For someone you think is a great player, you love to use the name "Westbrick." There was perhaps two or three times Westbrook missed an open Durant to play hero ball last night. For a converted SG still learning how to be a PG, I'd say that's pretty good. What you also fail to understand is that nobody besides Durant and Westbrook has scoring punch in OKC's starting five. If Westbrook isn't scoring, the defense can just key on Durant and deny him the ball. Westbrook's scoring ability helps Durant get better looks. The fact that he put up 27 points and 11 assists and people still whine that he didn't pass Durant the ball enough is beyond idiotic.
Even though it hasn't cost them a game (yet) and they usually take the lead by the end of the 1st quarter, OKC's slow starts in these playoffs bug me. Next season, something has to change. Either Thabo needs to finally become a reliable spot-up 3-point shooter (I believe he can) or the Thunder need to let Ibaka develop as a 1st quarter scorer like Scola did for the Rockets a few years back. When teams focused early on Yao & McGrady, Scola would often toss in 13-14 quick points. I believe Ibaka will be up to the task. He's done it several times this year and it often engages him the rest of the game. Either that or give him Perk's early touches because points are more likely to result. Regardless of how the Finals turn out, this is a fundamental issue OKC needs to address if Perk and Thabo remain starters. (I realize in game 1 last night it was mainly hot shooting by the Heat that caused the deficit).
damn is there a call that Wade does not whinge and b**** about, it great to see the refs not falling for his toss it up and get bailed out crap, he reactions after are just flat out embarassing
The officiating has been good so far. They missed a few calls here and there but not one-sided. And they didn't call attention to themselves. That's how officiating is supposed to be. (Or maybe Stern hasn't decided which team he wants to crown champion. :grin
I completely agree with you. The Thunder have consistently lost the first quarter by significant margins in this playoff run, but they have dominated the middle two quarters to bail themselves out. Either Ibaka or Thabo need to step up and get some early buckets, or they may need to bring Harden in early in the 1st to give them that 3rd scorer they lack.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>LeBron: "We have to get more guys in there to give me and D-Wade rest."</p>— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/212765079882575872" data-datetime="2012-06-13T04:35:22+00:00">June 13, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Can't be that embarassing, almost every player has a stupid looking reaction when they attack the rim and don't get the call they want.
Theres more to this quote, and he said its not a big deal. People just make it a big deal when they report it as this and not whats said around that.
Heard this on ESPN this morning in reference to that little montage at the beginning of the game with Lebron & the Larry O'Brien trophy: "Put the trophy down Lebron. Trophies are for closers."
I am betting they don't. James is a great player, but he doesn't seem to have that "something" that Jordan had and Kobe has.
LOL @ Westbrook stealing a page out of Ginobili's book (running infront of Bosh, stopping and picking up the foul). I guess I did not take into account that the Thunder would learn so much from the Spurs. Heat in 6?
Interestingly enough, IIRC, Rockets were willing to use their lottery pick on him. Not every NBA team management is as inept as the Rockets front office.
