1/22 | G47: Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder - 7PM CST

[NaturalThunder]

We shot 47.8% from 3 (and Portland only 27.8) and it was still a close game...

Probably because OKC gave up a ton of 2nd and 3rd shot opportunities. I haven't looked at the box score yet but my guess is the Blazers had at least 15 more shot attempts than the Thunder.

95 FGA for the Blazers to 85 FGA for the Thunder.

The Blazers outrebounded us 52-37 and they had 20 offensive rebounds.

We only had 10 turnovers, though, to their 19.

[NaturalThunder]

Also, very encouraging game from Ferguson once again.

14 points, 2/4 from three.

[RunOKC]

I didn't watch. So, I can see Dadouv's point, but if we did indeed defend the 3-point shot well tonight and, on the flipside, we generated a lot of good looks from three, then that's just the way it goes. Our three point shooting as a whole has been (slowly) trending upward.

Also, how did Noel manage to be a +13 in only 12 minutes while scoring 0 points? Did he play most of his minutes with the starters?

He was in the Schroder-George-Nader-2Pat-Noel line up that pushed the lead to 12 early 4th Q. He had some awesome defense with many deflections.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

this one didnt disappoint either... good game guys

[NaturalThunder]

I didn't watch. So, I can see Dadouv's point, but if we did indeed defend the 3-point shot well tonight and, on the flipside, we generated a lot of good looks from three, then that's just the way it goes. Our three point shooting as a whole has been (slowly) trending upward.

Also, how did Noel manage to be a +13 in only 12 minutes while scoring 0 points? Did he play most of his minutes with the starters?

He was in the Schroder-George-Nader-2Pat-Noel line up that pushed the lead to 12 early 4th Q. He had some awesome defense with many deflections.

Thank you.

I boxscore checked the entire game. Seems like every time I checked the boxscore in the 2nd half (every 7-10 minutes) our lead was 4-6 points). I've watched enough basketball to know that it was probably one of those games the Blazers would eventually get over the hump and take the lead and win a close game, or we'd go on a run to extend the lead to double digits and win going away. When a game is played withing a 4-6 point window for such a long stretch, that's usually how it goes.

Glad it was the latter.

[Dadouv47]

I didn't watch. So, I can see Dadouv's point, but if we did indeed defend the 3-point shot well tonight and, on the flipside, we generated a lot of good looks from three, then that's just the way it goes. Our three point shooting as a whole has been (slowly) trending upward.

Also, how did Noel manage to be a +13 in only 12 minutes while scoring 0 points? Did he play most of his minutes with the starters?

He was in the Schroder-George-Nader-2Pat-Noel line up that pushed the lead to 12 early 4th Q. He had some awesome defense with many deflections.

Noel was crazy good on defense indeed. He's the perfect back up C. He's having a terrific year so far.

[Dadouv47]

I didn't watch. So, I can see Dadouv's point, but if we did indeed defend the 3-point shot well tonight and, on the flipside, we generated a lot of good looks from three, then that's just the way it goes. Our three point shooting as a whole has been (slowly) trending upward.

Also, how did Noel manage to be a +13 in only 12 minutes while scoring 0 points? Did he play most of his minutes with the starters?

He was in the Schroder-George-Nader-2Pat-Noel line up that pushed the lead to 12 early 4th Q. He had some awesome defense with many deflections.

Thank you.

I boxscore checked the entire game. Seems like every time I checked the boxscore in the 2nd half (every 7-10 minutes) our lead was 4-6 points). I've watched enough basketball to know that it was probably one of those games the Blazers would eventually get over the hump and take the lead and win a close game, or we'd go on a run to extend the lead to double digits and win going away. When a game is played withing a 4-6 point window for such a long stretch, that's usually how it goes.

Glad it was the latter.

Thought the same watching the game but PG13 defense/steals and Westbrook playing high BBIQ helped us tremendously.

I'm just a bit worried about PG13 ability to score a lot in the clutch (I think he was tired) but he had a monster game so can't complain tonight

[Dn4sty]

A quick mini adjustment by Billy tonight. He changed up rotations a bit to take Diallo out of the game tonight. I think it was a really subtle good move.

[RalphSampsonJr]

Couldnt watch. Awesome win though. Cant help but imagine what thos team would look like if they had this months offense combined with the first months defense!

[spearsy23]

I'm accepting apologies from everyone who gave up on Ferguson.

[Dadouv47]

I'm accepting apologies from everyone who gave up on Ferguson.

Think he's our best sophomore since...Harden

Still want to see if he can play that well under pressure (playoffs)

If he can still improve a bit it will be huge for the franchise to have an impact player on a rookie contract.

[Old Man Game]

I'm accepting apologies from everyone who gave up on Ferguson.

I'm glad I got on the bandwagon when a vocal minority were still saying he sucked at the beginning of the year.

[Raijin]

A quick mini adjustment by Billy tonight. He changed up rotations a bit to take Diallo out of the game tonight. I think it was a really subtle good move.

PG finally being staggered with the bench! Huzzah!

[Dn4sty]

I'm accepting apologies from everyone who gave up on Ferguson.

Think he's our best sophomore since...Harden

Still want to see if he can play that well under pressure (playoffs)

If he can still improve a bit it will be huge for the franchise to have an impact player on a rookie contract.

