COVERITLIVE.COM

10:38

Jason Kersey - Submit your questions now to Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry. He'll be joining you all to chat at 11 a.m.

What did you think of last night's game? Did you expect the Thunder to come that close to beating the Lakers?

10:59

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Greetings all. What a game last night, huh? Great effort by the Thunder.

11:00

[Comment From Nick]
Crazy game last night. What did you think?

11:00

[Comment From Mike Aikins]
excellent game! They almost pulled it off!

11:02

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Nick, I was thoroughly entertained throughout. The way the Lakers came out firing on all cylinders. The way the Thunder fought back. The way it was nip and tuck the rest of the way. And then it was a dud of an ending with Kevin Durant air-balling two shots and Russell Westbrook taking an off-balanced 3-pointer. The Thunder turned the ball over left and right down the stretch and gave away a golden opportunity to get a quality win at home against the defending champs. But just they way they hung in there with them was encouraging.

11:03

[Comment From Mike Aikins]
We are missing that spark off of the bench to come in when everyone else is cold. who might we designate for that?

11:03

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
I'd equate last night to a great movie with a terrible finish. It sours you on the whole show. That's the feeling I had when I walked out of the arena.

11:05

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Mike, James Harden is that guy. I asked Brooks after the game if he ever considered putting him in for offensive purposes when the team couldn't score and he said it was an offense-defense sort of thing. He couldn't take Thabo off of Kobe. But Harden, because of his versatility, and perimeter shooting especially, should be that guy,.

11:05

[Comment From David]
How bad is Harden at defense?

11:07

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
David, he's not BAD. He's just better at offense and learning on defense. He's trying his best but it looks bad at times. That's because offensive players in this league are so good. He'll get it down eventually, but he might never evolve into defensive stopper.

11:07

[Comment From Puma]
What is your opinion of Harden's progression and transition to the NBA

11:09

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
About like every other rookie. He's up and down. He'll have a great performance one night and look awful the next. Right now he's learning to be a better defender and a second and third option instead of being the guy. I think that's hurt his shooting a little bit.

11:09

[Comment From John]
This might sound crazy, but is Durant a ball hog? Seems like he kills momentum sometimes.

11:09

[Comment From Nick]
Also, what do you think about Durant's airballs?

11:12

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Durant is not a ball hog. He's the team's best offensive player. He's going to get the majority of shots. And more often than not he's going to make them and help the team with his offensive skills. Last night was bad. Real bad. He can't settle for 28 footers to try to win the game. I didn't know he airballed the second attempt until seeing the replay. Initially I thought it hit some rim. But I think Bynum got a piece.

11:13

[Comment From Mike Aikins]
Don't you think Kevin Durant was tryin to step up and carry the team on his back down the stretch? and what do you have to say about Westbrooks last 3-point attempt?

11:15

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Mike, trying to step up is getting to the basket, free throw line or free throw line extended and taking a quality shot. Stepping up is drawing the defense and kicking out to an open shooter. Stepping up IS NOT settling for a 28 footer. As for Westbrook, he had a decent look and it almost went down. But he also seemed to have panicked. Durant was all by his lonesome at the top of the key.

11:15

[Comment From Guest]
Has Livingston played yet? Is he just not good?

11:17

[Comment From Darnell Mayberry]
Livingston has not played yet. He's a good player, but Kevin Ollie is providing quality minutes as a more experienced backup right now.

Page 1 Next >