After The Lightning: March 2009 Archives

Half Game Back

By Carbert3 on March 31, 2009 11:00 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Tonight, OKC heads into San Antonio a half game behind Minnesota in the race for fourth in the Northwest. The Timberwolves picked up a win against the Nets on Sunday putting their total at 21. The Thunder are running out of oppotunities to catch and pass Minnesota, and tonight's game, while an opportunity, is not that good of one. Although, OKC did win the last matchup between the two in an ultra-low scoring affair that ended 78-76

The Thunder will surely need more than 78 to get the win tonight as well as a defensive resurgance. OKC's D came up huge the last meeting but has been absent as of late. The Thunder have giving up over 100 points in the past three and in five of the last six. All those games were losses. In fact, every game in March where the Thunder gave up 100+ points they lost while they won all of the other games. OKC has yet to reach the triple digit mark in March.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's games, the Thunder will be heading home to Oklahoma City for the next three games. If all goes well, OKC could end the season with 24 or 25 wins assuming that they can beat both the Pacers and Bobcats at home, the Bucks and Clippers on the road, and possibly stealing one of the home games against either the Trailblazers or Spurs.

Defense over Offense?

By gforce on March 30, 2009 11:58 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

While the losses keep piling up, the end result may not be as bad as most Thunder fans think. Oklahoma City failed to keep pace with the reigning NBA Champs, but it can learn a few things from the way Boston played.

The Celtics won last year behind their own version of the big three, something OKC would love to emulate over the next decade. Boston wins with their defense first even if the offense gets all the love. Could the Thunder be trying to follow the same pattern?

Look closer at the recent tough stretch, and the stats are not nearly what they appear. Expecting a few more blowouts, the defense has been getting the job done in March. Only twice in 14 games have opponents scored over 110 points and only half of the contests saw OKC surrender 101 or more.

True, the Thunder have a long way to go but adding offense in the draft will be easier. The defense has overcome a very rough start to the season and may even reach a milestone that the franchise hasn't seen since the 04-05 campaign.

Oklahoma City sits at 103.0 points against per game. If that average can fall three more points, it will be the first time since the Sonics' 52-win season that mark was reached. It won't be easy but then again, the Thunder weren't expected to win 20 times this season either.

10 to Go

By Carbert3 on March 29, 2009 2:00 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

With ten games remaining, OKC is running out of opportunities to pick up some wins and gain valuable experience for next year. Tonight's game against the defending NBA champion's is unlikely a win opportunity, but it is the perfect time to gain some much needed experience.

The Thunder have fallen into a rut and have been struggling as of late. They need a strong performance against the Celtics to set the proper tone for the hectic April ahead where OKC will play 8 games in 13 days.

Boo Canada

By gforce on March 29, 2009 12:00 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

One thing has been a constant for the past two months of the season. No matter who played for the Thunder, they competed win or lose. Oklahoma City needs to regain some of that after suffering a lop-sided defeat north of the border.

Toronto ran away early in the 112-96 thumping as only Nick Collison provided a good effort off the bench. The Raptors left no doubt by dominating the first and third quarters of the contest. The match-up between two of the NBA's brightest young stars didn't pan out, and Chris Bosh powered his team to the easy win.

Kevin Durant never found a comfort level and shot only 4-13 on the night. On the other hand, Bosh paced Toronto with 21 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. The rebounding edge the Thunder normally hold was nowhere to be seen against the Raptors. OKC lost that battle 54-37 and with it any chance of coming back.

Adding to the frustration, the Thunder play much worse away from home and finish off March with two more road games. Both are against a pair of the league's best teams at home, so OKC will need to find a rhythm early and often to compete.

Black Jack

By Carbert3 on March 27, 2009 5:30 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

In the previous meeting between the Raptors and Thunder this season, OKC came into the game with only two wins and were in the midst of an eight game losing streak. Oklahoma City picked up the big 91-83 win to stop the slide and first showed signs of breaking out of futility. Back then, no one expected that the Thunder would reach 20 wins or that the Raptors would still "be alive" (although barely) in the playoff hunt this late in the season.

