Mis-Thunderstood? Was Oklahoma City’s conduct at the end of the Game 5 fun or bush?
Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9), Kevin Durant (35), and Eric Maynor (6) celebrate as Sam Young (4) of Memphis walks off the court after game five of the Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA basketball playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Part of the reason Kendrick Perkins is in Oklahoma City is to teach the Thunder how to act like champions.
And he isn’t the only ex-Celtics center who thinks there’s still much to learn after watching the closing minutes of the Thunder’s 99-72 rout of Memphis in Game 5 Wednesday at the Oklahoma City Arena.
Oklahoma City's Nate Robinson (3) reacts after a basket during game five of the Western Conference semifinals. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
“We have to end the game with better class than that,” Perkins told Johnny Ludden of Yahoo Sports! “That’s too disrespectful in my eyes. That’s not what the Thunder are about. … I think we were too flashy.”
Said TNT analyst and former Celtics great Kevin McHale: “For me, Oklahoma City did a little too much celebrating the last couple minutes. (Coach) Lionel Hollins will show them the tape, and the Memphis Grizzlies will win Game 6 back home at the Mailbox. The big fellows will be upset.”
Should they be? Should anyone be? TNT’s Charles Barkley was so worked up he imagined what he’d do in a Grizzlies uniform: “I’m going to take a guy into the stands, and I’m going to make it look like an accident.” (Read more about what TV analysts had to say about the Thunder last night here).
For months the media has lauded the Thunder’s spirit. Oklahoma City’s youthful roster has been called Thunder U for its chemistry, togetherness and camaraderie. In March, national analysts considered it refreshing to see young All-Stars cheering on teammates from the bench.
In May, when you’re up 27 on a team that’s taken you to four overtime periods in the previous two games a griding series, apparently it’s bush.
What do you think? Should Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook remain seated, make dinner plans and golf claps while Thunder reserves are outplaying Memphis starters? Should coach Scott Brooks have kept Nate Robinson and Royal Ivey — two veterans who you’d think should know the unwritten rules — on the bench rather than have them jack up 3-pointers or dribble between their legs in violation of NBA blowout etiquette?
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates during game five of the Western Conference semifinals. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Or should McHale, Barkley and Perkins (who apparently didn’t get around to teaching Robinson those lessons in Boston when they were Celtics teammates) just relax?
Weigh in with your thoughts, but know this: If you think Perk should relax, I’m going to let you tell him.
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Comments
I would say that OKC needs to act like a veteran team that’s been there before. But it’s not a veteran team and hasn’t been there before. Still, Barkley is right. You gotta be careful about retaliation. If the Thunder was playing the Lakers, Odom or Bynum is giving an elbow to a Westbrook rib when he goes up for a dunk.
Here we go again…Mike Sherman looking for a way to create controversy to somehow make himself relevant to the story. Jenni and Berry do it too, but Mike is the best at it.
This really is ridiculous. It was our 2nd and 3rd string guys, making shots against several of the Memphis starters, with the shot clock winding down. If Memphis is upset, play some damn defense. Don’t let the reserves increase an already humiliating lead.
If they want to throw a fit about something, how about the Miami Heat acting like they just won the NBA title after beating Boston? Bosh, LeBron and DWade have been in the league for years. DWade has a ring. They had their 2nd title celebration of the last 12 months…without any rings. Not a word about that from Barkley and McHale.
The guys were just having fun, cheering on teammates. When did that become poor sportsmanship?
Seriously?????? It should be OK to be happy about a huge win!!!! They weren’t talking trash to the other team or about the other team….they were just happy. Its sports people! Get excited and stay excited and stop being haters
It would be EXTREMELY bush if the OKC starters were still in and jacking up threes. But you can’t expect the end of the bench not to play hard when they get in the game. The shot clock is only 24 seconds anyway- they’re going to HAVE to shoot at some point, and even a 20 point margin can be erased in one quarter in the NBA. They can’t not shoot the dang ball. If Perk says they were too flashy, maybe they were, and I bet he’s referring to Nate dribbling one-handed between his legs. And that probably was a little too showboaty. But other than that, who cares. We ain’t apologizing for being too good one night.
I agree with Mallen, but from what I’ve seen, that’s just Nate being Nate. I don’t begrudge the deep end of the bench from getting in a few shots.
Ok…here’s my thought’s….there is no etiquette when you are winning….if you don’t like losing….either by 1 point or by 30….then get better and don’t lose!!! Cheering their teammates on was appropriate!! I am sure when Okc lost thier 16 point lead a few nights ago and then got beat…the Grizzles sat by and never said a word. Tell Barkley to lose some weight and learn how to hit a golf ball and McHale would have done the same thing his first time. And give Perkins my e-mail address…I will gladly tell him he’s wrong!!
