The Thunder’s Second-Round Schedule Possibilities
The NBA has announced both potential schedules for the Thunder’s second-round series against Memphis or San Antonio.
If the Grizzlies win tonight, Game 1 will be played Sunday at noon inside Oklahoma City Arena. If the Spurs win tonight to force Game 7 in that series, Game 1 of the Thunder’s second-round series will be played Tuesday. If the Spurs and Grizzlies go to seven games, the only question is whether the Thunder will face Memphis or San Antonio and host the first game in a series with the Grizzlies or be on the road for the first two games in a series with the Spurs.
Thus, the Thunder’s entire second-round schedule will be become a certainty at the earliest tonight, or at the latest on Sunday afternoon. While we wait for the Grizzlies and Spurs to settle their series, potentially in tonight’s Game 6, here are the two scenarios that the Thunder currently face. Again, these dates and times are set in stone. The opponent is all that’s up in the air.
1. If game 7 is not necessary in the San Antonio-Memphis series
Game 1 – Sun May 1 Memphis at Oklahoma City 12 p.m. ABC
Game 2 – Tue May 3 Memphis at Oklahoma City 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 3 – Sat May 7 Oklahoma City at Memphis 4 p.m. ESPN
Game 4 – Mon May 9 Oklahoma City at Memphis 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 5 * Wed May 11 Memphis at Oklahoma City TBD TNT
Game 6 * Fri May 13 Oklahoma City at Memphis TBD ESPN
Game 7 * Sun May 15 Memphis at Oklahoma City TBD TBD
2. If game 7 is necessary in the San Antonio-Memphis series
Game 1 – Tue May 3 OKC at San Antonio /OR/ Memphis at OKC 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 2 – Thu May 5 OKC at San Antonio /OR/ Memphis at OKC 7 p.m. ESPN
Game 3 – Sat May 7 San Antonio at OKC /OR/ OKC at Memphis 4 p.m. ESPN
Game 4 – Mon May 9 San Antonio at OKC /OR/ OKC at Memphis 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 5 * Wed May 11 OKC at San Antonio /OR/ Memphis at OKC TBD TNT
Game 6 * Fri May 13 San Antonio at OKC /OR/ OKC at Memphis TBD ESPN
Game 7 * Sun May 15 OKC at San Antonio /OR/ Memphis at OKC TBD TBD
* If necessary.
-DM-
Explaining Why Kevin Durant Wasn’t Backcourt
Kevin Durant clearly stepped over. But by league rule, he never established position in the frontcourt. (Via LarryBrownSports.com)
The NBA has released an explanation of why Kevin Durant was not deemed to be in violation of the backcourt rule with 14.8 seconds remaining in Wednesday night’s game.
The NBA rulebook states “A ball being dribbled is (1) in the frontcourt when the ball and both feet of the player are in the frontcourt, (2) in the backcourt if the ball or either foot of the player is in the backcourt”. In the play from Wednesday night’s Oklahoma City-Denver game, as he received the ball, Kevin Durant stepped on the midcourt line with his left foot which is equivalent to being in the backcourt. He never established position in the frontcourt with both feet so the referees were correct in waiving off a backcourt violation. If Durant had both feet and the ball in the frontcourt and then stepped on the midcourt line, the correct call would then have been a backcourt violation.”
Here’s a video replay of play. Hopefully this settles any and all controversies and conspiracy theories.
-DM-
Video: Berry Tramel & Jenni Carlson recap OKC’s Game 5 win over Denver
Video: Thunder-Nuggets Game 5 highlights from NBA.com
Video: Scott Brooks, Thunder players talk about beating Denver in Game 5
Photos: Thunder advances to Round 2 with Game 5 win over Denver
View our full photo gallery from the Thunder’s 100-97 win over Denver here.
Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins (5), Russell Westbrook (0), Kevin Durant (35), and James Harden (13) celebrate after Durant was fouled while making a basket during the NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Oklahoma City Arena, Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) reacts after making a block as Denver's Arron Afflalo (6) reacts during the NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Oklahoma City Arena, Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's James Harden (13) reacts after a basket late in the fourth quarter during the NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Oklahoma City Arena, Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Denver's Kenyon Martin (4), Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) and Kevin Durant (35) hold Russell Westbrook (0) back after a being fouled by Denver's Nene (31) during the NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Oklahoma City Arena, Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
View our full photo gallery from the Thunder’s 100-97 win over Denver here.
Thunder Takes Down Denver, Advances To Round Two
Notes and observations from Wednesday’s series-clinching 100-97 Game 5 win over the Denver Nuggets.
- The Thunder won the series 4-1 against Denver to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals…I just thought I’d write that because it still seems sort of surreal. And it sounds pretty sweet.
- How fortunate is this city? Five years ago, nobody outside of Oklahoma City thought NBA basketball belonged in Oklahoma City. Yet here we are, getting ready for the second round of the NBA Playoffs. It all seems like a fairy tale when you really think about it.
- I can’t settle on which team I’d rather see next or which team would be best for the Thunder in the next round. Both the Spurs and the Grizzlies have their strengths and weaknesses. But you have to think playing the Grizzlies would be best for OKC. Against the Grizzlies, the Thunder would have the two best players in the series and home court advantage. But once you think about that wing tandem of Tony Allen and Shane Battier, and that low-post duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, Memphis might not sound so good.
- Maybe this game will put to rest any and all talk of who the real Batman is on this team. I doubt it will, but it should. Kevin Durant was deadly tonight. He had 41 points on 14 of 27 shooting. He scored 16 in the fourth quarter. He had 14 of those 16 in the final 3 1/2 minutes. Said Denver guard J.R. Smith: “I think he’s hands down the best player in the league when he plays like that.”
- In a word, this performance by KD was scary. Scary because he’s still only 22. Scary because he made it look easy. Scary because you could see it coming and still no one could do anything about it. Scary because it made you think what’s next? What are we going to see when Durant gets stronger? When his body fills out? When he gets stronger with the ball? When he can get to his spot whenever he wants? When he can take over on a nightly basis like he did tonight? This was a scary good performance by KD because he’s only scratched the surface of his dominance and already he’s able to make you leave absolutely amazed.
- Durant averaged 32.4 points on 47.1 percent shooting in this series. And those kinds of numbers, that kind of production, is exactly what he needed. With every great performance, whether it comes in a closeout game in Oklahoma City or a World Championship in Turkey, Durant is becoming more confident. More sure of himself. More understanding of his ability to dominant any and every defender that steps in front of him. For all the talk about how an Allen/Battier tag team might bottle him up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Durant absolutely abuse both of them.
Poll: Who would you rather the Thunder play in the second round?
Postgame Thoughts: OKC, 100 – Denver 97
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 100-97 tonight to win Game 5 of the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. The Thunder advances to the second round to play the winner of Memphis and San Antonio. What did you think of the Thunder’s performance? Here’s the box score.
Kevin Durant scored 41 points on 27 shots, and lead the Thunder comeback in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook, after scoring 30 points on 30 shots in Game 4, scored 14 points on 15 shots.
Serge Ibaka had a strange line tonight: 1 point, 9 blocks and 8 rebounds in 35 minutes. Ibaka had a huge block on Nene in the final minute.
The Nuggets were balanced in scoring tonight with five guys in double figures.
What did you think? Who was the player of the game? What went right in the fourth quarter? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Live Chat: OKC Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets Game 5