Fast forward to today, where the Thunder are struggling (relatively speaking): losing five of the last seven. The Raptors have won two in a row and are looking for their first three game win streak of the season. This game is a must have for OKC if they are going to finish 4th in the Northwest and a must have for Toronto if they wish to remain alive in the East.

For the Thunder, tonight's game is going to be won on the boards. Both teams average around 98 points per game and give up around 102, and so getting the advantage from additional shots should push this game into OKC's favor. Expect this game to be higher scoring than the previous contest with the Thunder coming away with a 103-96 victory.

Next Season's Goal

By gforce on March 25, 2009 6:40 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Normally holding Kobe Bryant under 20 points would have a better ending. Of course when he doesn't log 30 minutes on the court it is hard to tell. This time there was no reason for the Lakers to push their star, and Los Angeles dismantled Oklahoma City 107-89.

Turning the clock back a month, the Thunder gave a much better performance before tiring down the stretch.The Lakers needed a big fourth quarter from Bryant in that game and maybe learned something about OKC in the process. The best team in the Western Conference has seen what the Thunder can do when let back into games, and LA took control from the start.

Not even the home crowd could help, as OKC trailed by 17 after one quarter and 24 at halftime. Kevin Durant again paced the Thunder, but the third quarter run was too late. All twelve Lakers played with all but one scoring for the runaway number one playoff squad.

OKC remains tied for fourth place in the division and still mathematically has a shot of catching Golden State and Toronto at the 25-win mark. One troubling thing remains, however, if the Thunder are going to make one last run. They can't do it without a back-up point guard, and Earl Watson has disappeared.

He still dresses for the contests and has no injury of note. But ever since a very good outing in Denver, Watson has totaled as many minutes as recent call-up D.J. White. Here's a hint -- White will make his season debut as early as Friday.

You guessed it. Watson no longer seems to have a place in the rotation, something he and Coach Brooks may have discussed after Tuesday's loss. Why is this important, though? Russell Westbrook found himself in foul trouble, and Brooks elected not to sub Watson or even Chucky Atkins in for the rookie.

KD found himself in the backcourt with Thabo, not the pairing I had in mind back at the All-Star break. Whether or not Watson gets traded over the summer, he is evidently not in the Thunder's plans for the rest of the season. And that means at the top of the shopping list for 2009-2010 is a true back-up point and a victory over the Lakers. Paging one Steph Curry...

Hey Mr. D.J.

By Carbert3 on March 24, 2009 4:15 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Tonight the Thunder play host to the Western Conference's best team. The last time the Lakers came to town, they defeated OKC by 14. Los Angeles got off to a quick start in that game leading by 12 after the first quarter. A key to tonight's game will be to try to keep it close throughout if the Thunder want the opportunity to lay a really embarrassing win on the likely NBA champs.

The starters of the future will have a golden opportunity to get some playing time against the league's elite. This will be important for the future since the team will need to be able to play with the best in order to be a playoff team in the next year or the year after. And if OKC does raise our performance to that level, it's likely we'd be the #7 or #8 seed which means we'd be facing one of the top teams in round one.

Tonight's game might also feature the debut of D.J. White who was recalled from the Tusla 66ers on Monday. White played 3 games for Tulsa averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. White had jaw surgery in October and returned to action last week.

The Preview that Wasn't

By Carbert3 on March 23, 2009 11:00 PM 1 0 Vote 0 Votes

Early in the afternoon on Sunday, I logged in to write my game preview. I started with NBA.com, and imagine my surprise and disappointment to find that the game had already started. Our streak of writing a preview for all of the games broken by my carelessness. Lame! But what would I have written had I gotten the chance? I imagine it would have gone something a little like this...

The Thunder head into Minnesota ~~tonight~~ this afternoon with a golden opportunity to tie the Timberwolves at 20 wins a piece and in a dead heat with 12 games to go. The T-Wolves have the advantage in regards to having a weaker schedule to finish out the season (although not by much), but the Thunder hold the edge in momentum.

Minnesota whooped OKC by 42 the last time the Thunder visited the Target Center and it's time to put the same whooping back on them. More realistically we'll probably kick their butts for three quarters before giving our starters some rest and allowing the Wolves to partially dig their way out. OKC would never let them come within 7 in the 4th as the Thunder cruised to victory.

