(2011)-2012 NBA Season

[Dorian Thompson]

Thunder 103
Heat 87

Yes. Yessssssssss.


When Kendrick Perkins scores 16 points, things are going your way. The Heat weren't collapsing on him at all and let him inside the lane again and again. Westbrook only had 13. Fisher played 17 minutes because Westbrook sat the final 7 minutes of the first half after being whistled for a bullshit 3rd foul. It didn't matter.

Yesssssssss. That'll work.

Hey, it beats losing to Cleveland and the Wizards. They doubled down on Westbrook and Durant every trip down the floor the first half until Westbrook went out. Even after Durant had five assists passing to Perkins. That works. That definitely works. Battier is a good addition for Miami. I give them that.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

So Tim Duncan didn't play last night. The officially listed reason: Old

 

[Thestral]

Haha, that's awesome! Seems like NBA.com edited it though, shame.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Showing composure and maturity tonight when they were getting their butts handed to them by the Lakers all first quarter, my Thunder. Much improved. Much improved indeed. Fisher's a good luck charm indeed.

 

[Borgminister]

Kobe 7/25, Bynum 10/15. Who should've had more touches?

 

[SmoothieX]

Jack Nicholson? He's still got a courtside seat, right?

 

[gblews]

Showing composure and maturity tonight when they were getting their butts handed to them by the Lakers all first quarter, my Thunder. Much improved. Much improved indeed. Fisher's a good luck charm indeed.

That was definitely a statement game for the Thunder (Lakers v Thunder). Man, Russell (mother f'n) Westbrook... A couple of years ago when it first became obvious that the Lakers needed some new blood at point guard I didn't want Derrick Rose or Derron Williams, or even Chris Paul. Westbrook was the "young" point guard I wanted. He is the perfect "Phil Jackson" guard -- good size, athletic, can defend, steadily improving jumper. This is a player with unlimited potential. Congrats to the Thunder for a quality W.

The game against the Bulls today should be interesting even without Rose. The best D in the league against the best O. In the NBA, defense usually wins -- in the playoffs -- but in the regular season, a lot depends on where the game is played, when, etc. In other words, without Rose, even if the Bulls win, the result won't be that significant for the future.

As for the Lakers. We got problems. L.A. fans, the most impatient in the league, are slowly starting to turn and look at Mike Brown. That's not good for Brown. But lets keep in mind, it is still the regular season and the NBA championship is still up for grabs.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Seems to me the Lakers' biggest problem is they have no bench. They can't rest their starters because the bench can't defend or score to save its life. The starters are great, but starters need rest. Especially when they're one of the older lineups. I'm not familiar enough with Brown. Does he really suck that bad as a coach?

Ahhhh, yes. The game this afternoon against the Bulls. I can't speak for everyone, but I liked it.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ Yeah. The Bulls say "ouch".

Still winning most of the time but missing D-Rose today.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

The best part of it was being able to rest the starters for the entire 4th quarter so they'll have some gas left in the tank when Memphis comes to town tomorrow night. Memphis has its star back after a long injury and they match up well with the Thunder's strengths. I wouldn't be shocked if the Thunder lost the game considering the timing of it. Looking ahead to being in South Beach on Wednesday and all.

 

[Borgminister]

Go Celtics! Geritol all around!

 

[gblews]

Seems to me the Lakers' biggest problem is they have no bench. They can't rest their starters because the bench can't defend or score to save its life. The starters are great, but starters need rest. Especially when they're one of the older lineups. I'm not familiar enough with Brown. Does he really suck that bad as a coach?

When Brown first got to L.A. he indicated that he wanted to turn the Lakers into a defense first team that would use it's big front court to play inside out on offense. Long story short, Brown was going to re-make the Lakers into the mid 2000's Spurs, a model that won 4 championships. The Lakers were supposed to win with defense.

You really don't need a star coming off the bench to play consistently good D. And at the start of the season, the defense was damn good. But lately that has not been the case. Guys haven't been working at that end of the court. This coupled with some recent signs of disrespect from Bynum and Kobe are an indication that Brown may be losing the team. If that is what is happening, Brown's coaching skills aren't likely to matter.

