Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets 11/06/09

KidDelicious · Post #1 » by **KidDelicious** » Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:35 pm

so what do you guys think about this matchup.. everyone says the rockets are gritty for a team with no stars or anything. but the Thunder are gritty AND talented.
kevin durant cant mess up 3 times, expect a big game from him today.

i say thunder win by 13. GO THUNDER!

Post #2 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:10 pm

Russell Westbrook / Thabo Sefolosha / Kevin Durant / Jeff Green / Nenad Krstic

@

Aaron Brooks / Trevor Ariza / Shane Battier / Luis Scola / Chuck Hayes

Matchup

Houston and OKC will be able to empathize with each other tonight as both teams had overtime losses to the Lakers in their last game.

Houston is not a big team, so that definitely plays into OKC's favor. Jeff Green might be able to get some post play in on Luis Scola or Chuck Hayes and Nenad Krstic won't be as much of a liability on the defensive end. It'll be an interesting matchup between Aaron Brooks and Russell Westbrook, Brooks is off to a great start on the year. Houston has a lot of good, streaky three point shooters like Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier that OKC will have to watch out for.

Some Numbers

Russell Westbrook is leading the league in turnovers despite playing a game less than some of the others behind him. He is, however, shooting over 46% from the field early on.

Although they are shooting only 43% as a team, OKC is holding its opposition to under 43% a game. Houston is shooting three pointers 10% better than OKC this year.

A Question

How will the OKC front court face against the undersized but tough Houston front line?

Julio · Post #3 » by **Julio** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 12:15 am

Like I said on Rockets board( I'm fan of both teams), will be interesting to see how Durant, who is strugling to find his rythm, is going against Battier.
Brooks and Westbrook, another great matchup. Russell has been up and down right now, and Brooks have been great, but he isn't much of a defender.
Good batle between Green and Scola.Luis is very important to the Rockets team, if he or Landry can score from inside that balances the team, so Green, who imo has been Thunder's best player so far this season, will be important.
Anyway, love these teams, I hope for a great game, and that the Thunder will be hungry, because Houston sure is every game.

dre_1614 · Post #4 » by **dre_1614** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 12:51 am

If we play with the same effort in our first 4 games we can win.

Post #5 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:23 am

Rockets weren't supposed to be much of a great team this season, but they've looked pretty good thus far (not impressive to me, but definitely better than I thought they'd be).

I think we bounce back from 2 close losses to really good teams and get a good win against a pretty solid team.

Post #6 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:52 am

Crap... 2 REALLY early fouls on Green!

Post #7 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:00 am

Better start than we had the last two that's for sure.

Post #8 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:04 am

Chase freakin' Budinger just schooled Durant.

Post #9 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:07 am

Rockets ended the 1st quarter with a 12-4 run. The Rockets bench has looked pretty good.

Post #10 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:12 am

KD hitting his shots but playing very poor defense, letting Shane Battier beat him to the rim.

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:14 am

SHAUN LIVINGSTON SIGHTING

Post #12 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:22 am

I don't know what Brooks is thinking with this lineup out there. Ollie / Harden / Livingston / Collison / Thomas against a bunch of Rockets who are 10x as fast. Getting beat down the court twice in a row for easy baskets.

wiff · Post #13 » by **wiff** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:25 am

Wow back to back dunks for the Rockets. Durant looks like he found his stroke. Looks like he might hit for 40 tonight.

Post #14 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:27 am

Just horrible defense right now. Russell Westbrook is making stupid decisions. One on one basketball with no real ball movement. .more of the same!

Real possession: Westbrook dribbles the ball above the key for ~17 seconds before shooting a jump shot.

dre_1614 · Post #15 » by **dre_1614** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:29 am

yeah Westbrook is playing like **** these last 3 games.

Post #16 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:41 am

Hah after we say that he scores 8 points in a row to cut the lead back to 5 at half time.

Not a great first half defensively, allowed Houston to get a lot of easy baskets in transition and they abused us in the paint. The bench was downright awful and we got murdered with the subs in. Chase Budinger has been knocking down everything.

Post #17 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:01 am

Only two assists for Westbrook so far, only 6 assists total for the team. This one on one basketball just doesn't work. Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic can't buy a basket, last game it was Kevin Durant. This team cannot manufacture easy points.

Fobbie · Post #18 » by **Fobbie** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:04 am

Green bricking on one end and not playing defense on the other.

Post #19 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:10 am

This is the kind of offense we're running. Westbrook drives into about 13 Rockets players, loses the handle, it's picked up by Krstic 18 feet from the basket with 18 left on the clock and he just takes the shot even though he's 1-7 from the field.

Joel Embust · Post #20 » by **Joel Embust** » Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:17 am

Yeah Westbrook is running into five players and passes the ball to the worst offensive guy on the floor. Durant not even touching it on offense at the moment.