Durant will probably have a big game scoring somewhere around 30. In a surprising effort, the team will likely turn over the ball less than ten times but that number will be near 9. Neither team will shoot very well from the field, but the Thunder will take advanatage of some extra opportunities. Rose will probably find a way to foul out without even playing a quarter and a half. Someone should really tell him to chill.

In the end the Thunder will come close to triple digits but not quite get there. I'm thinking either a 99-92 or a 97-90 victory. And with the victory, the race will officially be on for fourth in the Northwest.

Road Warriors

By gforce on March 22, 2009 7:48 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

If Oklahoma City wants to compete next season, a consistent effort away from home becomes goal number one. The Thunder missed out on a couple of tries to gain win number 20 at the Ford Center and takes their NBA low five road victories into four of the next five contests.

While OKC should be concentrating on the future, I find it hard not to look at the last couple of games. Fresh off an impressive showing against San Antonio, the Thunder looked lackluster against Chicago and Utah. Maybe the Bulls and Jazz didn't take the up-and-coming squad lightly, but the lack of defense mainly contributed to the home losses.

Kevin Durant's return changes the offense for the better but what about the defense? My hope is that the last couple of times out were just a let-down from the Spurs win and not a tell-tale sign of things to come. How OKC fights the next month means more about which direction the Thunder take in the off-season than how they finish in the standings.

There are plenty of scorers to go around in Oklahoma City, and now is the time to find out who wants to play on both ends of the court.

Win #20 on the 20th?

By Carbert3 on March 20, 2009 4:30 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

After having their home win streak snapped by the Bulls on Wednesday, OKC looks to start a new streak tonight against the Jazz. The last time Utah stopped in Oklahoma City, the Thunder sent them home with a 114-93 loss.

The Jazz snapped a three game losing streak against the Wizards on Tuesday and will be looking to pick up another easy win to get back on track. Utah is currently 7th in the West with a 1.5 game lead over the Mavericks in 8th but only 2 games behind the Rockets in 3rd. A loss tonight to the Thunder will damage their morale, jeopardize their position as 7th, and make it hard for them to improve their position.

With a win tonight and a loss by the Timberwolves (who will be in Houston and should most likely lose), the Thunder will move into a tie with Minnesota for fourth in the Northwest with all of the momentum on OKC's side. Finishing fourth with the preseason expectations and the way the first half of the season went would be an impressive feat. A win tonight goes a long way to accomplishing that.

Still Waiting

By gforce on March 19, 2009 5:19 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Win number twenty will have to wait, and games like last night explain much of the recent good fortune. Chicago came to town fighting for a playoff spot and ended Oklahoma City's four-game home victory streak. The Bulls and Thunder played a back and forth contest until a third quarter collapse doomed the hosts.

Nothing else really to write about given how well OKC has been playing. I don't want to consider the mini-run a fluke, but the lack of defense in the 103-96 defeat certainly takes some of the air out of my sails. Friday will show if the Thunder are mentally ready to compete with the NBA's big boys and should allow Coach Brooks to get things ready for next year. Utah is one of the better clubs in the league, and it will take a complete effort to stop them.

Complete the Sweep / The Drive for Five

By Carbert3 on March 18, 2009 10:00 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Tonight's game at home against the Bulls will be the Thunder's first opportunity to sweep a team in the 2008-09 season. OKC defeated Chicago 109-98 in OT just over two months ago and will be looking to prevent the Bulls from getting their revenge on the Thunder's home court.

Both of the teams are streaking in a way that's advantagous to the Thunder. The Thunder have now won 4 in a row at home while the Bulls have dropped 7 in a row on the road. The Bulls are currently entrenched in a battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East and hold a half game lead over the Bucks. A loss tonight against the Thunder could lead to the Bulls spending their offseason wondering how they lost to OKC twice.

Expect a big game out of Thabo Sefolosha in his first game against his former team. Thabo is getting twice as many minutes playing for the Thunder as he did with Chicago and has increased his points per game from 4.5 to 11.6. He had a season high 17 points against Sacramento 4 games ago, and look for him to surpass that tonight.

