Durant Leads Oklahoma City Thunder Past Phoenix Suns 96-91

by Wil Cantrell on Apr 9, 2010 10:18 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Tonight Kevin Durant led the Oklahoma City Thunder with 35 points en route to a 96-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

That's a mundane opening summary of this game. I wrote it because I still sit here, perplexed as to what just happened. A brief look into the numbers:

FG%: Suns 45% (34-75) Thunder 39% (35-88)
Rebounds: Suns 46 Thunder 39
3PT%: Suns 7-19 (36%) Thunder 4-13 (30%)
Bench Points: Suns 31 OKC 21

That doesn't look too bad. Unfortunately that's only half the story:

Offensive Rebounds: OKC 12 Suns 11
Steals: OKC 11 Suns 4
Turnovers: Suns 20 OKC 13
Free Throws: OKC 81% (22-27) Suns 69% (16-23)

Above you can surmise why the Suns lost. Yes Joey Crawford made some strange and perhaps ridiculous calls, go ahead and talk conspiracy as it relates to the NBA admitting Durant was fouled in Utah and all that. Bottom line-the Suns lost this game.

Phoenix began the game looking sharp as they sunk their first 5 shots and led early 13-4. But the Thunder quickly erased that deficit, mostly by hitting the boards (8 offensive rebounds in the 1st) and led by one at the end of the opening quarter, 32-31.

In the second, Kevin Durant scored 8 points and Serge Ibaka 7 to pace the Thunder while the Suns committed 5 turnovers and missed their first 6 field goal attempts before recovering towards the end of the half.

Most of us on the game thread predicted an Alvin Gentry halftime verbal thrashing aimed at his players. I'm nearly positive that occurred, but the result of afore mentioned assumed tongue lashing was not good-at all. The Suns sauntered out for the 3rd and promptly scored 12 (twelve) points. Simply put, they didn't make stops, they didn't make shots, and they turned the ball over 8 (eight) times. The Suns were only down 10 points at the end of 3, but it certainly seemed like more.

In the 4th, a 9-0 run keyed by 3's courtesy of Goran Dragic and Leandro Barbosa left the Suns down only 3, (85-82). Were you feeling deja vu? There was plenty of time left, and visions of a J-Rich teardrop should have been in dancing in your head. A Steve Nash layup brought the game to 89-86 Thunder. The Suns D forced an OKC shot clock violation on the next possession, but Channing Frye rushed a 3 with a defender draped all over him, resulting in an air ball.

After an Ibaka basket, Steve Nash sunk 2 free throws. But Jeff Greene answered with 2 of his own and Nash had his shot blocked by Russell Westbrook on the ensuing possession...and that was the game.

Commentary:

The Thunder wanted this one more than the Suns, plain and simple. Yes they are talented, young, athletic, long, and they have Kevin Durant, too. The played great defense against the Suns tonight. The officiating was questionable and at times ridiculous, but that's the way it goes. It's no excuse to lose.

The Suns lost this one mentally. They lost this one on the boards. When they weren't giving the rock away to the Thunder, they were letting them own the paint and the rim. At times this one looked like a layup drill-a Thunder layup drill. Sloppy play: rushed shots, turnovers, nearly no defense (sans Amare's 4 blocks), no rhythm. Until the 4th, the Suns never sustained a run to put doubt in the mind of the young Thunder squad. This commentator saw a lack of desire out there. Amare, while posting a nice offensive line, also committed 5 turnovers and missed 3 of his 7 free throw attempts while adding a technical foul. Steve Nash was only 4-9 with 4 turnovers. Jason Richardson scored 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter. Channing Frye sported a line of 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 turnovers and 6 personal fouls.

Let's hope it is a wake up call, because there is a lot of basketball to be played, Lopez or no Lopez.

