Thunder 110, Warriors 87
Nuggets from my notebook from Friday’s win over Golden State.
- Let’s start with what everyone wants to know. Russell Westbrook is fine. He had to leave the game late in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle. He did not return. But he walked briskly out of the locker room, and his foot appeared to be just fine. I have absolutely no doubt that he’ll play Sunday.
- Kendrick Perkins missed his first game of the season because of a sore knee. Apparently, he banged knees with someone late in the Houston game. I don’t remember it. But he’s day-to-day. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he’ll see how he feels tomorrow.
- Thabo Sefolosha is out a month.
- As if that wasn’t enough carnage, Lazar Hayward got poked in the eye and wasn’t doing so well after the game.
- The injury bug has finally hit. While only Eric Maynor’s is really severe, the Thunder, like other teams have done this season, will now have to maintain and find a way to get it done while banged up. That’s what this season has been about, and now it’s the Thunder’s reality.
- Another slow start. I blame this one on the makeshift starting lineup the Thunder had to trot out because of the injuries. OKC looked lethargic and played extremely carelessly for much of the first 12 minutes until the Warriors went up 24-20 at the end of the quarter.
- The Thunder had six first-quarter turnovers, five coming in a three-minute span on five out of seven possessions. They came about every way imaginable: two bad passes, a 3-second violation, a traveling violation and an illegal screen.
- After the raggedy start, the Thunder outscored the Warriors 90-63 in the final three quarters.
- This was the first time in three tries that OKC held Golden State under 100 points. The Warriors shot just 34.8 percent for the game and scored just 39 points on 30 percent shooting in the second half.
- Most impressively, the Thunder didn’t get sucked into the run-and-gun style of play that characterized the two games in Oakland. That’s a big part of the Thunder’s desired identity, to play any style but to really set the tone and make teams succumb to how it plays.
- A lot of good things in this one. A whole lot. Assists stood out. Thunder had 24 of them tonight, one shy of tying its season high. And get this. Eleven of the 12 active players had at least one helper. Said James Harden: “That’s beautiful basketball.”
- All 12 active players scored, too.
- The bench scored 55 points tonight. That’s got to be a season-high, right?
- I thought Kevin Durant looked out of it early. He was missing shots, sort of loafing on defense and didn’t seem that aggressive on either end. I thought it might have something to do with perhaps being emotional over parting ways with his agent. But in true superstar fashion, the guy nearly nets a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. The five turnovers were troubling, though, as some were just silly plays.
- With Perk out, Nazr Mohammed got the start and Cole Aldrich got the reserve minutes. And Cole didn’t do anything to quell everyone’s desire to see him. He wasn’t great. But he just knows how to be active and make his presence felt in ways Perk and Naz don’t seem to do. The thing that shocks me is how much more athletic Aldrich makes the center position look compared to Perk and Naz. Unfortunately, that says more about Perk and Naz than Cole.
- Loved Nick Collison’s energy and effort tonight. Then again, when do I not?
Where to next for Nate Robinson?
Guard Nate Robinson cleared waivers Tuesday, which means anyone can claim the 5-foot-9, 27-year-old, three-time NBA slam dunk champion.
It was no surprise OKC and Robinson parted ways at the outset of training camp earlier this month. Robinson’s me-first attitude didn’t mesh at all with the Thunder. What’s surprising is there has been little, if any, interest in Robinson’s explosive offensive game.
Sam Amick of SI.com tracked down Robinson a few hours after he was waived by the Thunder. Robinson insists he has matured and would not be a headache for the team that took a chance on him.
Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News didn’t think the Knicks will be offering Robinson a return trip to their roster, which turned out to be true. The Knicks signed Jeremy Lin on Tuesday to replace injured rookie Iman Shumpert.
The condensed 66-game schedule figures to take its physical toll, so don’t be surprised if someone eventually offers a roster spot to Robinson to replace an injured player. But under no circumstance will that team be the Thunder.
Nate Robinson Not Returning To The Thunder
Thunder guard Nate Robinson will not report to training camp and is expected to soon part ways with the team.
Robinson’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Thursday night that Robinson will remain in his native Seattle while the two sides search for a solution.
“They don’t plan on using him in their rotation, and we wanted to see if we could find a better opportunity somewhere else,” Goodwin said.
The Thunder could agree to a buyout with Robinson, trade him or use the amnesty clause in the new collective bargaining agreement. It’s unlikely that the Thunder will amnesty Robinson, however, because the team is under the salary cap and Robinson is scheduled to be paid a relatively inexpensive $4.5 million this season. The Thunder could hold onto its one-time amnesty option to use on a larger deal later so long as it was signed prior to July 1, 2011.
