Harden’s 37 PT Performance Leads HOU To Game 1 Victory Over OKC (123-108)

Harden’s 37 PT Performance Leads HOU To Game 1 Victory Over OKC (123-108)

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by | Aug 19, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

This series has a lot of storylines coming into Game 1 but the biggest one was Russell Westbrook being out. Westbrook was out with a quad injury that forced the Rockets to put Eric Gordon in the starting lineup. The Houston Rockets came out in this game faster than a Ferrari on an open highway. The pace that the Rockets played in that first half had the Thunder on their heels all night. Everyone wanted to see how the small-ball lineup of Houston would fair against the Thunder big lineup and we got our first glimpse. The Rockets make it tough on defenses with that small lineup because you get caught either trying to cover the 3 point shooter or crash the middle for the slasher. Tonight James Harden was able to take advantage of that as he finished with 37 points and was able to score anywhere on the court. James had the stepback working, crossovers to the rim, and free throws working all night. The aggressiveness of James Harden made it easy for the other players on the Houston Rockets to get their games going as well. The Thunder put multiple bodies on Harden all night but it didn’t matter tonight with the confidence he was playing with.

 

 

Eric Gordon looked like the Gordon of old as he was hitting some long-range 3 pointers and was attacking the rim hard. Gordon replaced Westbrook in that starting lineup and didn’t disappoint as he finished with 21 points on the night. Another player that had a huge game was Jeff Green who played some center and power forward as he made the Thunder pay from downtown. Jeff Green was open as Thunder players got caught being in the wrong spot on the court and he made the most of the moment. Jeff Green looked like he was back in his OKC days himself with dunks and crossover drives as he finished with 22 points on the night. When James Harden gets help from the bench like he did tonight from his teammates this team is very tough to beat. In this game, there were multiple times where Harden was getting rest while his team was up by double digits. If OKC’s going to win this series they need to make it a point to take advantage of the Rocket’s second unit and defend better.

 

 

The Thunder usually plays off their defense as it helps create offense but that wasn’t the case tonight. Tonight the Thunder played a lot of isolation ball which didn’t work throughout the game. This OKC team is known for their ball movement and getting everyone involved with touches and they need to get back to that in Game 2. The Thunder need to take more advantage of the mismatch with Steven Adams in the paint and let the offense flow through the big man. Adams was a walking bucket when he was able to get the ball and looked extremely dominant. The Thunder got sucked into the 3 point contest at times with Houston and got away from Thunder Basketball. Steven Adams finished the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds tonight and we should continue to see numbers these numbers from him in this series. Chris Paul was having a tough outing in the first half of the game but managed to get his offense going as he finished with a near triple-double with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. This Thunder team will go as far as CP3 brings him and if they’re going to win Game 2 CP3 will have to get his game going a lot earlier.

 

 

The bright spot for the Thunder tonight was the shooting from Danilo Gallinari as he was able to get his shot any time he wanted on the court because the Rockets couldn’t guard him. Gallinari was able to finish the game with 29 points on the night. When Gallinari plays like this he’s a special talent but the other players like Dennis Schröder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will need to help out big time in the next game. The Rockets punched the Thunder in the mouth but Game 2 on Thursday OKC has a chance to punch back. The Thunder were playing at the Rocket pace and they will need to play their game in order to be successful.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Kim Klement/Associated Press

Aug 19, 2020 No Comments
Diallo’s Career High 27 Point Performance Wasn’t Enough In OT As The Clippers Win (107-103)

Diallo’s Career High 27 Point Performance Wasn’t Enough In OT As The Clippers Win (107-103)

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by | Aug 15, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

The Thunder and LA Clippers came into this game already knowing their seeding placement. OKC will start off in the 4/5 matchup against Houston. The LA Clippers locked up the 2nd seed and will be hosting the 7th seed Dallas Mavericks.

 

Both teams had a lot of starters out tonight but one person that made his return to the court after leaving the bubble for the Thunder was Dennis Schröder. Dennis was inserted into the lineup and looked like he never left the NBA bubble in the first place. Dennis was able to play 25 minutes in his return and finished with 17 points. You could tell he was a little winded but that was to be expected in his first game back in the bubble. Dennis was able to get his drives, jumper, and floater going in real game time which will go a long way. It was important for Dennis to get some game time in before the playoffs started because of rust.

