Home > Video > Video games give a look into the Thunder’s playbook

Video games give a look into the Thunder’s playbook

Video games have gotten near ridiculous. When I was a youth (I like that term – a “youth”), it was basically all about good graphics. I remember what an advancement I thought the original Playstation was. Then the PS2 basically blew my mind.

And now with the PS3 and XBOX, good graphics isn’t enough. Video games want to make you feel like it’s the real deal. When it comes to sports games, playing with Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook’s skill is fun and having players that look and play just like them is cool. But you’ve got to be able to play entirely as the Thunder. And in order to play like the Thunder, naturally you’ve got to be able to run their plays.

In this video from NBA 2K11, it showcases a number of Thunder sets. I specifically remember Oklahoma City running “Double 12″ for Thabo against the Lakers in Game 6. Durant was a decoy as he faded off a pick and Thabo was all alone under the basket.

(Of course this made me wonder if you can call the Thunder’s end of quarter plays as well. Which I’m guessing is called, “Dribble for 15 seconds, nobody move and let’s get a really bad shot or even possibly, a turnover. Dribble 15 Bad Shot, here we go!”)

My dad used to always gripe about me playing video games because it meant I wasn’t outside throwing a ball against a wall or I wasn’t learning something. Well, with the way games are now, they’re pretty darn educational. That is, if you want to learn a basketball set or two.

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@Jax Raging Bile Duct
That's a beautiful split right there.

Thunder-centric box score today.

Thunder: 50 points. USA: 39 points.
Thunder: 9-9 FT. USA: 6-11.
Thunder: 5 Assists. USA: 10 Assists.
Thunder: 2 Blocks. USA: 5 Blocks.
Thunder: 17 Rebounds. USA: 27 Rebounds.
Thunder: 5 Offensive Rebounds. USA: 6 Offensive Rebounds.

Durant plays 38 minutes and Westbrook gets starters minutes.

Wasn't perfect, but it was a really good showing for the Thunder.

I can't decide which would suck more, not making the gold medal game or having to play in the bronze medal game.

Nice dunk Iggy, but do you need to cock it back that far?

justin :
KD looks tired.

Rose and Billups are heavy lately.

Somebody besides KD needs to hit a jumper.

USA has hit 5 threes. KD has 4 of those. ... And just before I hit submit, Billups hits one. Thank you.

We were so close to putting this game away. Darn. Darn. Darn.

@justin
The wings are the only consistent thing we've had all tournament. KD/Iggy/Gay have been pretty good throughout.

Team USA guard play is just awful.

The score record of Team USA is 35 from Melo.KD has chance to make a new one

I've noticed Durant's taking a lot of gambles on defense that aren't paying off.

Odom to Durant to Gay. Pretty.

What's the deal? I'm curious if there is a reason they're missing so many dunks.

Oh, Gordon...

God bless Odom.

Where can I find a link to the Westbrook play that the announcer said was one of the best plays of the tournament. I missed it

Our guards can't get to the rim.

OKC Thunder 30, Lithuania 27 :)

It is exciting to watch Russ get offense rebound from big men

I really don't want any part of Turkey.

@shiki=4 seasons
I think his brain needs one dunk to recalibrate his body image. He starts games feeling about 6 inches too tall.

Billups and Rose have been awful.

@shiki=4 seasons
It's his signature move. Like KD's rip move.

does Russ miss 1 dunk every game?

Lithuania has missed quite a few open looks or this would be closer.

Team defense. KD offense.

Love not getting dominated like he was against the Russian team.

Kevin Love's hair is tragic.

Just give it to KD every possession.

Gordon should be starting over Billups.

Might as well get this out of the way: "Screw you Dwight Howard!"

No game thread? Go USA!

Wow, this looks awesome. I thought the plays in NBA 2K10 were so useless. I never even called plays. It was hard to even get to the spot to start up a play. But it looks like 2K has really changed things up for 2K11.

I was leaning towards getting NBA Elite this year, if only because of KD being on the cover, but that video you just posted is really making me have second thoughts.

Hopefully there will be demos for both and I can play them and decide.

Couple things annoyed me in that video though. Russell would've definitely slammed the ball on those plays where he got to the rim. Nenad should've hit that open 18 foot baseline jumper off the Russell pass and Harden should've hit the open 3 in the corner. But now I'm just nitpicking a youtube video. =)

Right, you said that before. Sorry, I slipped into thinking about your usual tool. The mistake aside, it doesn't change anything else.

Crow, my numbers aren't statistical +/-. I just took all of the game scores and solved for the least squares for each team's strength. In other words, a basic power rating.

If at most 8 teams are within 20 points of the strength of this off-year team USA then 2/3rds of the world's best 24 teams are weaker than that. That is a bigger gap than between the best NBA teams and last season's Wolves. And most of the world's other 75-100+ teams who play international tournaments are probably 30, 40 or more points weaker. But a few are better than decade or two ago and a fair number are more interested and will get better.

Tournaments are one thing, basically played by all-star teams with national pride if you get motivated by that. It is just an exhibition and not billed as a "world championship" but on-going real team and Euroleague champion Regal FC Barcelona will play the real team and NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on October 7, 2010. That will offer another gauge of competitive status.

DSMok1's statistical +/- has just 1 team within 10 points and 8 within 20 points. For "the world to have got up" I'd think there ought to be at least 5 within 5 points or something like that. But one upset and the refrain will rain.

Lithuania bounced up 5 points on estimated team strength based on their last game too.

As for "the world catching up", Winston's ratings suggest only 3-4 teams were within 20 points of team USA on team strength and only 1-2 within 10 points and this team is mostly 2nd and 3rd tier NBA stars. Turkey's last game really helped their rating.

But these ratings are somewhat volatile. USA’s defense was 2nd best before the last game. Turkey's D is rated as better than Russia's.

Wayne Winston's Adjusted +/- projections are

"USA +23 Offense -4 Defense +27 overall

Turkey +8 offense -17 defense +25 overall

Lithuania +2 offense -7 defense +9 overall

Serbia +6 offense +3 defense +3 overall

Forecast US 92-74 OVER Lithuania

Turkey 87-65 over Serbia"

Turkey's strong (and best) defense is the biggest threat but by this method they have the second best offense too. USA's defense is rated as only 3rd best among the final 4.

My current FIBA power rankings for those interested:

Team Points
Turkey 26.3
USA 21.7
Spain 12.4
Lithuania 10.0
Serbia 9.7
Greece 9.4
Russia 8.5
Brazil 7.7
Slovenia 6.8
France 3.7
Croatia 2.8
Puerto Rico 2.8
New Zealand 1.7
Argentina 1.4
Australia -2.4
China -5.7
Canada -7.9
Cote d'Ivoire -9.6
Iran -10.3
Germany -13.6
Lebanon -15.7
Tunisia -17.2
Jordan -20.8
Angola -21.8

Man no NBA elite wont have more plays just because Durant in on the case. I'm a big fan of the thunder and wish KD would of been able to go with 2k11 than elite but i will buy both just to have KD game cover sitting on my shelf, but will be playing 2K11 till it goes out of style... i think elite will be just to much work to do with using the other analog to dribble.

i wonder if nba elite will have more thunder stuff because of Kd being cover man

Ya games r too crazy... I like to run the 1-4 high pick and roll for KD :)