Robinson arrived in Oklahoma City in the trade that sent Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic to Boston in exchange for Kendrick Perkins. The 5-foot-5 point guard immediately became a fan favorite but was banished to the bench when he was squeezed out of coach Scott Brooks’ rotation.
Robinson played only four regular season games with the Thunder, averaging 3.3 points and 1.5 assists in 7.5 minutes.
If Robinson is waived, the Thunder will have 12 players under contract. Rookie Reggie Jackson is expected to be signed as early as Friday afternoon. Restricted free agent Daequan Cook is waiting for a contract extension as well.
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OKC Thunder’s flag football roster
Kevin Durant plays flag football at Oklahoma State on Halloween night. (Photo courtesy KT King)
Evidently, Kevin Durant has accepted LeBron James’ challenge to a flag football game. It was on Twitter, so it must be true:
@KDTrey5: Set it up! My team ready RT @KingJames:@KDTrey5 Team KD35 vs Team King James do I hear? Flag football.(Done deal! Date soon)
On Day 123 of the NBA lockout, Durant was at bored at his OKC home on Halloween night and asked via Twitter if anyone locally was playing flag football. What transpired was one of the coolest impromptu events ever to hit Stillwater.
The play-by-play of Durant’s escapade is detailed here and here.
OKC Thunder coach Scott Brooks and general manager Sam Presti no doubt cringe at the thought of their franchise player (due to start a five-year extension whenever next season starts) challenging the 6-foot-8, 260-poundish James on a football field. Doing so on a basketball court is crazy enough. The dude could start next Sunday for the Cleveland Browns … um, the Miami Dolphins.
Durant claims he has his flag football team ready to go. Thunder players organized four-day workout sessions this summer in Austin, Texas, and Lexington, Ky., so it’s not outlandish to think they would gladly huddle up as a flag football team to pass the time.
Here is a breakdown of the OKC Thunder flag football roster, with positions:
Kevin Durant — WR/FS: With Durant’s 7-foot-5 wingspan, every pass attempt should be a fade route, even from the Thunder’s own 10-yard line. If there’s a jump ball, offensively or defensively, it’s his. Boring, but effective.
Russell Westbrook — QB/CB: Best athlete on the field, including LeBron. A Michael Vick type. (Did you know Westbrook writes left-handed?) No matter how many completions he has, national media will complain Westbrook should have passed the ball more to Durant.
Kendrick Perkins — DL: Only non-platoon player on roster because of fragile knees. Ndamukong Suh’s attitude. Most penalized player in flag football.
Nick Collison FB/MLB: Instead of taking charges, Collison finally gets to knock some people down. He excels playing two physical positions. When you least expect it, Collison erupts (think Trey Millard 61-yard TD run vs. Kansas State).
Thabo Sefolosha WR/SS: A physical presence on both sides of the ball. Covers a lot of territory. Always helping out teammates. Good blocker. Outstanding receiver on underneath routes. Unsung player, but vitally important.
James Harden FL/OLB: Effective playmaker with the ability to take over a game. Streaky. Sneaky quick. And here’s some good news for him: he gets to start.
Serge Ibaka TE/DE: Remarkable athlete, but language barrier creates problems with on-field communication, which is why he plays the same position on both sides of the ball. He stands in the exact same spot going each direction.
Eric Maynor QB/CB: Westbrook’s backup at both positions. One of the most underappreciated backups in all of flag football. Rarely makes mistakes. Subtle in his effectiveness. A valuable commodity.
Nazr Mohammed TE/DL: Pretty much keeps his hands raised throughout the entire game, kind of like “Chief” in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Stands at the line of scrimmage, to either catch a pass or knock one down.
Daequan Cook WR/BANDIT: A specialist on both sides of the ball, as a receiver and as a fifth defensive back. Either way, he’s going deep. Restricted free agent, but hopes to have contract signed before coin toss.
Royal Ivey PLAYER/COACH: There in a pinch when you need him. Wise and dependable. Think George Blanda at age 29. Out to prove people from Austin still know how to play football.
Cole Aldrich C/NT: Just like in basketball, Aldrich is asked to have a presence in the middle. Is permitted three developmental assignments in the Canadian Flag Football League, which is handy because he can visit his parents in Minnesota.
