Jazz 110, Thunder 90
Observations from Friday night’s game……
* A 15-2 run in the second quarter opened up a 13-point lead for the Jazz that the Thunder never could recover from. It was due mainly to the Jazz tightening up its defense and forcing the Thunder to become a jump shooting team.
* Turnovers again bit the Thunder in the rear. 24 turnovers to 14 assists won’t win you many games. The Jazz, by comparison, had 32 assists and only 12 turnovers.
* At one point late in the second quarter Utah had 20 assists. OKC had eight.
* Deron Williams came out attacking early offensively and had his way all night — 24 points, 12 assists and four steals. He made nine of 13 shots in 35 minutes and either was trying to prove he was All-Star worthy or simply wanted to snap Utah’s four-game losing streak. I’m going to say both were in the back of his mind.
* The Thunder’s defense either took the night off or is in trouble without Desmond Mason. The transition D looked average, the rotations were a step slow and the paint went unprotected all night as evidenced by Utah’s 51.2 percent shooting.
* Without Mason, rookie guard Kyle Weaver got the first start of his career. He was decent. The biggest thing coach Scott Brooks was looking for out of the rook was defense. He did OK on Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer, but the biggest thing for Weaver was he took care of the basketball. While his teammates were throwing the ball all over the court, he committed only one turnover in 24 minutes. Impressive for a rookie making his first start, especially in a tough place to play like Utah.
* It’ll be interesting to see what kind of help the bench offers now that it’s down a man because of Mason’s injury. The reserves contributed just 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists tonight while turning the ball over 10 times. It would be easy to compare the two bench’s production tonight, see that Utah’s reserves scored only 18 points and think the Thunder’s reserves did fine. But the Jazz starters outscored OKC’s 90-73 and much of that second-quarter run came with the Thunder’s reserves in the ball game. The bench needs to provide a better spark, and between Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson and Nenad Krstic the Thunder should be able to get more production from its reserves.
* Lots of pick and rolls by the Thunder to start the game, particularly with Russell Westbrook and Nick Collison. It led to Collison getting it going offensively a little bit early. But early foul trouble limited Collison to eight points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes.
* I’d like to see Westbrook make better decisions out of the pick and roll. Tonight, he often either settled for an 18-footer or tried to force an entry pass into Collison. As good as he is at getting to the rim, he should be able to easily add another dimension and get to the rim or take two dribbles, draw the defense and kick it out to an open shooter. Just don’t turn it over.
* Seems like Brooks is giving Westbrook way too much leeway. Several times this season, I’ve seen Brooks simply shake his head at Westbrook’s shot selection. But there were several plays tonight that Westbrook seemingly didn’t even consider passing as an option. Sure, playing time can speed a player’s development. But allowing him to jack up shots and almost refuse to pass won’t do much for grooming Westbrook into becoming a better playmaker.
* The inbounds play by the Jazz at the end of the first half was reminiscent of the Wake Forest play that sent No. 1 Duke home losers.
* The Thunder ran very little for Jeff Green tonight, a questionable decision because he had a nice mismatch with Okur and Millsap. Green scored just 11 points on 13 shots, but how much more effective could he be if he had sets designed to get him going early?
* Durant had another solid performance to end an impressive January — 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Durant finished with four or more assists in six of the past seven games and nine rebounds or more in six of the past nine. He’s also gotten to the free throw line at least seven times in eight of the past nine games. Durant is transforming into a complete player. He needs to do something about his turnovers, though. He had five tonight and three of them came from simply being weak with the ball.
-DM-
Thunder-Jazz live blog, 8 p.m.
A Conversation With Desmond Mason
I caught up with Desmond Mason this evening and he was in good spirits. He is scheduled for minor arthroscopic knee surgery early Friday morning and is eager to get this rehab process behind him and make a full recovery and return to full basketball activity this summer. Mason, who’s in the final year of his contract, said he hopes he hasn’t played his final game in a Thunder uniform and will use these final 36 games to continue to be an veteran and emotional leader.
Q: What has the medical staff told you about the injury?
