Oklahoma City Thunder roars in Detroit
BY DARNELL MAYBERRY, Staff Writer, dmayberry@opubco.com
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36
Published: October 31, 2009
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Their emotion said it all: the fist-pumps and the chest-bumps, their taunting scowls and their triumphant shouts.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant reacts after sinking a three-point basket against the Pistons in the fourth quarter Friday in Auburn Hills, Mich. Durant led the Thunder with 25 points and 12 rebounds in a 91-83 win. AP Photo
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This is a different Thunder team, and if there was any remaining doubt following the season-opening thumping of league doormat
Sacramento, Friday night’s 91-83 road victory over
Detroit squashed the lingering skepticism.
Oklahoma City walked into
The Palace of Auburn Hills, one of the NBA’s toughest venues, and silenced a raucous crowd celebrating its team’s home opener. The Thunder took the court with a confident swagger that was absent a year ago. By the time the players walked off the floor, after closing out the Pistons with a dominant fourth quarter, they knew they no longer would be the league’s pushovers.
The Thunder is 2-0 in 2009-10 after a 2-24 start last season in which victory No. 2 didn’t come until Nov. 29.
"I think we’re a lot tougher,” said
Russell Westbrook. "Everybody’s playing tougher when it comes down to getting the stops we need to and getting the rebounds we need to. That’s helping us.”
No one epitomized the Thunder’s new and improved heart, hustle and resiliency more than Westbrook, the second-year point guard who experienced more than his share of growing pains last season.
After a dreadful first half in which he struggled with his shot, defense and turnovers, Westbrook responded by leading his team as it went on to outscore the Pistons 53-38 in the final 24 minutes.
He finished with 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for his second straight double-double. He had the play of the game late in the fourth quarter with the Thunder nursing a four-point lead. After
center Ben Wallace blocked Westbrook’s layup on one end, Westbrook hustled back and recovered in time to swat down what was a wide-open 3-pointer in transition by guard
Ben Gordon.
Westbrook was fouled while taking the ball up the court and made two free throws to push the lead to six with 3:50 remaining.
When it was over, the Thunder had hounded the Pistons into 4-for-17 shooting (23.5 percent) in the fourth quarter and held Detroit to zero assists in the period.
Westbrook and rookie
James Harden combined for more assists (18) than that Pistons collected as a team (12).
"We played with a great passion for the game,” coach
Scott Brooks said. "Before every game, the message that I give to all of our guys is, ‘Ask yourself did you play hard tonight, and did you play for your teammates?’ And I thought we did that.”
The Thunder sputtered early, making just 8-of-23 shots, and watched the Pistons race to a 24-16 lead after the first quarter. OKC turned the tide, however, with a team effort in the second half.
Nick Collison came off the bench and contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Etan Thomas provided a presence in the post with six points, three rebounds and three blocked shots. And
Kevin Durant had a team-high 25 points with 12 rebounds.
Durant scowled at the Pistons’ faithful with his poster dunk over
Tayshaun Prince with 9:31 to play. Westbrook turned to his bench and let out a roar when he found
Nenad Krstic under the basket for a reverse layup with 2:43 to play. And the entire Thunder bench jumped for joy when
Thabo Sefolosha pushed the lead to nine with a corner 3 with 2:03 remaining.
"Hopefully we all can recognize what we’re doing to be successful,” Collison said. "And hopefully we’ll rationally look at it and say, ‘This is a lot of fun and we want to keep doing it so we can keep winning and keep having fun.’ If we see something changing, some complacency setting in or something like that, hopefully we’ll be able to step up and say something to get it stopped.”
Editor's note: The original story stated that Westbrook had 10 rebounds, 10 assists and five rebounds. Westbrook had 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
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Russell Westbrook looks to have a chance in leading the NBA in assists, Kevin Durant looks like a threat to win the scoring title, and Jeff Green is his usual rock solid self. Harden looked good last night, Kristic is money from mid-range, and even Collison and Thomas put in quality minutes. We are only gonna get better and better. Imagine guys like Ibaka and Harden a few months down the road!
GO THUNDER!
Methinks you are the pot calling the kettle black on the comment of the "Pungent Sound".
While I'm NOT from Seattle, I can't remember anytime that the Sound has been tied to being feces infested, nor to making athletes sick, as the okieland river(canal), eh?
While you may gloat over the dumpster retrieved misfits wearing the okaysee uniform, remember that so far this season you've played the worst team in the league, and a mediocre team missing one of it's starters, it's not like you've knocked off the Lakers or Celts 2 games running...
There is not much depth and I don't expect Etan Thomas to produce like he has the first two games. There are better bigs on the schedule coming this next week.
James Harden will be the second best player on the Thunder by the end of the season.
The Thunder is much improved. Looking forward to tomorrow night!
You guys are in for a BIG letdown....
The team has improved alot from last season. It starts with not hiring an idiot as your coach. Brooks has been around alot of basketball and had to learn the little things to survive as a player. P.J. hurt the development of many young players. They had to have an in season training camp.
Maurice is also teaching Russell Westbrook patience in the offense. Westbrook is a combo guard but is showing signs that he can put the ball in the right position for the scorer, something that was rare last season. Also, Westbrook looks to be in great shape. Maurice's work with Westbrook, may eventually prove my theory that I have promoted on here and the radio-Westbrook not being a point guard-wrong.
However, he looks great at two with Harden running the point, who is a shooting guard that might be a very good point guard in the league.
At this point, both seem like they are capable of running both positions. Not many teams have that luxury.
Finally, Kevin Durant will lead the league in scoring, or should this season. He is special.
This team is probably a 34 win team because of the depth and bench but the product on the floor is improving and the casual fan should come and watch them. The entertainment value is where many of us expected it to be last year.
Snack, tomorrow is a good test for the Thunder but Portland better come to play because Durant could easily drop 40 any night and bring a victory to the Thunder.
GO THUNDER!!!
We'll see how our interior defense holds up Sunday evening.
El Prez, Deer Creek
I don't think we can over-emphasize how important it is that the Thunder is playing slower this year. The pace gives Westbrook more time to see what can develop. I think the chemistry he's developing with Krstic is essential. And speaking of Krstic; he, Thomas, Collison and Green are all playing good defense. Green may be a bit undersized power forward, but that's also allowed him to do a lot of nice things defending the pick and roll.
I'll never forget the look KD gave the stunned Detriot fans sitting under the basket after that play which emphatically said: Take that! The Thunder has arrived!