Comments on: Thunder 116, Rockets 99

By: 11/18 Daily Links « OKC ThunderDome

11/18 Daily Links « OKC ThunderDome — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:00:38 +0000

[...] post-game notes on their win, with particular note on the stellar bench [...]

By: Matthew F.

Matthew F. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:01:54 +0000

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.

By: Darnell Mayberry

Darnell Mayberry — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:54:59 +0000

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-

By: MartzMimic

MartzMimic — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:53:34 +0000

@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?

By: Matthew F.

Matthew F. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:19:22 +0000

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.

By: Thursday Bolts – 11.18.10 | Daily Thunder.com

Thursday Bolts – 11.18.10 | Daily Thunder.com — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:16:02 +0000

[...] 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.” [...]

By: Matthew F.

Matthew F. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:00:05 +0000

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.

By: Carey

Carey — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:38:55 +0000

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.

By: Darnell Mayberry

Darnell Mayberry — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:15:59 +0000

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-

By: qrex

qrex — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:48:23 +0000

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.