Thunder notebook: A matter of time

RUNNING WITH RONDO

Westbrook has faced a steady stream of outstanding point guards so far this season, and it continues Sunday in Boston's Rajon Rondo.

"Rondo is as good as any guard in the league right now," Brooks said. "He's an All-Star. He understands what his game is and he does it every time. He's a playmaking point guard. He makes his team better by his decisions."

Rondo is off to the best start in NBA history with 93 assists in the first six games (15.5 per).

"We're going to have to change things up on him," Brooks said. "A lot of the great players you give them the same daily diet, they're going to look at it and tear it apart. We're going to mix it up. We're going to have to switch. We're going to have to double. We're going to have to take it out of his hands. But the guy does that to everybody. He's quick, he's strong and he's heady. He knows how to play."

INJURY UPDATE

Thunder power forward Nick Collison, who has yet to practice or play this season, had an MRI taken early last week and said the results were good.

Collison said he has intensified his work during rehabilitation. Though he still has no exact timetable on his return, Collison said he is encouraged with the test results. "Still going forward," Collison said. "It's good to be moving forward rather than moving backward."

Backup center Byron Mullens, who has been inactive all season, is battling the flu. He did not make the West Coast trip last week and was not at Saturday's practice.

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