A: Not a lot changed from last night. All the major ligaments were stable and strong. There was no damage to any of the ligaments, my MCL, PCL, ACL, none of those were an issue which was fortunate. And there’s not any serious damage. Also what we found out in the MRI this morning is that there is going to be some bone bruising just because of the way the bones hit each other. A little bit of cartilage chipped off. So we have to go in and do minor arthroscopic knee surgery just to remove those bone chips so it would heal the right way.
Q: What kind of recovery time are you facing?
A: (The doctor) said the reason for it pretty much being season-ending is because it’s a six-to-eight week recovery and there’s 10 weeks left in the season. And no one really saw a huge purpose in coming back for two weeks. My goal is to get it done ASAP so I told them I wanted to get it done tomorrow.
Q: What is the recovery process like?
A: From what they told me I’ll be on crutches for a little bit so everything can heal itself up and I won’t have continuous swelling. And then after that it’s kind of strengthening up the quad muscles again and strengthening up the hamstring, basically just strengthening those muscles around that knee area again.
Q: What was your reaction when you found out the diagnosis?
A: I was disappointed. When I was with the Hornets I got that elbow in the face. It was only seven games left in the season but I had played every game up until that point. It was unfortunate and I was upset just missing those last seven games that season. We weren’t in a great position to make a huge playoff run but we were playing some good basketball. So when I heard that today, I was disappointed and I was disappointed just for the fact that we’re starting to play well. And I think that starting unit was really starting to build some trust in each other. And over this last month we had really jelled and developed a bond on and off the floor.
Q: A lot of your game is based on athleticism. How much do you think this injury will hamper what you’re capable of doing when you get back?
A: I don’t think it will at all. When I was here with the Hornets I hyper-extended the other knee. My left leg. I’m a one leg jumper for the most part and so that’s my jumping leg, my left leg. It was a similar injury. Marc Jackson took a charge and fell back into my knee. And you’re talking about a heavier guy. But it was like three weeks of rehab and I was back on the floor again. With this, the difference is they just have to go in and remove some of those chips floating around so the recovery process can happen the exact same way as the last one did. If you go in and do your treatment right and your recovery right, you should have no problems.
Q: Can you take me through the play? Do you remember the details of that exact moment?
A: I remember it. Lowry drives to the basket and it was somebody on his left side and I was kind of trailing him on his right side. He jumped up to make a layup and he didn’t see me behind him. And so I blocked a shot from behind him. As I blocked the shot he was falling backwards trying to dodge the other defender. But he fell back into me. And I felt it when he hit my knee so I was kind of able to pull my foot from under him a little bit and fell overtop of him.
Q: How much will you stay involved with the team, whether it’s sitting on the bench during games or attending practices?
A: I’ll be at all the practices. I’ll be at all the games when I’m able to kind of get up and going a little bit. As soon as the doctor releases me to hop on the plane and travel with the team I’ll be traveling with the team. I might even have the opportunity to make that L.A.-Portland. I talked to coach today and the one thing he wanted me to do was be solid at talking to the players and being involved in the game and being an emotional leader and a veteran to the young guys. That’s what I told him I will continue to do until I can get back on the floor.
Q: Will we still see you in the community and at events interacting and endearing yourself to the fans?
A: No question. Our players have a lot of demands with games and practices. The unfortunate part is I don’t have the opportunity to get out there and play and help my teammates in this nice stretch of basketball we’re playing right now. But the flip side of that is I have free time outside of games. So that gives me an opportunity to get out more in the community and do more things from that standpoint. That’s kind of what I do and what I’ve built my reputation on, being involved in the communities I’ve played in. Now I have a little bit more time to do that.
Q: Obviously you’re in the final year of your contract. Have we seen Desmond Mason play his last game in a Thunder uniform?
A: I would definitely hope not. I voiced my feelings on that at the beginning of the season since media day. With the reputation that I have here and the feelings I have for the state of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City in general it wouldn’t bother me one bit to have the opportunity to finish my career playing here. Obviously that’s a decision we sit and talk about post season. But that’s my feeling on that.