 

Dennis started the game alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and both were able to flourish in the small amount of time given. It was good to see Dennis out there because this Thunder team plays with a different type of energy when he’s in the lineup. Schröder’s in the 6th Man of the Year race and tonight showed that it doesn’t matter if he’s starting or coming off the bench he’s lethal on the offensive end. The small plays that he does that impact the game like charges and cheering his teammates will go a long way to this team’s success from the bench unit.

 

 

Speaking of the bench tonight Hamidou Diallo went off for a career-high in points with 27 points and even added 11 rebounds. Hami has come into the bubble with a new confidence and swagger that’s been contagious as the Thunder bench unit has stepped up overall. Tonight Hami played a career-high 40 minutes and has shown that he will be a huge part of this bench rotation in the Houston Rockets series. With Dort down for some time look for Diallo and Roberson to be seeing a lot more minutes if he misses time. Hamidou was able to show people that he has a lot more to offer than just dunking on someone under the rim. Tonight he was able to hit some 3 pointers and was able to slash at an elite level.

 

When Hamidou plays with this confidence he can definitely help OKC out in a big way. One of the things that he has to work on that will come in due time is the maturity to worry about the next play. Hami misses a shot or a defensive read and he shows the frustration but you have to just put your head down and keep pushing for the next play. Hamidou’s still young and the Thunder have a great young core that will be special in the long run especially with the experience that they’re getting in Orlando. Overall this was a game to get everyone ready for the playoffs but the Thunder youth have gained a lot of experience that will help OKC in the postseason. A lot of the players that barely get in the game were able to get some big minutes so they will be ready for anything coming there way.

 

 

Terance Mann was the key factor for this win against the OKC Thunder tonight. Mann finished with a career-high in points as well with 25 against OKC. It seemed as though Mann was able to get to the rim whenever he wanted too as he had 10+ free throws. He showed a smooth mid-range game and you can tell he’s been working with Leonard & George on that. Mann has a lot of promise and will be one of those players that will impact this Clippers team for the future in a big way. Mann logged some good minutes tonight and I’m sure he was able to show Coach Rivers that he’s got a lot to offer them for that second unit. The Clippers rested all their starters as they prepare for the Mavericks but it was also good to see Amir Coffey get some time just like Mann. Coffey finished with 21 points in the win as the Clippers went full-on bench mode to rest for the championship run.

 

 

Aug 15, 2020 No Comments
OKC Thunder Comeback From 22 Point Deficit To Beat Miami Heat (116-115)

OKC Thunder Comeback From 22 Point Deficit To Beat Miami Heat (116-115)

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by | Aug 13, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder came out flat in this game against Miami. This was the first game back for the majority of starters since 5 out of the top 6 scorers sat out against Phoenix. There was a little rust to start off this one but OKC got it going with their defense which always makes things easier to get the offense going. OKC did a great job defending inside the paint but it was the outside shooting that was hurting the Thunder. Duncan Robinson was playing like a man possessed in this game and looked unconscious from 3 point range. Duncan was able to get two 4 point plays back to back on OKC as the Heat started getting things rolling. Duncan Robinson only played the first half of the game as Miami was resting players but he finished with 19 points. The Thunder suffered a huge blow when Luguentz Dort banged knees with Jae Crowder early in the game. Dort didn’t return to the game so keep it locked here for updates on his status moving forward. The Thunder started getting it going on the offensive end as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was able to find his rhythm. Tonight Shai played with a lot of confidence and had a different swagger to his game than he did in the previous games. Shai finished the game with 18 points as OKC didn’t play their starters much because Miami pulled their starters out after halftime.

