12/15 | G28: LA Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder - 8PM CST

[alessandrux]

Good win.
A bit closer than needed, but not collapsing is okay. Defensive intensity was good.

Adams is getting more and more shots, and he looks pretty comfortable. Will be huge if old Westbrook (the slasher) is back, that might be too hard to defend for almost all teams. Free-throw shooting has to get better (and sometimes a bit softer touch would be nice), not only for Adams, for the whole team (especially Westbrook).

Still a bit disappointed that Schröder plays like mini-Westbrook in the sense of first (and second and third) looking for his own shot, I liked it more if he involved the other players more.

George is seriously playing on a MVP-level, both ends of the court.

I'm seriously impressed by Grant, solid/good defense, playing smart on offense (patient if the defense is not offering a good opportunity) and his improved shooting stretches the floor(and opens up space for (his) drives).


Easy and helpful improvement would be better boxing out for defensive rebounds, there is some (easily attainable) untapped potential.

[spearsy23]

Westbrook's free throws haven't always been that disjointed, have they? I mean, he's always had a small hitch in energy transfer from lower to upper body, but now it looks like there's a full stop before he shoots it purely with his arms.

[DoubleJ13]

Watching Hami is like watching Grant from the past where he drives & nothing about it looks good but for some reason it works sometimes.

Ain't too mad about spliting these last 4 considering how out of whack Russ has been, only real bummer loss was the Pelicans game where if they had just made their FTs they could have won. Will be bummed if they lose to the Bulls again though.

[Pillendreher]

How the hell does our guy shoot 1 of 13 from 2 and 3 of 4 from 3? That seems so improbable.

Did you see his defensive effort? Our guy is re-inventing himself as a 3&D point guard.

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Good win. Much closer than it should have been, but you have to live with that given how many bs shots the Clippers made all game long. I'm glad they took my game notes after the last two games to heart (:D) and adjusted accordingly:

8 second chance points for the Thunder, 5 second chance points for the Clippers
22 points off turnovers for the Thunder, 10 points off turnovers for the Clippers
17 points from the FT line for the Thunder, 15 points from the FT line for the Clippers

47 for the Thunder, 20 for the Clippers. That's how we need to win games.

Overall much better defensive efforts compared to the last couple of games. Rotations were better, less switching, more active in the passing lanes and most importantly Russ was actually giving effort all game long. He almost finished the game without a single 2 point basket, but at least he finally provided something on the other end.

Schröder did a better job of finding a balance between shooting and passing in the first half, but the 2nd half was rough. He needs to be a playmaker, not a shottaker.

George has been very good these last couple of weeks. Since the loss to Dallas (16 games ago), he's averaging 27.3 PPG/7.9 RPG/4.3 APG/1.7 SPG/0.9 BPG on 48.4 % from the field and 41.4 % from 3 (62.3 TS%). Career highs in PER, ORtG, TRB%, STL%, BLK%, WS/48, BPM and most importantly for a guy like him who likes to do too much sometimes offensively: TOV% (all per bbref). I'm glad he's playing so well.

EDIT: 80 % of the 3s contested, 86 % of the 2s contested.

[Pillendreher]

Read on Twitter

Combined with Russ saying he's making those bad 3s at the end of games 9 out of 10 times, we have some serious bucket getters.

[sleestak33]

Pretty good win considering Westbrook struggled shooting massively (4-17) and also Schroder (4-14) and then our 2 weak links Patterson and Ferguson combined to play 29 minutes and score all of 2 points. Watching Russ really step up his defense and concentrate on getting the ball to Adams and PG more while taking less shots really was impressive. Hope he continues to do this.

[Old Man Game]

How the hell does our guy shoot 1 of 13 from 2 and 3 of 4 from 3? That seems so improbable.

Did you see his defensive effort? Our guy is re-inventing himself as a 3&D point guard.

------------------------------------

Good win. Much closer than it should have been, but you have to live with that given how many bs shots the Clippers made all game long. I'm glad they took my game notes after the last two games to heart (:D) and adjusted accordingly:

8 second chance points for the Thunder, 5 second chance points for the Clippers
22 points off turnovers for the Thunder, 10 points off turnovers for the Clippers
17 points from the FT line for the Thunder, 15 points from the FT line for the Clippers

47 for the Thunder, 20 for the Clippers. That's how we need to win games.

Overall much better defensive efforts compared to the last couple of games. Rotations were better, less switching, more active in the passing lanes and most importantly Russ was actually giving effort all game long. He almost finished the game without a single 2 point basket, but at least he finally provided something on the other end.

Schröder did a better job of finding a balance between shooting and passing in the first half, but the 2nd half was rough. He needs to be a playmaker, not a shottaker.

