Jeff Green NBA Game Thread

[blueandgray]

Jeff's sophomore campaign seems to have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start. He did start, here is his line in a loss to the Bucks:

27 min; 2-7 from the field; 3-4 from the line; 3 rebs - 2 assts - 2 steals - 0 blks - 5 turnovers - 3 fouls - 7 points.

All of the starters played horrendous.. only KD scored in double figs with 12 points on terrible shooting. Russel Westbrook looked good off the bench scoring 13 points in 22 minutes.

[HeartAttackHoya]

I'm not conviced Durant is a good player to have on any team who has winning aspirations. The modern day Dominique Wilkins

[rammajamma]

saw this game in person...very bad first half by the Thunder (worst pro half I ahave seen actually) but they came back in the second. Jeff looked a step slow for most of the game, quite tentative. I think part of it was the huge build up to the first NBA game in OKC since the Hornets left 2 yrs ago - it was like the World Series, Superbowl and Olympics rolled into one in terms of the amount of exposure locally.

It will be a rough season for the Thunder, but Jeff will be fine.

[hoyaboy1]

Jeff's big problem is that he still has no consistent way to score - his jumper is iffy, his post game isn't great, and his handle makes it risky for him to drive into traffic.

[blueandgray]

I agree that jeff doesn't have patentef "go to" shot... but disagree on the rest. I think he has a better than average post up game, is also good with the ball, and has a very good mid-range jump shot.

yes he had a poor fist game of the season...but didn't he go for 25 points or something in his last regular season game?

if jeff develops a "go to" move...in a couple of years he's an all star.

[FewFAC]

Playing with Durant has got to be like the complete opposite of playing with Roy. I can't remember the last black hole I saw in the NBA that compares to Durant.

[Filo]

Looks like Jeff had a decent game stats-wise in the Thunders' 1st win (against the T-wolves) -- 36 minutes, 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Din't see the game but the ESPN play-play shows that he had a TO late and missed two free throws with 7 seconds left. Ouch.

Westbrook looks like he is going to be good pick-up for the Thunder.

Al Jefferson is a beast.

[hoyainspirit]

Saw some of the game. Thought Jeff played well, though something about the design of OKC's offense bothers me. For those who are interested, the pay NBA package is free for the first week or two of the season, so watch while you can.

[RDF]

As a guy who doubted Westbrook--so far I'm 100% wrong. He's going to be a solid NBA player for a longtime. If he ever gets a jumpshot--he could be outstanding--but right now he's Antonio Daniels--which is fine and good athlete/defensive player.

Jeff played solid--those missed FT's came on a bad call-he'd released the pass to a wide open Durant for game clinching dunk--but officials called a foul--and then Jeff threw up some tight free throw attempts.

I can't stand watching his team play-they just clear it out for Durant--who is seen as a "star" even though his jumpshot is spotty at best. He takes stupid shots 75% of the time and ball movement is dead when he's in game. Stat that I noticed--Wolves were up 9 pts when Durant exited game-and Thunder were up 4 by time he re-entered the game. Of course they lost lead quickly-and then went back and forth. If not for the ineptitude of Randy Foye--Wolves win this easily. Foye is an awful PG as well, and didn't make a shot but decided to take his pattened running/flying throw crap at basket half hook off the dribble shots and both were so far off it was embarrassing. Why give the ball to Al Jefferson when nobody can stop him?

[SFHoya99]

It's so odd to me how the team plays given management's San Antonio roots. I never pegged PJ for an isolation game.

Odd thing is is I feel they have the basic nucleus to be a pretty good team. I think Durant could be a great player if they force him to earn his shots, as well.

[SirSaxa]

Nov 3, 2008 8:29:41 GMT -5 hoyainspirit said:

Saw some of the game. Thought Jeff played well, though something about the design of OKC's offense bothers me. For those who are interested, the pay NBA package is free for the first week or two of the season, so watch while you can.

Thanks Hoyainspirit... I forgot about that!
I will def try to catch some OKC and Pacer games, and now Pistons too!

[DanMcQ]

Solid game last night against the Celtics - did a reasonable job checking Paul Pierce as well. He also had a sweet rejection of Ray Allen while trailing on a Celtics fast break late in the game.

The OKC "offense" is a mess.

[blueandgray]

Jeff had his best game of the season scoring 22 points, grabbing 5 boards, and had three swipes. He also played 40 minutes...gotta love that!

[lichoya68]

go jeff hes gonna be pretty good go hoyas go jeff yes yup yes

[HeartAttackHoya]

I think Jeff plays some of the best on the ball defense in the league right now based on just pure effort. The potential is there to be an all-nba defensive team player.

The OKC offense is stagnant and lacks any motion etc as a result looks very stiff. I dont see Jeff trully exploding in this offense as it does not suit his strong pointsl

[Massholya]

Jeff was also 3 for 3 from behind the arc. To me that is perhaps the most exciting stat in his line.

[MCIGuy]

Nov 8, 2008 12:10:02 GMT -5 Massholya said:

Jeff was also 3 for 3 from behind the arc. To me that is perhaps the most exciting stat in his line.

Indeed. That was what stood out for me too. His assists are beginning to rise but he has to improve his three-point shooting a lot IMO. His rebounding needs work too.

[HoyaChris]

Nov 8, 2008 12:49:11 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Nov 8, 2008 12:10:02 GMT -5 Massholya said:

Jeff was also 3 for 3 from behind the arc. To me that is perhaps the most exciting stat in his line.

Indeed. That was what stood out for me too. His assists are beginning to rise but he has to improve his three-point shooting a lot IMO. His rebounding needs work too.

I disagree a bit on the three point shooting. Jeff started last year atrociously - something like 1-22 but then shot in the high thirties for the rest of the year. This year he has started 6 of 9.

It is harder to read the rebounding. He leads the team in defensive rebounds but has only 3 offensive rebounds in 5 games. A big part of the problem are the offensive sets that typically have him setting up outside the three point line.

His defense - on the ball - has been a real surprise, indeed close to exceptional. He has a tendency to do less well when he is playing against a 3 who moves well without the ball. He has a tendency to get picked a lot as does prety much everybody on OKC.

[alleninxis]

Jeff struggled tonight...

He and Roy match up tomorrow night.

[joey0403p]

I couldn't agree more about OKC lackluster offense. Honestly most times it looks like the old 76ers offense. Iverson / Mckee now durant / green - run around baseline screens and pop out on the wing. the PG gives it to iverson / durant...they try to create something. when that doesn't work they give it to mckee / green late in teh shot clock and hope for the best.

Problem is durant is so far from iverson it makes no sense. the rest of their team isn't exactly tearing it up either.