I agree with Perk for the most part. This series is far from over. We need to finish the win and start focusing on game 6. It would be different if that was to clinch the series.
I enjoyed it, if you can’t be pumped for you bench guys like they do night in and night out with guys like Ivey and Nate not even sniffing the hardwood during game action, then go watch golf. They were excited and their teammates were excited about them performing when given the chance, I mean really, how many more chances do u expect them to get. Sure Nate was a little excessive I admit, but do you know how long he’s been waiting to play, staying enthusiastic every single dang nite, and rightfully so as Maynor is so solid. I prefer them winding the clock down taking or even taking an open 3 rather than the alternative, driving to the basket and being BynamArtest-ed. I hoop they have more chances to play from the winning side in cleanup time but these are the playoffs, Enjoy the Ride while still driving.
For us Thunder fans have a new theme song check it out at http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chez-mr-pro-gant/id412458446 YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS! IT’S PERFECT FOR RIGHT NOW & NEXT!
This is game 5 of the playoffs. Being down 20+ is embarrsing enough. If your main starters cant stop our reserves or have the fire to, then we should abolish them. Sorry for playing a great game, sorry for having players at the end of the bench who can actually sink threes. If they thought it was a disgrace, if not then roll over and here we come Dallas!
I see both sides of this. If I were a Grizzlies fan, I’d be upset with our behavior. Not the 3s particularly (What were we supposed to do? Let the shot clock expire? I think taking 3s was much more classy than dunking on them over and over or something like that.), but Nate’s dance to the 3-point line/dribbling.
However, as a Thunder fan, I loved it. If you know this team, you know Nate meant no disrespect, he was just being Nate. First of all, he hardly ever sees any playing time and here he is in the playoffs and getting such a huge ovation from the crowd – He wanted to ham it up. He was having a good time and clearly, the home crowd loved it.
Did it come off looking bad to non-Thunder fans? Absolutely.. and I completely understand that. However, I feel like it’s getting blown out of proportion. People are looking for reasons to hate on the Thunder.
I do like Perk and the coaching staff’s attitude about it. The “stay humble” attitude is what makes a team great and it’s the mentality we need to keep. This was a big game, but it was just one game. There’s still a lot of work to do.
On the flip side, I completely disagree with everyone saying that the bench should’ve calmed down while cheering in the 4th. We just blew out a team that took us to triple overtime just days before in the playoffs! They have every right to be jumping around and yelling just as much as the fans. I loved seeing that! And, had the situation been reversed, if the Grizz bench didn’t do the exact same thing we did, I would’ve thought that they were lacking team spirit. If you get a blow out in the playoffs, rejoice, no matter who you are.
Excuse me, but weren’t the Grizzlies still trying to score. I don’t remember them taking the shot clock down to one then handing the ball to a Thunder player.
BTW – Barkley would find himself banned from game 6 – just ask Ron Artest.
Also – Perkins needs to learn how to put the ball in the basket before he tells anyone how to celebrate.
Yeah, I think most of the behavior was just being excited and happy that the game went so well. It doesn’t affect their focus for the next game, and the Thunder’s enthusiasm and ability to take joy in their jobs is part of what makes them such a fun team to follow. That said, you don’t want it to slide into showboating or taunting, but who can be mad a Nate Robinson for stuff like that?
Also, sea gant? That song is terrible!
IIthought this was the NBA and these players are paid to perform. I thought it was refreshing to see a team and it’s home crowd get excited and have a little fun. Instead of watching the Celtics hanging their head and whining and crying about getting beat. There’s no one that is more of a clown than Charles Barkley, he was average at best when he played and he’s worse as a commentator. What a hypocrite, him and McHale and Kenny Smith we’re laughing and acting like idiots after the Thunder/Grizzlies game. McHale put on celtic clown shoes and a hat and proceeded to dance around the studio for 10 minutes last night and the Celtics just got beat out. What an idiot and then has the nerve to criticize the Thunder bench for celebrating a very good win.
Barkley was the biggest and still is the biggest blowhard that there is in sports
Classless ????
The THUNDER didn’t play the starters the entire 4th quarter !!!!
Much ado about nuthin’….
Haters – people who hate on you because in reality, they want to be you….
Ithought this was the NBA and these players are paid to perform.
I thought it was refreshing to see a team and it’s home crowd get excited and have a little fun.
Instead of watching the Celtics hanging their head and whining and crying about getting beat.
There’s no one that is more of a clown than Charles Barkley, he was average at best when he played and he’s worse as a commentator.
