We've been dealing with a few tech issues here for the past week. My apologies for the lack of updates. We'll take the next couple of days catching up on opponents around the league, unless we're destroyed by another serpent. Cross your fingers.
Today's installment of Better Know An Opponent focuses on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Let's take a look.... MORE →
Will Thunder strike again? (AP)
Each day that there's a playoff game, we'll have three things to watch in the NBA playoffs. Each note will be accompanied by a contest. We'll announce winners after each round. Here's today's three things to watch:
1) Indiana vs. Manhattan. The Pacers defeated the Knicks 102-95 in Game 1 on the road, thanks to a balanced effort -- six Pacers scored in double figures and they led by 16 heading into the fourth quarter. With a win today, the Pacers would secure a dominating home-court advantage -- needing just two wins with as many as three more games at home. The Pacers produced a convincing 44-30 edge in rebounding, unexpectedly led by Brooklyn-born guard Lance Stephenson.
2) Kevin Durant. Oklahoma City barely eked out a victory in Game 1, winning 93-91 against the Memphis Grizzlies, one of the league's best defenses and a team that starts Marc Gasol, the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Kevin Durant led OKC to victory behind 35 points on 13-26 shooting, adding 15 rebounds and a 19-footer to take the lead for good with 11 seconds left. There's few ways -- if any -- to stop Kevin Durant, but if any team has the capability of doing it, it's the Grizzlies, who employ both Gasol and Tony Allen, arguably the league's best perimeter defender. Memphis has a bevy of talented scorers, and the Thunder barely won even with Durant's routine explosion and may need an unlikely hero to seal Game 2.
3) Carmelo Anthony's shooting. Anthony is no stranger to shooting -- Game 1 marked the 44th time this season that he's recorded more field goal attempts+free throw attempts than points. He averaged 28.7 points on 28.8 FGA+FTA per game in the regular season, which makes this proposition basically a 50-50. The Knicks will be most successful if Anthony's shooting efficiently -- will he?
The Brooklyn Nets shocked the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thunder fans, and Nets fans alike last night by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 16-2 at home and 24-6 on the season before last night, 110-93. One of the Nets' biggest strengths last night came from their long-distance marksmanship, as the team finished 9-17 from beyond the arc.
The Nets were able to get a variety of open shots by initiating offense on or going towards the right side of the floor, then quickly -- added emphasis on quickly -- swinging the ball left into space once the defense committed.
Check out the Nets' first-half shot distribution chart below:
That's just three shots from the right side of the floor, and forty from the left and center.
Most notably, the Nets had big success when they were able to get the ball in the left corner, hitting five of six left corner 3's in the first half. Let's take a look.... MORE →
Durantula. (AP)
Wallace is back tonight. But where does he fit?
The Nets will miss Brook Lopez, but he's not tonight's X-Factor. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanches)
OK, so two of the most important Brooklyn Nets players -- Reggie Evans and Brook Lopez -- are out tonight with the flu and the foot, respectively. The team's playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are 14-4 and the reigning Western Conference Champions.
So that's probably a bad sign. But it's not the be-all-end-all. Here's four reasons why you should watch tonight's game... MORE →
Memories... (AP/Kevin P. Casey)
Devin: Seems like business as usual so far this season for Oklahoma City -- they're 14-4 and cruising. Have there been any major changes this season to the formula, or is it just a continuation of last year's success?
Royce:... MORE →
