Hawks vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer
vs. 
Atlanta Hawks (30-16, 11-11 road) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-21, 14-10 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 753)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CST
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 105.9 (19th), Hawks – 111.4 (4th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.0 (6th), Hawks – 106.1 (12th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.3 (18th), Hawks – 91.1 (26th)
View from the enemy: Hoopinion
Hold it right there. Before you skim this and just see whose names are bolded, watch this. (I actually like this one better, courtesy of a DT reader who was at the game.) Watch it and get ready for this game. I anticipate Josh Smith to come out foaming at the mouth and to try and block a shot into Loud City to make up for it. I guess what I’m saying is, this should be a fun game.
There were a number of comparisons of the Thunder to the Hawks the last time the teams met. I don’t completely see it, other than the fact they’re both young squads. Which is going to make this one a blast to watch. Every cult, Free Darko Manifesto, underground NBA fan will be glued to their TV tonight to see this one. Length, athleticism, youthful energy, superstars and oh yeah, two pretty good teams.
Atlanta coming in: The Hawks have had a good long rest, having not played since Saturday where they lost 104-86 to Orlando. Atlanta has lost two of three but has gone 7-3 over its last 10. While an excellent home team, the Hawks are just 11-11 on the road.
THE MATCHUPS
Two matchups I love for Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook against Mike Bibby and Kevin Durant against whoever. First, Westbrook v. Bibby. Basically, Bibby isn’t near as quick as he used to be and Russ tears up slower point guards. Bibby is still incredibly dangerous from outside and what hurts is that Thabo can’t switch over to him because Thabo will be busy guarding Joe Johnson. Last game, Johnson scored 23 but on 10-23 shooting. That’s a huge matchup for OKC.
Marvin Williams will likely started on Durant, but Maurice Evans, Johnson and even Josh Smith will probably have a crack at KD. Other than that, it’s hard to see a lot of matchups going OKC’s way. Nenad Krstic had a great game last time, but that’s mainly because his jumper was working. With the size and athleticism up front for Atlanta, I would assume there would be a good dose of Serge Ibaka, who played extremely well against Golden State and had 10 rebounds in 24 minutes the last time the Thunder played the Hawks.
Atlanta plays a similar front court to OKC in that Al Horford really isn’t your “true” center, much like Jeff Green isn’t your “true” power forward or Ibaka a “true” center. The front line battle will be fun tonight because there’s going to be lots of jumping and dunking and running. The big factor is limiting Jamal Crawford. Last time, Crawford had 12 points on 4-14 shooting. He kind of drives the Hawk offense off the bench so unless someone from OKC can score with him off the pine (James Harden cough cough cough), then he could be what really decides this.
I’m psyched for this one. I wanted a 2-2 homestand and that’s already in the bad. Going 3-1 would be very nice. And I think it’s definitely possible. Atlanta is a great team but OKC matches up well with them and with this at home and the Hawks not being great on the road, it all kind of lines up for a good one.
Tip at 7:00 CST. Go Jeff Green’s Dunking Ability.
well without paul, tomorrows game should be easier, but we cant overlook them.
Once again the third quarter was pivotal.. every other quarter was tied.
Before the last 4 games Green took 12.2 total shots per game and made 5.3. 3.9 were “at the rim” according to hoopdata and he made 2.5 of those.
Over the last 4 games before tonight he has taken 14.8 total shots per game and made 7.3. 4.8 were “at the rim” according to hoopdata but he made 4.0 of them.
So he is taking more total shots,
both jumpers and taking the ball at the rim more,
and making more of those at the rim
and the jumpers too.
At least in this favorable slicing.
Good to see.
God I am so aroused right now
Lets get these 2 games before the all start break and we’ll be 29021 going into the second half of the season!
Oh god, YES!
What can anybody say about jeff green now!
@josh
I’ll lay off because he hit the dagger again against a good team.
when the 13 point lead dribbled all the way down to a tie game at 89… I almost started having heart palpitations (oh crap, here we go)
then… the big 3 stepped up *BIG TIME* and saved the game in the last two minutes
absolutely tremendous end-of-game poise and execution
Nenad Krstic played very well tonight I thought. He was +15 in this game.
Sorry, his jumper FG% before vs last 4 stayed the same at 33% raw FG% (I read it wrong momentarily. I also didn’t look up 3 pt affect.) But maybe it helped at the end tonight.
