-pointers (11-14 in the first half) and hits 58 percent from the floor. Some of that were the pathetic closeouts and bad rotations on the defensive end by OKC, but some of it was just deadeye shooting by the Spurs.
Kevin Durant was absolutely lights out early, going for 19 points on 9-12 shooting. But he hit only two of his next 10 shots, finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds. It’s really too bad I hate Texas or otherwise I would have enjoyed this game more. It was neat (I guess) to see him honored and welcomed back. It looked like he was kind of pressing in the second half and frustration set in a bit when the margin was widened and his shot got off. He turned it over a few times and took a couple bad shots.
Russell Westbrook dished out another nine assists and turned it over just three times, which is very nice. But he scored just four points on 2-7 shooting. And before I say this next thing, understand that I know that it’s preseason and this is where you work on things and that it’s early. I know this. But… while I love Russ the Distributor, I think we need a little of Russ the Scorer. I don’t want to say he’s being too passive because he’s not, but nobody can break down an opponent on this team as well as he does. And he can’t get so locked into pass first that he gives away nice drives at the rim in favor of a pass. Who would have thought I’d ever be saying that? Again, I LOVE the way he’s turning into a true point guard, but the Thunder’s going to need him some as an offensive threat. I’m pretty sure it will come naturally which will make everything gel together wonderfully, but his passiveness is just something to note.
Westbrook did make some excellent passes tonight, passes that he never would have come close to seeing last year. While he finished with the nine assists, I counted AT LEAST five passes that directly resulted in an OKC player getting fouled for two free shots. He’s playing so patient and within himself right now. Like I said, you’d love to see the scoring come a little more. And I think it will. Which combining that with the new patient Russ and we’ve got ourselves a real deal point guard.
I really think Etan Thomas is going to give this team meaningful minutes. He looks healthy and is giving productive minutes. Which is something the Thunder absolutely did not get from the backup five last season. If he can play tough defense, rebound and give a solid 15 minutes a night, then I’m pumped. Remember, we got him for Chucky Atkins and Damien Wilkins. I think we already won that trade just in terms of preseason production.
- Welcome to the team James Harden! Finally we see a little of what we all loved about him. We knew it was coming. There was absolutely no reason to panic after a few preseason games, but it sure was nice to see Harden bust out of his offensive funk. He hit three DEEP 3s, drove the lane, created with the dribble and had a couple of very sweet assists. He finished with 17 points on 5-10 shooting but also handed out three helpers and grabbed five boards.
- Thabo Sefolosha was lets say, off. He went 0-6 from the floor and 1-4 from the line. And was a -25 in 25 minutes. Not an awesome game for Thabo.
- Another bright spot tonight though was Jeff Green’s offensive game. He showed it all – inside, outside, driving, back-to-the-basket. It was very nice. He finished with a game-high 24 on 10-16 shooting. Just two rebounds though.
- I really wish we had DeJuan Blair. I don’t know where he’d go since we’ve already got a bit of a logjam at the four, but it’s hard to ignore 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 15 minutes.
- Boy it really looks like Manu has lost quite a bit of hair on his crown. I thought Nenad Krstic had some follicle deficiencies. I think Manu has bigger problems.
- Nick Collison played just eight minutes and grabbed one board. Also, OKC was outrebounded 46-35.
- Russell Westbrook did have three blocks including one on Blair, which was awesome.
- The replacement refs stink. I realize they’re trying but man, there sure are a handful of crappy calls each game. Good thing it appears the real refs have reached an agreement to come back.
Now we’re left with just one more tuneup. And good thing too. I’m a little sick of these meaningless games. It’s hard to be upset when your team plays a crappy game when you know it doesn’t matter. It’s also equally as difficult to get excited when they play well. I’m ready for some real emotions.
Next is the last preseason game, Thursday at home at 7:00 against the Kings.
That was an impressive amount of positivity for that game.
What are the odds of the “core” guys sitting out the next game? I noticed the Mavs sat a few of the main guys. (the others are hurt)
This preseason, we have looked sooo nice. Then we have looked sooo bad. Can we take anything from this preseason from a team aspect? I know Russ is doing better, and it looks like KD has picked it up on defense, but what about the team? Have we really gotten any better?
@RH
I had to dig deep.
Russ has shown signs of a true pg.
Harden seems to be ready.
KD is getting better at D.
Green showed improvement.
King Congo showed promise.
Thomas might be the Defensive C we need.
This is a pretty good preseason if you ask me.
3 blocks from Ibaka? That’s pretty cool–anything especially noteworthy?
Ibaka will make mistakes due to youth and inexperience, but I’m still going to be excited each time he checks in–it’s going to be neat having a big guy that plays above the rim.