Byron Mullens C/NT: Just like in basketball, is battling for the exact same positions(s) as Aldrich. Also is allowed three CFFL assignments. Mullens is better offensively than defensively, and vice versa for Aldrich.
Nate Robinson RB/CB/KR: An explosive weapon, when he’s focused. Played cornerback for one season at University of Washington before concentrating on basketball. Potential hero or goat and a crowd favorite.
Reggie Jackson: No assigned position as of yet. Durant and teammates have him busy doing rookie chores — laundry, washing cars, carrying luggage, Sonic runs.
Are you ready for some (flag) football?
Cool Video Series With Nate Robinson
I don’t care if Nate Robinson never plays another second for the Thunder. This is a series I will watch.
It’s called the State of Nate. And if you’re able to get past him calling the Thunder “aka the Seattle SuperSonics” in the opening seconds then you’re in for a real treat. In what is titled Season 1, Episode 1, Robinson takes us along with him during his offseason, including intimate moments with his children, behind-the-scenes shots of him at workouts, pickup games and charity events and, of course, just hanging out with his boys.
Because the 5-foot-9 Robinson is one of the most charismatic, fun-loving players throughout the NBA, this series appears to have real potential. It offers a chance to get to know Robinson off the court, much like a reality show without all the drama. His natural energy makes him a perfect fit for something like this, and it should be an entertaining series.
Besides, what else do we have during these dark days?
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Durant Gets Teammates In Gatorade Spot
Nick Collison claims Kevin Durant hi-jacked his commercial.
The Thunder’s reserve power forward insists the Gatorade spot that’s shown ad nauseam originally starred him, not Durant.
“Actually it’s my commercial,” Collison said. “I was surprised at how much airtime Kevin got. It was supposed to be my commercial. I don’t know if they thought he was just more camera-friendly or what.”
Collison, of course, was joking. And Durant, of course, doesn’t mind.
“I’ll take that,” Durant said. “He deserves it.”
Which is why Collison was a part of it in the first place.
Durant asked Collison and fellow teammates Nate Robinson, Royal Ivey and Cole Aldrich to join him in his most prominent promotional shoot yet. The commercial is called Durant’s Edge as part of Gatorade’s G series to promote the sports drink’s products that are said to enhance athletes’ preparation, performance and recovery. You can’t possibly watch an NBA game or tune into SportsCenter without catching the commercial on every other break.
Rarely do you see a star player’s actual teammates included in a commercial of this magnitude. But Durant didn’t think much of his teammates’ inclusion. Durant said the producers of the commercial asked him to get some teammates, so he did.
“The rest is history,” Durant said. “They wanted my teammates and they got them.”
Durant will have you believe he didn’t put much thought into their inclusion. “I just picked them,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. Those are the first guys I (saw) that day. I asked them if they wanted to be a part of it and they said OK. And it turned out pretty good.”
But we’ve seen Durant do similar favors for teammates. In the past, Durant has asked magazines to include teammates on the cover with him. And he has pulled strings to get teammates invitations to ball with President Barack Obama. Much like his request to have Thabo Sefolosha and Nenad Krstic join him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Durant’s selection of Robinson, Aldrich, Collison and Ivey is another example of how he funnels attention to lesser known teammates who might otherwise consistently get overshadowed.
Mavs Make It Look Easy In Game 1
Nuggets from my notebook from from Tuesday’s 121-112 loss in Game 1 to the Mavericks.
- Serge Ibaka has to man up. That’s what needs to happen if the Thunder wants to go to the NBA Finals. Getting past these Dallas Mavericks is far more complex than that. But, believe me, it starts there. Ibaka’s defense on Dirk Nowitzki from the opening tip sets the tone for the entire game. It’s a tremendous amount of responsibility, and one that Ibaka’s teammates and coaches will never publicly put on his 21-year-old shoulders. But if Ibaka lets Nowitzki get going early each night like he did in this first game the Thunder will never be able to contain him.
- Watching Ibaka’s defense on Dirk at the start of this game reminded me of the start of the third quarter of Game 6 of the Thunder’s series against Memphis. Ibaka wasn’t defending Zach Randolph tough enough to start the second half of that game and it allowed Randolph to find his rhythm and get so hot that no one else had any shot of cooling him off. That’s what happened tonight. Dirk got so comfortable early that nothing anyone else did mattered. That’s why Ibaka has got to man up.
