Oklahoma City Thunder vs. CSKA Moscow 10/14/10

Post #1 » by **slick_watts** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:35 pm

Serge Ibaka will be starting at center against CSKA.

Let's hope for a more spirited showing.

BIG EDDIE · Post #2 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:22 pm

Where do you get these infos from? How do you know that Ibaka will be starting?

Post #3 » by **slick_watts** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:01 pm

BIG EDDIE wrote:Where do you get these infos from? How do you know that Ibaka will be starting?

Twitter.

Scott Brooks will give Serge Ibaka the start at center Wednesday against Moscaw. Also said James Harden is likely to start at shooting guard
11:55 AM Oct 13th via OpenBeak

From Darnell Mayberry.

Jimmy76 · Post #4 » by **Jimmy76** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:05 pm

One of these days it'll be "Ibaka starting at PF alongside Aldrich" and I will be a happy man

Seems to be insistent that Green starts at PF right now

Joel Embust · Post #5 » by **Joel Embust** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:55 pm

Glad James Harden is getting another start. Dude looks great, getting to the line and active hands on D.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #6 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:47 pm

no tv again, frustrating.

Joel Embust · Post #7 » by **Joel Embust** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:21 am

Harden with his first steal of the night, 4-4 score after 3 mins.

Ibaka fouled, to the line for two shots. Thunders four points have come at the line.

Post #8 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:22 am

The starting unit operates so much better with James Harden in there. I know he does dumb things sometimes but the positives outweigh the negatives, IMO. He should be starting this year ahead of Thabo.

Ibaka had a good game against the Russkies.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #9 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:32 am

good game overall, hopefully Aldrich learns to not foul as much.

thedagger · Post #10 » by **thedagger** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:00 am

I guess so much for Durant being a poor playmaker...guy has been the primary playmaker for the team the past 2 games

Turnovers were an issue tonight but 7 assists is still nice to see. Although it's obvious it came @ the cost of Westbrook who only had 5 tonight. Also WTF is the deal with Durant only taking 10 shots? He went 8-10..but damn

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:52 am

It's tough to evaluate a game without watching it, and it's certainly nice to see Kevin Durant get 7 assists. But he also had 7 turnovers. That's still a 1:1 ratio and not very great. I saw a highlight of one of them where he was trying to be cute with the dribble and lost the ball.

I'm all for KD initiating some offense here or there, but I feel that maybe it's become too big a focus and it's being forced a bit. That's alright in preseason. When the regular season comes around, though, I'm hoping they get a little more serious KD doesn't force the issue as much until he can control the ball better.

Ibaka seemed to have a bounce back game and Harden had another nice line. Maynor was hitting jump shots which is a very good sign. The team continues to hit well from 3PT range, which has pretty much been the lone, consistent bright spot of the preseason...

Good game.

wiff · Post #12 » by **wiff** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 4:49 am

thedagger wrote:I guess so much for Durant being a poor playmaker...guy has been the primary playmaker for the team the past 2 games

Turnovers were an issue tonight but 7 assists is still nice to see.Although it's obvious it came @ the cost of Westbrook who only had 5 tonight. Also WTF is the deal with Durant only taking 10 shots? He went 8-10..but damn

Ya know, I just really don't see the need to thrust Durant into the "playmaker" role. I'm fine with Westbrook running the show.

I'm fine with Durant not being the assist guy that LeBron, Kobe and Wade are. I don't doubt that over time he will expand this part of his game but why force feed this?

Let Westbrook do what he does best, drive and dish. I like the fact that KD works so hard on developing his handle. But this isn't something that hasto happen overnight. Hopefully Brooks is simply giving Kevin "reps" so to speak and when the season starts Westbrook has the ball in his hands more.

Post #13 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:01 pm

I agree, wiff. KD working on his passing and handle is important so we can run him in isolations, but having him play 'PG' is just silly. He doesn't have the skillset and the smaller players pick his pocket too much.

thedagger · Post #14 » by **thedagger** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:06 am

Ya assist numbers IMO has always been one of the dumb criticisms of Durant. He plays in a system where his PG runs the offense and that is not his role as a player. There is no reason for him to average 6+ assists like a LeBron. Thats just going to take away from Westbrook's production, just like it did with LeBron's PG's in Cleveland.

And no I'm not stating Durant is anywhere near the level of playmaker LeBron is, but just referencing raw assist numbers.