Thunder 104, Knicks 92
Nuggets from my notebook from Saturday’s win over New York.
- As I walked into the arena, I saw a fan wearing an alternate orange Latrell Sprewell Knicks jersey. But get this. He was on his way inside with a buddy wearing a Bulls hat. How on earth does that make sense?
- Russell Westbrook sent a scare through the entire state when he rolled his left ankle midway through the first period. He left the game but checked back in 22 seconds later and finished with a solid 21, 8, 8 and 3.
- Reggie Jackson also had fans holding their breath for a moment. The rookie limped off the court and into the locker room with less than two minutes remaining. His injury is being listed as a right knee contusion. I asked him after the game if he was OK and he said he was and should be good to go for Monday’s game.
- This was a blowout.
- Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden combined to outscore the entire Knicks team 53-47 by halftime. I honestly don’t know what’s more impressive, the Thunder’s trio scoring 53 and outscoring the entire Knicks squad, or OKC posting 70 in the first half.
- Once again, Harden, Westbrook and KD combined for at least 70 percent of the team’s scoring. Tonight, the trio netted 70.2 percent of the Thunder’s 104 points. At Minnesota on Dec. 26, that threesome had 74 percent of the scoring output.
- Carmelo Anthony missed this one with that ankle sprain he sustained Thursday at Memphis. It’s a shame we missed the only chance this season to see KD and Melo lock horns.
- Give the Thunder credit for showing some maturity tonight. I wrote about just that for Sunday’s paper. OKC pounced on a team missing its best player and turned a trap game of coming back home after a road trip into a breeze. Also, Westbrook bounced back from a brutal 0-for-5 start and didn’t lose his head like we’ve seen in the past. These are all steps growing young teams take toward being elite. Last year, we saw the Thunder begin learning how to take care of business in back-to-backs and bounce-back games following losses. Now, the team is showing tough-mindedness in both rough stretches of the schedule and breaks that bring other teams to town banged up.
- After missing his first five shots, Westbrook made six of his next (and final) seven.
- I could have sworn I saw Trina tonight walking out with Harden’s folks. It could very well have been that I just wanted to see Trina.
- With OKC leading by as many as 31 on the night and 27 going into the fourth quarter, no Thunder starter needed to play a single second in the final frame. It was the fourth time this season that the first five could sit the entire final 12 minutes. It also happened against Houston, Phoenix and San Antonio.
- When KD and Russ subbed out for the final time, the Thunder was ahead 89-59 with 2:51 remaining in the third.
- The next time one of you Thunder heads goes jonesing for some big name player, do yourself a favor and watch the Knicks. Then watch the Thunder and be thankful for what you have. New York has just thrown together a collection of players and is now hoping for the best. The pieces really don’t fit and there really is no rhyme or reason to much of anything that they do. Is that really what you want?
- I chatted with two Knicks writers, prominent, longtime scribes at that, who both raved about the Thunder after the game. One said he is seriously considering booking a block of dates in June at his preferred hotel…as in he’s already penciling the Thunder in for the NBA Finals. Listening to the two admire the Thunder got me thinking back to two seasons ago. Writers did the same then. Only back then they were in love with the talent. Now, they almost swear by this same collection of talent having what it takes to make it to the postseason’s final round.
- Thunder players need to ease up on Jackson. He’s a rookie. He’s learning. And he’s had only two practices. But in what seems to be developing into a more glaring trend, teammates are barking at the rook and shouting one set of instruction after another to him. Players will say it’s all positive, and I have no doubt it will help in the long run. But there’s got to be a concern about the manner in which they seem to be riding him about every little thing. That can’t be good for his confidence. I suppose that’s the difference between a rookie who steps onto a 20-win team and a 55-win championship contender. Because no one ever seemed to be that hard on Westbrook, at least not publicly.
- New York coach Mike D’Antoni looked like a dead man walking. There was one possession in the first half when D’Antoni stood on the sideline all the way near halfcourt and deplored his team to dig in and “get up in them” and get a stop. Harden then split two defenders and scored with relative ease on an uncontested layup. I have no way of knowing whether Knicks players have tuned out D’Antoni. But that sequence didn’t exactly evoke belief in D’Antoni.