Props (and there are only a few):

Amare Stoudemire: 24 points 15 rebounds 4 blocked shots
Steve Nash 11 points, 12 assists
Louis Amundson: 8 points 7 rebounds
Goran Dragic 8 points 5 rebounds

Quote (This says it all):

Steve Nash

"We didn't get a lot of movement. We got stagnant. We missed shots. We had a lot of perimeter shots without penetration. We had turnovers. We had fumbles. We were sloppy. That set us behind, and we had too much to come back from on a night that we didn't seem to have the emotion. We tried. We fought back. We tried to manufacture it, but it wasn't a natural pool of emotions. We just couldn't get that electricity."

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Comments

20 turnovers Is there a team that the Suns can beat in the first round?

Wow, It seems this team is reverting to the same bunch that we observed mid season. Where is our veteran leadership when needed? Where was the coaching staff?
In looking at all 8 teams that are in the WC playoffs, I do not see one team that the Suns are sure to beat. This may be a consequence of a strong conference or just the fact that all the playoff teams know that they can beat the Suns. I really don’t see this team getting to the second round. Sure hope they prove me wrong.

by da suns on Apr 9, 2010 10:57 PM MDT reply actions

they had a bad game

It is impossible to bring your A game to every single game. they have been working real hard lately and they had ONE bad game. I hate that they did since I think they needed this one if they wanted a shot at the 2nd or 3rd spot on the playoffs but now they just have to keep playing hard and cross their fingers that Dallas or Denver lose a couple.

by jvvenez on Apr 10, 2010 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions

Pay Channing Frye

Let’s see, Just what would you pay a player to produce 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 turnovers and 6 personal fouls? I wonder how many of those fouls were ‘and 1’? That should be worth at least 4 million a year.

by da suns on Apr 9, 2010 11:04 PM MDT reply actions

Agree

I don’t think Frye is worht more than his option is worth. If he rejects it then let him walk

by jvvenez on Apr 10, 2010 10:19 AM MDT up reply actions

yeah but can we really afford to lose Frye, Amare and Amundson from our frontcourt in the same offseason.

its not likely but a possibility that we’ll have to overpay frye/amundson to keep them, especially if they know they have us over a barrel if amar’e walks

by DaveJD on Apr 10, 2010 1:06 PM MDT up reply actions

We can afford to lose only Frye. Lou Amundson might not be Amare Stoudemire, but he’s extremely valuable.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 3:53 PM MDT up reply actions

Mr. Cantrell, with all those steals and turnovers, I thought the Thunder must have played great defense, but no? is it more complex?

The Thunder are good, despite their awful name. This is not just to compliment them. I suggested recently that the Suns should try to manipulate the standings to put the Spurs in eighth, to give the Spurs a first-round shot at upsetting the Lakers, by throwing some games.
Notwithstanding that the Suns did lose tonight and the Spurs lost to the Grizzlies (so what I suggested might happen anyway), I think I was wrong. After seeing the way they played tonight, I think that the Thunder could upset anyone. Besides that the Thunder play good defense, they’re hungry and the Lakers are lazy. If they meet, the Thunder might shock the Lakers the way the Nuggets shocked the Sonics in 1994. No non-Suns upset beats that one, not even the Mavericks’ upset by the Warriors.

by 8472species on Apr 9, 2010 11:15 PM MDT reply actions

Hey, it doesn't sound like you're looking for an answer to anything, but..

We just smashed San Antonio, all while holding ourselves to less than 10 turnovers (9). OKC deserved this win after being robbed of their last two, plain and simple.

They wanted it more than us, and we got outplayed. Hey, it sucks, but it happens, even this late in the season. Just pick up the pieces and take it to Houston come Sunday.

