Thunder 116, Rockets 99
Nuggets from my notebook from Wednesday’s win over Houston .
- Without question, this was the Thunder’s most complete game. Regardless of the Rockets’ injury situation, this was an impressive performance by the home team. Impressive because we’ve seen so many losses in games just like these. But rather than toy with a short-handed squad, as we’ve seen the Thunder do so many times in the past, OKC took it to Houston. The energy and hustle was the difference. There were no bad quarters in this one, no prolonged and unmatched Rockets runs and no stretches of sheer sloppiness by the Thunder. It’s as good of a sign as we’ve seen early this year that this team is growing up.
- Thank God Aaron Brooks didn’t play in this one. Kyle Lowry’s two-point, four-assists performance is certainly going to make the Thunder’s stats against opposing starting point guards look better.
- Luis Scola’s 26-point, eight-rebound effort won’t do OKC’s numbers against starting power forwards any favors.
- I’m starting to get the same feeling about Russell Westbrook after each game that I had for Kevin Durant at some point last season. I feel like I should write something to acknowledge how well he played. But that something is starting to become redundant. And that’s a great thing for the Thunder. It says Westbrook is becoming crazy good and incredibly consistent.
- Durant’s passing was awesome tonight. He finished with four assists and I recall three of them being beauties. In the first half, he hit James Harden on a drive and kick for 3-pointer and then found Nick Collison on a drive and dump off for a dunk. And in the second half, he created an easy dunk for D.J. White off another drive. All three players were wide open because of Durant’s playmaking.
- I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Slowly but surely, the Thunder’s bench is becoming a force. Harden is starting to find his rhythm a tad bit, Eric Maynor is playing lights out and Nick Collison is now contributing on both ends. When (or maybe if) Serge Ibaka moves back to his reserve role when Jeff Green gets healthy, the Thunder could have one of the best benches in the league.
- D.J. White stepped up and showed his skills tonight. He had 12 points and three boards and battled hard throughout his 19 minutes. Thunder coach Scott Brooks made it a point before and after the game to praise White. “It was good to see D.J. get in there and mix it up and have some success. The guy has worked his tail off for a long time for us without a lot of time being rewarded during the game.”
- Worth noting that Durant, who entered the game second in the league in minutes at 41.5 and had recently ranked first, did not have to play the fourth quarter because the lead was well in hand. He played 29 minutes, 50 seconds, and I’m sure that rest, coupled with an off day tomorrow, well do him well over the next few days.
- Durant took a few spills tonight but stayed with it after grabbing his lower left leg after one collision in the first half. I didn’t get a chance to talk with Durant after the game but I’m told he’s fine and considers his scares part of the game.
- Ibaka recorded four blocks for the fifth time this season. He’s now averaging 2.63 blocks, which should move him to fifth in the league. Only twice this season has Ibaka failed to record a blocked shot.
- Gotta give it up to Nenad Krstic for three blocks tonight, too. That was a season-high for him.
- Thabo Sefolosha had another great all-around game. In addition to some spectacular defense on Kevin Martin, Sefolosha again pitched in offensively. Nine points on 4-for-9 shooting normally is not a good night. But for Sefolosha, who made his only 3-point attempt and once again slashed and cut hard to the basket, it was an encouraging display.
- The Thunder had a season-high 26 assists tonight. The key? Brooks told the players that if they got at least 20 assists they wouldn’t have to practice tomorrow. True story. Said Maynor: “Maybe he should tell us that every game.”
- OKC also had a season-low nine turnovers. And to be fair, it was really eight because Harden graciously dribbled out the shot clock with the game clock showing a minimal difference in the final seconds.
- Brooks is pleased with what he’s seeing lately offensively. “Our offense has picked up in the last week,” Brooks said. “I think we always get it, but we don’t always do it. But it’s important that we figure out ways to consistently share the ball and I think in the last few games we have done a better job of that and it makes the defense work. We have to continue to think about how we have to work on defense.
- Finally, Byron Mullens made his season debut tonight, getting his first action inside the final three minutes. He was active, I believe, for the first time this season. And to make room for him to suit up, the Thunder put Cole Aldrich on the inactive list. But before anyone jumps to conclusions, I’m told the coaching staff loves how hard Mullens has worked lately and wanted to reward him. Aldrich is not hurt or in anyone’s doghouse…But it will be interesting to see what happens from here.
-DM-
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Comments
KD was the SG until Brooks took over and moved him to the 3, which is when he started to really flourish. He would have a tough time keeping up with a lot of the 2s.
Another idea would be to switch Jeff and Serge. Second team is no longer so 4/5 centric, and Jeff gets more time at his natural 3 position to abuse the other teams’ second team.
First team: Westbrook, Sefolosha, Durant, Ibaka, and Krstic.
Second team: Maynor, Harden, Green, Collison, and Aldrich.
My thoughts on the matter in general: I tend to think Brooks gets too much credit for sliding KD down one position. The move did help Durant be more productive, but so did having more freedom individually and as a team under Brooks and the benefit of natural progression. Now, I wouldn’t start KD at shooting guard. I doubt he can keep up with 2s for 40 minutes. But he’s gotten better on both ends since we last saw him at the 2 full time. Spot minutes against Kobe in the playoffs last year and Brandon Roy earlier this year come to mind. But again, spot minutes is very different from sustained minutes for an entire season. And I wouldn’t bench Thabo for that. If I’m running things, Sefolosha would only move to the bench for Harden. I think eventually thinks will play themselves out. Either Green will become a great sixth man, or he will change teams. I think it’ll be that simple. -DM-
I agree DM, eventually for this team to get where it wants to go i think Jeff Green will have to accept a Lamar Odom type role. Right now we arent good enough offensively to take 19 ppg out of the starting lineup imo but eventually Serge will be the starter at the 4.
I agree with most all the thoughts on Jeff. Thunder is quicker in transition with Jeff at the 4 and Ibaka at the 5, but Ibaka is much better at the 4 rather than the 5. And Thunder is beginning to have both a defensive and offensive inside presence with any of the combinations listed at the 4 and 5.
[...] Darnell Mayberry on last night’s game: “Without question, this was the Thunder’s most complete game. Regardless of the Rockets’ injury situation, this was an impressive performance by the home team. Impressive because we’ve seen so many losses in games just like these. But rather than toy with a short-handed squad, as we’ve seen the Thunder do so many times in the past, OKC took it to Houston. The energy and hustle was the difference. There were no bad quarters in this one, no prolonged and unmatched Rockets runs and no stretches of sheer sloppiness by the Thunder. It’s as good of a sign as we’ve seen early this year that this team is growing up.” [...]
Speaking of Mullens; Did anyone see him bang that Rocket player out from underneath the rim. That was my play of the game, with the steal and slam by Russell being the runner up.
If Mullens continues to play to his strength which is his size, strength, and athleticism under the rim and quits wanting to drift outside for sissy outside J’s, then I expect we will see a lot more of Mullens.
@Darnell
Exactly. As mentioned before the season, KD is versatile enough to play spot minutes at almost any position except point guard.
Also, should Mullens have gotten the basket on the late putback that was credited to DJ?
MM, in all honesty I was paying very little attention at that point. Hats of to you, however, for staying engaged until the very end. Impressive. : ) -DM-
MM, I kept thinking the play Mullens banged for position under rim led to a put back, but the box score doesn’t show it.
Darnell, I’ve always wondered, if Ibaka is a natural 4, and Jeff would be better suited as a 3, why not move Kevin to the 2 and bring Thabo off the bench. At the very least, the Thunder should toy with using this lineup at times during the game. What do you think?