Some post-game thoughts (Thunder edition)

That was a painful game to watch . . .

• I'm not sure I've ever seen this team look more inept offensively.  24 turnovers.  3-20 from the three point line.  40% from the field.  No movement at all on offense.  LaMarcus Aldridge only attempting 10 shots.  Pathetic.


• The reason this game was so difficult to stomach was because the Blazers actually played pretty well defensively.  They out-rebounded the Thunder and held them to just 89 points.  With even a mediocre offensive game, this is a win.  On nights like this you really question the overall offensive strategy.  Why is it so hard to get the ball to our tallest player?  Why is no one moving without the ball on offense?  Why are no off-ball picks being set to free guys up for easier shots?  Why is no one cutting to the hoop?


• And while it's easy for me to sit here and play armchair coach, this is the sort of game that really leaves you scratching your head regarding the distribution of minutes and the lineups being used.  In particular, I thought Dante Cunningham was significantly under-utilized.  He was playing really well tonight, with 14 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes of play.  But Nate chose to sit him at the 10 minute mark of the 4th quarter and he never got back in the game.  Instead, Juwan Howard played, and contributed very little.  I could understand that decision against some teams, but not against OKC.  Cunningham can literally guard anyone on the Thunder, so there's no defensive reason to play Howard.  And Cunningham was hitting his shots and getting loose balls.  I don't think it's a complete coincidence that the Blazers faded as soon as he left the game.  


• Andre Miller had a decent game statistically, scoring 22 points and adding 6 assists and 6 rebounds.  He also had 4 big turnovers and missed some key shots down the stretch, but he was hardly the worst offender in that department.  More on that in a second.


• LaMarcus Aldridge tried really hard tonight.  He had 15 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.  The main problem was that he only had 10 shot attempts.  He was defended well, but the Blazers have to do a better job of getting him the ball in a position to do something with it.  They need to run plays to free him up.  


• Nic Batum had a decent first half, scoring 12 points and playing his usual solid defense, but he completely disappeared in the second half.  


• Everyone else pretty much stunk up the joint.  Rudy Fernandez was 0-6 from three point land and finished with zero points.  Martell Webster was 1-4 from three point range, hitting his only shot on the last possession of the game when it didn't matter. Steve Blake went 0-5 from three point range and finished with zero points.  Jerryd Bayless played only 15 minutes and went 2-7.   If any of these guys had hit anything, the Blazers might well have won this game.  


• Before the game, I was suggesting that--at least against teams like OKC, who don't have a dominant center--McMillan should move Dante Cunningham into the starting lineup and move Aldridge over to the five.  I stand by that recommendation.  I think that's the lineup the Blazers should go with against Phoenix.  As much as a respect what Juwan Howard has done for the Blazers, Cunningham is playing better on both ends of the court right now and he should be getting more minutes than Howard.  I just hope the Blazers can find a way to gut out a win.  I know it's a tall order, but they really need a win going into the All Star break.