Comments on: Jazz 109, Thunder 94

By: Sareca

Sareca — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000

It’s those UNIFORMS! What’s our record when we wear those uniforms???

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:45:22 +0000

Amber, you make my point. I didn’t bring up race. I pointed out that there’s a double-standard, and you just proved it.

Trace, I’ve followed the NBA for years before the Thunder got here, and I’ve been a fan of the team since before we knew what their name was going to be. I go to several games each year and always support the team. You can say whatever silly things you want to say about me. It’s irrelevant.

My original point still stands. The team wins three out of every four games they play, and they’re on pace to finish with with at least 60 wins. Most people who follow the league know how hard that it is to do, and how rare it is to have what we’ve got in OKC with the Thunder right now. You don’t get a new professional team, basically starting from scratch, and in less than five years have them be considered one of the best teams in the league, one of the best organizations in professional sports, and see them integrate into the city so completely the way this outfit has done. Do you have any idea how unusual all of that is?

I promise you that I do, and I’m not alone. I’m an ‘enjoy the journey’ sort of guy, and this is a hell of a good journey we’re on with this team.

Step back and take in the view from time to time, when you’re taking a break from bashing everything and everyone associated with the team and the fan base. Assuming you ever do.

By: 2013 NBA Season News and Discussion - Page 56

2013 NBA Season News and Discussion - Page 56 — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:50:09 +0000

[...] Westbrook, Thunder show their frustration after loss – After storming off the court during a win over the Grizzlies a dozen days ago, Russell Westbrook drew some flak for both that action as well as his postgame interview with TNT’s Craig Sager. Famously, when Sager asked Westbrook a question he didn’t like, Westbrook responded with an “If that’s what you say, bruh,” that made its rounds on the internet as much as his on-court actions did. Westbrook was at it again after last night’s blowout loss in Salt Lake City to the Jazz which snapped OKC’s four-game win streak. The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry has plenty of juicy tidbits to share (see video here): The postgame locker room was more lively than anything in the last eleven minutes of the 109-94 loss the Thunder took on the chin. Scott Brooks was brutally honest. Russell Westbrook lost his patience with the media. And Kevin Durant even tried to not be nice. It was all part of a strange night inside Energy Solutions Arena, where the Thunder’s four-game winning streak came to a sudden stop and the recent road woes reared their ugly head once again. … Westbrook simply walked off. The temperamental team captain got fed up with a reporter’s question and suddenly turned his back and ended the interview before walking away. The exchange was as follows. “Russell, did you guys lose this game, or did the Jazz win this one?” Westbrook: “Whaaaaat? Bro, what are you talking about, man? I’m out man. Y’all n***** trippin’.” … Westbrook’s sound bite was good for a quick laugh and easily makes his top three all-time interview quotes. But what was sad about the exchange is that everyone on the team, players and staffers included, simply supported him. They came to his defense even after he lost his patience, snapped on a reporter, prematurely ended an interview and used offensive language. It’s one of the reasons Westbrook will always be Westbrook. Nobody seems to hold him accountable, on the court or in front of the cameras. A pretty generic question, one that players get asked all the time in every sport, caused him to erupt. But by now, that behavior is just what you expect out of Westbrook. … Westbrook’s top three sound bites: “No more questions for you, bro.” “Whaaaaat? Bro, what are you talking about, man? I’m out man.” “If that’s what you say, bruh.” … Durant picked up his 10th technical foul of the season tonight. It was pretty petty. But whatever. It happened with 6:06 left to play. Durant delivered a (sort of) hard foul on Alec Burks as he raced down the left sideline. It was enough to send Alec Burks “flying” into the first row of baseline seats. Durant received a flagrant 1 foul for the play and got hit with a technical for pushing Carroll when he walked in his direction and spouted off a few words. A light shoving match ensued and Durant and DeMarre Carroll picked up double technicals. Durant moved into a tie for second place with his technical fouls, two behind leader DeMarcus Cousins. It puts KD six away from an automatic one-game suspension and prompted me to ask Durant if he will now be more mindful of his growing temper in the final 30 games. “I’m just going to keep being me,” Durant said. “I don’t give a damn. I’m going to just keep being me.” OKC having some static?? [...]

By: Darnell Mayberry

Darnell Mayberry — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:38:25 +0000

Crane, unless you’re inside that locker room on a daily basis you have no idea what goes on in there. I can assure you that nobody that steps foot in that locker room disrespects Russell or presents him with any form of “stupidity over and over again.” It just doesn’t happen. It has never happened. What you see on TV and shows like First Take is far from what takes place face to face. Was it the best question? No. It could have been phrased better. But it was by no means a “dumb” question. Some of the more candid coaches and players, unsolicited mind you, analyze losses using that analogy. For instance, “they played well, but we lost this game.” That’s all the guy was asking. Russell was flat out rude in his reply. But saying that is now somehow an “attack?” I guess reporters who have their “dream job” are supposed to just shut up and succumb to insolence, especially when that insolence comes from a superstar, no matter how he spitefully shells it out over and over again. If that’s what I must do as a journalist to gain your respect, I don’t want your respect. -DM-

By: Dr Crane

Dr Crane — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:35:27 +0000

I can’t believe people get paid to do their dream job and the cutting-edge question they come up with is the classic clichéd did they win or we lose? Give me the freakin job, I have a brain and already ask questions for a living. And Darnell, you gain no respect by blindly supporting your colleague (or was it you?!?!?). I think you have taken the easy option of attacking the frustrated superstar who has to deal with this stupidity over and over again. Okay, we get it, Russ lacks some people skills. You won’t change his behaviour by attacking him, it’s textbook psychology. Just ask him decent questions.

By: Dragon

Dragon — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:58:27 +0000

Lost game.Played bad,lost game.DM asks questions.His job-ask questions,give opinion.Fans sometime like,sometime don’t like.Say what they think.Player color doesn’t matter.Ignorant to say does.After loss don’t like.Next day love team again.Team good.Team still damn good.Damn good team.

By: Big D

Big D — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:36:58 +0000

Why do I get the feeling you understand exactly what I’m saying but just want to be argumentative?

By: Big D

Big D — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:35:27 +0000

Yes.Pau and Dwight are dominant big men.Their coach doesn’t know how to use them,but they are

By: redriverndn

redriverndn — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:00:19 +0000

Lakers have great big men ????

OK….

By: Big D

Big D — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:49:14 +0000

I agree with you about the utilization of the bench.Its a problem.Thats actually what I meant.Cant be on board that Hash is better than Perk.I do agree though that he needs to see the court more.Perk is important to our team against teams like the Lakers who have great big men.We need his interior D.Hasheem is a good shot blocker but he’s still a little bit clumsy and gets in foul trouble easily.That said,I think with more time and perhaps with some work in the summer he could develop into a Tyson Chandler type of player(not saying he will be as good).I think that’s a good ole model for him and we could definitely use a defense and hustle machine who is great at catching lobs.It would make life easier on everyone.

As far as Brooks,I’ve been saying all year that he leans on KD and Russ to hide his deficiencies as a coach.We do have so much talent on this team that we could easily go 12 deep.I know we aren’t the Spurs,but they don’t even quite have the talent we do and they go 12 deep.Its the coach and the system.You can blame the players all you want,but hero ball is wht happens when your coach can’t draw up anything that either orks or the players believe in.Hero ball happens when the offense is stagnant and you have to rely on the individual talents of superstars.