Thunder beat Knicks

theokie · Post #1 » by **theokie** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 4:21 am

Great game for the THunder tonight. They have one two out of three, and barring a buzzer beater from Melo it would be three straight.

With Kristic coming in, they will only improve as the season continues. I'm really excited to look at a box score and see his name on the starting five as opposed to Swift with 12 minutes and 0 points.

The talks of only winning 8 or 9 games is probably almost out the window.

Durant, 27 and 12
Green, 27 and 7
Westbrook, 22, 9 and 6

Post #2 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 4:57 am

I'm trying not to get too excited and throw it in the faces of the "worst team ever" people... but yes, as most of the guys who've seen most of the games have said, this team has looked better lately, and even better yet over the past few games.

The Thunder outplayed the Knicks. Although I wouldn't say, from seeing probably 5 Knicks games this year, that it was one of their better ones.

As you posted, Durant/Green/Westbrook all put up some numbers tonight. There were also some huge contributions from Mason and Joe Smith.

Despite the team's improved level of success (not that it is still anything to brag about) and their individual levels of success, I don't feel like Green and Durant really play off of one another very well. I feel like it is either that the play is run for Green or the play is run for Durant. It is never the two of them using their skills to complement one another. This is a common problem with talented but losing teams, and really can't be the case long term. The easiest short-term fix I saw from tonight's game is that, when Durant gets double teamed, the team shouldn't go away from him... they should go TO him, and then he can kick it out to Green (who has had it going from 20'+ lately).

ljp24 · Post #3 » by **ljp24** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 8:17 am

I shut the game off as soon as the Knicks got within 8. Didn't want to give myself a heart attack.

We really need to learn how to keep leads

Post #4 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 4:44 pm

It's just how it is with a young team that has some talent on it. You've got your 3 best players all at 22 and under and they haven't played a lot together. The team doesn't really play well off of one another on offense, so it's hard to consistently come down the floor and score when there isn't a fast-break. Luckily, our athleticism and effort creates a lot of fast-breaks, and when that doesn't work out, lately Green and Durant have been just pulling up over guys (which has worked great lately, but isn't a winning strategy).

Rome · Post #5 » by **Rome** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 10:22 pm

I'm very proud to say we will not have the worse record ever and i see many more wins when Krstic is in the lineup,and i think a pickup at sg with range ie jj redic would be awsome

bmw42690 · Post #6 » by **bmw42690** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:04 pm

It was dissappointing watching the lead drop at the end of the 3rd. I dont understand why people are being left open to shoot 3's. Thats how the Knicks got back in it. But they pulled out the win so thats a positive. They are coming together and starting to play alot better.

Yes this team needs a shooter but it should not be Redick. Undersized and his game just hasnt translated to the NBA. Something I noticed last night looking at the box score is that we have like 2 guys that are guards or SF. That worries me and I'm not sure why its taken me so long to see that.

Post #7 » by **wizkid27** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 5:01 am

Atkins is a shooter

He's nothing amazing, but if he's reasonably healthy, then he will be our best overall 3 point shooter and finally give us a role player that can shoot some shots. He and Krstic add some variety to a previously bland offense.