I think Ty had accidentally fallen into a good hybrid second unit by having Mann-Kawhi-Plumlee-Russ-Norm for about 1 min in Q1, sending Harden and PG to the bench, and we got the lead up to +5. I like that lineup because Mann as the ballhandler provides insurance against Russ doing dumb Russ stuff and shooting us out of games, and Mann makes sure Kawhi and Norm gets their touches while being able to attack the rim. Then Lue substituted Coffey in for Mann and everything basically went to s**t from there as OKC got on a 10-0 run and until Coffey made a couple of shots late to keep us within 2.

I think we lost a great opportunity to get up high single digits in the first half. Not being able to not be a complete dumpster fire when Zu is off the court is this team’s biggest challenge.

In the 2nd half, Mann hit a big 3 to give us some traction but then we seemed to miss every single layup/dunk attempt, didn’t get calls, and got steamrolled.

Paul George just didn’t play to the level needed to win a game like this. Just no presence offensively at the rim or on defense.

The entire 213 era can be defined by how this team plays when Zu is off the floor. We’re a really suck when Zu is off the floor. We have to learn to suck less. Tonight: +1 with Zu on the court, -23 off.

My unsolicited advice for Ty Lue:

• Extend Mann’s Q1/Q3 stints into the 2nd unit to stabilize the ball handling, passing and shot selection. Give Russ a chance to play off the ball. He’s below par to washed as an on the ball player.
• Gotta pick the right matchups for the backup #5. Theis would’ve been better than Plumlee for this game b/c of speed and spacing. It should be by committee
• Gotta give some minutes to Kobe Brown b/c of his strength, speed and athleticism. All we need to do in the non-Zu minutes is win some possessions and finish a few shots at the rim. That’s it. We have the shot making to beat anyone but gotta come away with loose balls and rebounds.

We played like absolute PUSSIES!

Utterly embarrassing. So was both Russ’ and Zu’s ‘finishing’. OKC was ready for this game, intense defense in the 3rd, refs were ready for playoff-style defense – and we never stepped it up even one notch. And no, I’m not nearly finished:

– Zu not only failed to finish or do the bullying, he got bullied – by a guy he got at least 45 lbs on… Exemplary for our second half

Not ready for the game at all:

– We face a team that is elite shooting from everywhere and generates about the highest shot quality in the league – we gave up lots of wide open 3s. Ty initially was ready to defend Shai and Mann did a terrific job but that didn’t last either.
– We face the team that generates the highest turnover differential in the league – and have 3-4 different guys getting stripped just bringing the ball up, not including some sloppy passes.
– Russ starts the game really well (and Ty did well playing him in that lineup and giving Harden an early rest). The Russ/Plumlee lineup was our biggest weakness. Not only does Ty manage to not play Theis AT ALL, he also manages to ignore OKC going 5-out, playing 6’6″ Kenrich Williams at center for crying out loud AND leaves Plumlee on the floor after he fails to get offensive rebounds, cramps the floor tremendously, doesn’t get back in transition AND we give up multiple open 3s where we don’t close out whatsoever. OKC immediately goes on a huge run, offense and shot quality for Russ and Kawhi is clearly affected big time, Norm’s minutes are also wasted, Plumlee even has a turnover, the turnover rate of the team skyrockets – Theis still does not play. If I’ve ever seen piss-poor coaching, this was it.
– It gets worse: After killing Russ’ rhythm and affecting his confidence, Ty then basically throws him under the bus by not playing him at all in the 2nd. Nice job scapegoating and deflecting there, coach, Doc would be proud!

Yes, Russ was awful in the 3rd (finishing, he still set up others and took shots he should take). Ty was way worse and I wonder how Russ looks in the 3rd under a coach who does his job without negatively impacting the rhythm and confidence of the guys he needs to play well.
– Norm was yet another example. The minute there was space to operate, he went from terrible to awesome.
– James Harden’s playmaking was NOWHERE to be found tonight. In one of the most important games. Performances like this one bring back massive doubts that I would like to bury.
– PG: got massively outplayed by J-Dub and when we needed him most, he displayed horrendous shot selection.

Fully deserved to be punched in the mouth. Kawhi, Mann and Coffey showed up – for stretches. Harden made some shots. We were horrible in every other regard and got bullied by one of the youngest and skinniest teams in the league, in a game that mattered big time, after a long break. Pussy performance A-Z