Ferguson ceiling is far higher than Ross. Not sure he’s Butler (sorry Kizz) but something like a bit smaller but far more skilled and athletic Covington maybe

[Raijin]

We went with Schroder-PG-Nader-2Pat-Noel, for 8 minutes. They were murdered on the defensive glass, but overall kicked the **** out of Portland.

I'll take it.

[Osirus89]

It's weird to think how Ferg was actively hurting the team when he was on the floor at the start of the season, but I wonder if he gets the confidence to play like he is currently playing if he had been benched for Abrines back when he was available. Abrines was the better option at the time, but as things turned out this season, it was providence that TFerg got the reps with the starters with Abrines being out unexpectedly for so long and Ferg taking a jump as a player. Funny how things work out sometimes.

I'm accepting apologies from everyone who gave up on Ferguson.

Think he's our best sophomore since...Harden

Still want to see if he can play that well under pressure (playoffs)

If he can still improve a bit it will be huge for the franchise to have an impact player on a rookie contract.

Ferguson ceiling is far higher than Ross. Not sure he’s Butler (sorry Kizz) but something like a bit smaller but far more skilled and athletic Covington maybe

A more skilled and athletic RoCo is a REALLY good player. That's better than Khris Middleton. Heck I would take it.

this one didnt disappoint either... good game guys

Good game

[Kizz Fastfists]

Ferguson ceiling is far higher than Ross. Not sure he’s Butler (sorry Kizz) but something like a bit smaller but far more skilled and athletic Covington maybe

We'll see. He's got to continue to improve his ball handling and passing. Just keep in mind that this is Ferguson's age 20 season and he is ahead of where Butler was in his age 22 season. I've still got faith Ferguson turns into that type of player. The problem is as Ferguson gets closer to that Russ keeps dropping off and then PG will leave and it will be a case of OKC being too good to truly tank while not being good enough to contend. The treadmill that I foresee is going to be painful for the next 10 years or so.

[Pillendreher]

Excellent win. Once again, the Blazers got about every 50/50 ball (it's insane how they're the one team in the league that we simply can't rebound against; and it's not even just a boxing-out issue: Balls tend to just land in their hands without them doing anyhting), got away with a lot of contact and simply managed to make as many bail out shots as possible. All night long they wouldn't go away, but we put them down in the end.

Schröder and Westbrook need to work on their shot selection. It's one thing to miss, it's another one to just take the worst shot possible. Have to be smarter than attempting a 22 footer with a hand in the face after dribbling the ball for 15 seconds.

I'm glad George got out of his slump. He's been so much better overall compared to last season, it's crazy.

Noel is such a calming presence. They have been excellent defensively with him on the floor after the Lakers game, allowing 86.8 points per 100 possessions. That's huge and so important to our defense overall.

The streak of 110+ ORtG games continues. Over the last 8 games, we've scored 117.5 points per 100 possessions. That is 8.6 better than the current league average and 7.9 pp100p better than the opposing teams' average defense on the season during that stretch. The big difference compared to the first 40 games or so is that the offese has stayed at least average no matter who has been on the floor.
If they can keep this up offensively and just find a way to stay great defensively, we could finally be getting the sort of balance we've been lacking most of the year.

PS: Best line of the night award goes to Chris Fisher:

Normally Grant is the one doing the stripping

[Dn4sty]

It's weird to think how Ferg was actively hurting the team when he was on the floor at the start of the season, but I wonder if he gets the confidence to play like he is currently playing if he had been benched for Abrines back when he was available. Abrines was the better option at the time, but as things turned out this season, its was providence that TFerg got the reps with the starters with Abrines being out unexpectedly for so long and Ferg taking a jump as a player. Funny how things work out sometimes.

Think he's our best sophomore since...Harden

Still want to see if he can play that well under pressure (playoffs)

If he can still improve a bit it will be huge for the franchise to have an impact player on a rookie contract.

Ferguson ceiling is far higher than Ross. Not sure he’s Butler (sorry Kizz) but something like a bit smaller but far more skilled and athletic Covington maybe

A more skilled and athletic RoCo is a REALLY good player. That's better than Khris Middleton. Heck I would take it.

this one didnt disappoint either... good game guys

Good game

So what you are saying is Abrines is our David Lee. I’m now really excited about everyone on the Thunder shooting and making crazy 3s and a mega star signing for way under market value because of ankles. Then a massive cap spike just before Giannis hits UFA.

Who is the grumpy star who gets hurt and signs for the Tax MLE?

[Osirus89]

It's weird to think how Ferg was actively hurting the team when he was on the floor at the start of the season, but I wonder if he gets the confidence to play like he is currently playing if he had been benched for Abrines back when he was available. Abrines was the better option at the time, but as things turned out this season, its was providence that TFerg got the reps with the starters with Abrines being out unexpectedly for so long and Ferg taking a jump as a player. Funny how things work out sometimes.

Ferguson ceiling is far higher than Ross. Not sure he’s Butler (sorry Kizz) but something like a bit smaller but far more skilled and athletic Covington maybe

A more skilled and athletic RoCo is a REALLY good player. That's better than Khris Middleton. Heck I would take it.

this one didnt disappoint either... good game guys

Good game

So what you are saying is Abrines is our David Lee. I’m now really excited about everyone on the Thunder shooting and making crazy 3s and a mega star signing for way under market value because of ankles. Then a massive cap spike just before Giannis hits UFA.

Who is the grumpy star who gets hurt and signs for the Tax MLE?

lol
Kristaps Porzingis