Per request of Scott Batzold, today’s breakdown will be of the OKC Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks. The NBA’s best team (best record) went to Texas with the hopes of slowing down the defending champs, and did just that in a hard fought 95-86 game that was much closer than the final score indicates.
It didn’t take the Mavs long to establish balance, as all five starters recorded points in the first five minutes. The Mavs would go onto score 34% of their points for the night in that first stanza.
The balance continued, but the Thunder’s all world combination of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was simply to much. The duo poured in 56 points, outscoring the entire Dallas starting lineup by 13 points.
Speaking of Westbrook, he turned in a very unusal PG stat line. He took 24 shots and handed out .66 assists for every turnover. This is the first time this season in which the Thunder have won a game in which their PG attempts at least 24 shots. The high turnover total is beginning to be cause for concern, as this was the third consecutive game he has turned the ball over at least six times. Undoubtedly fueling the fire of those like PickinSplinters own Drew Shaner who state “The Thunder can’t win a title with Jet 0 at point.”
The typically bulls-eye Durant missed four free throws, the third time he has done so this year. OKC is undefeated in those contests.
Sixth man of the year candidate James Harden tallied 53% of the Thunder’s assists.
OKC committed more fouls than the Mavs, but won the game. Only 27% of Wednesday’s winners had more fouls than their opponents.
Other than reserves Jason Terry and Brandon Wright (combined to make 11 of 15 shots), the most accurate Mav from the field was Shawn Marion (6/15 from the field).
No player on either team shot better than 50% from deep, as the teams combined to go 9/39.
The MVP of the 2011 finals continues his sluggish season. Dirk went another game without connecting on a three pointer, and has now missed 14 consecutive triples and is shooting under 18% for the season. For the sixth time this season (a number that seemed high to me) Dirk made more FT’s than FG’s. The Mavs are 2-4 in games where he does that. He grabbed eight rebounds and scored eight points, marking the third time this season his rebound total has matched or surpass his scoring total. That equates to once ever 7.6 games and is something he didn’t do all of last season, which includes a run through the playoffs and 90+ games.
Nine players scored at least as many points as Dirk.
Most importantly, Harden defeated Carter in the battle of the beards (I’ve got them ranked first and forth respectively my latest NBA beard rankings) . Harden is averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season against the Mavs, as his Thunder have won two of the three games.
By request, we will have the 76ers/Heat game on Friday. But what game do you want to see me jump into this time tomorrow?
Kurt says
Who is 2nd and 3rd in the NBA beard rankings?
Kyle Soppe says
Disappointed you don’t know this one … think hard, and get back to me