With the starters all healthy, we'll get another good look at what could be the starting rotation of the future for OKC. Tonight's game will give them another opportunity to gel. Look for the Thunder to pick up their 20th win tonight with a 99-87 win over the Bulls.

Watch out Cavs

By gforce on March 17, 2009 3:09 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

The Ford Center claimed another victim last night, as the San Antonio Spurs forgot how to shoot free throws down the stretch. Three misses in the final four minutes proved to be one of the factors in a very close game, and the Thunder captured their fourth home victory in a row.

Oklahoma City clamped on the defense and pulled within one win of the magic 20. The 78-76 shocker brings the total to 19, only one off last season's mark and by far exceeding most NBA's 'experts'. All the record-breaking talk is long gone as is most of the chance of securing the top pick in June's Draft.

But that is the least of the Thunder's worries now. OKC knocked off the Western Conference's second best team with the best defensive showing in franchise history. The Spurs scored only 13 points in the final quarter and were done in by turnovers.

Fueling the defensive effort, Thabo Sefolosha does it all with very little recognition. He doesn't need the ball very often but still finds a way to score double figures every night out. It it his flexibility on the defensive end that has the Thunder owning a 5-3 record this month and a starting role well beyond the next month.

A first round pick seems like a steal now, as OKC can finish with an above .500 mark at home by winning out. This would have seemed laughable in October or even February, but the Thunder can't wait to show the doubters what the future has in store. And a certain Swiss-born guard will have the biggest smile of them all.

Extend the Home Streak

By Carbert3 on March 16, 2009 2:00 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

The Thunder play host the the San Antonio Spurs tonight and will attempt to extend their home win streak to 4. The Spurs will be looking to extend their lead in the race for the 2 spot in the West.

Tonight's game will be a defensive matchup as the Spurs have one of the better defenses in the league and the Thunder have been playing better defensive as of late. The slower, lower scoring game is better suited to the Thunder's style.

Ironically, the last game against the Spurs was a 109-104 contest that ended in the Spurs favor. That game wasn't as close as the score makes it sound as the Spurs had at one time a 26 point lead in the first half. The big key to tonight's game will be keeping the game close to give OKC the opportunity to get the win in the final few minutes.

Getting Down to Business

By gforce on March 16, 2009 6:13 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

I have really only rooted for two NBA teams in my almost 30 years of life. The first is the team everyone loves to hate and the second is of course, Oklahoma City. San Antonio travels up the I-35 for a contest between the clubs built very similar in fashion but with different results. Or are the Spurs and Thunder really that different?

This article got me thinking about how OKC stacks up against the late 80's version of San Antonio, and the similarities extend beyond just the rosters. Since Sam Presti took over as GM, the Thunder rebuilt nearly all of the roster and have used a Spurs-like approach this year.

Kevin Durant's return has me thinking about the future, even though the stretch of games without him was a success. OKC, winners of three in a row at home, no longer are the laughing-stock of the league. The Thunder have the base of a squad poised to break through next year with a little help. That assistance should come in the draft, where a 3-point specialist and another big man are on the menu.

Whipping up on the bottom-feeders, OKC also surprised Dallas and Philly at home in the past two weeks. Playing at the Ford Center is not easy now, and it will only get tougher for the visitors. That sign resembles the Spurs the most, a franchise that prides itself on maintaining home court advantage. San Antonio started over from scratch with the Admiral, and the Thunder did the same with KD.

Only a month remains in the inaugural campaign for Oklahoma City, and games like tonight show more about what is to come than the present. A victory isn't expected but a learning experience is. The Spurs may find themselves looking in the mirror the next time they travel across the border, especially with the Thunder using a time-tested model for reference.

Sun Down

By Carbert3 on March 14, 2009 5:00 PM 1 0 Vote 0 Votes

Tonight's game in Phoenix marks the fourth and final time that the Thunder will take on the Suns this season. The last time OKC was in Phoenix, the Suns put up 140 and cruised to a massive victory. Now, with the Suns in the midst of the 6 game slid, is the perfect opportunity for the Thunder to gain their revenge.

Aiding the Thunder in that quest should be the return of Kevin Durant. Durant has been out the past 7 games over which the Thunder went 5-2. Durant's absence (as well as Green's for some of those games) has forced other members of the team to take on a bigger role. Tonight's game will serve as a good indicator of how much those players will continue to step up.