- Got to get something off my chest here. I only thought of it tonight because of an unpleasant stretch the Thunder had in the fourth quarter. Cole Aldrich stepped to the free throw line with 2:24 remaining and looked to end a scoring drought that was creeping toward four minutes. He missed the first foul shot. The crowd, already antsy after watching the Knicks’ 18-7 run, began to shower Aldrich with supportive applause. Aldrich then swished the second shot to give the Thunder a 100-83 advantage. What was left of the crowd sort of went nuts. Relief! It was an incredibly ironic moment. Because, and here’s the point, most fans around the league go ga-ga when their teams reach the century mark because it’s the moment they get free chalupas or whatever it might be. Tonight, the Thunder faithful just happened to erupt because Aldrich’s shot ended a near four-minute scoring drought. Hello???? When is OKC going to get with it and get some free taco action popping off? This is year four already!
- I’m sorry. I’ve got to elaborate on that last nugget. I told you this is on my chest. This is Oklahoma City, the fast food capital of the doggone country. There’s got to be some chain out there chomping at the bit to sponsor a promotion with the Thunder. There’s a Taco Bell on every block in this town. And the Thunder could even localize it. Again, hello??? Sonic is headquartered here. Have a tot giveaway, or a coupon for a free Cherry Limeade. Something.
- OK, back to basketball. I’m worried about Serge Ibaka. His inconsistency is troubling. More and more he’ll have a game like tonight where he blocks three shots and it seems like he had a nice contribution. But, really, he’s become a liability defensively. His man, generally, starts the game with a couple of baskets. And Ibaka is not rebounding nearly as well as he did last year. Meanwhile, Ibaka’s offense, which was expected to be even better this season, is erratic at best and non-existent at worst. It has the look of Jeff Green all over again. If it weren’t for the ultra steady Nick Collison waiting in reserve, Ibaka’s lack of impact would be much more disturbing.
- Ibaka did, however, help the Thunder set a season high for blocked shots in back-to-back games. OKC had 11 tonight after rejecting 10 shots at New Orleans.
- One thing Ibaka seems to be getting pretty good at is getting in other guys’ faces. Ibaka and all around good guy Tyson Chandler exchanged words tonight, and I have no idea why. The two had to be separated but strangely weren’t called for double technicals. All that happened was a lot of talking and finger-pointing. Frankly, I still haven’t figured out if Ibaka’s bark is louder than his bite. But something tells me we’re inching closer to finding out. Just wait until these games get a little more intense as the stakes rise.
- Westbrook tied his season-high tally of eight assists by halftime. But one thing I didn’t like: the Thunder had 16 assists at halftime and finished with 18 for the game.
- Fourth time in 13 games that the Thunder finished with more assists than turnovers. OKC had 21 giveaways tonight. A part of that is excusable, as six turnovers came in the final frame. But even through three, the Thunder had just 17 assists against 15 turnovers.
- Maybe someone can help me out with these two. What happened to Landry Fields’ game, and who the heck is Josh Harrellson?
- That’s it. That was way too many words about a game that never really was competitive. I knew that was going to happen.
- Up next. At Boston on Monday in the second TNT game of the season. Surely you remember what happened in the first one, don’t you?
-DM-
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Comments
Love your recap; brings back the memories. lol Also, they seem to be passing the ball a lot more. That’s so much fun to watch. Dang. I didn’t know other teams gave out free stuff at 100 points. Hope THUNDER is reading.
Oh no! I’ve created a monster. Lol. But I can’t help but think of this commercial now that everybody’s pining for tacos. -DM-
Darnell, great call on the free taco thing! I went to a Thunder/Mavs game, and they tried giving me a free taco coupon since they hit 100. (I said no thanks, I can’t support a Mavs win and tossed the coupon on the ground, but still, the point remains.)
Brandon, that might be taking it a tad too far. I would have tried to snatch six of those coupons. -DM-
I may be wrong, but I think Ibaka probably shouldn’t have played in Europe over the lockout, different type of game. I also think Brooks may have hurt his confidence with the lack of minutes the first few games. So yes he has something wrong with him, but I believe Brooks could have handled it better.
So Serge has one of his better defensive games and a pretty good offensive game and you write how you’re worr
Ibaka is a liability?? What game were you watching? You really think Brooks would start a defensive liability at PF?
Hr started off slow but is getting back in The groove and played a good defensive game last night. Still has stone hands , but his defense was solid minus the first part of the 1st quarter. Again, what game were you watching ?
