Game 10: Hornets vs. Thunder
| 2011-12 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| 3-6 | vs | 9-2 |
| January 11th, 2012 |
||
| New Orleans Seafood Arena Seasoned by Zatarain's |
||
| 7:00 PM CST | ||
| TV: CST, NBALP |
||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Jarrett Jack |
< | Russell Westbrook |
| Marco Belinelli |
< |
Thabo Sefalosha |
| Al-Farouq Aminu | < | Kevin Durant |
| Carl Landry |
< | Chris Kaman |
| Emeka Okafor | > | Kendrick Perkins |
Your Pregame Moment of Zen
On the Thunder
From 2008-2011, the Thunder were the league's feel good story, regardless of the end of season result (if you could get past the whole "stolen from Seattle" aspect of things). They were "how to build a team the right way," "how to succeed in a small market," as of last year, the "anti-HEAT," and similar assorted cliches.
But three years on, the flip has been switched. This is, on paper, the best team in the Conference, and falling short of the 2012 Finals will fully open a can of worms their detractors have been prying at for months now. Can Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant coexist? Can James Harden achieve his full potential as a third wheel? And what of the Thunder's repeated lip service to "wanting to win with defense" and their subsequent (and equally repeated) failures to even moderately approximate good defense?
For now, the Thunder are 9-2, the West's team by record. Beneath the surface though, lie some troubling details.
After finishing as a league average defensive unit in 2011, the Thunder are currently ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency. While they actually do a reasonable enough job at limiting opponent floor percentages, they rank dead last in forcing turnovers, in the bottom half of the league in defensive rebounding and committing fouls. With a defense like this, they can almost forget about competing with a Chicago or Miami in the Finals; something has to change.
Referring back to the +6 scale, as it currently stands, OKC is a +3.9 team (+6.8 offensively and -2.9 defensively). It's still early, and they'll almost certainly get better as we get further into the season. But the problems that could eventually go on to cost the Thunder a shot at winning the West are already readily apparent.
On James Harden
James Harden has started 1 game this season. As things currently stand, James Harden should be a Western Conference All-Star.
He's my runaway favorite for Most Improved Player this year (and, obviously, 6th Man). Check out his numbers this year compared to last:
30.2 minutes per game from 26.7 (last year)
8.1 FTA/36 from 5.6
89.3 FT% from 84.3
20% assist rate from 13%
22.4% usage rate from 19.5%
65.3% true shooting from 59.8%
Putting those things together, and this is the kicker, his offensive efficiency (ORtg) this year is 131.
131!
To put that in perspective, let me write this next sentence in bold:
James Harden currently has the highest offensive efficiency for any player with a usage rate over 16% in the history of basketball.
Yes, it's only 11 games in. Yes, he'll regress. But James Harden has been absolutely tremendous.
Other Notes
- Your opposing team blog for the evening is Welcome to Loud City.
- GO HORNETS
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I feel like we have the right personnel to slow down durant.
Now, Wussel Restbrook on the other hand…
Nice find by Squeaky and finish by Gus.
"Sleeping on me probably in the coffin" - Tyga
Rally Squirrel will steal yo gurl.
SANI BOOOOOY!!!
Follow me on Twitter @onpointlikecp3
Durant ended Squeaky on that 1st quarter buzzer beater by the way.
"Sleeping on me probably in the coffin" - Tyga
Rally Squirrel will steal yo gurl.
SANI BOOOOOY!!!
Follow me on Twitter @onpointlikecp3
Good finish down low by Landry.
/pause
"Sleeping on me probably in the coffin" - Tyga
Rally Squirrel will steal yo gurl.
SANI BOOOOOY!!!
Follow me on Twitter @onpointlikecp3
DA JUAN!
"Sleeping on me probably in the coffin" - Tyga
Rally Squirrel will steal yo gurl.
SANI BOOOOOY!!!
Follow me on Twitter @onpointlikecp3
Nice first half Kamen bringing it,
I do not thank the Thunder can keep up the 3 point clip but we will see. Also Summers can shoot. Oh and Thunder get allot of shady calls when they drive.
Westbrook and Durant
The best flopping 1-2 combo in the entire league.
by njennings on Jan 11, 2012 8:22 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
really pleasantly surprised by summers so far
by Rohan on Jan 11, 2012 8:24 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
I do not like how many calls they get.
harden is good though. They just drive to the basket because they know they are going to get a whistle
Our offense sometimes look like crap.
The communication they use seems to confuse each other not sure what that’s about. I am surprised we are still in this game.
Aminu fell asleep.
Also Jack calls for a screen, and then leaves before it gets there. That’s how you get moving screen fouls geesh,
lol
Belinelli doesn’t need 39 minutes because he’s inefficient on offense so let’s put Aminu in his spot….
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 11, 2012 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
Eh
That came across a little dick-ish. Basically what I’m trying to say is… don’t fall for the “anyone else but him” theory… not when it comes to this team.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 11, 2012 9:25 PM CST up reply actions
okay so in 39 minutes
Aminu would have 20 rebounds 4 steals 4 assist. Just because they do not score doesn’t make the bad on the score.
Tough Game
The team really played them hard and kept the game from getting out of hand but when they needed critical baskets, there was no way to get them. Who do you really go to in that situation? Landry tried to be the guy tonight but there was nobody else to help him out.
And is it just me, or does anyone else here just despise Russell Westbrook as much as I do? Just his face annoys me…
"You play to win the game."
He looks like a ninja turtle
And I hate him as well. Only because he flops and whines so much.
by njennings on Jan 11, 2012 9:31 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
Nice thought for what it's worth.
Best team in the west and we hung in there without 4 players one awesome on defense another awesome on Offense.
WAIT
Are you telling me it’s official? That the NOLA Arena is now officially New Orleans Seafood Arena Seasoned by Zatarain’s??
Reppin' the Lafayette Hornets fans.
I guess its kinda impossible for Belinelli to have consecutive good games...
It never fails….. Beli goes off or have a good game and the next game, he owns the brick company. I was kinda disappointed when we signed him back for another year because I thought that $ could’ve been used for someone a little more consistant. I guess when the team is in disarray as it was at the begining of “so-called” training camp, they thought….. I don’t know….. This stretch of time before our full rotation is in the game is brutal…
Just noticed
that Chris Kaman was a “probable starter” for the Thunder
hehe
Reppin' the Lafayette Hornets fans.

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