12/11 Daily Links

You know what I love to do on a Saturday?  Read all the Thunder news clippings I can find so I can avoid doing house work.  I bet you do too. Enjoy.

What the pros are saying:

• Mayberry’s post-game nuggets.  A great win that is followed up by a four-game home stand.
• Mayberry’s deadline story regarding the game.  He takes a look at Durant’s growing playmaking ability.
• Daily Thunder’s post-game analysis.  Special props to Westbrook, whom Paul himself admitted to winning the matchup.
• A collection of post-game quotes from both the Hornets and the Thunder.
• Loud City is happy about taking out the 5th seed.  Also, it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good.
• ThunderFans applaud the Thunder defense.
• If you’re young you may not remember it, but back in the 90’s, George Karl led the erstwhile Seattle Supersonics to quite a run. He just earned his 1000th coaching victory.
• Nola.com examines the Hornets’ future in light of how the Thunder went through similar things when they left Seattle.
• Hornets coach Monty Williams talks about the half-time adjustments that the Hornets did not make to counter the Thunder’s game.

“I’m just slowing down a lot and I’m seeing the floor a little better. I’m making the right passes. I’m not trying to make the flashy passes. Give all the credit to my teammates for making shots.” – Kevin Durant

Game 24 Results: High Energy

Final Score: Thunder 97, Hornets 92

Record: 16-8

Stat Leaders

Points: Westbrook with 29, David West with 24

Rebounds: David West with 13, Ibaka with 9

Assists: Westbrook with 10, Chris Paul with 7

Coming into this game, we have been wondering if the Thunder have turned a corner.  We have wondered if they could play four sound quarters.  Inherently, we wonder if the team can demonstrate playoff level intensity without the mental lapses and effort naps.

This game had some playoff flavor to it.

Game 18 Results: Rebound

Final Score: Thunder 95, Hornets 89

Record: 12-6

Game Stats

En lieu of the normal stat highlights, here is the key statistical breakdown of the game:

Rebounds

Sefolosha – 5
Westbrook – 5
Durant – 11
Green – 7
Krstic – 7
Harden -5
Ibaka –  11

Team total: 56
Offensive: 16

Rebounding wins games.