GAME DAY!

[dms269]

Well I won't be able to make a game thread tonight, was supposed to make it before I went to work but oh well, since this is still stickied.

ATL @ OKC

7pm EST

Starting lineups
Teague-Stevenson-Korver-Tolliver-Horford

Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins

Injuries:
Josh Smith- NWT ankle sprain.
Johan Petro- NWT sore back.

Kendrick Perkins- PROB- ankle sprain.

I am guessing Stevenson will be defending Durant while Korver will be on Sefo.

[HMFFL]

OKC is favored to win by 9 points.

They should win but hopefully we make it a game.

[NeZoRiL]

Skipping this game.

[dms269]

Atleast some of the game will be on before the Falcons game.

[ATL Boy]

I didn't watch the game till now I was taking a shower before the Falcons game (superstition) I see that we're up, what's the storyline so far? How have we looked?

[ATL Boy]

WE JUST BEAT OKC WITHOUT JOSH ON THE ROAD!! I had a feeling that we would win

[Jamaaliver]

Thoughts:

1. OKC misses Harden. A lot. He is just a better creater than Westbrook down the stretch. And a better defender than Kevin Martin all game.
2. I've wondered since the spring if Horford could have produced like Josh Smith did back in March as the mainstay on our team. With some serious help from our incredibly deep backcourt, yes, it looks like he can.
3. I like Louis Williams more and more each game.
4. Kevin Martin should be on our shopping list for next fall. He'd look awful good at SG next to Teague.
5. Teague looked pretty darn good in the first half. Then he disappeared on the bench.
6. Larry Drew's substitutions make my head hurt.
7. I'm becoming more and more convinced our team would be better off without Josh Smith.

[Rip2137]

As if you need convincing. You have been saying it for a while now.

Anyway, Teague not playing the 4th quarter was simply stupid. Dodged a bullet there. The +/- watchers will look at Harris's number versus Teagues, but being on the court while Lou Williams went nuts doesn't mean he had a good night.

What we saw tonight was what SHOULD have happened in the first game (using Ivan and Morrow off the bench) and we could be 2-0 now.

Watching Morrow and Korver off the ball, we don't actually run anything to get these rhythm shooters the ball in rhythm. How are there no plays for this?

[Jamaaliver]

As if you need convincing. You have been saying it for a while now.

Admit it. That 4th quarter was much less harrowing without all the boneheaded plays we've come to expect from Joshua.

[dms269]

I only watched the first quarter (had to go eat then watch the Falcons game).

It seemed like only Horford could score in the first quarter. He was the only one who could do much of anything at first, and even then i wasn't overly impressed. He seemed content to take the jumper instead of driving (one play there was no one between him the basket and he took a baseline jumper). I could tell me was going to be our leading scorer when he had 8 points already.

I love Ivan more and more.

Korver has a pretty shot, but he was cold to start the game.

[Jamaaliver]

Anyway, Teague not playing the 4th quarter was simply stupid. Dodged a bullet there.

“Lou got into a rhythm and we were going to ride it. I had to make a decision whether to bring Jeff and Kyle (Korver) back but the group that was in there had a good rhythm going and I didn’t want to do anything to disrupt that. We decided to ride Lou’s hot hand.”

[Rip2137]

I wasn't saying to pull Lou. I am saying pull Harris.

Teague and Lou look good together, undersized or not. Its not like they were about to post up Kevin Martin.

[Jamaaliver]

Oh, I wasn't trying o be argumentative. I agree, if Teague is gonna be a fixture on this team then he should be starting AND finishing games. I just thought the quote at least explained Drew's mindset.

This is gonna be a constant issue all season. Sacrificing player development for wins is a result of a man coaching to save his job.

[Rip2137]

I know what you meant, no worries

I was more angry at Drews mindset. he would do it last year too. When 5 guys were on the court, apparently THEY were the reason the team would get hot. Kirk Hinrich would be out there stinking it up on both ends, but he would leave him in because, say, Josh, had it going instead of putting Teague back in the game. Or would leave in Jason Collins because Joe had it going.

Last night, Harris wasn't getting Lou the ball, he KEPT leaving 3 point shooters open and he wasn't contributing on the offensive end at all, yet the guy with 16 points through 3 quarters and solid defense AND gettng the ball to teammates sat out the entire 4th.

The sooner we are done with this guy, the better.