Barkley said it best: When asked who was the 2nd best team in the western conference, his answer was, " I don’t know." It’s gonna remain that way for a long time. Every single team, from the 1st seed to the 8th, is more than capable of beating one another, regardless of home court advantage. It’s just a matter of who’s willing to bring more heart and discipline on that particular day. We’re in this just as much as anyone else.

by Nova1989 on Apr 9, 2010 11:16 PM MDT reply actions

Well said

by jvvenez on Apr 10, 2010 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions

It's not a bad idea, but I don't think that's a good mindset

At least not while going into the playoffs. I want the Suns to tackle all of our upcoming games like a must-win situation, regardless of where they are in the standings. Walk in like you’ve got everything to lose. It may backfire due to the pseduo-pressure, but I think our team is mature enough to handle it.

Just my opinion, though. The Suns are gonna be hungry come Sunday after this perplexing game, so I’m not worried about their state of mind right now.

by Nova1989 on Apr 9, 2010 11:20 PM MDT reply actions

Oh, well. It was really just making things out of clouds, because I certainly don’t expect the Suns to consider throwing any games.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 12:02 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm not trying to impersonate Mr. Cantrell, btw, lol

That question seemed directed towards him.

by Nova1989 on Apr 10, 2010 12:17 AM MDT reply actions

You did good Nova

now shave your head and you’re well on your way to being me…sarc

Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx

by Wil Cantrell on Apr 10, 2010 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions

[shrugging] It’s only that he was the person who suggested the game was puzzling.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions

what a loss ;(

at least i’m drunk already, cuz i would have had to drink because of this… :*(

by twitte07 on Apr 10, 2010 1:30 AM MDT reply actions

we must win all 3 to get 3 or 4

most probably we are locked on 5 unless some surprising losses from other 3… at least we avoid spurs in first round…

by zeze_999 on Apr 10, 2010 1:33 AM MDT reply actions

Dallas and Denver have some matches with San Antonio

Doesn’t seem like anyone’s gonna walk into the playoffs sweeping the rest of their games.

Unfortunately, Utah’s only got 2 games left, one of which includes us. That’s gonna be epic.

Even if we beat Denver, which I certainly think we can, their division leader status will keep them a seed ahead of us. Damn this pacific division we’re in.

Hmm…yeah, slim chance of a 4th seed. But hey, I was saying the same thing about us making the playoffs mid-season

by Nova1989 on Apr 10, 2010 1:55 AM MDT reply actions

I can't really get too angry

about this loss, the turnovers killed us, although it’s also hard for me to be upset at Stat about those TO’s as hard as he played, although he really seemed to let Joey Crawford get him out of his game (not the only time a player has had trouble with that little prick.) One thing that did scare me was how AFRAID Channing seemed down the stretch, I thought he might pass out on the floor from hyperventilating, he really shrunk down the stretch and took a HORRIBLE 3, then compounded it by leaving Ibaka alone for the backbreaker..Nut up Channing, we need you w/o Robin!

by jma67 on Apr 10, 2010 2:08 AM MDT reply actions

Considering how bad we played...

I still feel good cause we could’ve won this game just by making a few more FTs…No need to push that fancy big red panic button guys…Obviously the TOs is what killed us, but we were in the game until the end.

by Lorenzo Franceschi Bicchierai on Apr 10, 2010 4:22 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

by Fritzy on Apr 10, 2010 1:25 PM MDT up reply actions

two contradictory points:

“Every single team, from the 1st seed to the 8th, is more than capable of beating one another, regardless of home court advantage.”

“I want the Suns to tackle all of our upcoming games like a must-win situation, regardless of where they are in the standings. Walk in like you’ve got everything to lose. It may backfire due to the pseduo-pressure, but I think our team is mature enough to handle it.”

