Warriors 100, Thunder 94
Nuggets from my notebook from Sunday’s loss at Golden State.
- The Warriors took 40 more shots than the Thunder. Four. Zero.
- Turnovers and rebounding did the Thunder in tonight. It started early and never stopped. The Thunder turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 20 points, and got out-rebounded 47-33, including 20-2 on the offensive end.
- The Warriors outscored the Thunder 22-4 in second chance points.
- Golden State had more offensive rebounds in the second quarter (11) than the Thunder had total (nine).
- Chew on this. Golden State entered the game last in the league in rebounding differential (minus-4.2), tied for last in opponent offensive rebounding (13.2) and 24th in turnovers (15.2). Against the Thunder, those numbers were plus-14, two and nine.
- Something really stood out in this one. Many of Golden State’s offensive rebounds and second-chance points came as a result of Thunder defenders having to help. Nothing new there. That’s been a theme all season. But I was amazed at how confused Thunder players were once they committed to helping. On several possessions, players had no idea where their man was once they went to help. It’s hard to put a body on someone or find them to recover when you don’t know where they are.
- Inside the locker room, I was extremely impressed with how the players banded together. After losing two of the last three to Memphis and Golden State, there could have been some finger pointing going on. But Russell Westbrook took the blame for the turnovers. Nick Collison took the blame for poor pick-and-roll defense. And Kevin Durant didn’t let either take the blame for either of those deficiencies. Says a lot about where this team is despite the shaky stretch its suddenly in.
- Stephen Curry killed the Thunder tonight. He had his way with the team’s defense, whether he wanted to score or play the role of set-up man. His teammates were calling this the best game he’s had this season. And of course, that’s naturally going to lead a certain segment of Thunder heads to come out and blast Sam Presti for taking James Harden third overall in the 2009 draft. I have a different take.
- But be clear. I don’t want to take anything away from Curry. He gets better each time I see him. What I like most about him, though, is he’s always under control. Never in a hurry. Never unsure of what he’s going to do. When he blows by his man on the baseline, he throws up a floater instead of barreling into the lane. When he leads a three-on-one break, he calmly stops and pops a 17-foot jumper from the foul line instead of forcing an alley-oop. I knew Curry would be a good pro. I didn’t think he’d be as good as he is. His smarts are sensational.
- Westbrook didn’t register a single rebound tonight. You’d have to go all the way back to Dec. 14, 2008, Westbrook’s rookie season, to find the last time that happened.
- Before James Harden fell on his back early in the fourth quarter, he had a great test defending Monta Ellis. While Ellis finished with a game-high 33 points, I thought Harden was solid on Ellis in spurts. Of the shots Ellis did make on Harden, most of them were tough, contested shots defenders can’t do anything about.
- Harden told me after the game that he was in pain from the fall but is hoping treatment and rest will help him recover. It’s an injury worth watching, though, because Harden also said his back had been bugging him in practices.
- In general, this game felt like the Thunder was playing down to the level of its opponent. The Warriors aren’t a bad team. And they had won four of six coming into tonight. But it just seemed like the Thunder would have run away with this one had it brought its A-game. It’s another area of development the Thunder must get better at.
- Two girls attended the game in Seattle Sonics hats and green T-shirts with a yellow basket with the word “robbed” in between the net.
- Warriors coach Keith Smart said something that is very disturbing if you’re a Thunder fan. It was about using the pick-and-roll against the Thunder. “We pay attention to what teams have problems with it,” Smart said.
- After a perfect 7-0 start on national television, the Thunder has dropped three straight nationally televised games. OKC lost to the Lakers on Jan. 17, the Heat on Jan. 30 and tonight.
- The Warriors shot just nine free throws. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a team shoot less than 10 foul shots. The Thunder’s opponent low this season is 11 (Dallas on Dec. 27).
-DM-
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nate P, Darnell Mayberry. Darnell Mayberry said: Now on Thunder Rumblings: Notes from the Warriors' 100-94 win over the Thunder — http://bit.ly/h4ENBm [...]
For as much as the game and the Thunder’s play made me throw up a little in my mouth, I’m going to start with a positive. In the first two seasons, there would be a few games where they just didn’t play well and would lose by 20-plus. The only one of those this year would be against the Spurs, and you might throw the loss to the Clippers into the blowout category.
David Lee just turned Jeff Green into his little prison buddy. You come to expect this with bigger power forwards like David West, Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol or most of the other power forwards in the league. But Jeff is essentially the same size as Lee and, supposedly, more athletic. Didn’t matter. Green was carnally abused in this one.
“Thunder was playing down to the level of its opponent.” How often has that happened this season, lots. Although I will admit we’ve also played up to the level of an opponent at times, but these losses to teams we should beat just kill me.
[...] Darnell Mayberry on the Warriors game: “Something really stood out in this one. Many of Golden State’s offensive rebounds and second-chance points came as a result of Thunder defenders having to help. Nothing new there. That’s been a theme all season. But I was amazed at how confused Thunder players were once they committed to helping. On several possessions, players had no idea where their man was once they went to help. It’s hard to put a body on someone or find them to recover when you don’t know where they are.” [...]
When you don’t shoot free throws that means you ain’t being fouled & when you consider that the Warriors are arguably the least physical team in the NBA(the Thunder now claim that honor), that means the Thunder must have played them like they were fine crystal meant to be seen & not touched….
I’ve always been told that you must take responsiblity for your actions if your ever gonna be a grownup, ignoring your actions & not taking responsibility for them leads to an attitude of “it ain’t my fault, it’s someone else’s problem to fix….”
Face the fire, feel the heat & learn how to tend to the flames & control the heat, instead of turning your back on it & getting burned or having the fire go out & find yourself left out in the cold….
“Face the fire, feel the heat & learn how to tend to the flames & control the heat, instead of turning your back on it & getting burned or having the fire go out & find yourself left out in the cold….”
I’m honestly not sure what that means relative to last night’s game, but Darnell pointed out that after the game, the players all seemed to take responsibility for what happened. Which is good to hear. Hopefully they also take it to heart.
There I go, being a critic again. What is it with me lately.
But Martz made a point worth harping on. Two years ago this team gets blown out, playing a game like they played last night. As in, Blown. Out. But now, they let the other team put up forty more shots – which is like giving them a quarter head-start before taking the court – get out-rebounded something like six hundred to two, turn the ball over every other possession, play some serious ole defense…and with one minute left in the game, they’re behind by one freaking point.
They should have been down about 50 points by then. But they generally find ways to hang in there, even when they can’t seem to get anything going. Of course, they often do it the other way as well – allow other teams to hang in there when they shouldn’t. But they’re growing as a team, and for all the issues we complain about, they’re still way over .500, and on track for a top-four seed.
I guess if we have to complain, that’s the way to do it.
Incidentally, Martz – your paragraph about Jeff Green and David Lee should be framed. I like Green, but that’s just classic.
deandre jordan is a restricted free agent, should we offer him a contract