Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns 03/06/2011

Post #1 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 6:41 pm

Vince Carter, the Thunder killer, is officially listed as day to day for this game.

The Suns always seems to give this team problems. The first meeting it was Grant Hill, the second it was Vince Carter. Phoenix has been on a roll lately, and they've shored up their bench even more by adding Aaron Brooks.

How much small ball do we see tonight?

fallacy · Post #2 » by **fallacy** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 8:34 pm

The suns have been playing really well lately, winning 5 of last 6. We always seem to go small against them. It'll be a tough game

theokie · Post #3 » by **theokie** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 11:44 pm

According to Mayberry Durant will see "a fair amount" of time at power forward.

Whats his obsession with small ball?

Post #4 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 11:48 pm

theokie wrote:According to Mayberry Durant will see "a fair amount" of time at power forward.

Whats his obsession with small ball?

There are times where Durant at PF makes sense. Our bigs aren't good at scoring and generating offense can be hard with our second unit.

i.e. against Phoenix, if they have a lineup of Gortat / Frye / Hill / Carter / Nash on the cout, I wouldn't mind us having Durant playing PF since he can defend Frye, and and deficiencies caused by the move would be made up for by having the extra scorer on the floor.

Against a team like the Lakers, though, it's a bad idea. Team with physical defenders who hound Durant and body him up, we need sceeners on the court, that means big guys.

My big problem with Brooks is that he uses this small ball in dumb situations, and goes really small sometimes which makes no sense (i.e. against Atlanta he had four guards + NC in the game). Durant at PF on its own, conceptually, isn't a bad thing to me depending on the matchups.

Mostly, I hate Durant at the PF with Ibaka at C. That's not a good combination unless the opponent is extremely small.

CKRT · Post #5 » by **CKRT** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 11:52 pm

Will Perk play today? I haven't been keeping up with the team for a few days.

MrWHYNOT · Post #6 » by **MrWHYNOT** » Sun Mar 6, 2011 11:55 pm

Suns will be playing Channing Frye at the 4 or 5 a lot.. so having Durant at PF isnt a big deal considering he'll be guarding a perimeter player..

Post #7 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:23 am

Ugly offense to start this one. KD forcing up some bad shots. No floor spacing at all.

Sinant · Post #8 » by **Sinant** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:27 am

Ugly game so far.

Suns are slicing up the Thunder defense, and KD is playing very poorly.

Post #9 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:30 am

Sinant wrote:Ugly game so far.

Suns are slicing up the Thunder defense, and KD is playing very poorly.

Yep...

The defense in transition has been especially poor. Even on made baskets, Nash pushes the ball and they get favorable matchups. That three pointers by Carter in transition after the KD miss was especially bad.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #10 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:34 am

Durant has been in the league 4 years and his shot selection still is terrible. Is he ever going to learn?

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:41 am

dream_catcher_9 wrote:Durant has been in the league 4 years and his shot selection still is terrible. Is he ever going to learn?

Do you ever watch other star players? Anyway, KD's scoring efficiency to volume is the best in the league, despite his shot selection, so I dunno how much I'd worry about that. I worry more about Westbrook's, honestly.

Without floor spacing it's hard for him to get open.

Post #12 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:44 am

Not a focused effort on defense. Switching on every screens and our bigs are getting lost.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #13 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:44 am

slick_watts wrote:
dream_catcher_9 wrote:Durant has been in the league 4 years and his shot selection still is terrible. Is he ever going to learn?

Do you ever watch other star players? Anyway, KD's scoring efficiency to volume is the best in the league, despite his shot selection, so I dunno how much I'd worry about that. I worry more about Westbrook's, honestly.

Without floor spacing it's hard for him to get open.

I'm not saying he is bad because of his shot selection, as you said he is still really efficient. I just think he could be much better without taking all those contested jumpers, without ball movement.

Post #14 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:46 am

dream_catcher_9 wrote:
slick_watts wrote:
dream_catcher_9 wrote:Durant has been in the league 4 years and his shot selection still is terrible. Is he ever going to learn?

Do you ever watch other star players? Anyway, KD's scoring efficiency to volume is the best in the league, despite his shot selection, so I dunno how much I'd worry about that. I worry more about Westbrook's, honestly.

Without floor spacing it's hard for him to get open.

I'm not saying he is bad because of his shot selection, as you said he is still really efficient. I just think he could be much better without taking all those contested jumpers, without ball movement.

Err.. ball movement to where? We had no shooters in the game with our starting lineup.

It's why Harden should be starting. It's a place for the ball to go. Nobody passes to Thabo, and even when they do, nobody defends him.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #15 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:48 am

slick_watts wrote:Err.. ball movement to where? We had no shooters in the game with our starting lineup.

It's why Harden should be starting. It's a place for the ball to go. Nobody passes to Thabo, and even when they do, nobody defends him.

ball movement to anybody, it makes the defense react and move a bit. I just hate the times when the ball doesn't move, then the guilty guy takes a contested jumper, whether its Durant or Westbrook. Hopefully they grow out of it.

Post #16 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:56 am

Ball movement has to be constructive though. I'm with you that the ball has to move more on this team in general. Wouldn't hold my breath on that, unfortunately.

CKRT · Post #17 » by **CKRT** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 12:56 am

Westbrook is especially bad about that.

BadWolf · Post #18 » by **BadWolf** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 1:02 am

russ is really not the problem in this game, not sure why all the bashing. KD's been atrocious so far

Sinant · Post #19 » by **Sinant** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 1:04 am

The Thunder are losing solely because of KD's no show.

Krodis · Post #20 » by **Krodis** » Mon Mar 7, 2011 1:08 am

Sinant wrote:The Thunder are losing solely because of KD's no show.

Defense would help as well.