But regardless of if it’s here or wherever, I’m definitely going to be playing basketball at 100 percent next season and doing some of the same things I’m able to do this year and providing that leadership to the team. Hopefully it’s here in Oklahoma City with the young guys that I’m starting to develop a relationship with and some of the veterans that we have here. If you look at what we’ve gotten done over the last month I think you kind of see the light on the other side of the mountain. But I think next year is going to be even better so that’s what I’m looking forward to.
-DM-
Desmond Mason Out For the Season
Thunder forward Desmond Mason will miss the remainder of the season after hyperextending his right knee in Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mason was seen at practice Thursday walking on crutches after undergoing an MRI in the morning. He will not join the team on the upcoming two-game road trip at Utah on Friday and Sacramento on Sunday.
“We are disappointed to lose Desmond for the remainder of the season,” said Thunder general manager Sam Presti. “He is a valuable part of our efforts on and off the court. We will support Desmond and work with him throughout the rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, the timing of the injury does not allow Desmond to return this season.”
Mason sustained the injury with 4:02 remaining in the third quarter while coming down awkwardly after attempting to block a layup by Grizzlies point guard Kyle Lowry. Mason appeared in 39 games, 19 as a starter, and averaged 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.3 minutes.
The injury leaves Thunder coach Scott Brooks with a tough decision to make with his starting unit.
Brooks could insert Damien Wilkins into the starting shooting guard spot, which is what he did in his first move as interim coach. That would leave Kevin Durant at small forward and Jeff Green at power forward.
Brooks could also insert Nenad Krstic or Chris Wilcox into the starting lineup. Starting Krstic would move Nick Collison over to his natural power forward position and bump Jeff Green to small forward and Kevin Durant to shooting guard. Inserting Wilcox likely would mean Collison would remain as the starting center and Wilcox would play power forward. That would also move Green to small forward and Durant to shooting guard. Either of these options would be risking tampering with the success Durant has enjoyed over the past two months while playing at small forward.
A third option that shouldn’t be overlooked is for Brooks to start Earl Watson at point guard and move Russell Westbrook over to shooting guard. Brooks has gone with that lineup several times this season throughout stretches and would be able to get away with it on many nights because of Westbrook’s versatility. Having Chuck Atkins on board now also gives Brooks a quality backup point guard to spell Watson and you’d still have Weaver and Wilkins who could split time as reserves at the wing positions.
Whatever Brooks chooses to do, much of the defensive responsibilities are now on Green’s shoulders. With Mason and Green, the Thunder had a nice one-two punch of defenders. But Green is going to be challenged more than he’s ever been now that Mason isn’t available to help him wear down some of the league’s better scorers.
Green talked about stepping up to the challenge today after practice and said he’s now accustomed to guarding All-Star caliber players.
“That’s going to be tough to do,” said Kevin Durant of the Thunder replacing Mason’s effort. “He’s like the heart and soul of this team. I think we just got to help each other out even more now.”
-DM-
Thunder 114, Grizzlies 102
Observations, news and notes from Wednesday night’s game……
* There was no update on the status of Desmond Mason following the game. When he left in the third quarter, team officials listed him with a hyperextended right knee. We should know more Thursday. By the looks of it, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mason doesn’t make the trip to Utah on Friday. He looked to be in serious pain and had to be helped off the court by Chris Wilcox and Damien Wilkins.
* Kevin Durant had a special performance and showed a glimpse of his star potential. His overtime efforts — eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one block — marked the first time Oklahoma City saw him take over a game. It won’t be the last.
* Jeff Green’s five 3-pointers is a new career-high.
* Chucky Atkins’ two 3s showed a little of what he brings to the table. The guy came off the bench unexpectedly and contributed seven points in the second quarter as if he’s been playing all season. He helped the Thunder outscore Memphis 32-20 in the period and turn around the game after it dug itself a hole.
* Earl Watson received the bulk of the remaining Mason’s remaining minutes and played 34 on the night. Alongside Atkins, Durant, Nenad Krstic and Chris Wilcox, Watson was a part of a never-seen-before five-man unit that was surprisingly effective to start the second and fourth periods.