Yes yes and yes…
Even Krstic was playing very decent too… Actually, I thought everybody chipped in tonight and played a very good game, overall. Everyone in the Thunder did what they were supposed to do…
He rebounded very well tonight. His defense was very solid as well as far as I was concerned. My favorite play was the first half when one of the hawks drove to the rim. Nenad helped on him realized the guy had no chance to take a shot, stayed down and waited for the frantic pass out of the drive. Great play.
The only guy I don’t think played that great was Maynor.. and Harden had a lot of trouble with Joe Johnson. Other than that it was a great all around effort. The offense looked very good in the second half.
Give props to Serge too he was incredibly productive in only 16 minutes.
yep, you’re right:
1 2 3 4 Total
ATL 22 27 23 27 99
OKC 22 27 30 27 106
what a slug-fest!
3Q was the difference (in points)
end of the game was the difference for the win, though
They were just 1 off their season high for offensive rebounds.
New season best at just 6 beating the old best of 8.
Get the ball on offensive glass and don’t turn it over. Those were huge factors in the win.
What a great game.
Had not everyone contributed as they did they probably wouldn’t have taken down the game.
I thought RW shot a few too many but his offensive boards were a godsend!
Thunder UP!!
just 6 “turnovers”
Tied for 3rd lowest amount of fouls given and 6th most own FTs made too.
Took all or almost all of those things to get it done.
We won this game pretty much the opposite of how we usually win. Gave up high FG% high 3PT%, but won the offensive boards and turnovers. Interesting game.
are we officially a “good” team now???????
If you can play like that, then I guess I can understand not wanting to change things… right now.
I think we’ve been a ‘good’ team all year..
@Crow
When we get center production (like Krstic and Serge tonight) it really opens things up for Green and Durant and masks the faults of that combination.
However, Jeff Green was abused by Josh Smith almost every time in one on one situations. I was surprised the Hawks didn’t go to Smith more down the stretch. Joe Johnson was ultra hot but I think he kind of froze out the rest of the team. They needed some easy buckets down the stretch and weren’t getting them.
@Crow
So close to absolute optimism, so so close
Does any of ou stat guys know what KD’s ppg is now?
@GAP
29.6.
*Do*
@GAP
29.687 to Carmelo’s 29.736
KD will overtake Carmelo with a 31 point game or more tomorrow night.
Russ with 12-9-9
just one assist and one rebound short of a triple-double
doh!
ah well, good job Russell!
Against current playoff seeds (and this changes daily) this season they’ve gone 0-2, then 3-0, 0-2 then 1-0; then they went 0-5, then 4-0, then 0-3, then 2-0, then 0-2 and now 2-0. Sure up and down.
@Justin
Thanks man, it would just be the icing on his MVP caliber season and thrust him into serious competion for the award especially when we make the playoffs!
I am impressed by them Clark. I probably should have left off the “for now”. I should probably leave off “they could be even better” but…
I don’t think he can win the MVP over LeBron this year but he’ll definitely get votes, and is well on his way to All NBA 2nd team. Very impressive for a third year player, only 21 years old.
blocks:
Jeff Green: 2
Serge Ibaka: 2
Kevin Durant: 1
Nenad Krstic: 1
Thabo Sefolosha: 1
——————–
total 7!
steals:
Jeff Green: 2
Kevin Durant: 2
Russ Westbrook: 2
Nenad Krstic: 1
Thabo Sefolosha: 1
Nick Collison: 1
James Harden: 1
——————
total 10!
that’s some heart and hustle displayed there
Kevin Durant’s TS% is now .607. Here’s the list of players to score that efficienty on 18 or more FGA per game in the last 20 years:
Michael Jordan, Karl Malone
If he wins a scoring title and leads us to a playoff spot after a 23 win season with pretty much the same team he’ll definitely pus LBJ for the award IMO.
@justin
You’re right, Center production is important, both points and rebounds. They got enough.
oh, and, I forgot to say it but…
about all those blocks and steals:
“That’s Thunder basketball!”
At this point Durant would probably be 4-6th on MVP voting and could rise to 3rd.
He’d be 3rd IMO if the Thunder make the playoffs and he nabs the scoring crown.
@Crow
I was just messing with you man. You are as big of a fan as anyone else on this site.
It was an appropriate comment Clark. I understand it and take it in good spirits. I might not ever let the caution go but maybe I’ll post it less.
My mind literally cannot compute the level of greatness KD can potentialy reach in like 4 years when he’ll still only be 25!!!!
Think about how far he’s come in these 2 1/2 year and think about how far he can go in another 4 years.
My gawd. Oh lawdy LAAWWWD!!!!