I am going to have nightmares of wide open corner 3s tonight. I think the Spurs are still shooting them wide open right now. Crap its like they had a cloaking devise in the corner and all we saw were chairs. Then the pass and bam, wide open. I started to close out on the 3s myself from my couch to the TV but it didnt help.
@Danny
Ibaka had a great offensive rebound and put back that he was fouled on. I saw him miss an assignment a couple of times and once Thomas had to point him to where he should be on the court. He seemed to play well with our other bigs though and he got some great positioning at times.
I just wanted to congratulation Kev for taking the all-time most posts in a thread distinction from me in the game thread. About 80 posts and nobody said a single word of criticism. Why should there be? He had things he thought might be worth sharing, so he did and anybody could still do the same as much they wanted.
While I’m here I’ll say-
Thomas 86 minutes 7 rebounds. Less than 4 rebounds per 48 minutes. Just pre-season and not significant, yet, but still about as low as I’ve seen for a big.
Looking at the rest of the bigs sure doesn’t seem like they are treating rebounding as job 1 or 2 to defense. They all want to score. And nobody is getting thru to them otherwise at the moment.
Westbrook’s focus on passing- I am wondering if he is listening to the coaches… or to his agent. Combo guards that can’t be relied on to lead a team 30+ minutes don’t make near the max, they usually cap out under $6 million. Westbrook wants the minutes and no rivals for the minutes or the money. But he has to show this attention to passing when real games begin for it to mean anything. The Russ that wants to score will be back but we’ll have to see if his shot or finishing has improved… later. Long season too- maybe he learned that last season fter he sagged and will be more efficient with his energy usage.
Livingston 82 minutes, 7 assists, 6 turnovers. About right for another backup wing. Until he shows something different that is what he is right now.
thanks Crow for the kind words
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that (non-play) from Thomas snuck by me. Yuck.
looks like we have a lot of mediocrity inside . . . like most teams . . .
Dreamed I was at practice with the Thunder. Westbrook passed me the ball and I missed. I must have been Krstic.
For real though. If his teammates would knock down their shots his assist total would be amazing.
I told anybody who would listen that we needed to get Dejuan Blair with our second pick in the draft. The kid is special. It was very clear.
@Joe
Still amazed Blair fell so far in the draft. If he stays healthy, that kind of interior depth will really help SA come playoff time.
I’m with you all the way. Griffin and Blair were by far the two best players in college last year. Third was way, way back.
From a statistical viewpoint, it was obvious. Adjusting for opponents and pace, Griffin and Blair were extraordinarily efficient, both at scoring and at getting rebounds. Blair was the best seen in the last 10 years at rebounding.
It was the doctors that held Blair up, and his size. But look at his wingspan and reach and power! It’s like Dwight Howard… does anyone honestly remember that he’s only 6′-9″, 6′-10″ in shoes?
I don’t know. I think Blair could turn out to be a new and improved Kevin Love on the boards–look how he’s done. I just wonder how his knees will hold up.
@Joe
And the majority of us screamed alongside you when Blair wasn’t taken in the draft, no matter how deep the team APPEARS to be at the 4.
Sure his offensive rebounding production was insane and he has the wingspan of a 7 footer, but the minute Blair judo-threw Thabeet to the ground was the moment I knew he’d be a beast in the league, absorbed ACL’s or not.
@J.G.
“…but the minute Blair judo-threw Thabeet to the ground was the moment I knew he’d be a beast in the league, absorbed ACL’s or not.”
Ironically, that was the same moment that I knew Thabeet wasn’t going to be a solid NBA player (or at least for a while).
@Royce
One of the Oklahoman’s guys – I think Baldwin – had a recent blog post where I mused if Russ’ new pass-first mentality might have anything to do with the preseason rebounding woes. I think we all want Russ to become a good floor general, but if he’s not slashing and crashing, he’s not going to be in position to grab as many boards.
@MartzMimic
If you look at RW’s rebounding numbers so far, he’s about where he was. I think the main problem is that Collison has been out and without a set rotation, individual’s are a bit confused on spacing and specific responsibilities due to unfamiliarity and whacky lineups (at least that’s what I’ll tell myself for now). But RW’s rebounding numbers are pretty much on pace with last years.
@Anonymous
Too true!
I’d give the preseason so far a B-
The core players have shown improvement, especially Westbrook. Harden took a minute to get comfortable, but it seems as though he will be a big help once everything comes together for him. Ibaka has shown that he has serious potential (no surprise to me) with all that freak athleticism. Thomas and Mullens have done about what we all expected. Ollie seems to be a calming presence on the court. I’d like to see Kirstic a bit more consistent, but he has shown improvement as well.
All in all, I’d say that the Thunder are on track, but still a ways off from playoff contention. I expect a bit of a disappointing start, with the Thunder making some noise at about mid season, when this group of players begins to gel and Harden starts to come on strong.