* The Thunder won the game behind a 14-2 overtime period and moved to 2-1 in overtime this season.
* Free throws were a bit of a problem tonight. OKC made just 18 of 29.
* The Thunder shot 51.2 percent and held Memphis to 43.5 percent. The Grizzlies’ shooting percentage was an impressive finish for the Thunder considering Memphis shot 76.2 percent in the first quarter.
* Kyle Weaver missed the game with a knee contusion. He was inactive and did not dress.
* Joe Smith missed his eighth straight game and didn’t sound like he would play Friday.
* The attendance was 18,450, which ironically was roughly 200 more than Monday’s sparse crowd due to the ice storm.
* OKC will live with only 15 turnovers. Four in the fourth isn’t so good. It contributed to Memphis’ 29-19 fourth quarter.
* O.J. Mayo was on his way to being outplayed by fellow rookie Russell Westbrook until he decided to try his best to take over late in the fourth quarter. He got to the free throw line seven times down the stretch in regulation by attacking the rim. Mayo finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Westbrook scored 16 points, five assists and two rebounds.
* Westbrook was whistled for a rare technical foul for the Thunder when he hung on the rim and slapped it with his left hand following a breakaway dunk. I’ll have to look it up, but the Thunder has to have the least amount of techs this season.
-DM-
Thunder-Grizzlies live blog, 7 p.m.
Thunder 94, Nets 85
Observations, news and notes from Monday night’s game……
* Unlike the Thunder’s ninth win, Kevin Durant allowed his sigh of relief to be heard Monday night following his team’s 10th victory, which surpassed the win total of the the NBA’s all-time worst record.
“It feels good actually,” Durant said with a sheepish smile. “That was in the back of my mind…People have been talking about that Sixers team that won only nine games. But now that that’s out the way we can just continue to play and not worry about it because constantly everybody has been asking about it. But now that we’ve got that out of the way it feels good.”
* Surprisingly, Durant was less excited about the Thunder no longer having the distinction as the worst team in the league. The win, coupled with a Washington loss, moved Oklahoma City ahead of the Wizards and into a tie with Sacramento for second to last.
“I guess that feels good, too,” Durant said. “But we can’t worry about other teams. We just got to come out and play our game.”
* Interesting that one game after Durant said he’d take 15 and a win over 46 and a loss, that’s nearly what happened.
“Everybody contributed tonight and it feels good,” Durant said. “To actually get some time on the bench in the fourth quarter, it feels good.”
* The theme of this game was defense and ball movement for the Thunder. It’s a mix that, for some reason, the team lost sight of out West but saw what can happen when it focuses on those principles. I asked Durant about why the Thunder sometimes doesn’t seem to get it and prefers to get into shootouts….
“Teams like the Clippers and the Warriors, we tend to play with them since we do that, too. We get up and down like them. We try to play like them. But if we control the game like we did tonight, I think every game could be like this. That’s what we need. It’s the blueprint for our success.”
* The Thunder’s fourth quarter drought was a shame and shouldn’t have happened. When a team official who was seated next to me initially leaned over to me and said we could see Chucky Atkins, my response was ‘The Thunder better hold on to this lead.” The team official thought I was nuts. Well, we saw what happened. As Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson wrote for Tuesday’s paper, the Thunder is still learning how to finish games. This was as clear a sign as you’ll ever see of that.
* What’s almost amusing to me about the Thunder’s near meltdown was that it was on the shoulders of the very same guys who are dying to either have bigger roles or some kind of role other than cheerleader — Earl Watson, Chucky Atkins, Kyle Weaver, Damien Wilkins and Chris Wilcox. Sure, it’s only natural to let your guard down when you’re up 30, but you would think those guys would know that their performance is being judged as well. I don’t think anyone would question coach Scott Brooks if he sticks with the starters the next time the Thunder is in this situation. Personally, I thought Brooks should have put the starters back in with three minutes left and you could see it continuing to get out of hand.
