Boston 92, Thunder 83
Nuggets from my notebook from Sunday’s 92-83 loss to Boston.
- Really, did any of this come as a shock with the way the Thunder had performed in each of its first five games? When the same offensive and defensive problems that we’ve seen all season make their way into a game against a top three team, even if its just for stretches, blowouts happen.
- Turnovers killed the Thunder tonight. Five in the first quarter, three by Kevin Durant, led to seven Boston points — the margin the Celtics were ahead by after the first period. Boston scored 21 points off 18 Thunder turnovers on the night. “We were playing in a crowd,” Durant said. “We were trying to make the home-run pass. And they did a good job of putting some hands on basketballs. We’ve got to learn from it.”
- Here’s how bad things were for the Thunder in the early going tonight. Rather than hold for the last shot at the end of the second period, Rajon Rondo raced up the court looking to score after the Celtics rebounded the ball with 27.9 seconds left in the half. Rondo quickly got the ball to Jermaine O’Neal, who was fouled and made one of two free throws. And when the Thunder got the ball back, sure enough it turned it over with 2.3 seconds remaining. Nate Robinson then tosses up a running 3-pointer that banked in to give the Celtics a 58-37 halftime lead. That has got to be the first ever two-for-one with 27 seconds on the clock. And it turned into a six-point swing. And all the Thunder players could do was walk off the court with their heads hung.
- Hey, Celtics coach Doc Rivers had this to say. “They’ll be fine. Everybody’s gunning for them right now. It’ll be an adjustment period. But they’ll be right back up there by the end of the year. They’re so talented. They’re well-coached. They’ll be fine. I’m glad we only see them twice.”
- Serge Ibaka picked up his first foul 20 seconds into the game. How close is that to the all-time record for fastest foul?
Getting To Know Kelly Crull
Kelly Crull is now just hours away from her debut as the Thunder’s sideline reporter for FOX Sports Oklahoma. Starting with tonight’s game against Miami in Kansas City, she will become an integral part of the fan experience for viewers throughout the state, joining play-by-play man Brian Davis and color commentator Grant Long to provide in-game reporting and insight during broadcasts.
In a Q&A with The Oklahoman, Crull, a former sports reporter with KOCO-5, talks about the challenge of her new gig, why she decided to make a career change and what fans and viewers can expect from her this season.
Q: Are you excited for your debut?
A: Yes. I think excited would be an understatement. I’ve been ecstatic all summer and I couldn’t wait. And tonight’s the big night. It’s our first broadcast. My debut with the Thunder on FOX Sports Oklahoma. 7:30 start time.
Q: Any jitters?
A: It’s nervous excitement, if that makes sense. I’m not really nervous to do my job. I’m nervous with excitement. But I think when you stop having that you just need to get out of the business. I’m really excited, and I think tonight’s going to be a lot of fun.
Q: What made you want this gig? What was so appealing about it for you?
A: It’s always been in the back of my mind ever since I started journalism, knowing I wanted to be a sports reporter. And coming from Indiana, basketball, bar none, is my favorite sport. So getting a chance to sideline for an NBA team has kind of always been a dream of mine. They’ve been looking for someone to be more consistent, someone who can be here long term and I had that opportunity come up as my contract ended at Channel 5.
Q: What can you tell the fans about the kind of style you want to bring to the broadcasts?
A: I’m a pretty energetic, bubbly person by nature. So I want to just bring some more energy to the broadcast. Brian and Grant are already very good at that, and I’m obviously hoping to learn a lot from them as well. But I also come from a place where basketball was a big deal. And I played it myself so I’m knowledgeable about the sport. I want people to know that. I’m not just a face that they decided to stick down there on the sideline. I hope to bring some of the stuff that I’m getting to learn being around these guys all the time. So hopefully I can give the fans something that they can’t just see on the floor. I hope to give them the sort of the insides of practice, the interaction between these guys that not everyone gets to see.
Q: What kind of ballplayer where you? Indiana hoops is no joke.
A: I started out in like fifth grade as a post player, but by freshman year of high school I was a point guard. So I had to learn every position but I played point. I was a very out of control player, but I laid it all on the court every night. I could have never played at this level, but I do appreciate it because I played enough to know how hard these guys are working every day.
Q: What’s been the most gratifying part of this experience so far?
A: I guess coming from working at a news station, you have to do everything. You’re asked to do everything from shooting to editing to producing a show. And that’s a lot of work. And this, I feel like I’ve finally gotten to a point where a lot of that work has paid off in the sense I can just do my job and that’s report.
A big thanks to Kelly for making time for the interview. Wish her well, Thunder heads. I know she’ll do well. You can follow her on Twitter @kcru11.
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Malik Rose To Join Thunder Broadcast Team
Thunder telecasts will get a major boost this season.
Former NBA forward Malik Rose, who played for the Thunder for the final half of the 2008-09 season, will serve as a studio analyst for FOX Sports Oklahoma during road games and select home games. Rose, who enjoyed a 13-year playing career primarily with San Antonio and New York, served as a studio analyst for the Knicks last year, as well as an in-game color analyst for the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League.
Rose will team up with FOX Sports’ current anchor tandem of John Rhadigan or Dana Larson. After playing 813 career NBA games, averaging 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, Rose will bring authentic knowledge to the booth. And with play-by-play man Brian Davis and color commentator Grant Long kicking it back and forth to the FOX studio, there is a possibility for some real entertaining dialogue and in-depth insight in the banter between former players Long and Rose. Thunder fans should hope the broadcast team doesn’t play it conservatively and understands the special opportunity it has during segments with Long and Grant.
Either way, segments with Rose in the studio with just the anchor should make for great television. Thunder heads might not know much about Rose because he wasn’t in town long and didn’t warrant many interviews. But he’s a real delight. When he came to OKC his reputation for being a class act preceded him. But Rose’s first practice is when the OKC media found out what a joy he is to speak with. He’s candid, comfortable and clever. And he’s got stories for days.
Thunder heads are in for a real treat.
