Nuggets opened up a big can of FAIL tonight. Didn't expect that from them at all. OKC played ok but they didn't deserve a 17-point win. There were times when they were ready to give up the lead but the Nuggets weren't ready to step up and take control long enough. Wilson Chandler and Gallinari have to contribute and JR Smith can be a total zero. I assume attitude problems is why Karl yanked him out and kept him out. K-Mart can't afford to let his behind get kicked by Ibaka and Collison.
You know I used to be the biggest Cincinnati Bearcats fan because of Bob Huggins and I remember how good Kenyon Martin was in college. He was still pretty good when he first got in the NBA. Now in watching him, he looks to be pretty useless. Really sad to see how he has gone downhill.
As much as I want Denver to prevail, when the higher seed takes the first 2 at home, they go on to win the series 94% of the time.
STEIN_LINE_HQ Marc Stein RT @nuggetsnews: JR Smith says team had no pulse 2day and "strong possibility" won't sign w/DEN in summer. (GOOD TO SEE SUCH FIGHT DOWN 2-0)
That's that dude from the movie Sonicsgate, a documentary about Seattle losing its team (Pretty Good actually). Didn't expect him to be at the game lol...
True. His isolation game (though improving rapidly) is still a work in progress. Can someone tell me what has happened to Wilson Chandler? He's fallen off a cliff the last several games I've seen him. Is he struggling with a nagging injury?
What's with the "beating on the chest" thing from Durant and Ibaka though? Arrogance? I mean, I know you're leading 2-0, and in Ibaka's case, you just blocked somebody, but come on...
i guess it's a sign of their team camaraderie. perkins has been doing it too. but guys can do that if they are great shot blockers, which ibaka is. deke was able to do his finger wag everytime b/c he was an all-timer with shot blocks.
Except he's a much better basketball player. What's impressed me about Ibaka is he missed his first three shots and ended up 12/10/3 by halftime. Had a good up-and-under move on Nene and has been a demon on the boards. In the past, he's disappeared after starting slow. JJ, Ibaka is a VERY emotional player. Just his programming. He also does the finger-wag. Very outgoing personality. He and Westbrook (and now Perkins) give the Thunder some colorful characters.
ibaka definitely has the better offensive potential than dikembe. but he won't have the defensive impact that deke had. however, at this current era of big man, he has a great chance to challenge dwight for DPOY in a few years as he gets more minutes.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I love Ibaka; I was convinced he was going to be a big time defensive player after the OKC - LA series last year. I'm just glad to see Ibaka start to develop into a competent offensive / post player as well. It's good to see Westbrook, Durant, and the rest of the Thunder cast give him the ball sometimes, to see what he does with it. Ibaka is definitely not as one-dimensional as he was in the past.
If Ibaka continues to develop, comparing him to Deke will become a complete joke. I doubt he ever becomes DPOY. I think most of his future growth will be on the offensive side of the ball. He's got skills. Scott Brooks has only recently loosened the reigns a little more instead of telling him to focus solely on defense and blocked shots. If the Thunder advance and more people see him play, the stereotype of him being only a defensive player will go away and ignoramuses like Jon Barry won't blow a circuit when he cans a few jumpers in a row.
hopefully he doesn't stop his defensive prowess once he starts honing his offensive skills. a lot of young guys do that when they begin to focus on their offense. he has the talent and physicality to be a beast defensively.
Ironically, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook might hinder Ibaka's process of becoming a superb offensive player. I'm not saying Ibaka won't get there as long as he is on OKC; just, he won't get there as fast. Again, though, great to see Ibaka develop.