But, this is the NBA. It all comes down to what happens in the playoffs. If the team exceeds (current) expectations, and they'd have to REALLY exceed them, Brown should be okay. But if they look in the playoffs the way they look now, the outcry against Brown will reach a fever pitch.

 

[pork3]

Go Celtics! Geritol all around!

Rajon Rondo has yet another triple double this year.
If he can only acquire a reliable midrange shot...which is holding him back from being one of the best point guards in the league.

-Jamman

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Damn Celtics can't finish the deal tonight against San Antonio who's really nipping at my Thunder's heels now. Really, Boston? SA scored 9 points in the third quarter. Nine. You can't close the deal?

That doesn't negate the immaturity and stupidity of my Thunder for letting Miami get under their skins and jawing with their bench. The Thunder had a nice lead on the road in the toughest arena in the NBA and they let Miami get right back in the game courtesy of Russell's flagrant and Perkins' technical. Good old Perk is on thin ice with Thunder nation tonight. He knows he has the reputation now. He could just look at a ref, say "Have a nice day" and he'll get a technical if he says it with that scowl on his face. He's not a kid. There's zero excuse. Then Russell had to regress to form and of course Miami was going to be all over Durant in a physical game. It's expected. Still, Durant gets 30 points, the assist numbers are dead equal, the Thunder holds Miami to under 40% percent shooting to the Thunder's 43%; they outrebound Miami....but they lose. Can't muster any offense in the final minutes; the Heat were tough and physical.

Of course, we could have pulled it within 1 with 40 seconds left in the game to our credit. . All Perk had to do was make two measly free throws. The kind of shots you get when no one defending you. The kind Westbrook and Durant make in their sleep. Simple as taking candy from a baby. That's all technical foul the wonder boy had to do and the Thunder were right back in it with a great chance to win.......

Now San Antonio with its extremely favorable schedule is a single game behind the Thunder. Miami's a half game behind us and could get home court advantage in the finals if the Thunder are fortunate enough to make it there. This loss was costly. No one was upset about the Memphis loss. Eveyrone called it before the game and expected the letdown. This loss hurt. Scott Brooks was PISSED at his team. They didn't take care of business. That's the bottom line. No excuses.

 

[Borgminister]

I was in a quandary because San Antonio and Boston are two teams I really like. Was amazed Boston could almost win; am also surprised at how good San Antonio is now. Their bench reminds me of last year's Dallas team's--deep, professional and hungry.

The Thunder might be another year away. Miami, if it has home court, will be tough to beat.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

The Thunder might be another year away. Miami, if it has home court, will be tough to beat

Precisely. I hate to say it, but that's right on the money. That's why this game (coupled with the Boston/SA game) really has the Thunder fans down. SA's bench is one of the few that are better than the Thunder's. Very, very deep bench they've got. They'd have met the Thunder in the playoffs last year if Memphis hadn't upset them. Memphis--the other team that absolutely gives the Thunder fits. I was sooo proud when the Thunder toughed out that series and won. Memphis is no pushover when they're healthy. Now the Thunder has to win out to keep the #1 seed in the West. One game on San Antonio is not enough.

Still want to kick Perkin's butt for getting that T tonight when the Thunder were cruising along in the 2nd quarter. Darnit, he knows better than that.

 

[Borgminister]

Anyone see Pao get posterized by Griffen...TWICE?

Wow.

 

[SmoothieX]

I was in a quandary because San Antonio and Boston are two teams I really like. Was amazed Boston could almost win; am also surprised at how good San Antonio is now. Their bench reminds me of last year's Dallas team's--deep, professional and hungry.

The Thunder might be another year away. Miami, if it has home court, will be tough to beat.

You have to wonder if aging teams like Boston and San Antonio will be able to hang around for a deep playoff run given the condensed season. This should favor younger teams like OKC and Miami.

I thought the Bulls already wrapped up homecourt in the East. No?

 

[Borgminister]

The Heat are 2.5 games out with what, 12 games remaining? I guess it depends on the respective schedules, but anything's possible. Not probable though.

I still think Westbrook is too volatile and immature for a 7-game series, but if Fish can get in his ear, anything's possible.

And I won't bet against San Antonio with that bench and Pop at the helm. Could be wishful thinking though.

 

[SmoothieX]

Got it. I haven't followed the NBA too closely this season other than the occasional game here and there.

Westbrook seems like a basket case.