Deez Nutz :@KevI’m partial because I absolutely love Shaun Livingston, but if you look at the box score he was +8 and pretty much only Thunder on + side of ledger. His defense was fantastic. Also note that Dallas went on its run when Livingston came out of game at 9 minute mark. He was in for Durant then Westbrook and I understand that those guys are going to get crunch time minutes, but he needs more time on the floor. His basketball IQ is off the charts. Right now he’s really only contributing on the defensive end but wait till he gets a green light to actually run an offense. He still can’t shoot but he can finish and he does EVERYTHING right.

the issue with Livingston defensively is that he needs the right assignment – Howard is really a SF and he’s about the same size as Livingston. Livingston IMO has issues with small guards. Obviously Livingston fits better defensively if he’s on the court with Westbrook . . .

Can Livingston still penetrate after his major injury? I havent seen it – I would like for him to drive and kick – if he can . . . also, his shot was better last year, not that he’s had a lot of chances outside . . .

agree with you about his IQ – I love high IQ guys on the basketball court – they make all the difference . . .

for me, the jury’s still out . . .

I didn’t say it was beyond your reasoning, as I wasn’t addressing this to whoever you are. I hear people say that same thing all the time. The answer is straight from the coaching staff themselves. They take pride in the versatility of their players, and ask them to defend several positions, especially in transition. It makes no difference if Russell gets back to guard Berea, or if Thabo does it, or if Green does it. It is much the same way that they allow defensive switching on the PnR, which is why you see Green on Berea and Russell on Dirk.

As to why, I can’t say. Maybe they like Russell’s nose for the ball on the boards. Who knows.

Just because the PG had to get back in high school doesn’t mean that same principle has to hold true in the NBA. Maybe you like it that way, doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

KD and Green can get to the rack. But neither do it from the PnR at the top of the key. Again, I wasn’t addressing this to you, but to the issue of Harden driving the lane. Harden and Russell run the PnR, and Harden does it the best. Livingston will do it from time to time, but he’s never a scoring threat from there. Back when Carlisimo tried to run KD as a 2 guard, the PnR was the worst executed mesh you’ve ever seen.

I mention the lower bowl and suites because that’s all you see on TV.

Don’t take things so personally.

1) I do blame the coaching staff. They’re either telling him to do so (why?) or not applying an easy fix (telling him to stop.) I do not buy your “the NBA is beyond your realm of understanding” line of reasoning. I fail to see how Russ not getting back on defense and forcing a different player to cover his man in transition is optimal, especially since the trade off is 1.4 offensive boards a game. (I’m not talking about defensive boards; Russ can get all those he wants.)

2) KD and Green can get to the rack. We’ve seen them do it. I didn’t say it had to be out of the pick and roll from the top of the key. KD is our superstar, when we need calls, he’s going to have to be the one to get them. If you’re saying he can’t find a way, then we’re going to be in trouble once we become a competitive playoff team.

3) I’ve not parked under the Cox Center for games, but I know that’s not the only place where there is assigned parking. It’s all over. It might be really bad there, I can’t say. I do know that the exodus isn’t limited to the lower bowl and the suites. It’s just as bad in the upper bowl. That’s where my tickets are.

Maybe I’m wrong. Just seems a disproportionate number of people leave compared to the number that are forced into a parking situation that warrants an early exit in a close game.

Yea I had just found that out myself. Kinda sad that a one game TEAM thing is overwritten by a shoe contract. oh well Was still nice to see