The Thunder currently sit one game behind Minnesota for 25th best in the NBA. 25th is the highest the Thunder can reasonably reach this season. Although gaining that position will likely result in a draft choice one spot lower, the fact that the team was able to power out from being the NBA's worst to five spots higher at 25th in the 2009 portion of the season will go a long ways in creating a mindset that OKC could be a playoff team next season and at a minimum should be contender for a playoff spot.

Ugly Win

By Carbert3 on March 11, 2009 6:00 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

A win is a win is a win, but thank goodness last night's game was against the NBA worst Sacramento Kings or else our ugly win would have likely been a blow out loss. OKC committed 24 turnovers in the game with half of those coming in the fourth quarter when the Thunder should have been putting away the Kings for good. On the positive side, Jeff Green returned last night and helped lead the way with 22 points. Oklahoma City didn't shoot that well from the field but had a near perfect night from the line (22 of 23).

Which brings us to tonight where the Thunder travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets. The Nuggets are in the midst of a collapse losing three straight (including one to the lowly Kings) and 8 of their last 11. They've fallen from first to third in the Northwest Division and from second to seventh in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets have won both meeting of the teams so far this year with both games happening in Oklahoma City. Both games went down to the wire, and Carmelo Anthony hit the game winning shot in both games.

Look for another close game tonight as the Thunder look to continue their positive stretch and the Nuggets look to turn things around. I forecast an ending of perfect poetic ironic revenge with the Thunder leading by 2 and with a couple ticks left on the clock, Carmelo bricks the go ahead three and the Thunder leave Denver victorious.

Crown the Kings

By Carbert3 on March 10, 2009 2:00 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

The Thunder head into Sacramento tonight hoping to avenge the disappointing loss they suffered in SacTown a little over a month ago. The Kings won that one 122-118 in overtime. OKC beat them a week later at home 116-113, but this time we need to beat them on the road.

Both teams are coming off of big wins, but the Kings win was bigger. The Kings knocked off Denver on Sunday something that the Thunder have come close to doing twice and hope to do on Wednesday. The Thunder defeated the 76ers in their last game and have won 4 of their last 5. All of those games have been without Durant.

Durant and Green are questionable for tonight's game. Robert Swift is expected to be back tonight.

Although the Kings currently hold the NBA's worst record, their style of play presents a difficult challenge for the Thunder. The Kings have scored 100+ points in 31 of their games which is tied for second among the bottom 15 teams in the league. OKC struggles to win when their opponents hit the triple digits, and so avoiding a high scoring affair is a near-must for the Thunder.

Take that NBA

By gforce on March 9, 2009 4:23 PM 1 0 Vote 0 Votes

Oklahoma City is proving everyone wrong time and time again. The Sixers were the latest team to find out in a hard way last night. The Thunder's defensive star was back, and Philadelphia had no offensive answers in scoring only 74 points. Brian over at DF had this to say after the contest and more this morning.

I don't like to kick someone while they are down, so I will just say this -- I warned them. OKC competes at home no matter who is on the floor, and they are starting to show the skills needed to do better on the road. The Sixers caught the Thunder after a bad road loss, and the tables were turned.

Hopefully this is the last contest with both of the big two out, as KD and Green appear to be over the worst of their injuries. Another tough stretch of games is on the horizon, and this victory will go far in helping OKC on the road.

Mute the Trombones

By Carbert3 on March 8, 2009 4:30 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

OKC plays host to the 76ers tonight in what will likely be yet another game where the Thunder will be short-handed. Kevin Durant isn't expected back until Wednesday. Green and Thabo are day-to-day and unlikely for tonight. The good news is that it is a home game, and so the team will have the crowd support behind it.

Philly actually averages fewer points per game than the Thunder (96.8 vs 98.0) but also gives up fewer (96.2 vs 103.8) so hopefully the Thunder won't get caught up in a high scoring affair. The Thunder are 5-36 this season when their opponents score over 100 points whereas they're 9-13 when they hit the century mark. The 76ers, on the other hand, are 20-4 when they reach triple digits and 5-15 when their opponents due.