 

This was one of those games where the OKC Thunder starters didn’t get that much work but it also showcased a lot of the young talent on the roster. Darius Bazley has been no stranger to the minutes and has shown game after game in Orlando that he doesn’t mind stepping up to the challenge. Darius has been scoring inside and outside through the restart and that didn’t stop tonight. One thing that has stood out about Darius Bazley is the fact OKC has been able to play him at multiple positions. Bazley’s played a little of the 1,3,5 for the Thunder and has been a key piece to the success on both ends. Tonight Bazley poured in 21 points to lead all scorers for the Thunder and made it look easy during their comeback. Confidence is key heading into the playoffs and that’s exactly what was on display for the Thunder youth tonight. The Thunder still has one more seeding game on Friday against the Clippers and we will probably see more of the youth then as well. Hamidou Diallo and Abdel Nader have shown up in these games for the second unit and have played in some key roles in Orlando. This just shows how comfortable Billy Donovan is with these guys and it shows the growth over the hiatus. Both Nader and Diallo scored a combined 24 points tonight while OKC was toe to toe in the battle with Miami. It would be back to back Mike Muscala shots that would help OKC beat Miami as he had a clutch moment to seal the win.

 

 

The Miami Heat sat their starters after the first half which gave Tyler Herro the greenest light ever. You can tell the Heat will be needing their rookie sniper in the playoffs as they wanted to make some he got his reps up. Herro put up 30 points and played 38 minutes tonight against the OKC Thunder. Herro was able to score inside and outside without hesitation. The young rookie was making some tough shots with Thunder defenders in his face as well. The Heat rested people but wanted to get his confidence up and that’s exactly what they ended up doing tonight. The Miami Heat will be opening up the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers which should be a great showdown especially when it comes to TJ Warren and Jimmy Butler.

 

 

The OKC Thunder will be playing the LA Clippers on Friday but they’re locked into the 4/5 seed to face the Houston Rockets in the NBA Playoffs.

Aug 13, 2020 No Comments
Suns Beat The Short Handed OKC Thunder (128-101) To Remain Undefeated In The Bubble

Suns Beat The Short Handed OKC Thunder (128-101) To Remain Undefeated In The Bubble

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by | Aug 10, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game against the Phoenix Suns short-handed. Today the OKC Thunder played without 5 of their top 6 scorers due to resting small injuries/personal. The Thunder were without Steven Adams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Nerlens Noel, and Dennis Schröder. The Phoenix Suns were also facing some adversity as DeAndre Ayton missed his Covid-19 test and was awaiting results before he could play. Ayton was able to play in this game but missed the whole 1st quarter against OKC. The Thunder came out shooting very well in that first quarter as Chris Paul was getting whatever he wanted inside and out. Chris finished the game with 14 points and 7 assists against Phoenix. This was more so a teaching game as CP3 was helping the young core that he was playing with along the way. A couple of timeout breaks you can see Chris Paul going over to players like Darius Bazley and Lu Dort encouraging them while teaching. This whole experience in this game for the second unit and the young core players for the Thunder was big time.

 

OKC may have lost this game but it was good to see players like Bazley get some really good minutes and be able to flourish in-game action. Darius Bazley was the leading scorer for the OKC Thunder again as he dropped 22 points just 1 point shy of his career-high 23 from yesterday. The confidence that Bazley’s playing with has been obvious as he looks like a true veteran out there. The decisions that Bazley’s making with the ball have been spot on and it looks like he’s already in his sophomore campaign. Bazley has been able to score inside and outside against defenses and he gives the credit to his teammates/coaches for the opportunities to shine. The Thunder only had 4 players in double figures today and struggled in that second half but this was a game about growth. A lot of the young players that don’t usually get big minutes had a chance to showcase their talents. The Thunder took advantage of the paint in that first quarter without Ayton in the game and then he was able to make his presence known. The Thunder defended Devin Booker very well but they weren’t able to get away from the foul calls throughout the game.