I recorded this game and watched it late last night.
KD and Jeff really started things off with a bang, and I just can’t tell you how much I love watching Russell play. Russell is a completely different player.
Defense is still suspect, but the Spurs will make several teams look silly this year. I remember one of the reasons we beat the Spurs last year at home is because Finley couldn’t hit the side of a barn that game, open or not.
James is actually playing well for a rookie wing. He’s got a ways to go, but he’s got time to develop. I love his decision making so far; for a rookie, he’s looked really smart on the floor. He’s still too tentative, but that will change with time.
I don’t know what to think about Livingston. He needs to step it up, or his scheme needs to change. I like him running point-forward or point-two, but he hasn’t made it work for him yet. Maybe it’s because of the guys on the floor with him. I don’t know.
Krstic hasn’t played many minutes, and I’m sure it’s because of his heavy load over the summer, but I would like to see a little more from him. I like Etan’s game, but I’m really surprised at how few boards he grabs. Not sure if that will come back to him or not – I realize he hasn’t played in quite a while.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by Livingston thus far. Other than the rebounding, Thomas has performed as advertised. I think Kirstic will be fine.
We shouldnt have to depend on a PG to get rebounds – that’s not Westbrook’s primary job. Our frontline is supposed to rebound, please direct criticism to Thomas, Green, etc . . .
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I think that this has been said a million times – we weren’t the only team to pass on Blair, didn’t he go around #37???
His medical (report) came up BAD – that’s why teams passed – no one doubted his talent . . .
@kev
I think criticism can also be directed to the individual who has decided that a frontcourt of two primary jumpshooters won’t absolutely kill the team in rebounds, especially with two wing players who live on the perimeter.
Tell me, when you’re 7 foot center is 19 feet out taking a jumpshot and your power forward has his toes behind the three point line in the corner, who in the world is under the basket or anywhere near to being in position for a rebound?
I think it’s become painfully clear that a Green/Thomas and Collison/Krstic is the ONLY assortment of pairings that has enough frontcourt presence and nose for rebounds that won’t crush the team on the boards and give the opposing team a huge advantage, regardless of how excellent the PG and two wing players are at rebounding.
And to correct you, Blair’s medical report didn’t come up BAD, it came up with a giant “HUH?!” as in no doctors had any concrete explanations or outlook for something as rare and unheard of, let alone unseen, as the Blair condition known as wholly absorbed ACL’s.
It’s not like it came back with a red flag of, he has worn knee cartilage or a “loose” knee joint…it came back saying that he has a condition that NO other professional athlete has ever had.
But here’s the kicker, once you get out of the lottery and deeper in the draft, it’s only a two year contract. You’re telling me you don’t take that risk for $800,000 or cheaper to see if he can hold up for those two years? Shoot, most GM’s sign a player for 5-6 years for 5 times that amount and still don’t amount to anything for the team (Hello, Swifty and Momo!). As soon as he slipped into the late first round, with a cheap two year contract, Blair’s potential reward HEAVILY outweighed any and all risk.
to your last sentence – if that was truly the case, then he wouldve been drafted #31 , but he wasn’t . . .
whether you call it BAD or “HUH?” it scared teams away . . . everyone and their cousin knew he could play . . .
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I agree on your first point on the offensive end, BUT Green is a poor rebounder at the PF position, and Krstic is probably below average for a center . . .
@Kev
So because he went #37 instead of #31 it negates the fact that the cheap two year contract that comes with a late first round, early second round pick was more of a reward for a player of his caliber than a risk? Really? Six spots? Sorry, not buying your point there.
And yes Green is a poor rebounding PF…which is why you pair him with Thomas, and yes Krstic is a below average rebounding center…which is why you pair him with Collison. Not seeing your disagreement on this one either?
everyone knew Blair had 1st round talent – He came from a bigtime basketball program in the premier conference – he wasn’t a secret . . . most mocks had him going in the 1st round – there is a reason why he slipped . . .
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we are on the same page with the rebounding . . .
The bad thing is that Etan isn’t much of a rebounder either, but, and it’s a big but, he plays physical, which means he blocks out and helps prevent the other team getting a rebound, so that’s a plus.
The best rebounding lineup might end up Ibaka – Collison.
I’d guess every other lineup will be average or less for rebounds from bigs.
Crow, that’s a good lineup for rebounds, but it’s a wack lineup for scoring . . . geesh it’s a mess . . . I wish DJ White was more of a rebounder . . .
It is not that whack if you match it with Westbrook-Harden-Durant. You let the perimeter scorers do their thing and you ask the bigs to rebound and maybe Ibaka gets some mid-range stuff and cuts to the basket and Nick focuses on just putbacks.