With that said, if the Thunder can play strong for four full quarters, I see us sneaking out a 101-97 victory. Philadelphia has struggled after the All-Star break, and it's OKC's turn to make sure those struggles continue.

End is the Beginning

By gforce on March 8, 2009 3:37 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Winning without your best player is a way of life in professional sports. Every team has to go through it from time to time, and it gives the rest of the players a chance to step up. Oklahoma City was victorious without Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, but it was not as fortunate when a third starter was out.

Thabo Sefolosha couldn't answer the opening bell, and New Orleans should send a thank you card. The Hornets erupted in the opening quarter and pulled away from the depleted Thunder in the fourth. The final score doesn't do justice to OKC, who fought all the way back and held a lead after halftime.

But New Orleans kept up the pressure and took advantage when Scott Brooks' squad ran out of gas. Russell Westbrook gave Chris Paul fits but needed more help on both ends. He scored a game-high 24 points even as the rest of the Thunder were struggling to find a rhythm.

Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison combined for only 12 points on the night, and the Hornets won the rebounding battle. OKC was also down a big man, complicating things that much more when Robert Swift didn't make the trip.

With only eight players to choose from, Brooks did his best to rotate but had to play smallball quite a bit. That left Paul open to throw alley-oops and find plenty of room to work. His 13 assists were only two off the Thunder total, and New Orleans looks ready for the playoffs.

OKC has no time to look back with a home game tonight. Even if one of the three injured starters returns, Philadelphia should be in for a rude welcome as the Thunder compete better at home. KD's return would be a welcome site, but the Ford Center will be rocking no matter who is on the court.

Front and Center

By Carbert3 on March 7, 2009 2:00 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

The Thunder head into New Orleans tonight to take on the Hornets and Tyson Chandler. Chandler was set to become the fourth piece of the Thunder puzzle less than a month ago before being rejected by the team for failing a physical. Ironic as Chandler is healthy and will be playing tonight while the Thunder will be struggling with injuries.

Durant, Green, and Thabo all are still uncertain for tonight's game. It will be very difficult to defeat the Hornets without them, but if OKC can put together the same kind of effort they did against the Mavericks then it can be done.

Both teams are hot right now and in the midst of season high win streaks: 3 for OKC and 6 for New Orleans. Chandler will be looking to have a big game against the team that dissed him. The Thunder will be looking again to show that they can do it with Durant and Green and that they aren't missing out by passing on the trade. Krstic has really stepped up in the past couple of games and may now be ready to take on the role of center-of-the-future.

Rock Bottom

By gforce on March 6, 2009 10:45 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Just a quick note tonight before one of the most anticipated Thunder games in memory. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green still look doubtful against the Hornets, and they may be joined by the new defensive star. Thabo Sefolosha sprained his MCL, and it leaves Oklahoma City scrambling for options against New Orleans.

To make matters worse, Tyson Chandler's health has yet to be an issue. His Hornets are undefeated since the trade fell through, and the Thunder will get a very good look at what might have been. Look for Carbert's preview tomorrow and another strong effort from OKC, as the squad looks to extend the franchise best winning streak.

Encore?

By gforce on March 5, 2009 11:54 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Carbert and I thought about writing to the Thunder and requesting that Kevin Durant take an extended holiday. Maybe take Jeff Green to see the sites in Europe. Backpacking normally can be about a month long, right?

Oklahoma City has exceeded all expectations without their two top scorers but how long can that realistically go on?

All joking aside the Thunder need everyone healthy, but the past three games have proved that the squad has more weapons than people think. Washington was the latest witness to this, as OKC made history in the close victory. For the first time in franchise history, the Thunder have a winning streak.

Maybe this wouldn't be news to most, and down the road maybe OKC will only get excited when regularly winning three in a row. But for the time being, the team and their fans alike will take it all in with a smile.

KD and Green are hungry to make it back, and they will be welcomed with open arms -- because the honeymoon period without them is over. But the experience gained while they were out can not go without mention. The role players are fighting for spots on next year's roster, and the new backcourt tandem of Westbrook and Sefolosha is gelling at the right time.

