Curry subbing out early in the 1st was a plan to get him some rest according to post-game interview. Had to be scrapped because the Thunder were playing too well.
Getting a W whilst still figuring things out is awesome. The line ups are rolling like a rotisserie, boys still getting used to the schemes, young guys trying to step up their game with new pressure, it’s all happening and we are still winning. Life is good.
I am still somewhat surprised to see Poole struggling so much with inconsistency in his shooting. He has so much promise and he is assisting way more than he ever has, so his game is continuing to mature, just not his shooting, yet.
Bjelli's absence of minutes tells you Kerr doesn't want him on the floor against young, athletic teams with pace. It makes sense but we need his scoring and rebounding. Luckily, Lee has stepped up and so did OPJ tonight. Strength in numbers. Still, it concerns me that teams are able to shoot at will against us. Maybe I just have to get used to the idea that shooters these days are unguardable. They are going to get their shot up no matter how much they are defended. This is part of the new NBA look thanks to Mr. Curry. However, allowing penetration to the basket is another facet of the new and quicker NBA and teams will take advantage of our porosity in the paint. If we can do it to them, they can do it to us, and will. Our D still needs work.
The play was sloppy, but I never look down on a road victory in this league. On to the next one! The first game back from the road is the stereotypical letdown game, so brace yourselves
Phew. I underestimated this team's complacency and the Thunder had some really good luck (tough shots they made, easy shots we missed) to build that early lead. Thankfully both teams' shooting regressed to the mean in the second half. This one was a little dicey but in the end, we got the win, we didn't get any injuries, and maybe the players got a nice reminder that there are no free wins.
I'm hoping this experience motivates the team to deliver the massive beatdown I was hoping for tonight in front of the Chase Center crowd on Saturday.
Last season, they lose a game that they started this way. Tonight it's a win. I don't believe in moral defeats any more than I do moral victories. I do believe in 4-0 and first place in the west, though. Not going to stop anyone from feeling sour but it feels pretty sweet to me.
Also, pretty cool to see the team win the rebounding battle in 3 out of the 4 games they played so far. That's another thing that wasn't happening last year.
Let's not read too much into this game. This always had the makings of a trap game, the kind you take for granted. After the California team turbo start, this was bound to be a letdown. OKC sucks, Warriors are ready to get home for the homestand and the (probably) intense Memphis game. I'm not going to stress about Poole's off night. We're undefeated. If this is how worried Dub Nation HQ is with this record, I don't want to imagine what's going on at Thunder Nation HQ.
*Starting lineup starting to scare me. I believe they're -7 in 46 min for the season. Can't start every game in a hole. Some of that is Poole struggling, but some is Looney/Dray being a really tough spacing combo. They were hugely positive last year, so still in SSS territory, but need to monitor.
*Every game we have trailed at the half. Every game we have not trailed when it mattered.
*Still waiting on that game where our 3 ball is falling. I feel like aside from Clippers Q1, we've just been out of sync.
*Beli really needs a true big to go off. He's struggled the last few games.
*Otto finally hit a couple shots, but is really struggling to get looks. Hope he is just rounding into shape, because I want him to be our Joe Harris and shooting 5+ 3's a game.
*Poole went 5-7 on 2Ps in this game. 0-7 from 3. His 3 ball is and has been missing this entire season. He is a career 31% 3P shooter. Until he starts hitting them at a better clip, he needs to rein in his shot selection. Great passing for him tonight though. 7 A/1 TO.
*DLee looking like the 6MOY candidate of the team.
*GP2 needs some more PT. As does Moody. We need some blowouts (in our favor) stat.
I’m watching the high(low)lights of the first half. Every single OKC highlight so far either involves Poole getting cooked one on one Poole being out of position or Poole rotating way too late.
Poole's shot for a couple games looks as bad as his worst rookie stretch, which is some major whiplash after looking crazy good in preseason. Part of what's frustrating is he hasn't been finding many easy shots from distance, despite seeming to figure out during preseason and last season how to find and take more easy perimeter shots. Maybe a new level of green light has been messing with him.
But one good thing about his game... 7 assists and 1 turnover. Meanwhile Dray had 8 assists and 4 TOs, Stepth had 4 assists and 4 TOs (and a lot of passing out of double teams, of course).
Curry subbing out early in the 1st was a plan to get him some rest according to post-game interview. Had to be scrapped because the Thunder were playing too well.
