Thunder notebook: Gearing up for the defending champs

BY DARNELL MAYBERRY AND MIKE BALDWIN, Staff Writers, Comments 0
Published: November 3, 2009

In just the third home game, the Thunder will play host to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers tonight at the Ford Center. They’re presence is the NBA’s equivalent of the circus coming to town.

"There’s going to be a lot of excitement in the air from our crowd,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "They’re the best team in basketball right now. Players are excited.”

The major change for the Lakers is the addition of Ron Artest, a talented but controversial player who replaced Trevor Ariza, who’s now in Houston.

"He’s a passionate guy on the court,” said Thunder guard Kevin Ollie. "He’s going to bring a lot of toughness to their team, another defensive stopper besides Kobe (Bryant). He’s going to be a good addition.”

Defensive effort pleasing to Brooks

Before Monday night’s games, the Thunder ranked second in the league in scoring defense, yielding just 85 points per game, and third in opponent field-goal percentage at 39.4 percent.

"I’m very excited with the way guys have committed to that end of the floor,” Brooks said. "(Sunday) night we gave ourselves a chance to win despite bad offensive basketball.”

Free throw production

The Thunder didn’t shoot well (34.3 percent) in Sunday’s loss to Portland. Sometimes players settled for jump shots.

But the team’s three young core players, Jeff Green, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, have learned even when shots aren’t falling to get to the free throw line. That trio combined for 32 free throw attempts in the loss. Combined with a solid defensive outing, it allowed OKC to stay within string ranger.

"Once my shot wasn’t falling I was trying to get to the line,” Durant said. "I did a decent job but I have to make those free throws (10 of 14).

"But I still have to make those shots where I was wide open, pulling up in the lane or getting to the rim. I have to make them.”

National attention

NBATV gave fans their choice of which game they wanted to be shown on national TV tonight. Lakers-Thunder won the polling.

"We’ve got to come to play,” said Durant. "We’ve all played on national TV before but it should be fun.”

Briefly

Any fan who donates a new children’s book at the Rolling Thunder Book Drive before tonight’s game will receive a voucher redeemable for two free tickets to an upcoming Thunder home game. Donations will be accepted at both main entrances to the Ford Center beginning at 5:30 p.m...A limited number of tickets are still available for tonight’s game.