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We've got great rebounding ability! Well, not really.
Wow. Just wow.
These are the kind of games that depress you. They grab your heart strings, play them like a harp, and then promptly cut them with a pair of rusty scissors. They then proceed to rip your heart out and play tennis with it.
The game started off well. We were playing so-so, but so were the Clippers. We came out with a slight edge, and then after the Clippers checked in their substitutes in the 2nd, we promptly went up by 13 or more. We were playing our best basketball. Defensively, we did an excellent job of not fouling and getting the rebounds in the post, and offensively, we started to kick out more, shoot some 3s, and drive to the basket.
But then, the Clippers starters came back in and knew they had to do something about it. They were simply more talented than us, and decided to turn that talent on and start blowing us away. There were so many times when either Camby or Kaman was double teamed in the post and then they passed it to the other for an easy layup. Defensively, they played a nice zone which ruined our penetration game and forced us into some pretty bad jumpers.
By the 3rd, you could already tell it was over.In the early 3rd, we had a lapse. In the mid 3rd, we made a run. In the late 3rd, we had a lapse. In the early 4th, we had a run. In the mid 4th, they had a run. Then, it stalemated and we gave up. Whatever ground we gained was just undone because their sheer talent and playmaking ability outwitted any strategy that we might've had.
At the end, it was garbage time, and I screamed, "Give it to Sene! Give it to Saer!" Eventually, it happened and he got an easy dunk. I cheered for him, but he ignored me. He knew that this game was lost.
Anyway, on to the awards....
Most people would say to me at this point to give the Thunder Wonder to Kevin Durant. Sorry KD, but there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Damien Wilkins. Damien scored 17 Points on 5-12 Shooting, 5 Rebounds, 1 Assist, and 2 Steals. Now, I know you're saying, "But Kevin Durant shot 7-14, and I thought you were big on efficency!" Well, I am, but the key here is: 5 Turnovers. I know I'm sounding picky, but 5 Turnovers is really big. That and Wikins had 2 more steals and 2 more rebounds. But still, it was a solid game, and nobody else really warrants it, so Kevin Durant will get tonights Thunder Down Under award.
Okay, I'm gonna get on a little soapbox here. I know that everybodys favourite player is Desmond Mason. I know he's the hometown boy, I know he played for the Hornets, I know you love him. But, Damien Wilkins should be getting the playing time over him. He's more efficent, and proveds the dynamics that this team needs. Desmond Mason is a good inside scorer, a decent rebounder, and a okay defender. Damien Wilkins is all that plus the outside shooting. And, what have people been saying that we need on this team? Outside shooting. Now, who knows? Wilkins could have 2 craptastic games and make me eat my words. But for now, I'd give hime the playing time over Desmond.
If I was cruel, I'd give the Thunder Blunder to Saer Sene or Kyle Weaver. But 2-3 minutes of garbage time is no way to measure your abilities. It's really hard pinpointing one guy for a bad performance here, but its probably between Earl Watson and Chris Wilcox. Chris Wilcox had a really inefficent game with 4 Points, 1-7 Shooting, 4 Rebounds, and 1 Turnover. Still, 3 of those rebounds wer offensive, suggesting he missed some putbacks, and he got to the line one of those attempts. So the Blunder goes to Earl Watson. I know, he didn't shoot that badly, but it really says something about your ballhandling when you have 4 turnovers and your +/- ratio is -21 while your backup, Russell Westbrook, has +4, the highest on the team. All in all, he had 6 Points, 2-3 Shooting, 3 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 4 Turnovers, 2 Steals, and 2 Blocks. This guy has the intangibles, but he's got to take care of the ball!
Lastly, the Thunder Plunderer....well, Thunder Destroyer is more like it....is Chris Kaman. 25 Points, 11-13 Shooting, 3-3 Free Throws, +31 +/- Ratio, 14 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1 Turnover, and 4 Blocked Shots. Just a monster game. In fact, he got point every time he shot (well, in most cases, dunked) except once. There's not much more to say except that there was monster destruction tonight made by a monster big man.
Next Game: Friday vs. the Hornets. Hold on to your hats, people. We're in for a sea of teal.
Funny Tidbits: In the 3rd, there was an FSN guy talking on the court into a microphone when the game was about to start, and the ref pushed him off. He continued to talk into the mic, even after sitting down.
Also: Russell Westbrook has the same, afraid expression on his face every time he drives to the basket:
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Really? "13 or more"??? Would it really be that hard to verify the exact number?