Thunder continues march to history - loses 108-102 to Memphis

This is just getting plain ridiculous. Two and twenty-one.

This game was the complete opposite of the first game against the Grizzlies. In the first meeting, Memphis (7-15) jumped out to a good lead and surrendered some before halftime before folding completely late in the game. Tonight, the Thunder returned the favor.

Tonight's ball game wasn't lost in the second half or late in the fourth quarter though. Tonight's game was lost in the final three minutes of the second quarter. OKC had ripped off 13 in a row to go up 51-30. But right on cue, Memphis took a timeout, OKC got careless with the basketball and by halftime, the lead was just seven. Memphis outscored OKC 32-19 in the fourth, but like I said, it was the 18-4 run right before halftime that lost this game. The steam and the excitement went right out of the building. When you're already 2-20 and have lost your last 18 of 19, you can kind of feel what's coming.

The Thunder held the lead for the third quarter and finally relinquished early the fourth as the Grizzlies tied it at 85. Foul trouble had the Thunder handcuffed as Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, Damien Wilkins and Joe Smith all had to fight disqualification.

For once, the Thunder didn't shoot poorly from the field, (51.4 percent), did well at the free throw line (80 percent), didn't get outrebounded (37-36) and took care of the ball relatively well (15 turns). But still lost. Why? Well, other than the aforementioned run, it was the inability to get stops late and the inability to execute. At least it wasn't the same old stuff. Tonight, OKC was pegged for eight more fouls than Memphis (29-21). I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both had nice nights. Durant had 28 on 9-18 shooting and pulled down five boards in 41 minutes. Westbrook netted 15 and dished six assists and didn't have a turnover. But Durant did have six turns. I've mentioned it before, but KD just isn't that strong with the ball. He gets bumped and he loses control pretty easily. He really needs to focus on getting a little stronger in the offseason. And he's trying this weird little standing jumper lately where he faces up and jab steps a few times and then lifts and chucks a quick shot. And I'm guessing, but I'd say he's probably about 0-12 on that shot for the season. He's best off two dribbles and a step back or coming off a screen and popping.

I do want to mention that I was at tonight's game with my buddy Andy and the in-game production and entertainment was far and away better than it was opening night. This had the feeling of a Hornets game with all the videos, numerous T-shirt tosses and other fun things. I counted 17 plays of some form of Thunderstruck and I loved using the riff as a "Defense!" chant. Nice touch. During the pregame video intro, Andy and I joked that there really couldn't be much stock footage of Thunder highlights, with the team being, you know, 2-20. And right as he said that, there was a clip of Earl Watson taking a charge. How perfect. We then wondered what else they'd show - maybe an opponent traveling or a good defensive rebound. Or maybe even practice footage. (sigh)

Oklahoma City makes a quick trip down I-35 to play the Mavericks Saturday night. That should be fun.

Grizzlies vs. Thunder: Don't just play harder, play better

vs.

Memphis Grizzlies (6-15) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2-20)
Wednesday, December 10
Ford Center
Oklahoma City, OK
7:00 CST

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)

I'll you one thing, I'm sick of this "We've got to play harder" stuff. For a full month, that's been the soundbite from this team. I've watched this group play for a solid two months and "playing hard" is not the problem. That's just an excuse for what's actually the issue, or should I say issues.

A total lack of execution. Poor fundamentals. A misunderstanding of roles. Terrible chemistry. No rhythm or flow to the offense. Awful defense. Bad shooting. Bad rebounding. Bad ball control. Bad talent. Bad players. Bad team.

Playing hard has nothing to do with it. As far as I'm concerned, they are playing hard. But this isn't college basketball. You don't really squeeze wins away in the NBA because you outhustled the other team. Maybe in a match of two even squads, that's a difference maker. But when the talent gap is as big as it is when OKC plays, "playing hard" doesn't mean that much. You have to combine playing hard with all the intangibles that actually make up a decent basketball team. I don't care you dove on the floor 28 times if you shot only 22 percent from the field.

I really haven't watched a game yet where I thought, "Boy, they just aren't trying." I've watched games where it was clear the Thunder were flat or lacked intensity, but it wasn't like they weren't trying.