* Before joining that head-scratching squad down the stretch, Wilcox actually played some good ball in a surprising call to action in the first half. He had six points and seven boards in nine first half minutes. Brooks was coy when I asked him the reason for the sudden action for Wilcox.
“It’s important that all guys one through 15 stay ready, whether it’s Chris, Robert, Damien, Chucky, they have to stay focused and stay ready,” Brooks said. ”And I feel confident that if I throw any of those guys in the game they’re going to perform well because they put time in before and after practice. It was just a game feel. I felt that Chris could give us a spark and give us some energy off the bench and he did a good job in that first half.”
* Brooks said it was hard to judge Chucky’s first game when the fourth turned into what it did but said he’s been terrific in practice. “He helps more than the average person knows right now because he talks to our young guys constantly.”
-DM-
Thunder-Nets live blog
Clippers 107, Thunder 104
Observations, news and notes from Friday’s game…..
* Not much to say about this one — except for it’s the worst loss of the season.
* No Baron Davis. No Chris Kaman. No Zach Randolph. No Marcus Camby. No Mardy Collins (after only four minutes). No problem for the Clippers. Go figure?
* Watching Eric Gordon go off on the Thunder in the fourth quarter I asked myself over and over, ‘Why isn’t Desmond Mason in the game and checking Gordon?’ Mason, who played only eight minutes due to early foul trouble but had only four at the start of the fourth quarter, had to be asking himself the same thing on the bench. And so I asked coach Scott Brooks about it after the game….
“He had the foul trouble that kind of took him out of the game,” Brooks said. “I believe in Mase. He’s one of our better defenders. But the foul situation and the game flow, we didn’t have a good rhythm all night. He’s a pro. He understands there’s going to be nights where he doesn’t play as many minutes as he likes. But we’re going to figure it out and try to get better from it.”
* To Brooks’ credit, he tried a mix of Durant, Green and Westbrook on Gordon. Durant presented a challenge because of his length, Green because of his strength and overall solid defense and Westbrook because of his quickness and overall solid defense. Still, for as solid as Brooks has been thus far, I’d attribute the Mason oversight to growing pains with a coach finding his way.
* Brooks took quite a while before coming out for his post game interview. More than half the players were dressed and out of the locker room by the time he surfaced.
* Those that were left refused to concede this loss to overlooking the injury-ravaged Clippers.
“I don’t know if we overlooked them. I don’t think we overlooked them,” Brooks said. “But we didn’t come with the defensive mindset that we need. We need all guys thinking about defense and we did not do that tonight.”
Said Kevin Durant: “I don’t think so. Those guys came out hot. They hit their first 10 out of 13 or 14. We knew they were going to play hard. They’ve been doing that all year and guys stepped up tonight for them.”
* A shame Durant’s 46 and 15 went for naught. Both were career-highs. As were his 24 made free throws.
* Durant is now averaging 24.6 points on the year and 27.9 in January.
* Cheikh Samb and Ricky Davis were silent assassins tonight. Davis with his 11 assists and Samb with his eight boards and three blocked shots.
* It’s amazing that the Thunder won the rebounding battle, 48-31, and lost this game.
* It looked like too many people were trying to be the hero in the second half. It led to costly turnovers (nine in the third quarter) and poor shooting (35.9 percent in the second half).
* Brooks said the offensive woes and lack of balanced scoring was a product of poor ball movement.
“Offensively, we didn’t have good spacing,” Brooks said. “We didn’t share the ball well enough.”
Said Durant: “We tend to have some periods like that. Guys on this team can score in the post and on the wing. Sometimes we might think that we have a good iso situation, but I think we’ve always got to get back to moving the ball. I could have moved it a little bit more so I kind of blame a little bit of that on me.”
* Kyle Weaver tweaked his left ankle midway through the second quarter. He was briefly taken to the locker room but returned to the game. He said after the game it felt fine after he returned but was bothersome while on the bench.
* Los Angeles fans chanted for former Clipper Chris Wilcox late in the game.
-DM-
