The Dugout – Tongues Out for the Boys
Chur Steve
- vs Miami (L 97-95): 20 MIN, 9 PTS (3/4 FG 3/4 FT), 8 REB, 1 TO, 2 PF.
- vs Sacramento (W 98-95): 29 MINS, 6 PTS (3/8 FG), 12 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 3 PF.
First up this week, Steve and company came up against the Miami Heat, a team that missed the playoffs last season but looks like a top three seed in the East the way they’re tracking at the moment. So it was against the Thunder, not that OKC weren’t raging at themselves for how they lost it.
A 15 point first quarter from Russell Westbrook got OKC off to a good start but the offence died in the second and this turned into a very tight contest in which we saw 38 lead changes and 11 ties. Adams sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Thunder looked for the most offence possible without screwing up the balance… which meant lots of Serge Ibaka at the 5. That’s cool, it’s a very solid line-up (interestingly Adams almost never plays with the second unit, so when that happens his time is limited). That offence didn’t hold. The Thunder only made one of their final eight shots and Dwyane Wade won it late with a drive to the hoop that ended in triple coverage but Ibaka fouled Wade on his way up and DW drilled both FTs for the win with 1.5 seconds left.
Adams had an efficient night in his shorter court time, getting into the grind with Hassan Whiteside. HW still scored 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting but he burnt the Thunder last season when they used him (10 of 11 shooting in 17 mins/g over two games) so they’ll take that. Just like Adams took Whiteside’s elbows to his face.
They had to fight for it at home against the Sacramento Kings a couple days later. Leading slightly for most of the way, they fell behind in the fourth as the Kings went on a 13-0 run, only for Kevin Durant to overcome a self-described “terrible” night (on which he had 10 turnovers) to hit a few late baskets and get the Thunder out of jail with the W. KD finished with 20, while Russell Westbrook, who led the team past Durant’s struggles, had a 19/11/10 triple double – his fourth of the season. Here’s his game-clincher:
For the Kings, Rudy Gay topped with 20 points, while Rajon Rondo had 10 assists, including this Sonny Bill-esque no-looker:
But it was noticeable that Boogie Cousins had a rough game. 13 points and 10 boards on 5 of 20 shooting. Part of that is because Boogie likes to bring that range to his shooting but he was poor in the paint too, just 2 of 11 from within 5ft of the basket. Considering that Serge Ibaka missed most of the first half after picking up three fouls in the first six minutes, plenty of that credit goes to Steven Adams for making it hard on him. Stevie also came up with a monster defensive play late on with the Thunder up 96-95 when he found himself guarding Rudy Gay. He tends to have trouble with quick guards (many big men do), and had got caught out on a couple Rondo cuts already, but here he was sharp on his toes and he took away the lane to the basket, guiding Gay wide towards Durant who poked the ball loose for Adams to grab and call a timeout. Clever stuff. (Rondo screwed up by not fouling Adams before the TO, meaning KD got to the line instead after the inbounds).
This was pretty cool as well:
However Adams’ finest moment of the game was this wicked crossover dribble on Cousins. Phwoar, look at the handles!
Asked what he was thinking as he pulled that stunt: “I better pull this off or I’m sitting down.”
As well as Stevie’s offerings on the court, he also happens to be a top bloke off it, and he also took the time this week to lend a helping hand to a bit of high-stakes, no-limit senior citizen Bingo. Coz that’s just the kind of guy he is.
On NewsOK, they graded the various aspects of the Thunder season so far, and there was good and there was bad. A ‘D’ for Late-Game Offence, for example. But Rim Protection got itself top marks, shout out to Steve, and here’s what they had to say:
“Serge Ibaka's presence still looms large, but it's the improvement of Durant, Steven Adams (and, yes, even Kanter) that has made the Thunder one of the top rim protecting teams in the league. Despite facing the most field goal attempts per game in the NBA from five feet and in (33.9) Thunder opponents are shooting just 54 percent from that distance, fourth-best in the league. No. 2 in the NBA in blocks per game (7.1).”
Pennies for a Pitcher
It must be that season again. Every MLB pitching staff needs an ace before they can be taken seriously, and it just so happens that – in a sport without a salary cap – there are only so many elite arms to go around. Which is why in the last few days, all this has happened:
- Zack Greinke – 6 years, $206m to the Arizona Diamondbacks
- David Price – 7 years, $217m to the Boston Red Sox
- Jordan Zimmermann – 5 years, $110m to the Detroit Tigers
- Jeff Samardzija – 5 years, $90m to the San Francisco Giants
That’s a lot of money for 5 combined playoff wins.
The Giants were one of a few teams that could seriously go after Greinke, who is coming off of one of the all-time great stat years. He posted an ERA of 1.66 in 2015 across 222.2 innings - that’s the fourth lowest of any pitcher in a single season since World War II ended. He was obviously the biggest fish in the pond, and it was somewhat of a surprise when the Diamondbacks won the stakes instead. Staying at the Dodgers seemed like the most likely choice, though that meant playing second fiddle to Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are also showing a few signs that their limitless spending may be coming to an end. The D-Backs were around .500 last season with a very average rotation, Greinke could make them 10 or so wins better, maybe, and with a few more additions around him they’re a very decent under-the-radar team. Of course, it’ll be tough to spare any more pennies after making ZG the highest paid player in baseball next season.