Getting a W whilst still figuring things out is awesome. The line ups are rolling like a rotisserie, boys still getting used to the schemes, young guys trying to step up their game with new pressure, it’s all happening and we are still winning. Life is good.
I am still somewhat surprised to see Poole struggling so much with inconsistency in his shooting. He has so much promise and he is assisting way more than he ever has, so his game is continuing to mature, just not his shooting, yet.
Bjelli's absence of minutes tells you Kerr doesn't want him on the floor against young, athletic teams with pace. It makes sense but we need his scoring and rebounding. Luckily, Lee has stepped up and so did OPJ tonight. Strength in numbers. Still, it concerns me that teams are able to shoot at will against us. Maybe I just have to get used to the idea that shooters these days are unguardable. They are going to get their shot up no matter how much they are defended. This is part of the new NBA look thanks to Mr. Curry. However, allowing penetration to the basket is another facet of the new and quicker NBA and teams will take advantage of our porosity in the paint. If we can do it to them, they can do it to us, and will. Our D still needs work.
The play was sloppy, but I never look down on a road victory in this league. On to the next one! The first game back from the road is the stereotypical letdown game, so brace yourselves
I know Pre-season is Pre-season....but the Dubs have won 9 games in a row.
That's awesome.
Phew. I underestimated this team's complacency and the Thunder had some really good luck (tough shots they made, easy shots we missed) to build that early lead. Thankfully both teams' shooting regressed to the mean in the second half. This one was a little dicey but in the end, we got the win, we didn't get any injuries, and maybe the players got a nice reminder that there are no free wins.
I'm hoping this experience motivates the team to deliver the massive beatdown I was hoping for tonight in front of the Chase Center crowd on Saturday.
Screw the Thunder for stealing our mascot. Suck a fat one.
Last season, they lose a game that they started this way. Tonight it's a win. I don't believe in moral defeats any more than I do moral victories. I do believe in 4-0 and first place in the west, though. Not going to stop anyone from feeling sour but it feels pretty sweet to me.
Also, pretty cool to see the team win the rebounding battle in 3 out of the 4 games they played so far. That's another thing that wasn't happening last year.
Let's not read too much into this game. This always had the makings of a trap game, the kind you take for granted. After the California team turbo start, this was bound to be a letdown. OKC sucks, Warriors are ready to get home for the homestand and the (probably) intense Memphis game. I'm not going to stress about Poole's off night. We're undefeated. If this is how worried Dub Nation HQ is with this record, I don't want to imagine what's going on at Thunder Nation HQ.
*Starting lineup starting to scare me. I believe they're -7 in 46 min for the season. Can't start every game in a hole. Some of that is Poole struggling, but some is Looney/Dray being a really tough spacing combo. They were hugely positive last year, so still in SSS territory, but need to monitor.
*Every game we have trailed at the half. Every game we have not trailed when it mattered.
*Still waiting on that game where our 3 ball is falling. I feel like aside from Clippers Q1, we've just been out of sync.
*Beli really needs a true big to go off. He's struggled the last few games.
*Otto finally hit a couple shots, but is really struggling to get looks. Hope he is just rounding into shape, because I want him to be our Joe Harris and shooting 5+ 3's a game.
*Poole went 5-7 on 2Ps in this game. 0-7 from 3. His 3 ball is and has been missing this entire season. He is a career 31% 3P shooter. Until he starts hitting them at a better clip, he needs to rein in his shot selection. Great passing for him tonight though. 7 A/1 TO.
*DLee looking like the 6MOY candidate of the team.
*GP2 needs some more PT. As does Moody. We need some blowouts (in our favor) stat.
I’m watching the high(low)lights of the first half. Every single OKC highlight so far either involves Poole getting cooked one on one Poole being out of position or Poole rotating way too late.
Lakers beat the Spurs.
Poole's shot for a couple games looks as bad as his worst rookie stretch, which is some major whiplash after looking crazy good in preseason. Part of what's frustrating is he hasn't been finding many easy shots from distance, despite seeming to figure out during preseason and last season how to find and take more easy perimeter shots. Maybe a new level of green light has been messing with him.
But one good thing about his game... 7 assists and 1 turnover. Meanwhile Dray had 8 assists and 4 TOs, Stepth had 4 assists and 4 TOs (and a lot of passing out of double teams, of course).
Shit Jokic hurt his knee
Steph a game-high +15 btw
Spurs-Lakers game heading to overtime