Comments on: Missed it by thaaaaat much: Thunder comes up just short against L.A.

By: Royce

Royce — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:07:16 +0000

@CJ
I guess that would be because it didn’t happen?

By: CJ

CJ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:38:48 +0000

I haven’t seen anyone here mentioning how the refs handed the game to you guys and you STILL couldn’t win. Weird.

By: scotplum

scotplum — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:03:52 +0000

kev :enough hasn’t been said about Thabo’s OFFENSE was awesome down the stretch!

I certainly agree as Thabo was a huge reason why we went to OT at all. Just wish he could have hit that last open 3 to tie us up late in OT. Hard to fault him on that one though due to his play up to that point.

By: 4razr

4razr — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:05:29 +0000

Anyone mention the +/-? Look at the boxscore link to ESPN. My first take is that the starters for the Lakers outplayed OKC’s, and our bench outplayed theirs. Wouldn’t have thought Thabo had the highest – and Harden the best + . On another note–let’s hear it for defense! This is waaaaaaay ahead of where I expected this team to be defensively. This is a really good sign. And Thomas is giving everyone (fans, coaches, management, especially PLAYERS) a reminder of what it is like to have a hard-nosed, smart, and intense center on the team. We NEED a player like him, if not the man himself. He may be more valuable as a trade chip at the deadline with the way he is playing, but I hope some of him rubs off on Ibaka, White, and especially Mullens.

By: Dirkdajerk

Dirkdajerk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:12:10 +0000

@Dylan
Last yr when KD couldn’t miss..they were almost always catch and shoot situations..from the corner, from the top of the key, heck from well beyond the 3 almost falling out of bounds…money.
KD isn’t a dribble in place for a while then shoot type of player..either catch and shoot or dribble, penatrate, and pass.

and I do hope this makes KD a better player..he seems to be very depressed after this one. Glad to see Green go right up to him after the miss though and tell him good decision and good shot..havin each others backs

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:07:03 +0000

Say what you want about Durant last night, but that moment at the end of the fourth quarter, when he was one-on-one with Kobe at the top of the key, dribbing the clock about before taking the last shot, was intense. It gave me goosebumps.

Sure, he airballed the shot, but how many moments did we have like that last year? The crowd was up and cheering, it just seemed like an important moment.

Remember, Kobe had moments like that (in the playoffs against Utah) as a rookie where he airballed buzzer-beaters, and he has said it drove him to be a better player. I imagine it does the same to KD.

By: Dirkdajerk

Dirkdajerk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:49:52 +0000

right with kev on this one..
KD for one shouldn’t have shot from that far out leaving 2 ticks on the clock. I think with the shot clock he could have took it to 1…1 second difference sure..but if Thabo doesn’t get the steal…we are that much closer to a Kobe turnaround game winner.

For one I think we should have driven in and passed out…like last yr when KD could make em from anywhere…catch and shoot..not catch and dribble dribble dribble, throw up a prayer.

I want to see Etan starting, Harden stepping up more from the bench. Also either RW needs to learn now when to press it and when to hold up (like say when it’s 1 on 3…maybe set up a play?) or see Ollie in a lil more. He is a safe guy. He always makes the pass then gets open to switch the court if need be.

By: KingGondo

KingGondo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:42:54 +0000

@kev
The most frustrating turnovers last night were KD’s in my opinion. Toward the end of regulation, he had a 12 foot jumper on the left elbow, and instead of taking the shot he tried to dump it off to Thomas. It was deflected and stolen… these kinds of wasted possessions in crunch time really cost us last night.

We need to remember, though: Russ is 20, KD is 21. In many ways, they’re WELL above the curve for their age. KD looked unstoppable in the first half last night, and Russ had some very nice drives to the basket. They still haven’t quite figured out how to close games out, but that part of their games will come, too. In time, they’ll learn what’s expected of them in different phases of the game.

By: kev

kev — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:32:01 +0000

Part of RW’s turnover total can be forgiven. Why? He’s just now turned into a willing passer. Some of his passes are off the mark. For example, sometimes he forgets to lead the passer and the pass ends up behind the receiver. Others are bounce passes at a bad angle. Sometimes he tries to pass through a narrow crease, and the defense closes in to pick it off. I can deal with those – as he continues to pass, he will get better at it, and the mistakes above will decrease.

It’s a far cry from last year’s (and in the Portland game) turnovers. IMO these are bad turnovers. Travelling, losing the ball in traffic while driving 1 on 2 or 1 on 3, getting stuffed, etc.

By: KingGondo

KingGondo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:24:57 +0000

I can confidently say that this team has a 3-part recipe for winning:

1) Defense
2) Ball movement
3) Limit turnovers

If we can do this consistently, these close games will start falling our way.