Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets 12/19/09

[slick_watts]

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

@




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

Matchup

We all know how frustrating the last game against these Rockets ended up, so hopefully our guys are ready to bounce back with some good play on the road.

Carl Landry lost some teeth and he might not play tonight, but Houston is still formidable and was able to beat us soundly in the last meeting without having Luis Scola most of the game.

The matchups in the front court have to work out better for us if we're going to win. Houston dominated us on the boards in the last meeting and got to seemingly every loose ball. I'm a bit worried about energy on the back to back.

Hopefully we get more production out of the bench.

Some Numbers

OKC is now 7th in the league in defense rating after climing as high as 3rd. We are 21st in offensive rating, just waiting to push into the second third of the league.

James Harden has a higher PER than Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green .. hmm.

A Question

Can we finally beat this team?!

[Guy986]

No Carl Landry so i think Thunder wins.

[dream_catcher_9]

Houston just has our number....

[Clangus]

Is it our coach? F-ME - something like 9 offensive boards in teh quarter.
Does Westbrick have the green light to shot that god awful jumper every time he wants?
That **** should not be allowed to shoot at all.

[dream_catcher_9]

Chuck Hayes all 6'6" of him had 15 boards and 8 offensive rebounds including some huge ones at the end.

Brooks needs to teach some of our players to play with some heart.

[Tirion]

What about Serge Ibaka? Any chance he's gonna take some of Green's minutes? or even make him expendable in the long-term?

[wiff]

What about Serge Ibaka? Any chance he's gonna take some of Green's minutes? or even make him expendable in the long-term?

Well for some lame reason League Pass won't let me watch this game the bastards. But yes I think it is inevitable that Ibaka is going to start at the PF spot for the Thunder.

I don't know if that really makes Green "expendable" because Green would be a great 6th man.

Now as much as I want it to happen soon I don't think it will happen this year unless Green or Durant hurt themselves.

I know there are some Thunder fans who are getting greedy, but really this year is still very much a rebuilding year so if they make the playoffs that is just gravy.

Although Jeff might be the better scorer Ibaka is actually able to body up in the post and not get completely used in man to man post D.

[KidDelicious]

this was my first NBA game that i attended and although i was dissapointed that we lost it was fun. serge ibaka is quickly becoming one of my favorite thunder players and i hope he is there for the long term and he matures into that starting PF we need.

met russell westbrook too. he had a pink backpack. still my favorite player lol

[slick_watts]

Disappointing loss after the nice come back. Got killed on the boards at the end.

Jeff Green's actually had a nice run of games on offense.. he was terrible on defense in this one, though.

[Clangus]

I know there are some Thunder fans who are getting greedy, but really this year is still very much a rebuilding year so if they make the playoffs that is just gravy.

It may be greedy, but the team has shown the ability to win against any team on any given night. There is no reason to believe that we shouldn't expect them compete better than they have on the Glass lately. There is also no reason for Westbrick to be shooting 15 times a game when most of the time he makes only 4 of those shots. I am not saying they should be contending with the Lakers, but we shouldn't be giving up so many offensive boards. I'm not expecting a win everynight, BUT losing because of poor shots and poor boxing out is frustrating as all hell, and these are things that WE CAN EXPECT of them as THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS. Losing because of a poor shooting night by KD? I'm fine with that, hell I am even fine with losing because a team picks apart our D, I can even handle losing because other teams big men tear us apart offensively. But Rebounding and shot selection(from our PG) are not something I will get used to "because we are re-building"

[wiff]

I know there are some Thunder fans who are getting greedy, but really this year is still very much a rebuilding year so if they make the playoffs that is just gravy.

It may be greedy, but the team has shown the ability to win against any team on any given night. There is no reason to believe that we shouldn't expect them compete better than they have on the Glass lately. There is also no reason for Westbrick to be shooting 15 times a game when most of the time he makes only 4 of those shots. I am not saying they should be contending with the Lakers, but we shouldn't be giving up so many offensive boards. I'm not expecting a win everynight, BUT losing because of poor shots and poor boxing out is frustrating as all hell, and these are things that WE CAN EXPECT of them as THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS. Losing because of a poor shooting night by KD? I'm fine with that, hell I am even fine with losing because a team picks apart our D, I can even handle losing because other teams big men tear us apart offensively. But Rebounding and shot selection(from our PG) are not something I will get used to "because we are re-building"

Clangus I'm not faulting you for wanting a winning team. I just don't really think the predictable options out there really make the Thunder that much better much less a title contender. Ala Dalembert or Kaman.

Plus I really don't think this team has shown the ability to win against any team on any given night.

Name one win against a top team in the league. The Orlando game was without Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter their two best offensive players.

Sure they beat the Spurs but the Spurs are not the old Spurs anymore now they are just OLD Spurs, sitting in the 8th spot in the West.

So I'm not really buying that this team can beat anyone on any night just yet. Sure they have made strides and are competitive but seriously show me one quality win this team has come up with.

What this team needs more than anything is time. They need time for Westbrook, Harden, Thabo, Ibaka and Green to improve. I really think this season is about patience.

Again man I'm not faulting you for wanting a winner. I have been following the Sonics my whole life. I remember the Dale Ellis and X-man parking lot fist fights. I was still pretty young then and I didn't become the avid fan I am now until Kemp rolled into Seattle. Obviously things have changed in a variety of ways but I want a winner as well. I'm just not willing to give up anything of real value for a short term fix, that ultimately leaves a hole in the middle in two years and we are back to square one.

[Clangus]

Cant argue with your logic Wiffler,

But we have beat Utah, Orlando, S.A and have been in most other games until the final 3 or so minutes. We certainly have the ability.

I have been following the Sonics/Thunder a similar amount of time, and just like you seriously since the Reignman/Payton days. And honestly even when we last had a good year I still expected a win everygame. I guess its just my positive outlook or something, but I believe we can beat anyone.

[wiff]

And honestly even when we last had a good year I still expected a win everygame. I guess its just my positive outlook or something, but I believe we can beat anyone.

I think this team is close but until they take down a healthy Laker team or Celtics team, it's hard to go all in for me.

Lets hope your belief comes true tomorrow against the Lakers. Obviously they are great measuring stick.

[Clangus]

Thunder 101
Lakers 97