What a hypocrite, him and McHale and Kenny Smith we’re laughing and acting like idiots after the Thunder/Grizzlies game. McHale put on celtic clown shoes and a hat and proceeded to dance around the studio for 10 minutes last night and the Celtics just got beat out. What an idiot and then has the nerve to criticize the Thunder bench for celebrating a very good win.
Barkley was the biggest and still is the biggest blowhard that there is in sports
wow we showed poor sportsmanship? lets see “i agree im the best PF in the NBA and no 1 can stop me” yeah Zack after game 1 started the trash the THUNDER finished it! and when ya get guys oh VERY RARELY see the floor in a game and practice all yr they are gonna try thier best! after all it could decide if they have a spot on the bench next yr or are jobless!
Gotta love how the media tries to dig up any story they can to draw attention to their articles. Its not as fun to just say the Thunder played an amazing game and didn’t want to lose by giving up a lead like they did in game three. Just like that dumb story on 30 for 30 dissing on one of the best point guards in the NBA. Wish they could just focus on the good. Especially being an Oklahoma article.
Sir Charles said he would pick up Maynor, the lightest or perhaps Brooks, and throw him threw a bar window. That’s how he handles disrespects. Quality guy!
Also, they didn’t preen around like Mick Jagger as the Heat did against an injury laden team that could have beaten them if Rondo and the others were healthy.
What did Sherman want, a prayer circle?
This wasn’t a regular season game. This is the “Win Or Go Home” playoffs. The Thunder have already had two playoff games where they lost a big late game lead. I wouldn’t critize any team for really trying to put the win in the books. It is not running up the score or gloating. It is just nailing the game down.
Chuck:
Read the post. I didn’t say the Thunder behaved badly. I’m telling you what Barkley, McHale and Kendrick Perkins said. Never said I agreed them them, in fact I don’t. I just think it’s interesting how everything goes under the microscope in the playoffs.
Forgiven. Just a bunch of kids who never got past the first round. I tremble to remember what I was doing at that age. There is not excuse of Wade and LeBron to act like they are Greek gods for beating a team that could have beaten them minus their ailments. Thanks.
If the Grizz ‘retaliate’ it won’t be because of Nate Robinson… When the OKC starters were on the floor they played hard and with respect. The Grizzlies will be fired up because they had a bad game and will be mad at themselves for not executing.
The Thunder were doing what they do best, just being themselves. Playing the game they love for the people that love them. The bench players practice just as hard, if not harder, than the starters. How can you as a coach, seeing that day in and day out, put those players in and tell them to not perform your best? Tell them to go out there and shoot a long 2 with 1 second on the clock. You can’t. Coach Brooks was being smart when he pulled his starters at the beginning of the 4th quater. Not because that was the “right thing” to do, but because it helps the guys that will be starting the next game rest. Smart coaching! Who cares what everyone outside your organization and city think? People are making it sound like KD and Serge were trash talking the Griz. The starters were just doing what the OKC Bench Mob does every game. Stand behind their teammates and cheer for them doing their best. Last time I checked they were playing another NBA team made up of players making way more money than me. Maybe the other team should of stepped up the defense a bit and this would be a non issue. So what we have here is the Thunder are bad guys for playing a bunch of highly paid athletes that decided they were done playing for the night. Wish I could just leave my job when I have a bad day and make my boss out to be the bad guy.
Nate and Royal never get to play. So of course they should be hyped up and ready to play in a playoff game. And the crowd roared for them, so they put on a show for us. These guys scream and cheer for our starters like crazy, so it was awesome to get to see them play in the playoffs… and it was great to see the starters going crazy for them, just like a true team. Plus, the guys we had out there were 3 point shooters. You expect them to drive the lane? Every team keeps playing when their reserves come in. What, so Memphis was allowed to try to score and we weren’t?
This shoulda been a good, heartwarming story of team unity… not something negative. Dumb, dumb national media.
OKC…don’t get upset about this story. The Thunder was the darlings last year. Now that it appears the Thunder will be here for a long time. It’s time for the haters to come out. In sports, most great teams are hated. The Thunder are on their way to be great. Just as the players have get used to shaking off the haters (Westbrook), so do we as fans. KEEP THE THUNDERDOME ROCKING…even if we are up by 50! Don’t let them take the spirit out of our arena.
