Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves 12/26/2011

Post #1 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:03 pm

I think the Wolves are a dangerous team for us. They have bigs that can shoot from 3pt range (Love eats Ibaka alive), they have decent passers all over their lineup, etc. And of course it's on the road and it's the first back to back of the season, with Minnesota being fresh.

wiff · Post #2 » by **wiff** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:10 pm

Wins over teams like Minny are what championship dreams are made of.

You need to beat teams like Minny if you expect to go anywhere in the playoff.

Is it just me or are there others who can't wait to see Rubio cut his NBA teeth with trying to contain Westbrook?

Rubio is not going to be an elite PG.

fallacy · Post #3 » by **fallacy** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:23 pm

Love might score 50 tonight after watching what Ryan did to Ibaka.

Post #4 » by **Klomp** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 7:03 pm

Good luck, guys

dream_catcher_9 · Post #5 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:06 pm

ty, you too.

as weird as this sounds, I'm more worried about this game than last nights game. Rubio is the unexpected, nobody knows what he will do or how good he is. They have an abundance of talent, and they have a very good coach. Not to mention this is their home opener with a lot of excitement.

As sad as this might sound, I think we lose this game, or win by the skin of our teeth. Either way its going to be close throughout IMO.

BIG EDDIE · Post #6 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:13 pm

Lose? No way!
If this game was a mid-season game than maybe, but its our second game and we are at least as hungry as the wolves to get this win and we are a MUCH better team.
No chance we let this game go.

Thunder by 14

BIG EDDIE · Post #7 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:24 am

Westbrook is really arrogant, while playing really poorly tonight.

Im ashamed for him :-?

bbms · Post #8 » by **bbms** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:30 am

T-Wolves are good.

Post #9 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:30 am

Russ forces too much offensively. Cook / Harden were in the game for small ball earlier and he should pass out to them more. Harden's game is so much better now... makes so many good decisions after the screen.

Vindicater · Post #10 » by **Vindicater** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:35 am

Great first game guys.

Going to be a great match-up to watch over the next few years as both teams grow.

bbms · Post #11 » by **bbms** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:52 am

Durant did well at passing and dribbling since Michael Beasley gave him space. He did a very good game.

Much better than first game, but we still turn the ball over way too much specially Westbrook.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #12 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:57 am

Perkins is my hero. After Darko layed him out early in the game, Perk went beast mode.

Ill have more later, got to digest this game in a bit longer. Ill say this though, Rubio is special, and Barea is the little engine that could, he gets under everyone's skin.

Post #13 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:58 am

The closing offense continues to be weird. Harden had JJ Barea defending him. That matchup should have been exploited. We had small ball with Cook / Harden in the game and they were open frequently on the wings on Westbrook / KD penetration but no passes came their way.

At times it seems like the team is focused on trying to make plays for everyone, i.e. early in the game the ball was going to Thabo (air ball three), Perk (three seconds), Ibaka (jumper). But it seems to only happen forced with the wrong personnel on the court.

The way Harden has been playing, if the ball can be shared and something figured out between him, Russ, and KD the offense will be so much better. But I'm not sold the coaching staff is really very concerned about it.

Really nice to have a healthy Perk...

I thought Rubio looked good, but still think his value will be hampered by his inability to score. Some think he'll be like J. Kidd. I think that's his only chance at having star success.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #14 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:43 am

Positives
+ Perkins was great, he played solid defense, rebounded the ball well, played physical, and hit 2 clutch free throws to seal the win. I think the early knock down by Darko pissed him off.
+ Daequan Cook with 2 HUGE 3 pointers to take momentum away from Minnesota in the 2nd half. Those were the only 2 shots he made, but they were both big shots.
+ Durant with a solid game again, His shot is on, and he looks confident. Keep working on that dribble and he will be something special.

Negatives
- Nazr was terrible, and I'm starting to worry that he has nothing left in his tank. I think we will see Cole pretty soon, at least I hope so.
- Maynor was indecisive, he didn't have much confidence tonight. I expect a bounce back game from him vs Memphis.
- Ibaka with another pretty uneventful game, he made a nice bucket in the 2nd half, but where is his weak side shot blocking, or rim protecting? I wonder if He is still in European mode. We need Serge from last year back.

everyone else were decent. Harden had a nice stat line, but he was frustrated by Barea a few times, and looked a bit out of sorts tonight. Westbrook with a lot of boneheaded decisions, but he kept attacking and made a few plays late in the game to help us get the win.

MASH Transit · Post #15 » by **MASH Transit** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:16 am

This team would be the best in the league, better than even the Heat, if only it had a competent coach. The end game management is absolutely inexplicable, and the fact that we have so many lapses on defense is ridiculous. This team, with it's personnel, should be elite on both ends of the court. That said, I'm happy to get the win.

Westbrook needs to slow down. The talent and physical ability is there, but his decision making continues to be questionable. Something else that I believe would be aided with a better staff.

Krodis · Post #16 » by **Krodis** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:20 pm

slick_watts wrote:I thought Rubio looked good, but still think his value will be hampered by his inability to score. Some think he'll be like J. Kidd. I think that's his only chance at having star success.

I think Rubio has enough scoring in him to at least keep the defense honest. Better than Rondo at the least.

JustNikyle · Post #17 » by **JustNikyle** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:14 am

KD Highlights! vs T'Wolves
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWxzMDP73WY&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]

Post #18 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:21 am

Krodis wrote:
slick_watts wrote:I thought Rubio looked good, but still think his value will be hampered by his inability to score. Some think he'll be like J. Kidd. I think that's his only chance at having star success.

I think Rubio has enough scoring in him to at least keep the defense honest. Better than Rondo at the least.

Came into the game pretty skeptical of Rubio... Left pretty impressed. I think he showed enough scoring and great court vision/craftiness to be a really good player.

Agree with pretty much everything else people said. Westbrook was pretty awful. I like the guy, but his lack of control and decision making leading to charges is KILLING us.