3/8 | G66: Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers - 9:30PM CST

[Anderson Silva]

Refs didnt cost us thisd one exactly. But they certainly put us at a disadvantage. They were not calling it the same both ways.
Patrick Beverly was given FAR FAR more leeway to be physical than Russ or PG were.

If it was called even Pat Bev would have foulded out as well.

But its our first quarters that are costing us games. I cant remember the last time we didnt give up at least 30 in the first.

[1bigfan13]

I only watched the 1st half of the game because I had to work this morning but here's my general thoughts on OKC and the fouls.

Yes the refs were a little heavy handed in doling out fouls in the Clippers favor but OKC is largely to blame for the foul disparity as well.

How many times have we watched Westbrook not get a call on the offensive end then foul out of frustration 80 feet from the basket? Seems like it happens at least once or twice a night. Last night he did it in the 1st qtr and what made it really foolish was the Thunder were over the foul limit so he basically handed a quality Clippers team 2 free points. That's dumb basketball, and I said it the time that his intentional foul could come back to bite him in the ass (late game foul trouble) and sure enough when I wake up this morning and checked the score I see that he'd fouled out. Would have been nice to have that extra foul that he pissed away in the 1st qtr. OKC will never win anything as long as Westbrook is the focal point of their offense. His basketball IQ is too low. He doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. Just like with his idiotic technical fouls. I'm actually hoping for him to pick up another tech and be suspended. Maybe after sitting a game he'll check his attitude, especially if OKC loses that game. These are conversations that Donovan & Presti should be having with him but apparently those conversations aren't happening.

Enough about Russ. Another reason that I think they're fouling so much is because the defensive rotations and PnR defense have been bad lately. As a result of the players being out of proper defensive position, they are often left scrambling trying to recover which leads to them grabbing, pulling, hacking, etc. If they actually played solid defense for a change the foul problems would go away, IMO.

Also, how about hitting some damn free throws for a change. You have Paul George putting up 0-2 trips at the line, Adams bricking FTs like he's never picked up a ball before, and Russ being his typical schitzo self from the line. I can't walk away from a game like that blaming the refs when the team's best players can't even execute one of the simplest tasks in the game. Winners master the fundamentals of their craft.....that's clearly not OKC.

Lastly on Paul George's recent struggles. From my vantage point he's making things too hard on himself. Going on that hot streak in January/February may have been the worst thing to happen to him because he actually developed some bad shooting habits during that streak but he was so hot that the shots were going in at a high rate anyway. I watch him play lately and I see a guy who is taking way too many tough/off-balanced shots. It's rare that you see him just square up and take a balanced jump shot. Instead he's fallen in love with trying to lean into contact and taking high degree of difficulty shots. Again, this is something the coaching staff should be addressing but apparently they aren't.

[ThunderBolt]

I love George but he’s one of the streakiest players I’ve ever seen.

[Dn4sty]

I love George but he’s one of the streakiest players I’ve ever seen.

He’s had like 3 rough games coming back from a shoulder injury. Otherwise he’s been anything but streaky this season.

[Osirus89]

I love George but he’s one of the streakiest players I’ve ever seen.

He’s had like 3 rough games coming back from a shoulder injury. Otherwise he’s been anything but streaky this season.

That’s why Patrick Beverly running his mouth seems so silly to me. He’s been shooting badly for a few games now. Apparently everyone has been locking him down the last few games.

[Pillendreher]

I love George but he’s one of the streakiest players I’ve ever seen.

He’s had like 3 rough games coming back from a shoulder injury. Otherwise he’s been anything but streaky this season.

That’s why Patrick Beverly running his mouth seems so silly to me. He’s been shooting badly for a few games now. Apparently everyone has been locking him down the last few games.

Scrubs need every moment of attention they can get. What else is he known for but being a dirty player that is willfully injuring opponents? George's shoulder is clearly still bothering his jumpshot. He just played an OT game the day before and Beverly got the luxury of fouling him at will all night long. He's so desperate for attention.

[ThunderBolt]

I love George but he’s one of the streakiest players I’ve ever seen.

He’s had like 3 rough games coming back from a shoulder injury. Otherwise he’s been anything but streaky this season.

He’s had a few stretches this year but overall I agree. I don’t mean streaky in the sense that he’s inconsistent. It’s kind of hard to describe. It’s like you can tell when he’s going to have a good game or a bad one shooting the ball. Once he gets going you just know the shots will fall. But when he’s cold it seems like nothing falls. Maybe describing him as a rhythm player is more accurate. I think it’s possible his shoulder is still bothering him but I also think it’s possible that his shoulder is fine but missing games got him out of rhythm and that’s why he’s struggling.

[JustOneFix]

Why is Diallo in the doghouse?

[SecondTake]

Why is Diallo in the doghouse?

Because he belongs there. Burton on the other hand should be taking minutes from Nader.

[ThunderBolt]

Why is Diallo in the doghouse?

He isn’t in the doghouse. This is how the thunder sometimes manage their rookies. They get minutes early in the year and they decrease as the year goes on. It happened with Ferguson and Sabonis too.

[Dadouv47]

Why is Diallo in the doghouse?

He isn’t in the doghouse. This is how the thunder sometimes manage their rookies. They get minutes early in the year and they decrease as the year goes on. It happened with Ferguson and Sabonis too.

Pretty much. Could ask the same about Burton that was clearly showing that he was able to play some minutes. I love Diallo but Burton can make some 3's so I really wonder why he's not playing anymore.

We did the same with Jeremy Lamb, Cameron Payne etc. Nothing new. Sabonis too but we got Taj Gibson so I was fine with him having less minutes but he basically didn't play anymore