Thunder-Utah recap
* John Rohde’s observations from the Thunder’s 121-105 victory over Utah inside EnerySolutions Arena on Saturday night:
* The Thunder’s 13 3-pointers tied a franchise record, which also was set against the Jazz last season. The all-time franchise record (Seattle days) is 18.
“We’re not the best 3-point shooting team, but we got hot tonight,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of his team, which ranked 29th in the league at 32.8 percent. With Saturday’s 13-for-21 performance, the Thunder is now “up” to 33.5 percent on the season, which would have ranked tied for 25th.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Thunder was ranked No. 5 in scoring offense at 104.3 ppg.
* Criticism has swirled all season about the Thunder defense, but has enough credit been given to the OKC offense?
“No it hasn’t been,” Kevin Durant said. “People don’t really look at us as an offensive team. We get stops when we need them, we just start the game off bad. That’s why statistically our defense is kind of bad. We’ve started off bad, but if you look at it for the second half or maybe the last three quarters, we have a great defense.”
Reserve point guard Eric Maynor said: “That’s what wins, defense, so that’s why everybody’s talking about it.”
* With 5:36 left in the second quarter, Nick Collison took an apparent charge from forward C.J. Miles. Collison was called for a foul on the play and suffered a laceration that required six stitches under his chin. He returned after halftime.
“I fouled him with my chin,” Collison said with a smile afterward.
* Russell Westbrook entered the game shooting 25.5 percent from 3-point range and 43.4 percent from the field on the season. He exited at 30.9 percent for the year on 3-pointers and 43.8 percent from the field after going 4 for 4 and 10 for 15 overall.
What was particularly impressive about Westbrook’s 33-point performance against the Jazz is he had just two points in the first quarter and six points at the half.
“I’ve learned to be patient and that’s all I was doing, waiting on my turn,” said the 22-year-old All-Star point guard. “When it’s time for me to get my team over the hump, that’s what I try to do. If it’s scoring, that what I do. If it’s passing, I try to do that, too.”
Fellow All-Star Durant, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds, said of Westbrook: “Russell was phenomenal from the 3-point line. He was unconscious. That’s something we don’t really get to see too much from him because he doesn’t shoot them too often. We’re a balanced team. Coach called a lot of plays to get Russell involved, a lot of pick and rolls because Russell’s a great pick-and-roll player. I just play my part, sit back and be a second and third option.”
- Forward Jeff Green sizzled offensively on the two-game road trip, shooting 18 for 26 (.692) from the field while averaging 24.0 points. However, for the third time this season, Green finished with zero rebounds in a game.
* Brooks was pleased and relieved at Saturday’s effort, particularly after such a horrid start that saw the Jazz hit its first 11 shots and take a 13-point lead in the first quarter.
“We had to try and stop them from making shots,” Brooks said. “It sounds so simple, but when you have a hand in the guy’s face, they’re less likely to make a shot. We kind of stopped the bleeding when our bench came in and did a good job. They are a physical team and I thought we took the challenge and stepped up and matched their physicality. We played a good team. I know they’re banged up and they’ve got some key pieces that are out (Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur).”
* Maynor played his first 26 games in the NBA with the Jazz before being traded to the Thunder. When Maynor torched Earl Watson and later All-Star pick Deron Williams for 10 first-half points on 4-for-4 shooting, several fans stood and screamed, “Hey, Maynor. We want you back.”
Maynor said he doesn’t try to prove anything whenever he returns to Salt Lake City. “Not at all. I’ve been here too many times since then,” Maynor said. “I think the first time I might have tried to prove something.”
* Beat writer Darnell Mayberry will address the Thunder at the 50-game mark of the season in Monday’s Thunder Insider.
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