Both points are completely opposite. As a fan, we certainly want the Suns team to win EVERY game (as point 2 stresses). But that’s just not possible. Instead, if point 1 holds true, it really doesn’t matter how badly we play in the remaining 3 games as long as we don’t fall down to the 8th seed. In my humble opinion, if we can’t get top 2 or 3 seed, we want 6 or 7 seed. I would avoid playing the Lakers until WCF. It is really hard to be strategic with this. I also agree a team cannot just “turn on” for the playoff mood. BUT, we ARE already in the playoff mood. Keeping in mind that when you are in the playoff, you don’t win every game either. So I think last night’s loss was completely fine in the grand scheme of things. I do think the Suns should be the next two games before losing the final one to Jazz. If so, I wouldn’t be too upset with that outcome…

by sonicking on Apr 10, 2010 8:06 AM MDT reply actions

Refs 1 Suns ZERO

“The officiating was questionable and at times ridiculous, but that’s the way it goes. It’s no excuse to lose.” Certainly it is.

“that little prick” jma67, you got that right, he been doing that to Suns for decades.

This game was decided by black-and-white stripes. Suns were taken out of there game as the ref call the whole game different on each end of the floor. The game was decided by 5 points, that is 2-3 possessions out of 100. “that little prick” accounted for at least that many.

by Grey_Hound on Apr 10, 2010 8:25 AM MDT reply actions

jma67

Sorry that should have read:

"that little prick", jma67 you got that right, he’s been doing that to Suns for decades.

by Grey_Hound on Apr 10, 2010 8:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Frye in the post

needs far more experience. He constantly is under the line when he defends. He got to stop that. Frye., If you want to stick up the arms and butt out the chest, you have to do it in-front of the half circle line.

IF you get beat and you are under the circle, get out of the way, and use the long arms to poke the ball as your moving. Otherwise, you are going to get called. OR if you need to send the guy to the line, then jump into the guy and go for the ball, and shooting hand.

I think he is putting out the effort, he needs to get a coach to show him.

by Grey_Hound on Apr 10, 2010 8:37 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

It wasn’t a bad loss. The Thunder played some good D and we didn’t play enough till the 3rd. We also didn’t take care of the ball(although most of those TO’s were forced). We just missed too many free throws and didn’t keep them off the glass in the 1st quarter. That right there made it too hard for us to comeback, but we still tried and only lost by 5. Not a big deal and not a bad loss. However, this loss does make that Houston game much more important and I expect us to bounce back and step on their throats right from the start. We’re coming off of a huge SA win, so don’t hit the panic button. I truly believe that we could beat the Thunder without Robin in 6 games regardless of homecourt advantage.

by Beavis 25 on Apr 10, 2010 10:37 AM MDT reply actions

On another note. I’m disappointed in Fyre. He’s played well in the clutch before( Portland game), but not this game. I’m worried that his inconsistency may hurt us. I think we need to see a bit more Amundson and maybe even Clark.

by Beavis 25 on Apr 10, 2010 10:40 AM MDT reply actions

Sounds good to me. That was one of the games that proved Lou Amundson can score a little on his good nights.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Who knows why (perhaps real-life concerns are tying them up—good!), but recently, it has felt like fewer people are paying attention to BSOS lately.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 1:03 PM MDT reply actions

It'll pickup come playoff time...

"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."

Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...

by Daryl Ray on Apr 10, 2010 7:19 PM MDT up reply actions

actually

the numbers are way up right now and have been since Feb

Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Apr 11, 2010 12:37 AM MDT up reply actions

hey you guys got ME recently!

Who else do you need? ;)

Twitter: @dahking
Too late to change the stupid twitter name. Did it as a joke to my teenager, but now I'm hooked on the news-feed aspect of twitter.

by Alex Laugan on Apr 11, 2010 8:27 AM MDT up reply actions

I wouldn't mind being 6th seed

I think we do well with Dallas and we move out of LA’s bracket.

Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."

by rsavaj on Apr 10, 2010 1:30 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Yes! We need to be second/seventh or third/sixth (preferably second or third, obviously)—not fourth or fifth. If the Suns would like to avoid the Lakers at least for a while (maybe they’re cocky and don’t care), fourth and fifth are equally undesirable from that standpoint.

by 8472species on Apr 10, 2010 3:57 PM MDT up reply actions