Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies 04/14/10

[slick_watts]

Well this game is meaningless...

National TV Thunder ball, do we rest the starters? Mullens and Weaver were recalled from Tulsa for this game so it's likely there will be some rest for the weary.

It'd be nice to get to 50 wins, and nice to win on national television; but I'm hoping we get some valuable rest before the playoffs.

[dream_catcher_9]

I'm glad we have 3 days off till the Lakers series. We will need it after this brutal stretch we went through.

I think Shakur was recalled not Weaver btw

I do want to win this game though, 50 wins is an accomplishment,.

[slick_watts]

Oops my mistake it was Shakur.

[and1GS]

Warriors fan here, just wanted to say how much I admire the team you guys have. All of the young guys on your team have overwhelming potential (even secondary players like Maynor and Ibaka) and they can only get better in the playoffs and after the offseason. Hope you all can pick up a center to round out that lineup.

Good luck in the playoffs.

[slick_watts]

It’s been a pretty slow game.

PACE: 45.9
ORTG: 156.67
DRTG: 104.44

The ORTG is obviously gargantuan. The DRTG is good as well, better than our season mark.

The only concerns for me would be the poor transition defense and how great our defense looked with Green out or at SF and how Memphis seemed to score much more when Green was at PF (either with Ibaka, Collison, or Thomas). Minor nitpick though.

I really liked Ibaka / Thomas defensively.

Maynor was excellent. Not sure how much I like the Maynor / Westbrook backcourt though.

Nice to see Kevin Durant get to 30PPG.

[Jimmy76]

just jumped in

Durant one FT away from 90%

and has Ibaka been as interesting as his stats?

10 FTS!

[slick_watts]

Ibaka's been good but he's had to play center where we suck. Green / Ibaka has played most of this half and it's not a winning combination. Ibaka played really well with Etan Thomas.

Green is irritating even Hubie Brown who told him to stop shooting jump shots.

[dream_catcher_9]

Ibaka's been good but he's had to play center where we suck. Green / Ibaka has played most of this half and it's not a winning combination. Ibaka played really well with Etan Thomas.

Green is irritating even Hubie Brown who told him to stop shooting jump shots.

I love Greens clutch ability and intangibles, but he is frustrating to watch sometimes.

[slick_watts]

Woo 50 Wins!

Even though this game was frustrating in the second half Maynor / Ibaka at least played well.

If anyone thinks Ibaka won't deserve to start over Green next year you're high. One guy can score anywhere 18 feet in, finishes strong and challenges everything defensively. The other has turned completely into a jump shooter and gets eaten alive by 2/3 of the power forwards in the NBA.

Ibaka was everywhere.

[Jimmy76]

man who had us pegged at 50 win?

I thought wed be a .500 team

[dream_catcher_9]

agreed. Ibaka needs to start at PF with Green coming off the bench. All we need to find is a post presence in the paint on defense. I dunno who that is but I trust Presti.

Also I think Green should still get 30+ minutes a game off the bench.

[Jimmy76]

Woo 50 Wins!

Even though this game was frustrating in the second half Maynor / Ibaka at least played well.

If anyone thinks Ibaka won't deserve to start over Green next year you're high. One guy can score anywhere 18 feet in, finishes strong and challenges everything defensively. The other has turned completely into a jump shooter and gets eaten alive by 2/3 of the power forwards in the NBA.

Ibaka was everywhere.

and a huge

+1

to all of this

[Big_Mac79]

Woo 50 Wins!

Even though this game was frustrating in the second half Maynor / Ibaka at least played well.

If anyone thinks Ibaka won't deserve to start over Green next year you're high. One guy can score anywhere 18 feet in, finishes strong and challenges everything defensively. The other has turned completely into a jump shooter and gets eaten alive by 2/3 of the power forwards in the NBA.

Ibaka was everywhere.

and a huge

+1

to all of this

I do agree Ibaka has definitely shown enough to be the starter at PF
However Jimmy I know you have been adamant about Harden starting next season but I have to disagree
I think he still has a lot of growing to do

[Jimmy76]

Woo 50 Wins!

Even though this game was frustrating in the second half Maynor / Ibaka at least played well.

If anyone thinks Ibaka won't deserve to start over Green next year you're high. One guy can score anywhere 18 feet in, finishes strong and challenges everything defensively. The other has turned completely into a jump shooter and gets eaten alive by 2/3 of the power forwards in the NBA.

Ibaka was everywhere.

and a huge

+1

to all of this

I do agree Ibaka has definitely shown enough to be the starter at PF
However Jimmy I know you have been adamant about Harden starting next season but I have to disagree
I think he still has a lot of growing to do

which he can do this offseason

typically theres a lot of improvement from year one to two

if there isn't thats cause for concern

[Joel Embust]

Every game we're seeing something new from Serge Ibaka. Last night it was getting to the line and making most of the opportunity to get freebies.

April averages: 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 57% from the floor and 77% from the line along with good defense and constant effort on both ends.

I'd rather have a guy like that starting at PF than a guy who constantly bricks elbow threes, gets abused inside and only grabs 0.6 boards more than Ibaka in TWENTY more minutes per game (38 to 18).

Don't get me wrong, I like Jeff Green, but not as the starting PF.

[joyner82]

We need to trade Green+a 1st for a center imo or either trade up in the draft and draft a center.. Green is really going to have no place on the team with Ibaka budding into a possible all star power forward in the future. I can see him averaging 16 and 12 with 2 blocks once he becomes a full time starter. Green isn't going to resign if he isn't give a deal worth around 10 mill per year and he's definitely not going to if he's not a starter. I really see him with no place on this team in the future.

I wonder if New Jersey would trade Lopez for Green and 1 or 2 1st's...

[slick_watts]

Serge is great but he won't average 16/12/2. Every player that has done that in a season is a hall of famer or future hall of famer except Dikembe Mutombo (who did it once) and Artis Gilmore (who should be a hall of famer).

[Joel Embust]

12/9/2 with constant effort on both ends is plenty.

[joyner82]

Serge is great but he won't average 16/12/2. Every player that has done that in a season is a hall of famer or future hall of famer except Dikembe Mutombo (who did it once) and Artis Gilmore (who should be a hall of famer).

He's only 20 an he's averaging 6.5 5.5 and 1.3 in 18 minutes. You give him normal minutes for a power forward(30-34) and he's in the 11, 9.5, and 2 range as a rookie.

[slick_watts]

Serge is great but he won't average 16/12/2. Every player that has done that in a season is a hall of famer or future hall of famer except Dikembe Mutombo (who did it once) and Artis Gilmore (who should be a hall of famer).

He's only 20 an he's averaging 6.5 5.5 and 1.3 in 18 minutes. You give him normal minutes for a power forward(30-34) and he's in the 11, 9.5, and 2 range as a rookie.

Progression, and extrapolation, isn't usually linear. You can't take per minute numbers and extrapolate them in that fashion, presuming his production would remain static even though he'd be facing other team's starters, and be playing more minutes (leading to more fatigue).

Serge has had a great season and has been brilliant since the All Star break in particular. Let's keep things in perspective, though.