Tuesday Bolts – 12.15.09
BDL, behind the box score: “Ugly game, but potentially a promising one if you’re a Nuggets fan. Holding the
Thunder to a tough night offensively isn’t the hardest thing in the western world to pull off, but the Nuggets still came through with a sterling defensive effort in the win. Oklahoma City managed just 95 points per 100 possessions in the loss, turning the ball over on a fifth of its possessions and shooting below 40 percent.”
HoopsWorld looking at the Thunder: “The Thunder needs a team expected to make the playoffs to falter to have a chance. Portland may be giving them that chance as they have fallen apart of late due to a lack of chemistry and debilitating injuries. Kudos to this young team for hustling and taking advantage of their opportunities. By the way, the Thunder has just $38.7 million in salaries committed for 2010-11, and none of their expiring contracts are of players putting in more than 16.1 minutes per game (Etan Thomas).”
Darnell Mayberry’s reactions: “In the end, this was a game that came down to the better team simply outperforming an inferior team. Because when you look at the box score none of it really explains how this was a blowout for much of the game. Both teams shot right at 40 percent. The Thunder, as I mentioned, won the overall rebounding battle. OKC had three more turnovers, but the Nuggets scored seven less points off OKC’s giveaways. The Thunder made more 3-pointers, had more assists and finished with more points in the paint. Denver attempted nine more free throws and made eight more, the only stat that provides some sort of explanation. But even that is misleading because some of those attempts at the line came down the stretch.”
John Hollinger has some thoughts on Denver.
Denver Stiffs with some thoughts: “The Thunder have the worst away uniform name plates in the league. Seriously, “Oklahoma City” … just horrific and don’t get me started on their nickname. (Am I still bitter the Sonics are no longer around? Yes! We beat the Sonics in the 1994 playoffs … not the Thunder!) Funny … Sonic Boom sounds like Thunder.”
Power rankings! ESPN has OKC at 12: “OKC didn’t record its 12th victory last season until Feb. 6. The Thunder, though, have too many road games and too many good teams left on their December schedule to spend much time basking in their progress.”
SI the same: “When you shoot 2-for-11 and finish with six points and still draw the coach’s praise, you know you are doing something right. Rookie James Harden has done a lot right this season (despite his stat line against Memphis last week), and his heady play hasn’t gone unnoticed by Scott Brooks. “That’s when you know you’re a real NBA player, when you can have a bad shooting night but have an impact on the game,” Brooks told The Oklahoman. “We have a few of those guys ? James [settles] us down when we [need] it.”
Mike Prada of SBNation ranks every team in terms of “watchability.” He’s got OKC at four: “Kevin Durant: I don’t think he’s better than the Big 4 (LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Paul), but he might be more fun to watch. Why? Every move is fluid. Every cut off the ball is done perfectly. Every shot is released from a perfect point, and nobody ever blocks it. Then, just when you think he’s just a jump-shooter, he explodes to the basket and slams it down with an authority you can’t believe. The best part about him is how efficient his movements are. Guys like LeBron, Wade and Paul spend a lot of time dribbling around waiting for an opening, but Durant doesn’t waste time. He’s either shooting in rhythm or driving to make a play. No probing, no “setting up the defense” or other bs. Just catch and go. That’s really refreshing in this league.”
Game highlights:
Should Traber be taking a shot at Matt Pinto like this?: “The thunder broadcasters are the biggest homers ever!! Both Radio and TV!” I guess that’s a dumb question. Should Traber be allowed to project his opinion anywhere? That would be a no.
Scott Howard-Cooper on Russell Westbrook: “The commitment to Westbrook continuing to have the ball in his hands is obvious, not to mention understandable given his potential as an electric two-way player. This was always going to be more patience than seamless transition and immediate payday. But the young Thunder have developed into playoff contenders a quarter of the way into the season on the wings of Kevin Durant and every outcome matters. Therefore, every possession matters. “I’m not frustrated at all,” Westbrook said. “It comes with the territory of playing the point guard. A lot of other players around the league turn the ball over as well. I’m just going to go out every day and continue to do what I do.”