Oklahom City Thunder @ Portland Trailblazers 04/01/2011

[slick_watts]

They had an opportunity to take back momentum, but couldn't do it. The offensive execution down the stretch has been predictably poor. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook isolating and shooting jump shots, mostly without screens or other action going on off the ball, just isn't going to cut it on the road against the team that wants to win more than you do.

It was a great first half offensively, but that's about all the positive you can take from this game so far, barring a miracle comeback. The Blazers did play better defense in the second half, but it makes it much easier to do so when you play right into their hands. Durant and Westbrook were quite happy hoisting jumper after jumper...

[slick_watts]

32 second half points. The Blazers aren't really a good defensive team. Winning on the road is tough, but the Thunder have to figure out how to get good looks consistently against defenses that sell out on Westbrook and Durant.

[Jimmy76]

so what's worse deserved losses or undeserved ones?

[monopoman]

They called us the Hornets again...

Seriously how are these guys qualified to call NBA games?

Umm not to nitpick but he was actually commenting sometimes about the Hornets because we just played them 2 nights ago and lost.

Also we were fighting with the Hornets and Grizz for the 6th spot in the West so that is why they keep getting brought up.

So I really don't recall him calling OKC the Hornets unless your just barely paying attention then you hear Hornets and assume its wrong.

[slick_watts]

so what's worse deserved losses or undeserved ones?

The reffing was suspect but what do you expect on the road in a loud building? That's home court advantage. The Thunder had an opportunity in the first half when they were hitting everything to play good defense and build a big lead but they didn't. They stopped hitting everything they threw up at the rim and flushed momentum down the toilet. Blazers and their fans were hungry, so they got the calls. I'm a lot more frustrated by the poor execution of the offense in the second half than I am at the officiating.

[Mr Odd]

Once the Blazers fall out of the playoffs
ill be pulling for you guys and the Thunder.

If the Thunder can ever land a good bigman
who can be a threat in the paint = YIKES!!

Oh, the only reason why the Blazers won
this game is because we had Dan Aykroyd
front court cheering the Blazers on.. .

Also, much respect to Coach Brooks for wearing a
number 20 button in rememberance to Maurice Lucas.

[Jimmy76]

so what's worse deserved losses or undeserved ones?

The reffing was suspect but what do you expect on the road in a loud building? That's home court advantage. The Thunder had an opportunity in the first half when they were hitting everything to play good defense and build a big lead but they didn't. They stopped hitting everything they threw up at the rim and flushed momentum down the toilet. Blazers and their fans were hungry, so they got the calls. I'm a lot more frustrated by the poor execution of the offense in the second half than I am at the officiating.

Nah this one felt deserved I was talking about the sloppiness and stupidity than reffing

[Webbula]

so what's worse deserved losses or undeserved ones?

I'm a lot more frustrated by the poor execution of the offense in the second half than I am at the officiating.

No freaking kidding. Regardless of how well you play on defense, when your offense can only muster 11 points in a quarter, beating anyone, let alone maintaining a lead or keeping a game close, is going to be a challenge.

[The Emcee]

They called us the Hornets again...

Seriously how are these guys qualified to call NBA games?

Umm not to nitpick but he was actually commenting sometimes about the Hornets because we just played them 2 nights ago and lost.

Also we were fighting with the Hornets and Grizz for the 6th spot in the West so that is why they keep getting brought up.

So I really don't recall him calling OKC the Hornets unless your just barely paying attention then you hear Hornets and assume its wrong.

Actually I remember them doing it twice at the start of the game, but OKC was wearing nearly-NO blue and we just played them, so I don't think it was intentional by any means.

[dream_catcher_9]

Durant shot us out of the game. I mean seriously 13 3 pointers? I would think after the 10th straight miss he would stop shooting them, but nah.......

[HeartSouloma]

Durant shot us out of the game. I mean seriously 13 3 pointers? I would think after the 10th straight miss he would stop shooting them, but nah.......

I agree he just could of drive to the line,,,

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I really liked the Durant post up and Westbrook cut to the rim. That should happen more.

I remember this play! It really should happen more often, it was scary to watch from our perspective.

[slick_watts]

Durant shot us out of the game. I mean seriously 13 3 pointers? I would think after the 10th straight miss he would stop shooting them, but nah.......

It wasn't just Durant, it was Westbrook taking long jumpers too. Both of their shot selections were poor, and the offensive execution in the second half was terrible. When teams like Portland trap and sell out on Westbrook / Durant the ball has to move, you need high screens, etc. Use your teammates. Harden came into the game and he was stuck in the corner and only got one shot in the third quarter.

This stuff is not new... I put it more on the coaching than anything, it's clear that the team is unprepared offensively against this type of defense. They end up shooting jumpers and obviously, that's too hit or miss as an offensive strategy.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

So many connections, everything from the Seattle/Portland connections and division rivalry, the 1st-2ed picks 2007, us stealing Cho away.... Even Batum looks at Durant as "the guy he will be defending against his whole career" almost in a defining way...

You forgot stealing Nate McMillan away too. I think that hurt more.

Would you rather have McMillan or Brooks?

[Stolen Team Fan]

Would you rather have McMillan or Brooks?

I would rather have McMillan. He just has a way to get the most out of the players that he has. Look at how the Blazers have always been in the playoff hunt even though they have had potentially the worst injury bug in league history. Also look at the Sonics team from 2005 (yes Fallacy, both the team and I were in Seattle then). Sure he had Ray Allen, but his #2 option was Rashard Lewis and his other starters were Luke Ridnour, Reggie Evans, and Jerome freakin' James. I dare anybody to take that team to 6 games against the prime Spurs in the conference semis.

Don't get me wrong, I like Scott Brooks a lot. But his playbook and rotations leave a lot to be desired. He would still make an excellent assistant coach for the Thunder.