While the postseason is not in play for OKC, they can still factor in by throwing a wrench in the current proceedings. The NBA wants teams on the rise and after an extremely tough February, the Thunder look poised to answer the call. Just as long as no one else on the team wants to take a Spring break, that is.

Let's Do It Again

By Carbert3 on March 4, 2009 12:00 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

The Thunder play host to the Washington Wizards tonight at the Ford Center. OKC has won two games in a row and is looking for their first three game winning streak of the season. That effort will be hampered by a lack of Kevin Durant and the fact that Jeff Green is also likely miss the game. However, if we can defeat the Mavericks without our top two, we ought to be able to take down the weak Washington Wizards.

The injuries to Durant and Green may actually be a blessing in disguise. This season is lost, and with the big two out, the team is getting the opportunity to see which of the other potential role players have the ability to step up when needed. This information will be extremely valuable for the future in regards to the draft and free agency.

Triple Whammy

By gforce on March 3, 2009 5:38 PM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

Nothing I write here can do justice to Russell Westbrook. In my mind the only thing stopping him from winning Oklahoma City's second consecutive Rookie of the Year title is himself. Even with a sub-par shooting percentage, RW0 is taking over the team and proving himself daily.

Just ask the Dallas Mavericks. Westbrook's Thunder squad took no prisoners last night and walked away with a huge victory at home. Playing without Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, OKC came out hungry and never let the visitors catch their breath. I was shocked just to see the score at halftime, when the Thunder were up by four.

So imagine my surprise to see the whooping administered in the third quarter. Westbrook and Nenad Krstic powered the engine, but the entire roster contributed in the 31-15 demolition. It left Dallas crushed and unable to recover until it was too late. The Mavs fought back but still left with their playoff hopes taking a negative hit.

Westbrook did his best Jason Kidd maneuver, notching his first triple-double in the process. Momentum is now on the OKC side as they look to finally grab three wins in a row next time out. And that will aid in any awards talk down the road.

No Shoes (Durant), No Shirt (Green): No Service (Win)

By Carbert3 on March 2, 2009 3:00 PM 1 0 Vote 0 Votes

After narrowly losing to the Mavericks in Dallas on Friday, the Thunder play host to them tonight. OKC will be without both Durant and Jeff Green tonight, and the prospects of winning are limited.

With little hopes of winning, improvement should be the goal tonight. Even though we beat the Grizzlies on Saturday, our field goal percentage was pretty atrocious at 40.7%. We were fortunate that the 40.6% we shot on Friday kept us in the game on Friday. It won't tonight and we're unlikely to replicate the results we had this past weekend if we continue to shot that poorly.

In a move that surprised no one, the Thunder waived Joe Smith yesterday. Smith is rumored to likely be joining the Cavaliers. Smith played in 36 games for the Thunder this season averaging 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounded in 19 minutes.

Road Trippin'

By gforce on March 1, 2009 7:07 AM 0 0 Vote 0 Votes

A day off never felt so good or so deserved. The Thunder made up for the Dallas game by not letting the same thing happen twice in Memphis. Oklahoma City held a 16-point advantage to start the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies woke up from their slumber.

Memphis cut the lead to three with under 20 seconds to play but would get no closer. Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook again led the way with Kevin Durant sidelined for the indefinite future, but it was the newest Thunder player who made the difference.

Showing off to the Bulls, Thabo Sefolosha is quickly earning his gold star for OKC. He exploded against the Grizzlies, finishing with season highs in both points and rebounds. Sefolosha's double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) allowed Green to slide over to KD's scoring role without the squad missing a beat.

Granted, the lowly Memphis squad didn't start off on the right foot -- they scored only 17 points in the first quarter. After the Thunder took a double-digit lead into the half, the Grizzlies couldn't answer back in the third, finishing the period with 16 points.

The deficit proved to be too much, and OKC captured its first road win in over a month. They ended February with three victories, this one the first since the All-Star break. KD's return is still up in the air, but the big story for March becomes how the Thunder can do without their star.

Starting the month off at home, Oklahoma City welcomes the Mavericks in a chance for redemption. Dallas better be ready for a fight, as they are the latest team to become a 'rival'. And the Ford Center knows just how to treat out of town guests -- in a very loud way.

March 2009 Archives