Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors 01/31/10

[slick_watts]

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

VS




Stephen Curry / Monta Ellis / Corey Maggette / Anthony Tolliver / Andris Biedrins

Matchup

The home stand has been salvaged somewhat with the Denver win, and we get a nice favorable matchup against the road inept Warriors tonight.

Golden State gave us some problems last meeting until Corey Maggette got tossed. We had a lot of trouble keeping in front of their guards and we didn't seem comfortable playing at their fast pace. GSW will certainly look to exploit the same weaknesses

Andris Biedrins is back in the lineup, though he hasn't been that effective since returning. D-League superstar Anthony Tolliver will have his opportunities on the boards playing opposite our starting front court. Our guys did a great job on the defensive glass against Denver so hopefully that's the start of some improvement in that area.

Some Numbers

GSW is still number 1 in pace; we've hung around 18-19 the whole year. A huge scoring night by Kevin Durant (and a middling one from LeBron) might vault him into second place to Carmelo who missed another game tonight..

A Question

Can we please take care of business at home?

[wizkid27]

Should be a good win for us if everything works out. Outside of Tolliver, their starting lineup could present us all kinds of problems. Curry/Ellis/Maggette is a really solid offensive trio, and generally we do better if one of the other team's 3 smaller guys isn't a scorer so that Durant doesn't have to D up. Biedrins is just really solid on D/boards and that usually causes some issues at the center spot.

On the positive side, all of our guys should be able to set career highs in points if they're able to avoid Biedrins... none of their perimeter players are exactly known for defensive prowess.

[slick_watts]

GSW making their shots, getting easy shots, but we're getting better ones.. nice ball movement on offense.

Gotta shut down the Warriors when they go to their bench. We're letting them into the paint too much.

[Clangus]

Durant watch: 14 in the quarter - he's on pace for 56! WOOOT

LOL

I hope he makes 40

[Clangus]

Magette is also on pace for 56

[slick_watts]

Our defense has been swiss cheese.. we're winning this one due to some ref love on both ends.

Their guards are getting into the paint at will.. gotta stop that.

[slick_watts]

Wow. Eric Maynor's been playing very bad the last few games. Not liking what I'm seeing from him on either end in this one.

We're getting sucked into a fast paced game and we can't play it as well as Golden State. Slow the tempo down and be patient on offense..

And stay in front of the guards on defense, GSW is doing whatever they want going to the rim.

[slick_watts]

We are not a good team with Kevin Durant off the floor.. that offense.. wow.

[Clangus]

god dam it we are so freaking up and down lately.

[slick_watts]

Nice to see that top five defense at work.. Golden State shooting 58% from the field.

Where's Serge Ibaka?

[Clangus]

boxscore shows 56 secs - i must have been on a toilet break for that.....I would have thought with the speed and athleticism of the Warriors he'd been getting bigger minutes?

[slick_watts]

boxscore shows 56 secs - i must have been on a toilet break for that.....I would have thought with the speed and athleticism of the Warriors he'd been getting bigger minutes?

Right.. this is the kind of matchup I'd actually prefer Serge over Nick..

[slick_watts]

What a ridiculous first half. Very disappointed in this team.. especially the backcourt. Horrible defense on the perimeter all game, GSW getting whatever they want on offense.

Can't hit a shot to save our lives with Kevin Durant out of the game; nobody knows what to do on offense when the bench is in there.

Hopefully we come out with a nice third quarter.. Russ especially better shape up on defense, he's been a sieve.

[Clangus]

Third has looked great. Durant is fuc**G amazing. We are so lucky to have him!!!

34 points through 3 quarters on 12/15 shooting? GTFO!!

oh and just for fun 10 boards to go with it

[slick_watts]

Yeah another hot third quarter.. wonder if it's just coincidence, but I'd like to see us start games this way with our starters. Makes me think that maybe we're not well prepared at the beginning?

Anyway, yeah KD's been a monster but Russ has 19 points on 11 shot attempts also..

The defense has been better.. we're missing too many free throws.. that's my only complaint now.

Oh and what a dunk by Jeff Green earlier..

[Clangus]

Yeah another hot third quarter.. wonder if it's just coincidence, but I'd like to see us start games this way with our starters. Makes me think that maybe we're not well prepared at the beginning?

Anyway, yeah KD's been a monster but Russ has 19 points on 11 shot attempts also..

The defense has been better.. we're missing too many free throws.. that's my only complaint now.

Oh and what a dunk by Jeff Green earlier..

He's making a habit of that lately

[slick_watts]

Wow what's up with Eric Maynor? I thought he was supposed to be the steady one..?

[Clangus]

Wow what's up with Eric Maynor? I thought he was supposed to be the steady one..?

Rookie wall?

[slick_watts]

Hope so! We gave away a big asset for Maynor..

Warriors hanging around here.. I'd like to see some better defense down the stretch than we've shown so far.

[Clangus]

What the hell. Durant strait up playing out of his mibnd and yet they are still in the dam game. @#$@#$@