And as clear as its been that OKC has played better under Scott Brooks, there was a big step back Monday night against the Warriors. Most of the players chalked it up to "not playing hard." When in reality, the Thunder turned it over 20 times (15 in the first half) shot 60 percent from the free throw line, missed easy shots in the lane, played horrible defense, got dominated in the paint and didn't execute outside of giving the ball to Kevin Durant and watching him shoot. Is that "not playing hard?" Sounds to me that's "not playing good."

That brings us to tonight's game against Memphis. Somehow, the Thunder beat the Grizz on the road two and a half weeks ago. How? Because they didn't just "play hard." They executed, made shots, rebounded and made free throws. OKC trailed by 11 at the half but remained focused and stayed within itself. The did get to loose balls and secure rebounds - but that should just be part of it. Those things are completely within your control. Nobody should have to tell you to go get a rebound. You're a basketball player. You're supposed to just know and do that.

I don't know what to expect tonight. I would hope that after Monday's letdown against the Warriors, the Thunder would come out on fire and play its best game of the season. The Grizzlies are a terrible road team (1-10 on the road, 5-5 at home). This is winnable. People are expecting a win. It looks like another losing streak is building and this is a good chance to nip it before it starts rolling again and weighing on their minds. But with this group, who knows.

If the Thunder wins a game and nobody sees it, does it count?

With nobody in the state watching, the Thunder finally got it done.

Oklahoma City (2-16) played its best game of the season beating Memphis (4-13) 111-103 to lock up its second win. I'll be honest, I only caught about 10 percent of the game because all my attention was on Bedlam (and how sweet it was - OU 61, OSU 41), but I saw most of the fourth and the really solid finish. As the Thunder edged closer, getting within four, then two, then one, it just seemed like another night of failing to do the little things to win. I was sitting next to my mother and she swore they would win it. I kept telling her, "No, they always figure out a way to lose these type of games." And then Earl Watson blew a layup and Mike Conley Jr. answered with an acrobatic finish.

But OKC wouldn't quit. I was positive they'd mail it in after last night's heartbreaker the way they did against Cleveland after the Phoenix game. But boy, they didn't. OKC trailed by 11 at the half but kept plugging, kept chopping. I'm not going to be the guy that says this "turns the season around" or anything, but these guys needed this. This city needed this - even if we didn't see it. Hey, that's what SportsCenter is for, right?

Tonight, count me in as a Scott Brooks fan. This guy has turned the tide. He's given the players confidence and he's not letting them drag their skulls after a tough stretch. He doesn't chew them out after the opponent goes on an 8-0 run like, ahem, some unnamed people would. He just claps his hands and shouts encouragement. I love starting Russell Westbrook for two reasons: 1) Because it makes me right! I did say Westbrook would be starting by Christmas and 2) because Westbrook plays with so much energy and aggression that he sparks the team while Earl Watson can come in and cool the team. A shakeup was needed and why not go with the guy that plays the hardest? He is so ridiculously athletic. That offensive rebound where he went up and over Rudy Gay was unreal.

Brooks again went with the lineup that was working late in the game when he let Westbrook, Watson, Desmond Mason, Joe Smith and Damien Wilkins bring the team back in it. Then he added Jeff Green and Kevin Durant at the right time to keep the momentum pumping. Great coaching.

This is what Sam Presti has been dreaming about. Kevin Durant scores 30 and General Disarray Jeff Green adds 22. Westbrook plays terrific and the role players do their jobs. Mason adds 11, Wilkins 11, Smith 10, Watson nine and seven assists.

I apologize if I seem a little too jovial with a win over a 4-13 team that improves OKC to 2-16. But geez, cut us some slack - we were dying for one of these. It's not like we're going to have a parade down Sheridan Ave tomorrow morning over it, but after losing 14 in a row, this kind of feels good. And when I think about it, it's really strange that it does, especially when you actually look and see the team is still 2-16. Oh well, one by one. Game by game. That's the mantra from here on out. Baby steps Thunder. And this is a good first step.

A couple of days off for the Thunder and then they travel to Charlotte to take on the 5-11 Bobcats. Winning streak anyone?