- In a way, it’s unreasonable to expect Ibaka to do much better on Dirk. No one can guard the guy. And Ibaka’s principles weren’t terrible. The first jumper Dirk drilled, though, came with Ibaka’s hands down at his hips while Dirk sized him up. Serge has got to get a hand up early and prevent Dirk from getting a clean look. It’s hard enough to defend Dirk because of his high and, at times, quick release. But Ibaka will have no shot if his hands aren’t in the “stick” position. Ibaka got better at making that adjustment as the game went along. And it didn’t make one bit of difference. That’s just how good Dirk is.
- Another thing Ibaka needs to do is crowd Dirk better. Serge was giving Dirk a little too much space to raise and shoot. That’s got to change.
- Some folks got their undies in a bunch when I wrote on Twitter late in this game and after another ridiculous shot by Dirk that I felt like I was watching Larry Bird. Let me clarify. I felt like I was watching Larry Bird.
- Dirk scored a game-high 48 points on 15 shots. In case you don’t know how extremely impressive that is, check out Russell Westbrook’s stat line. On 15 shots, Russ scored just 20 points. The same amount of shots. Twenty eight less points.
- Nowitzki’s 24-of-24 shooting at the foul line was what made him so incredibly efficient. That marksmanship at the stripe set an NBA playoff record for free throws made without a miss.
- Kevin Durant might go down as the first player in Western Conference Finals history to score 40 and have it be a footnote. That’s how good Dirk was. But what Durant did to lead his team in this one should be commended. It doesn’t mean anything at this point since the Thunder lost. But Durant was a leader tonight. And he was every bit as good as Nowitzki. KD found his rhythm early and was carrying the Thunder offensively throughout most of this one.
Thunder Wins Game 7 To Advance To Western Conference Finals
Nuggets from my notebook from Sunday’s 105-90 Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies
- Kevin Durant did exactly what he needed to in trying to bounce back from a terrible Game 6. He was aggressive early. He was aggressive often. He didn’t settle. He didn’t let defenders push him off his spots. He attacked the rim. He tried to get to the foul line. He took however many shots he needed to with no regard for his shooting percentage. It led to a magnificent and much-needed 39-point effort in a Game 7.
- Here’s what Durant said about bouncing back. “That was not me at all during Game 6,” Durant said. “I felt thoroughly upset that I had let my teammates down. I was not only shooting poorly but I did not come into the game aggressive. So before this game, I made sure that I started off the game aggressive, whether I made my shots or not.”
- Durant had eight points on nine shots in the first quarter, and at that point it looked like it was going to be a long night. But, again, he was doing what he needed to do to get up shots and attack from within the 3-point line. I wouldn’t have cared if his poor shooting continued as long as he continued to attack.
- Here’s what Thunder coach Scott Brooks said about KD’s Game 6: “I guess I can say it now. He stunk last game.”
- Russell Westbrook deserves a lot of credit for how patient and poised he was today. In the biggest game of his life, he came out and played under control, let the game come to him and got his teammates involved in a big way. Westbrook had a game-high 14 assists, one more than the entire Grizzlies team, to go with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
- Westbrook’s triple double was only the fifth in Game 7 history. He joined Jerry West (1969), Larry Bird (1984), James Worthy (1988) and Scottie Pippen (1992). Yeah. Wow.
- Expect a lot of the national talking heads to say this is the way Westbrook needs to play. Do yourselves a favor and ignore them. No way Westbrook needs to take just 12 shots and try to get 14 assists every night. Should he look for his teammates more? No question. But he’s one of the best scorers in the league and, on this team, he needs to score. Period.
- Let me take it a step further. Westbrook didn’t do much different tonight that he didn’t do in Game 6. The difference was Durant was able to get open and the rest of Westbrook’s teammates were able to make a few more shots. Makes everything Westbrook does as a distributor look better doesn’t it?
- Another thing about Westbrook’s performance. Don’t overlook how 21 of Durant’s game-high 39 points came off feeds from Westbrook. Those dishes came on curls and kick-outs, lob passes and backdoor cuts. Westbrook had it all working, delivering his passes on time and on target.
Here’s a shocker: Seattle fans upset, this time at Nate Robinson
Thunder guards Royal Ivey, left, and Nate Robinson cheer on their teammates from the bench during the NBA playoffs.
When roughly 100 fans greeted the Oklahoma City Thunder at a private hanger at Will Rogers World Airport at 3:30 a.m. after Game 4 on Wednesday/Thursday, reserve guard Nate Robinson rifled off a tweet: “OKC aka Thunder fans are the best on the planet.”