Scott Brooks took the starters out in the 4th quarter. The three balls that Ivey and Robinson too, were wide open looks. I saw Miami celebrate the same, if not more, at the end of the game yesterday when they beat Boston. I didn’t hear the media say anything about Miami being unclassy or over-celebrating. This kind of reminds me of Mike Lipika bashing Ou and Bob Stoops after the 77-0 route on Texas A&M. The media just has a east/west coast bias against the mid-west. I didn’t see the Thunder do anything out of control. The starters were cheering the bench on, because they are a TEAM. The bench supports the starters and the starters support the bench. That is what makes it a TEAM effort.
first off it’s a game and it’s suppose to be fun. So have a good time. Secondly, I think it’s classy that the starters were cheering the reseves on. To me that shows true team spirit and chemistry. Plus they should have been enjoying blowing the Grizzles out considering how tough and contested the series has been. Just sayin!
And on top of that, do you honestly believe if the score was reversed that Randolf and the Grizzles wouldn’t be living it up as well.
Re: Perkins. I read his comments and this is the edge he brings. He may not be performing at his best (I am certain he is not really recovered) but he always plays with an attitude that the young and once soft Thunder lacked. It certainly seems that it has infected KD.
The Thunder has caught a break with Gay out. Memphis is a formidable team from here on because they have good players at all positions and they are young.
Kevin McHale was just plain wrong. But since none of us is perfect and we all make mistakes, I am willing to overlook it, and be statisfied when he has to eat his words when Thunder takes game6.
Only the 2nd time I have disagreed with Perk. Thunder was playing a blend of its bench and deep bench. It is their job to come in and play to the best of their ability. A couple of these guys have not played 10 minutes all year, yet they always cheer enthusiastically for the team during the game. I was never so proud to see Kevin and especially Russell showing these guys some appreciation by cheering for their good play.
I don’t care if other teams don’t have any appreciation for their entire bench, but I was glad to see Thunder showing some love and appreciation to the guys who always cheer for them. Perk should have shown some love and appreciation by cheering also. They always cheer for him.
As for Barkley, he was simply pouting. Look Chuck, I have often stuck up for you even though you often try to hog the camera, by throwing rushed bad comments that are clearly off target. You have been on a good little run and you do deserve recognition for your bold and correct prediction of Dallas over Lakers, but you have clearly disfavored Thunder and underestimated how good they are.
Look, I made a mistake once, and it hurt. But when I was able to get over the pain and process it like a man, I was a better person for it. And Charles Barkley will be a better person too, once he is able to grow up and quit pouting like a baby.
Again everything I am hearing is that the haters are coming out. That’s why the lyrics go “You can hate all you wanna, you can hate all you wanna, but that’s the way we roll.” Perfect for Thunder Nation or is it Thunder Nate(ion.) Check it out for yourself. http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chez-mr-pro-gant/id412458446
In a tough series like this, when they are up 20 and the 2nd/3rd string is in and they shoot threes w the shot clock winding down? That’s what what this article is about? Not a story. Just basketball. Oh and you’re worried about the starters cheering them on? After Ivey and Robinson cheered them on for four quarters and three overtimes? What kind of douchebag doesn’t cheer for his boys when they are going off on the eighth best team in the west? I say they deserved it. They flop and cry for the first four games while bear (pun intended) hugging KD the whole time? I’m not worried about it. Kevin Mchale and Charles Barkley are obviously too far removed from their youth to understand or remember what being a team is like. Now Perk on the other hand can (and will no doubt) do and say whatever he wants. His team, his rules. But he could lighten up a little.
“I was never so proud to see Kevin and especially Russell showing these guys some appreciation by cheering for their good play.”
Matthew, 100% agree with you. That’s what they were doing. Cheering and supporting the guys who cheer and support them.
why complain? i mean to fellow thunder fans this is a natural reaction from outsiders ..one thing to remember you cant be labeled “cocky” and be a losing team WE DIDNT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN WON 23 GAMES DID WE? so i take having this label a compliment. we did nothing wrong so if the country see us as a renegade team it doesnt matter cuz all we need is US THE THUNDER NATION
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OK. I went to Yahoo and read the entire article. Though, I am still glad that Kevin and Russell and rest of team was cheering the deep bench that always cheers for them, I found this statement to be at the heart of Perkins’ comments. “We haven’t done nothin’.”
It seems Mr. Perkins just doesn’t want the team getting too giddy over a 2nd round playoff game. Don’t have any problem with that, there is still a lot of work to do and Thunder does not need to get too giddy over a warm up workout.
Thunder does need to stay focused and take care of business in game 6. I for one will be disappointed if Thunder does not also win game6 convincingly. Stay on’em Perk and keep the team focused.
Go Thunder!!!
*http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ar2Rk14eC6LQOrCRk5vwgnW8vLYF?slug=jy-ludden_thunder_beat_grizzlies_game5_051211
It was the bench for petes sake!!! They’re just having a lil fun geez….