Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks 11/24/2010

[ahonui06]

I would just like to thank Russell Westbrook for being a true professional and taking Barea out of the game even if it's only temporary

[slick_watts]

So let's see. Krstic and Collison pick up 3 fouls each. Aldrich is in Tulsa, and Mullens is inactive.

We go to Ibaka / Green and give up our entire lead very quickly.

I don't understand this team sometimes.

[dream_catcher_9]

So let's see. Krstic and Collison pick up 3 fouls each. Aldrich is in Tulsa, and Mullens is inactive.

We go to Ibaka / Green and give up our entire lead very quickly.

I don't understand this team sometimes.

Brooks is still learning.

[slick_watts]

It shouldn't take him this long to learn the positions of his players.

[slick_watts]

Nice start. Gotta keep it up.

Hope they watch the 3PT line. Mavs have been getting open...

[slick_watts]

Wow. Dallas is missing wide open shots over and over.

[slick_watts]

Ridiculously lazy defense. We're lucky we're not down double digits, we're leaving Dallas shooters wide open repeatedly, not even bothering to close out. Poor communication, poor rotations...

Very lucky to even have a lead in this one.

[slick_watts]

Bad defense continues. Ibaka and Harden switch on the screen twice for some reason (Dirk / Terry) leading to a Terry jumper and a Dirk jumper. Ibaka turns his head and gives up a layup.

[slick_watts]

Harden and Ibaka switched the screen three times and that lead to six points for Dallas this quarter.

Russ and Ibaka did not switch (Russ fought through the screen to Barea) and Dirk nearly turned it over.

I wonder if it's Harden being lazy on defense and not wanting to fight through the screen?

[slick_watts]

Our defense is a complete joke.

[dream_catcher_9]

what a **** collapse. disgusting

they went on a 17-3 run in like 2 minutes.

[Sinant]

Durant still panics when the opposing team has a decent lead and starts chuking 3s.

He had a great individual game, but Russ had a pretty bad one. It'll be hard for the Thunder to win without them both playing well.

[Trip]

Wow, my feed goes haywire and the Mavs just rip us. Pretty sure I can tell just what happened just from reading the posts. They finally got what they deserved for the lack of defensive effort.

[slick_watts]

what a **** collapse. disgusting

they went on a 17-3 run in like 2 minutes.

We should have lost by 20. Dallas wasn't doing anything different to close that game offensively, and we weren't doing anything different defensively. They just started making all their wide open shots we were giving them.

Classic example was Kidd's two three pointers. Game tied 90-90, Dirk made two sort of open three pointers. Ibaka turns it over, Kidd comes down in transition, nobody picks him up (Russ trying to steal the ball back when Ibaka turned it over) and Kidd makes the three.

Next time, Kidd screens with Dirk, Russ trails gambling for the steal, Kidd gets wide open three and he makes it.

Our defense has talent, there's no question, but it's undisciplined and played that way all game giving Dallas countless open looks. Our offense looks good most of the game but gets completely undisciplined down the stretch of close games (and even not close games).

I'm beginning to believe that the start of last year, due to a combination of teams taking us lightly and luck, we played over our heads defensively. Without any size in the paint, our margin for error on the perimeter is razor thin.

Either the team is poorly coached defensively or the players just aren't staying focused. I'm not sure which to believe at this point. We're 10-5, yeah, and that's great. But it's disappointing seeing the defense just evaporate after starting last season so well (and playing well in the playoffs).

[Sinant]

Has anyone else noticed an improvement in Durant's passing these last 2 games?

He seems more willing to drive and pass than in the past where he drove and looked to primarily get fouled.

5 APG is probably a pipe dream, but this could be the season he breaks 3.

[Angry Jimmy]

Can you imagine if Tyson Chandler was the center for the Thunder?

They shouldn't have vetoed that trade.

[obye]

Tyson's injury prone ! Even if he plays well now he will crack later !
I'd pull the strings on that McGee guy or DeMarcus Cousins !