Robinson was born and raised in Seattle, loves Seattle, never passes up a chance to brag about Seattle. He excelled at the University of Washington in Seattle. However, Seattle SuperSonics fans took offense at Robinson’s kindness toward Oklahoma City. And if there’s one thing people in Seattle won’t stand for, it’s someone being kind to OKC.
Sonics fans being offended from what happened three years ago has lost all traction. Actually, it never really had any traction. Seattle had an opportunity to keep the Sonics, but elected public officials tabled any talk of a suitable facility being built with the help of taxpayer money in greater Seattle. This gave the city zero chance of keeping the franchise. If Seattle had a new arena, the Sonics would still be there. Pure and simple.
Seattle folks insist OKC stole the Sonics. Around these parts, we consider that a fumble. Seattle fumbled the Sonics. Oklahoma City recovered. Mixed metaphor intended.
Incorrigible Sonics fans are still pouting, whining, bitching about what transpired, and now their fans are taking swings at Robinson.
Robinson has played in just five games since coming to the Thunder from the Boston Celtics as part of the Kendrick Perkins trade on Feb. 24. Despite this limited exposure, Thunder fans quickly have embraced the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Robinson because of his passionate persona on the bench. Robinson has returned that embrace to fans.
Here’s how messed up this Twitter thing is with Robinson: Before Game 7 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, Robinson was asked if Sonics fans had lightened up any about his tweet. The habitually loquacious Robinson didn’t want to talk about it. The man who never shuts up suddenly went silent. Certain Sonics fans no doubt will take perverse pleasure in that.
Seattle Times sports columnist Jerry Brewer’s thoughts on the subject.
Thunder Cruises To A Cakewalk In Game 5
Nuggets from my notebook from Wednesday’s 99-72 Game 5 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
- As I wrote in Thursday’s paper, this storm started brewing Saturday. That’s when the Thunder suffered that disheartening defeat in Game 3. This puppy built steam after Monday’s gritty triple-overtime win. The experiences the Thunder went through in those two games alone have brought the Thunder together and taught this team so many things about the Grizzlies, this series and playoff basketball. That was the difference tonight.
- Kevin Durant put it best. “We’re seeing all different types of scenarios playing in this series,” he said. “So we can handle anything.”
- Wanna know when this game was won? With 3:47 left in the second quarter. That was when James Harden finished a fast break dunk off a feed from Russell Westbrook. The crowd erupted. The Thunder grew fangs. Memphis checked out.
- The Thunder closed the first half on a 16-4 run to take a 46-35 lead at the break. It was over right then. KD confirmed he sensed the wheels coming off for Memphis right then and there. “We got a good lead going into halftime,” Durant said. “In the last two minutes, we really locked in and got stops and that led to some transition points.” The Thunder slowly twisted the knife in the third, enlarging its lead to 14, then 15, then 16, then 19. Ball game.
- Speaking of transition points. The Thunder’s did a good job of forcing turnovers early to get transition opportunities. Memphis was sloppy with the ball a bit. But it matters little how those turnovers come. OKC had 11 fast break points at halftime and that was a critical aspect tonight. The Thunder’s 20 total fast break points marked the second time in as many games that OKC has had at least 20 fast break points. That easy offense needs to show up one more time for the Thunder to close out this series.
- The Thunder was absolutely awful taking care of the ball early. Nine turnovers in the first quarter is pretty ridiculous. They led to eight Grizzlies points and contributed to a terrible start for the Thunder.
- Memphis gave the Thunder a different look tonight in putting Tony Allen on Westbrook.Mike Conley was on Thabo Sefolosha and Sam Young guarded Durant. Didn’t really make much of a difference if you ask me. Westbrook still was able to get to the rim and set up his teammates for good looks. It just so happened that the Thunder couldn’t buy a bucket in the early going. Now that Memphis coach Lionel Hollins has pulled that card, however, and the Grizzlies are now facing elimination, expect to see Allen again start on Westbrook in Game 6.
- With that said, not for a second did I like Thunder coach Scott Brooks‘ decision to stick with Sefolosha once the Grizzlies showed the switch. If this was the Lakers, fine. But Kobe Bryant is somewhere fishing. The Thunder didn’t need Sefolosha’s defense, and he dang sure wasn’t providing any offense (did you see his first shot from the right corner?). Brooks can’t let Sefolosha stay on the floor and be a liability that allows the opposing team to take it easy. Worse of all, Harden didn’t jump off the bench to check in for the first time until five minutes were showing on the first-quarter clock. That’s seven minutes of, well, basically wasted basketball. There’s no wonder the Thunder had just 17 first-quarter points.