 

 

Devin Booker put the Phoenix Suns on his back just like he’s done this whole time in Orlando. ESPN rated Devin Booker the 31st player in the bubble and they were extremely off with that. The way that Devin Booker has played in the bubble has been nothing less of spectacular. Devin Booker’s a top 15 player in the bubble and that’s no debate. Tonight the Thunder were doubling Booker and throwing multiple bodies at him just to try and slow him down. Devin Booker was guarded everywhere he went by Lu Dort, Hamidou Diallo, Andre Roberson, and Abdel Nader. Booker was making some ridiculous shots against some tough defense and he was able to get to the line like the best of them. Devin Booker’s 35 points was a game-high and just showed what he’s willing to do to get to the playoffs. Booker was able to drop his game-high in only 29 minutes tonight and didn’t have to do much to anything in the 4th. Booker was leading the way for the Suns but he had help as well because 5 players other than Booker were in double figures. Cam Johnson and Dario Saric both combined for 36 points to help Booker and it seemed as though Phoenix was able to get any loose ball and made big shots when it mattered. The Phoenix Suns will be trying to get to 7-0 as they will face off against the Sixers on Tuesday without Simmons or Embiid.

 

 

The OKC Thunder will be playing against the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

Aug 10, 2020 No Comments
Darius Bazley’s Career High 23 PTS Powers OKC To Victory Over Wizards (121-103)

Darius Bazley’s Career High 23 PTS Powers OKC To Victory Over Wizards (121-103)

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by | Aug 9, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

Darius Bazley has been one of the most impressive players for the Thunder since walking in the bubble. Tonight he was able to showcase his whole bag today against the Washington Wizards. Bazley has been a sponge when it comes to trying to continue striving for greatness and his growth has been on full display. Darius Bazley has given the Thunder a consistent scorer to be able to depend on from the second unit. With Dennis out its Bazley that has been able to get in the game and score inside or outside it doesn’t matter. The Wizards were 0-5 coming into this game against the Thunder and Bazley took advantage of his mismatches all day. After Bazley’s 23 point explosion today against the Wizards he’s averaging 10.4 ppg in Orlando. The confidence that Darius Bazley has been playing with was a thing of beauty. He was able to hit the 3 point shot and he was able to slash to the lane with ease. The Wizards didn’t have a traditional big center in the paint and Bazley took what the defense gave him today. CP3 and Shai were looking for Bazley and it was great to see the scoring from Bazley coming in the flow of the offense. Today nothing that the Thunder did was forced and they were able to put their foot on the gas and never looked back.

 

 

Mike Muscala was back in the lineup after missing time with a concussion and looked like he didn’t miss a beat. He started the efficient shooting from OKC as he started out 3/3 from 3 point land. Mike was playing center as Noel and Adams were out today. When Mike Muscala is shooting with this confidence it helps big time because he’s a big that can space the floor to help out. It was beautiful to see the other players from the Thunder that play a role come into this contest and make the best of all the minutes in different situations. Another player that was able to make the most of the minutes was Hamidou Diallo who finished with 13 points but was able to make some great reads. Hami had been hustling and has grown in his offensive game too. Hami had some acrobatic finishes today that made the fans go crazy as well. You can tell he used the time off to polish his game and Donovan has rewarded him.

 

 

Right now for the Thunder, they’ve been playing off the great play of Shai, Gallinari, and CP3 as they’ve picked up the load while Schröder has been with his family. Gallinari had 20 points today and was able to get his jumper to go down no matter the hands in his face. Gallinari was able to score inside and out against the Wizards with ease. Shai has struggled according to a lot of people but his numbers are still up there as he finished with 18 points. If he’s scoring 18 points “struggling” then just wait until he’s back in a groove playing at the elite level we expect him at. Chris Paul finished with 13 points today against the Wizards as he’s been focused on getting his teammates involved with 9 assists tonight. OKC knows what they will get out of Chris Paul when it comes to playoff time so the way OKC’s been playing he hasn’t needed to do too much. The Thunder overall has looked really good and they will look to continue this momentum against the Suns at 1:30 PM tomorrow.

 

 

The Washington Wizards were short-handed and weren’t really in the game from the tip. The Wizards are a very young team and they will be a team to look out for when Wall and Beal come back. Today against OKC Jerome Robinson was able to lead them in scoring as he finished with 19 points today. Washington didn’t make the playoffs and will be playing for pride at this point. Look for them to continue to get their young core some reps as they look to spoil our team’s playoff pushes.

Aug 9, 2020 No Comments