Quarter by Quarter observations

 vs  

First Quarter

 Okay so when I tuned in to this one there was only about 5 minutes left in the first quarter but the Thunder were already down 11 points. From the looks of the box score KD, Westbrook, and Krstic are all struggling to start each is 1-3. Green is the only one shooting well right now he is 3-4. And just like that the Thunder go on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to one. The Thunder are not really playing good defense but the Warriors are taking poor shots and aren't able to get to the glass for a second shot.

Score to end the Quarter 23-22 Warriors

Second Quarter

Early in the second quarter the Thunder are not moving the ball, they are content to try and take the Warriors off the dribble on isolations. The Thunder get much better shots when they move the ball so settling into this stagnant offense has allowed the Warriors to retake a lead and extend it to 5.

The Thunder are sticking with the isolation dribble offense for better or worse and right now the Warriors are bailing them out by fouling. James Harden is really doing a good job of picking up fouls he wound up with 10 free throws in the second quarter. Harden is really on a good run right now, he is getting into the lane and getting fouled and most importantly making his foul shots.

Score to finish the half 50-49 Thunder

Half

 Jeff Green is going strong on a night that Durant and Westbrook are really struggling. Green has 17 points and 10 rebounds to finish the half. Green also has two assists and a big block of Maggette. Westbrook is 2-10 and Durant is 3-10 so the Thunder big guns are really not in the groove right now, but the Thunder lead at the half so when they get on track in the second half it will really help to extend the lead. The Thunder hold a 31-19 edge in rebounds led by Green's 10. I can't help but think Durant and Westbrook will get on track and start making some shots after Green carried the team in the first half.

Third Quarter

After going 2-10 in the first half Westbrook started to knock down a couple of shots in the third he went 2-5 and got to the line once and made both free throws. Durant also turned it on he shot 4-5 and got to the line three times and made all five free throws. Durant and Westbrook also got more active on the glass each added 4 rebounds to the total which now stands at 44-27 in the favor of the Thunder.

Score to finish the Quarter 79-67 Thunder

Fourth Quarter

The Kevin Durant and James Harden show, Durant took 9 shots made 3 and got to the line for three more freebies, Harden took 6 shots made 3 and got back to the line for another two shots. The Thunder finished with 57 rebounds to win the rebound battle by 20 tonight. The Warriors pretty much quit after Monta Ellis got his technical but this is still a good win for the Thunder. The Thunder are the first team to hold the Warriors under 90 points this season which is somewhat surprising because I didn't feel the Thunder played well on defense. They had some good moments for sure but overall each possession I just didn't feel the defense was that good.

Score to finish the Game 104-88 Thunder

The Good and The Bad individually

The Good

Jeff Green

I have to think Jeff Green needed this game. After struggling against Boston, Houston, and Milwaukee he got started early and carried the team while Durant and Westbrook were both struggling. The only Thunder player to get a double double tonight Green was active on the glass to help keep it close when the Thunder were missing shots and did a good job of picking up the scoring slack.

James Harden

Ladies and Gentlemen your second leading scorer tonight, James Harden. Harden finished the night with 26 points two behind Durant despite playing 15 less minutes. Harden went 6-13 from the field 1-4 from three and 13-14 from the line. 14 free throws... seven shooting fouls on a team that is not deep right now due to injury is a huge advantage. Harden also had 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers.

The Bad

Shaun Livingston did not seem comfortable out on the floor, just when he had started to look like he was back to comfortable he had to undergo this most recent procedure. Now it looks like we are starting the Livingston watch over again. Durant went 9-24 including 2-6 from three which is not a great percent and he looked like he was forcing his shot.

Comments (0)

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment