Oklahoma City forgets to get off the bus in a 129-87 loss to Minnesota

Ever stay up waaaay too late on a Tuesday night, just sitting there on the couch mindlessly flipping channels, catching a cool episode of I Shouldn't Be Alive and then watching the same SportsCenter like four times? Then you wake up the next morning and you're a zombie until quitting time and all you can think about is, "Why in the heck didn't I go to bed at a reasonable time? I should have known I had business to take care of tomorrow." That was the Thunder tonight. Instead of finishing off the Knicks last night and cruising into tonight's game, they stayed up way later than they should have and they paid for it tonight.

What is there to say? Really, what is there to analyze, breakdown or write about after a 42 point (FORTY. TWO.) loss?

It was evident from the tip, the Thunder left their legs in Oklahoma City. Jumpshots were short. They were slow on the defensive end. Loose balls went to Minnesota every time. Perimeter defense was atrocious. I swear I saw a couple guys yawn while the ball was in play. Just bad all the way around. And you know what I have to say about it? It happens. Especially when you're not all that good and you're average age is 24. It's just bound to happen.

Under Brooks, this type of game hasn't occurred since the beat down in Cleveland in his second game at the helm. So almost two months of the team being competitive night in and night out is pretty good and like I said, it was just time for it again. Everything set up for it when the stretch of games, the tough on the night before, the road game in front of about 45 people and five degree weather outside.

Once the game was out of hand in the second half, there wasn't any effort to plug away and get back in it. And that was probably a wise decision by Scott Brooks. Tonight's game turned more into an elevated scrimmage than a competitive NBA game. Kevin Durant played just 22 minutes. Jeff Green played 19. Twelve guys played total. Including Nenad Krstic, who was clearly rusty, but clearly has ability. Hard to really gauge him in a laugher like this, but it's nice to see him in the rotation. Also nice to see Russell Westbrook continue to play well -- he was a bright spot as he went for 16 and 12 assists. And good to see Nick Collison back and he played well (17 and 10). Bummer the team was about as focused as me in Intellectual History of the 19th Century last semester, but there's no reason to flip over tables and curse the TV. As happy and encouraged we've been over the last week or so, we need to keep in mind this is still a 5-31 team that's not real good. Tonight was a pretty solid reminder.

But it just kept piling up and getting worse. It was 42-24 after one (with the Wolves shooting 75 percent in the quarter). It was 72-43 at half. 98-66 after three. And a horrible 129-87 in the end. Some will look at this and think, "Boy, just when I thought we were making up ground. What a step in the wrong direction." In my mind, this isn't really a step backward. Unless the Thunder lets this affect them and they fall into a funk as a result, tonight just wasn't them. Perfect stat to prove it: OKC was outrebounded 57-38. That just doesn't happen when they're focused and giving 100 percent. They may be a bad team, but they don't get outworked like that. We all know they're better than their record and we all know they're better than they showed tonight. And in the end, a 42 point loss counts for the same about of losses as the two-point one Minny handed to OKC over a month ago. (And hey, at least it's not as bad as Sacramento's 108-63 loss two weeks ago.)

(Quick note on today's trade: We all know what it was for and there's not much too it. Since signing Nads, there really wasn't room for 14 centers on the bench. Somebody had to go. Quite honestly, this is an excellent deal for the Thunder because Johan Petro was basically going to be seven feet of waste the rest of the way. I assume Sam Presti is shuffling here -- get Chucky Atkins and his expiring deal and now you have a backup point guard so you can move Earl Watson at the deadline (Watson has two years left). You also get the Nuggs first round pick, but I sense that pick will be a throw-in to somebody during a deadline deal. Good move by OKC.)

No overreaction here. Of course it's fairly disconcerting that the team lost by 42, but OKC is in a stretch of four games in five days and had to travel after a grueler last night. Now if something similar happens Friday night and the Thunder are flatter than a wall and don't show the same hustle and heart they have over the past three weeks, then I'll be upset. Granted, the next game is at home against a playoff team in Houston, but I fully expect OKC to bounce back and at least be competitive for 48.

Thunder vs. Minnesota: Pre-game view

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Oklahoma City Thunder (5-30) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-25)
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Target Center
Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM CST

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

After losing streaks of 14, nine and then just five, the Thunder snapped a one-game losing, uh, streak. Sure sign of improvement. But one thing has been consistent in all five of OKC's wins - sub-par opponents. And tonight, the Thunder gets another one, albeit on the road, in 9-25 Minnesota. The two teams are eerily similar. Minny averages 96.6 and surrenders 102.2. OKC averages 94.7 and gives up 102.7. They're identical in rebounds per game (41.7) and nearly the same in field goal percentage (both under 45 percent). So far, the season series is split 1-1 with the Thunder taking the first one 88-85 and the Wolves taking game two on a Mike Miller buzzer-beater, 105-103.

I'm a little pressed for time today, so I'll just give you five quick keys to tonight's game.

1. The Thunder's legs. Will they be tired after having to exert so much energy in holding off New York last night? In a perfect Thunder-world (see what I did there?), OKC would have finished the Knicks off by 25, Mo Sene would have seen some burn and KD, Russell and Jeff Green would've sat most of the fourth. Instead, Durant played 45, Green 36 and Westbrook 42. Right now, the Scott Brooks is rotating 8-9 players in and out. We may see more than that tonight due to jello legs.

2. Oklahoma City stinks on the road. The Thunder's 1-15 away from Loud City. Not much to break down or analyze there. This is as good a time as any to notch another one though.

3. Nenad Krstic. I thought he'd play a few last night, but he wasn't even in uniform. No word on whether or not he'll play tonight. But we're all excited to see what Nads could potentially bring. I'll go ahead and stick with my predicted line from last night: 14 minutes, eight points, three boards, two assists and city of encouraged people.

4. Winning streak? Another crack at it. I actually don't like this opportunity for two in a row as much as I liked the Denver game. Weird, huh? But as mentioned, the Thunder's no good in roadies, having lost its last eight away from home. The Wolves have played rather decently as of late, winning three in a row. Had it not been for Carmelo Effing Anthony, we'd have a clash of the three-game win streak titans. But when a bad team is on a winning streak, the first thing I always think is, "They're due for a loss. Because how long can they keep it up?" Hmm. I guess the same principle could apply to the Thunder as well...

5. Randy Foye vs. Russell Westbrook. Foye has been playing excellent as of late. So has Westbrook. Something's gotta give in a matchup of quick on quick. Of course I like Russell because well, I like Russell. But the key is limiting Foye's scoring while also keeping him off schedule - meaning, don't let him have easy drive and dishes to Al Jefferson and Craig Smith because that's how Minny gets a lot of points. Foye wants to shoot the three but Westbrook plays pretty stiff man up defense, so I think Westbrook can handle him. But as it goes for rooks, they're due for a bad one every few nights and Russell has played a pretty good streak of good ones.

14 and counting - the Thunder loses again falling to 1-16

BOX SCORE

I honestly wonder if it will ever happen. I wonder if this team will ever win another game. Because I know that feeling is what's on everybody's mind - the players, the coaches and all of us fans. And that's the biggest difficulty in breaking out of a losing streak like this. The mental anguish of losing and losing and losing.

Games like tonight hurt. I mean really hurt. Oklahoma City (1-16) lost 105-103 to Minnesota (4-10) on a last second shot by Mike Miller. Before the game started, it seemed like this might be one OKC could win. Then after a half, everybody was sensing it. Then with under a minute left and up 100-99, everybody could feel it. This losing streak was over.

But then a bad call. Chris Wilcox - who was awesome tonight - was tagged with his sixth foul sending Al Jefferson to the line. And the events that followed Jefferson's second shot seriously made me question everything about this team. I honestly wondered if a fourth grade pee wee club had more basketball intellect than these guys. With 10.8 seconds left, Jefferson missed his second attempt. And of course, the Thunder doesn't put a body on anybody. Ryan Gomes snatches the board. Instead of having the ball with a chance to win, the game is now in the Wolves hands.

But it gets better. For some reason, Nick Collison absolutely loses his mind and hacks the crap out of Gomes, sending him to the line for two. He hits both putting Minnesota up 103-101. Now I realize Kevin Durant then tied the game with a dunk and it took a Mike Miller jumper to beat OKC, but this thing breaks down to the sequence with 10.8 seconds left. As I've harped on for three weeks now, this team doesn't do any of the little things to win. The failure to secure big rebounds (OKC was outrebounded 43-33 tonight). Terrible free throw shooting (18-27). Total mental breakdowns.

To me, it's simple why Oklahoma City has lost 14 in a row. It's not because of a lack of effort. It's not because a lack of talent. It surely isn't because of a lack of good luck. It's clearly just a total lack in knowing how to win. All the tiny details just don't seem to get attention. It's one thing to knock down a big three and thump your chest and do that weird jump-in-the-air-and-bump-sides celebration. It's another to dive on the floor and force a jump ball in the middle of the third quarter. Those are the type of tiny difference makers that win these games. And this group either doesn't understand that yet or hasn't been taught that. I don't know what it is.

This one is just a heartbreaker. I fully expect OKC to mail it in tomorrow night in Memphis. It may take days to get over this one. Don't get me wrong. The team played pretty well. The Thunder shot extremely well from the field (50 percent) and four guys played really well instead of just one. There were only 10 turnovers. But like I said, the little things. Those freaking details.


I do like the way Scott Brooks is managing the game though. He found lineups that worked and stuck with it. He didn't shake anything up for no good reason. He stuck with the hot hand and tried to ride it out. Russell Westbrook saw starter minutes logging 34 and netting 15 points and dishing eight assists. As mentioned, Wilcox was wonderful. If he can add that type of post play for the rest of the year, he can really help open things for Westbrook, Durant and Jeff Green.

OKC takes on the Grizzlies in Memphis tomorrow and no one will be watching as all eyes will be on Bedlam. Maybe that's a good thing.

Minnesota vs. Thunder: Pre-game primer

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Minnesota Timberwolves (3-10) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-15)
Friday, November 28
Ford Center
Oklahoma City, OK
7:00 PM CST

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

Woo! The day is here! The rematch we've all been waiting for! We all remember the Thunder's 88-85 win about a month ago against the Wolves. I mean, how could we forget (for obvious reasons)? I know I've been counting the days down for this one after the Clippers loss.

There's a good thing about this game and a bad thing. And one of the two will happen. Either OKC gets its second win and breaks this horrible losing streak, or the Thunder loses to Minnesota, and further devastates the team, the coaches and the city.

The Timberwolves finally broke away from their one loss woes, winning two games last week. You look at their stats, and they're strikingly similar to the Thunder. One guy averaging 20 plus, and a bunch of guys averaging eight to 12 points. Evidently, obviously, that's sort of a recipe for losing lots of games.

OKC is rapidly approaching Orlando's 1-19 2004 territory and another loss tonight really makes that type of record a real possibility. Nobody in Oklahoma City saw this coming. Perhaps we thumped our chests a little too much, thinking we could influence games as a crowd and spur this group on to victories. Perhaps we forgot that a decent team is needed for that equation to square.

A big night for the Thunder. At this point, how can you call a game between two teams with a combined record of 4-25 a must-win for either squad, but boy, OKC really needs to win this one. Everyone had this same feeling for the game against the Clippers and we folded like a card table in the second half. Tonight, the Thunder needs energy and execution for four quarters and needs to start pulling this city with them. I'm not afraid to say that people here are grumbling. I know I feel it. That doesn't mean we're going to throw in the towel and bring only 12,000 a night to the Ford Center. We'll still come out strong, we'll still support the heck out of them, but we desperately want to bring these guys in and make them our own. And their 1-15 record is making it difficult to do that.

Just like Bob Wiley, it's all about baby steps. Win tonight, then look on to the next one. Set a goal of eight wins in December. Be realistic. Take the small steps forward and start trying to salvage this mess of a season. Pretend a new season starts tonight. Win and then look on to the next one. Please. Pretty please.