Oklahoma City @ Phoenix Suns 02/04/2011

[slick_watts]

The Suns have been playing good basketball lately, as they continue to integrate their new players into the rotation. Marcin Gortat, in particular, has had a nice run of games putting up 14/10 on decent efficiency in the last 10. Remember, this is a Suns team that beat us at home without Vince Carter or Marcin Gortat.

The Thunder probably want to at least split this back to back with Phoenix and Utah. I wouldn't be too worried about a loss to Phoenix, so long as we beat Utah.

[bbms]

Grant Hill was on fire.

[slick_watts]

Thabo will be back in the starting lineup.

[cajun joe]

thabo proving why he's so valuable early one....oh wait...

harden struggles at times, but he's twice the player this guy is...

[slick_watts]

Our starting lineup is a complete joke. Krstic is clearly hurt, Thabo is awful. They don't play defense. Why can't Scott Brooks just make the change, this unit hasn't worked, EVER.

[cajun joe]

thabo and krstic both look like they're moving in molasses. they shouldn't have started.

[slick_watts]

Brooks' PnR strategy against the Suns to switch these screens is so irritating and (Please Use More Appropriate Word). I hate watching games against the Suns or Mavs and seeing Russell Westbrook guarding Dirk or Frye 40 possessions a game, or Serge Ibaka not knowing whether to switch on the screen like that last play with Lopez.

This is why I think Brooks sucks at coaching defense. Last season this crap did not happen nearly as often.

[cajun joe]

for okc to stay in this game, I have a feeling durant is going to have to go for about 45.

[slick_watts]

We're going to win a three point contest against the Suns.

[cajun joe]

harden/ibaka

+11/+14

[whatisthis]

Vince Carter is just throwing up garbage and it's going in

[slick_watts]

Well the offense looked great but the defense has to get better. Our switching on screens doesn't work so well, the Suns are getting tons of mismatches and are good at exploiting them. I'd rather see our bigs show hard on the high screens with Nash and let the interior recover, Frye / Lopez aren't great passers.

[whatisthis]

if i'm not mistaken, we've been the best offensive team in the league since December 1

[dream_catcher_9]

if i'm not mistaken, we've been the best offensive team in the league since December 1

if true, that's remarkable considering how selfish we play at times.

[cajun joe]

sefolosha needs to get out of this game and not come back.

[dream_catcher_9]

geez, we are playing so selfishly right now.

[slick_watts]

if i'm not mistaken, we've been the best offensive team in the league since December 1

We're at 114 points per 100 possessions since December 1. I don't have data for every other team, but that would be #1 over the course of the entire season.

[slick_watts]

geez, we are playing so selfishly right now.

Thabo and Krstic are invisible, it's hard to make an offense work with only three players.

[slick_watts]

Harden loses Carter, Westbrook with a rushed layup attempt Carter wide open in transition, Durant loses Hill.

Westbrook I think is losing control of this game.

[dream_catcher_9]

geez, we are playing so selfishly right now.

Thabo and Krstic are invisible, it's hard to make an offense work with only three players.

they aren't in the game, nothing has changed. everyone needs to move and pass more.