George has been very good these last couple of weeks. Since the loss to Dallas (16 games ago), he's averaging 27.3 PPG/7.9 RPG/4.3 APG/1.7 SPG/0.9 BPG on 48.4 % from the field and 41.4 % from 3 (62.3 TS%). Career highs in PER, ORtG, TRB%, STL%, BLK%, WS/48, BPM and most importantly for a guy like him who likes to do too much sometimes offensively: TOV% (all per bbref). I'm glad he's playing so well.

EDIT: 80 % of the 3s contested, 86 % of the 2s contested.

Pille, you should get a twitter account. I'm not trying to suck up or anything here, but I just so happen to have just read Miky Berra's twitter breakdown of thoughts from the game and I got to say, I think your observations are every bit as good or better.

[slick_watts]

How the hell does our guy shoot 1 of 13 from 2 and 3 of 4 from 3? That seems so improbable.

Did you see his defensive effort? Our guy is re-inventing himself as a 3&D point guard.

------------------------------------

Good win. Much closer than it should have been, but you have to live with that given how many bs shots the Clippers made all game long. I'm glad they took my game notes after the last two games to heart (:D) and adjusted accordingly:

8 second chance points for the Thunder, 5 second chance points for the Clippers
22 points off turnovers for the Thunder, 10 points off turnovers for the Clippers
17 points from the FT line for the Thunder, 15 points from the FT line for the Clippers

47 for the Thunder, 20 for the Clippers. That's how we need to win games.

Overall much better defensive efforts compared to the last couple of games. Rotations were better, less switching, more active in the passing lanes and most importantly Russ was actually giving effort all game long. He almost finished the game without a single 2 point basket, but at least he finally provided something on the other end.

Schröder did a better job of finding a balance between shooting and passing in the first half, but the 2nd half was rough. He needs to be a playmaker, not a shottaker.

George has been very good these last couple of weeks. Since the loss to Dallas (16 games ago), he's averaging 27.3 PPG/7.9 RPG/4.3 APG/1.7 SPG/0.9 BPG on 48.4 % from the field and 41.4 % from 3 (62.3 TS%). Career highs in PER, ORtG, TRB%, STL%, BLK%, WS/48, BPM and most importantly for a guy like him who likes to do too much sometimes offensively: TOV% (all per bbref). I'm glad he's playing so well.

EDIT: 80 % of the 3s contested, 86 % of the 2s contested.

Pille, you should get a twitter account. I'm not trying to suck up or anything here, but I just so happen to have just read Miky Berra's twitter breakdown of thoughts from the game and I got to say, I think your observations are every bit as good or better.

low bar.

[Old Man Game]

Did you see his defensive effort? Our guy is re-inventing himself as a 3&D point guard.

------------------------------------

Good win. Much closer than it should have been, but you have to live with that given how many bs shots the Clippers made all game long. I'm glad they took my game notes after the last two games to heart (:D) and adjusted accordingly:

8 second chance points for the Thunder, 5 second chance points for the Clippers
22 points off turnovers for the Thunder, 10 points off turnovers for the Clippers
17 points from the FT line for the Thunder, 15 points from the FT line for the Clippers

47 for the Thunder, 20 for the Clippers. That's how we need to win games.

Overall much better defensive efforts compared to the last couple of games. Rotations were better, less switching, more active in the passing lanes and most importantly Russ was actually giving effort all game long. He almost finished the game without a single 2 point basket, but at least he finally provided something on the other end.

Schröder did a better job of finding a balance between shooting and passing in the first half, but the 2nd half was rough. He needs to be a playmaker, not a shottaker.

George has been very good these last couple of weeks. Since the loss to Dallas (16 games ago), he's averaging 27.3 PPG/7.9 RPG/4.3 APG/1.7 SPG/0.9 BPG on 48.4 % from the field and 41.4 % from 3 (62.3 TS%). Career highs in PER, ORtG, TRB%, STL%, BLK%, WS/48, BPM and most importantly for a guy like him who likes to do too much sometimes offensively: TOV% (all per bbref). I'm glad he's playing so well.

EDIT: 80 % of the 3s contested, 86 % of the 2s contested.

Pille, you should get a twitter account. I'm not trying to suck up or anything here, but I just so happen to have just read Miky Berra's twitter breakdown of thoughts from the game and I got to say, I think your observations are every bit as good or better.

low bar.

And yet he is the one getting invited on podcasts with semi-influential Thunder media figures. There's no accounting for taste I guess.

[Pillendreher]

Pille, you should get a twitter account. I'm not trying to suck up or anything here, but I just so happen to have just read Miky Berra's twitter breakdown of thoughts from the game and I got to say, I think your observations are every bit as good or better.

low bar.

And yet he is the one getting invited on podcasts with semi-influential Thunder media figures. There's no accounting for taste I guess.

I don't know if I'm ready to go mainstream yet I'm glad I can offer something when it comes to assessing the games. I'm still missing tons of stuff that happens on the court, but I think I'm getting better at identifying issues and being a little less reactionary

[ThunderBolt]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=25544118

This is one of the times where the Clippers just say, “well we did what we wanted but George just made the play.”