I hold the same sense about Ibaka. He seems to lack the instincts and his game remains mechanical. He is a poor man defender, has bad hands and has not yet developed a stop jump or can put the ball on the floor.
My guess is that Sam will try to package him as his contract is coming up, for a more versatile forward. But this still a team of early 20′s players. Jordan didn’t win until his 6th year. One of the two amazing kids from Kentucky would be very sweet.
I respect your knowledge and I do feel Ibaka has a ways to go to be a great defender, but he’s still a kid and learning the ins and outs. He draws a lot of tough assignments. Dirk,ZR, etc. I think he’s shown improvement in staying down on these guys and playing better 1-on-1 D. He’s still a top shot blocker in the league, although I realize that doesn’t make one a great defender. I just don’t understand why you’d say he’s a defensive liability. Brooks sure isn’t starting him for offense. If he were a D liability I’d think he’d be taking the Millens route.
Stoudamire scored 14 pts on 19 shot attempts and did not go to the free throw line. I though Ibaka defended him well
I wouldn’t mind packing Ibaka for a 1 roun pick if we get a good offensive PF, but I am afraid of ruining the team chemistry, hurting their chance at a title if we do it before the deadline, and the replications for giving up on a guy too soon once he figures it out
Looks like I’m going to be a majority of one on this, but I’d rather they not do a food promo thing based on the score. Not wild about the idea of the crowd chanting ‘we want tacos’ when it’s 99-98 with less than a minute to go in the game.
But, if we’re gonna do food-chants, let’s do a food-chant based on defense. That’s what the team is supposed to be focusing on anyway, right? So how about ‘we want tacos, donuts, and/or prime rib’ when they keep the other team under 100? Or maybe under 90?
Personally I’m good with the whole prime rib idea on offense or defense either one. Who’s with me?
On Ibaka…..I don’t know, he’s a bit of a mystery this season so far. He has moments, but not like last season after the trade when he had Moments. And I’d have to agree with Darnell that his defense really hasn’t improved much. Again, now and then, yes, but who is it we see more of in crunch-time, Serge or Nick?
Serge is an athletic freak with an upside that would cause nose-bleeds trying to see it, but Nick is a better *overall* player right now. That’s why I think he’s on the floor more often when it matters. And this team’s future is right now, not down the road. Not anymore.
Not saying I want to trade Ibaka, because I think that’s slightly nutso. But, I do hope he gets to be more consistent on both ends of the floor. When he’s on, get your fanny out of the way because he’s a by-god beast. When he’s off, it’s his fanny that’s out of the way, over on the bench. And there’s been quite a bit of that so far this season.
So glad you brought up Reggie and the way everyone from the coaching staff to the guy sitting at the end of the bench seems to always be in his ear telling him something. They’ve taken away his innate playmaking ability. Now he plays like a guy who’s mostly trying not to mess up and get chewed out.
I think coach likes to position players in certain spots and tell them it is their job to hit that shot if they get the ball. That would hurt anyone’s game. Look at Kevin, if he misses a couple shots, he will go to the rim or do something different to get himself going. Same with Sef last year, he had that job to post up for that corner 3 and din’t do to well. This year he is allowed do other things besides just post up for that 3 and he is doing much better, even on his 3 ball. I think I agree with Todd on the food deal, but you might be right on the Reggie deal.
They’ll work it out tho. Loved the Defense and the ball movement on Offense. Impressive game.
On Ibaka, I gotta go with Darnell on this one. Nick was bodying up to Amare and gave him nearly no space to shoot. Then Serge checked back in and Stoudemire hit 3-4 in a row, Boom – Boom – Boom.
The kid is a great shot-blocker, but he hasn’t been good defensively one-on-one thus far this season. Blocks are great, and I cheer as loudly as anyone when Serge gets a swat, but I’d much prefer that he be able to keep some of those shots from going up in the first place.
Oh, and what about Chesapeake Churros or Big Truck’s Big Score Tacos? I just can’t go for chalupas. Every time I hear the word I think about the drunk Jayhawks defensive end who tried to crawl through the drive thru window.
Maybe Ibaka is becoming the RW of last year and the season before. Look how many people (including me) were saying what a TRAINWRECK Westbrook was becoming at times. Patience, my friends. Give the kid (Ibaka) some time to develop. This guy didn’t come up through the bball ranks like Collison did and sure doesn’t have near the experience either.
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Thanks DM. Nice recap. I agree…come on Sonic!