The Giants rebounded by adding Samardzija to their roster, the former Cub who split 2015 between the Athletics and White Sox and has never put up a winning record. But that’s mostly coz the Cubs sucked for so long. He’s a quality arm who’s shown in the last few years that he can beat the bat and will be a very solid back up to Madison Bumgarner. Zimmermann, meanwhile, leaves the Nationals for the Tigers who were not at all happy with how their 2015 went. They finished last in the AL Central as Justin Verlander turned to mud for the first half and David Price was traded away.
Speaking of Price, he finished off as the Blue Jays’ ace in the playoffs and is now a Red Sock. Seven years is a long time to pay top dollars for a starter already in his 30s. Especially with the wolves in Boston. But Price is a quality player (Cy Young in 2012) who’ll do plenty for that team.
This Week in… THE PROCESS
For about a week before the win over the Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers were actually showing good signs of improvement. They were playing hard and running a few teams close, blowing fourth quarter leads but at least they were getting fourth quarter leads. Then they took on Kobe Bryant in his first game post-retirement announcement. A game between two of the worst teams to ever play at this level, based on their starts to the season, yet possibly the game with the biggest ever ratio between Fan Interest/Team Ability. It went a lil something like this:
Hey but then the Sixers settled right back into Philadelphiadom. Jahlil Okafor was suspended by the team for two games after apparently withholding a few details of his recent off-court misdemeanours. Whoops. They lost both those games, 98-87 to the Knicks and 108-105 to the Nuggets.
And then, strangely, we saw a change in things. Jerry Colangelo was hired as Chief of Basketball Operations. Sam Hinkie was there at the presser, smiling and away. But for the first time we’ve seen a change from within the franchise over their not-so-fabled Process.
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the 76ers have won a total of 38 games. That includes their 1-21 start to 2015-16. Their roster is filled with a couple of high-end draft picks struggling to adapt to not only playing in the NBA but also playing for a team that never wins having been the best players on winning teams their whole careers until now. The rest of their players simply do not deserve to be playing at this level. They’re a farce of a franchise right now.
Word on the street is that commissioner Adam Silver was a big part of the Colangelo hiring. He doesn’t want multi-year tankers in his league. Colangelo has been brought in to whip the Sixers into shape and finally begin the upwards trend. It’s about time, really.
On the day this front office move was announced, a Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs team beat them 119 – 68.
Have the Golden State Warriors Lost a Game Yet, Pt. 5?
As it happens… no, they have not.
It’s Good to be The King
Not only did LeBron James sign a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike (cannot wait ‘til that limited edition LBJ Slippers and Bathrobe combo come out in 2055), but he also has his own font now. Designed on commission by London-based studio Sawdust. Inspired by his sneaker range, so they claim. You can really tell.
NFL Week 13 Power Rankings:
- Carolina Panthers (Last Week = 1)
- Denver Broncos (3)
- New England Patriots (2)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5)
- Arizona Cardinals (4)
- Kansas City Chiefs (7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NA)
- Buffalo Bills (NA)
- Green Bay Packers (9)
HAIL MARY!
Doing The Old Man Dirty
Roles Reversed
Statistical Destiny
Celebration 101
PUT IT ON A POSTER KG!
On Blake Griffin too, ouch.
Oddities
Quote of the Week:
Not sure what to think about this…
Good Week:
Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) – Man was he good against the Vikings. The Vikes, don’t forget, have been superb in 2015 but Seattle made them look like chumps in their 38-7 win and Wilson was the main dude. 21 of 27 passing, 274 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for another TD within his 51 rush yards. This was the best his arm has looked since the playoffs last season. Must be Ciara’s fault (she’s to blame when he’s bad, so it’s only fair).
Cam Newton & The Carolina Panthers – They really had to earn number 12. The Saints pushed them all the way but Cam matched them with 331 yards and 5 TDs, the fifth of them the game-winner with 1:05 to go. Their schedule to come: Falcons (H), Giants (A), Falcons (A), Buccaneers (H)… 16-0, anyone?
Boban Marjanovic (San Antonio Spurs) – Ever heard of him? Nah, us neither. But isn’t it the Spursiest thing ever to chuck in an unknown 7’3” European dude and in his first day since being recalled from the D-League he drops 18 points off the bench. Albeit only against the Sixers. The big guy’s got chops too, check out this pass for the Austin Spurs:
Bad Week:
Philadelphia 76ers – They finally won a game! But in the 251 days between NBA victories for the Sixers, Golden State won 44 times (inc. playoffs).
NFL Kickers – In the last two weeks, there have been 16 PAT misses. The Saints even returned one to the end zone for a two-point bonus. Maybe it’s the weather or maybe it’s the pressure of the late-season but that new rule is really starting to take effect.
Player of the Week:
Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) – It’s hard to deny a fella who twice scored 40 this week, shooting 62.3% from 3pt over his last three games and continues to lead his team unbeaten. 22-0 and counting, the way things are going. He’s on pace for 434 made threes this season. The record is 286 – which he set himself in 2014-15.