Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics 11/20/2010

[BIG EDDIE]

Last year we lost our first game against Boston on our own court.
Just like this year.
It was a blowout win for the Celtics.
Just like this year.
On our second meeting we took revenge and beat them in Boston.
Just like...

Go Thunder!

[HeartSouloma]

Right now i'm really worry. Boston can play good defense.. Right now we need to just get in the line for some FT's...

[whatisthis]

Not concerned about this one

Portland looks to be toast and Denver is going to fall apart with the Melo situation. I don't believe Golden State will keep pace either so our real competition for seeding this year will be.


Utah
New Orleans
San Antonio
Dallas

I think these teams+OKC will make up 2-6 in the West. Hopefully age catches up to SA again and New Orleans cools off ala 08-09.

[wiff]

I will miss this game I am staying after at work. I hate Boston anyway.

[boobie miles]

Not to derail the thread, but does anyone know if Ibaka is still leading the league in Offensive Rating? Or has the offensive juggernaut from the Congo been slowed down?

[BIG EDDIE]

Interesting thing about the Celtics is, that prior to their last game against Washington, the starters have played heavy minutes this season.
In the first 10 games, KG, Pierce, Allen and Rondo have played following minutes:

KG 35 (last season he played 29 in average)
Pierce 37,5 (last season 34)
Allen 40 (last season 35)
Rondo 41 (last season 36)

A quote from after the Wizards game:

With one of the oldest lineups in the league, Rivers has remained mindful of the minutes his starters play, restricting their playing time to keep them fresh for what they expect to be a long postseason. But he’s waited 10 games before resorting to pitch counts.

“You’ve got to get yourself thrown back into the season,” Rivers said. “But now it’s time to get our minutes to where we want them.”

----> to me this means he will limit the minutes of his starters tonight against the Thunder as well.
This could be a good sign. Also good sign is, that the Celtics have been playing awesome ball so far and at home they are 5-0. Its time for the first home loss, if you ask me. Last year they were just 24-17, having a worse record at home than the Raptors did.

[Gant]

Interesting thing about the Celtics is, that prior to their last game against Washington, the starters have played heavy minutes this season.
In the first 10 games, KG, Pierce, Allen and Rondo have played following minutes:

KG 35 (last season he played 29 in average)
Pierce 37,5 (last season 34)
Allen 40 (last season 35)
Rondo 41 (last season 36)

A quote from after the Wizards game:

With one of the oldest lineups in the league, Rivers has remained mindful of the minutes his starters play, restricting their playing time to keep them fresh for what they expect to be a long postseason. But he’s waited 10 games before resorting to pitch counts.

“You’ve got to get yourself thrown back into the season,” Rivers said. “But now it’s time to get our minutes to where we want them.”

----> to me this means he will limit the minutes of his starters tonight against the Thunder as well.
This could be a good sign. Also good sign is, that the Celtics have been playing awesome ball so far and at home they are 5-0. Its time for the first home loss, if you ask me. Last year they were just 24-17, having a worse record at home than the Raptors did.

The main reason for the long minutes for the Boston starters were injuries to the O'Neals, and Delonte West serving a 10 game suspension.

The bench was incomplete, so the starters played longer. Nate Robinson really isn't a point, so Rondo had to stay in the game.

Now the Celtics have a very effective second five of West, Robinson, Daniels, Big Baby, and Semih Erden. This allows them to play two independent units, and rest their starters quite a bit.

West's return not only improves the bench, it makes their starters more dangerous per minute. Shaq's been great- looking much better than he did in Phoenix or Cleveland.

(Jermaine is still out.)

[slick_watts]

Boston is really deep. If we get ourselves into a customary early deficit it'll be tough to dig out on the road.

[BIG EDDIE]

Boston is deep, Boston is good. They are probably the best team so far into the season (along with Lakers and Hornets), but they will slow down as the season progresses and they will lose "easy" games like the one tonight, because they cant afford to play on an energy level like this for 82 games, they're too old for that.
Its more likely they win 50-55 games this year, finish 3rd place in the East and then beat everyone in the Playoffs if they have a healthy group by that time.

Bottom line, playing the game of numbers, OKC will win tonight

[fallacy]

Durant is questionable tonight

[slick_watts]

Durant is questionable tonight

Yeah, looks like Harden will start in his place if he can't go.

I'd say chalk up a loss but weirder things have happened.

[Gant]

That's too bad. Durant is always great to watch. What's the matter with him? Nothing serious I hope.

This is a tough one for OKC without Durant and Green.

[slick_watts]

That's too bad. Durant is always great to watch. What's the matter with him? Nothing serious I hope.

This is a tough one for OKC without Durant and Green.

He turned an ankle against Houston.

[BIG EDDIE]

Durant out? Well, that changes everything.

How bout Cole and Cook, are they active?

I wonder who will be able to step up tonight...maybe Nenad going for a 20 point game?
Maybe Harden making a point for starting him in the future?
Mybe Ibaka exploding for a Karl Malone-type of performance with 30-15?

If none if the above happen, we'll hardly be able to score a 70 points.

On the other hand, this might be the game where we go back to our famous defense.

We'll see, I think this game has a few surprises for us.

[dream_catcher_9]

Durant out? Well, that changes everything.

How bout Cole and Cook, are they active?

I wonder who will be able to step up tonight...maybe Nenad going for a 20 point game?
Maybe Harden making a point for starting him in the future?
Mybe Ibaka exploding for a Karl Malone-type of performance with 30-15?

If none if the above happen, we'll hardly be able to score a 70 points.

On the other hand, this might be the game where we go back to our famous defense.

We'll see, I think this game has a few surprises for us.

I hope so

[Trip]

If they sleep on us with Durant out we might be able to pull off a win like Cleveland did.

[dlts20]

durant is playing

[slick_watts]

Not sure I like Durant playing. We have a game tomorrow against Milwaukee...

[Sinant]

ESPN keeps changing its mind.

At first they reported he told Lisa Salters he'd play anyways, now they're back to saying he won't play.

[number 11]

kd playing ?