[NaturalThunder]

Westbrook's free throws haven't always been that disjointed, have they? I mean, he's always had a small hitch in energy transfer from lower to upper body, but now it looks like there's a full stop before he shoots it purely with his arms.

Yeah, it's definitely exaggerated this year. We need the Mavs shooting coach to come work with Russ in the off season.

[Pillendreher]

So - this is per Erik Horne - apparently Beverley was jawing with the ref all the way through George shooting FTs and then Schröder walked over to her and asked her "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?". She gave him the T right afterwards

And about Russ cracking up postgame about something Grant did/said: Per Horne, he's "the most liked guy on the team", the "Russ whisperer" and "the Thunder's secret glue guy". I of course am beside me at this blatant attempt to push Grant in the eye of the public. This is all just part of the conspiracy to destroy Patterson's reputation. I will unearth this someday. It will be the Thunder's Watergate!

[ThunderBolt]

So - this is per Erik Horne - apparently Beverley was jawing with the ref all the way through George shooting FTs and then Schröder walked over to her and asked her "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?". She gave him the T right afterwards

And about Russ cracking up postgame about something Grant did/said: Per Horne, he's "the most liked guy on the team", the "Russ whisperer" and "the Thunder's secret glue guy". I of course am beside me at this blatant attempt to push Grant in the eye of the public. This is all just part of the conspiracy to destroy Patterson's reputation. I will unearth this someday. It will be the Thunder's Watergate!

I’m a closet grant fan. Sometimes I want to post about how exciting he is but I fear your wrath. I know blocks and dunks get overrated but i can’t help myself.

[Pillendreher]

I want to post about how exciting he is but I fear your wrath.

I know blocks and dunks get overrated but i can’t help myself.

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┻┳| •.•) I cheer when Grant
┳┻|⊂ﾉ does something well
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[NaturalThunder]

Accidentally posted this in the Diallo thread this morning...


It really is crazy how well Gallinari plays against us. And going back through his game logs, he definitely brings his absolute best against us. I mean he doesn't do much else other than score, but he's doing it at his highest level this year against us.

In three games against OKC this year, he's averaging 27 PPG on 56.3% FG, 73% 3P (on 5 attempts per game), and 89% FT. His TS% against us this year is 73.7%.

And it's not like we aren't trying to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at him. We've ran through every possible defender we have and it doesn't matter. Force him into tough stepback 18-20 footers and tough, contested stepback threes? Hardly matters. He almost never misses. His five highest scoring games this year are 28 points (OKC), 28 points (Nets), 28 points (Suns), 27 points (OKC), and 26 points (OKC).

[Pillendreher]

Accidentally posted this in the Diallo thread this morning...


It really is crazy how well Gallinari plays against us. And going back through his game logs, he definitely brings his absolute best against us. I mean he doesn't do much else other than score, but he's doing it at his highest level this year against us.

In three games against OKC this year, he's averaging 27 PPG on 56.3% FG, 73% 3P (on 5 attempts per game), and 89% FT. His TS% against us this year is 73.7%.

And it's not like we aren't trying to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at him. We've ran through every possible defender we have and it doesn't matter. Force him into tough stepback 18-20 footers and tough, contested stepback threes? Hardly matters. He almost never misses. His five highest scoring games of this season this year are 28 points (OKC), 28 points (Nets), 28 points (Suns), 27 points (OKC), and 26 points (OKC).

They have a lot of those guys. Harris is another one of those. If we made our open shots the way the Clippers convert on their bs attempts, we'd be a top 5 offense.

[spearsy23]

So - this is per Erik Horne - apparently Beverley was jawing with the ref all the way through George shooting FTs and then Schröder walked over to her and asked her "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?". She gave him the T right afterwards

Clippers broadcast mentioned it during the game. They weren't really happy about it

Also, I love their broadcast.

[slick_watts]

So - this is per Erik Horne - apparently Beverley was jawing with the ref all the way through George shooting FTs and then Schröder walked over to her and asked her "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?". She gave him the T right afterwards

Clippers broadcast mentioned it during the game. They weren't really happy about it

Also, I love their broadcast.

maggette is a surprising natural.

[bondom34]

https://theathletic.com/716453/2018/12/16/russell-westbrooks-energy-and-more-takeaways-from-the-thunders-win-against-the-clippers/

Trump card. A Thunder fan just behind the scorer’s table took aim Saturday night at Patrick Beverley, a favorite target of the crowd here, but lobbed a different sort of taunt his way.

“Hey Pat!” the fan shouted. “Do you love Trump?”

He didn’t stop with the presidential derision. He shouted to Beverley at one point, “I know you voted for him!” in reference to Donald Trump. The next time Beverley was in earshot, the fan yelled to him “He’s trying to take away the Affordable Care Act!”

Love it that it's become an insult