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Thunder goes straight back to work after series win

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-01 07:24

Oklahoma City Thunder players earned a day off after becoming the first Western Conference team to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

But they didn't take it, choosing instead to show up at the team's practice facility on Thursday. They followed that up with a rugged practice and scrimmage on Friday.

"Everybody came in and got their work in so that shows a lot," center Kendrick Perkins said. "So today, guys worked hard at each other. We had a great practice."

The Thunder will open against Memphis at home on Sunday. The Grizzlies advanced on Friday night with a 99-91 victory over top-seeded San Antonio in Game 6.

Coach Scott Brooks gave his players the option of coming in on Thursday after securing the first-round series victory over Denver the night before.

At Friday's practice, Brooks said the players were "very focused and committed" on getting better. He said the session emphasized defending the paint and various pick-and-roll schemes, along with working on the team's own offensive sets.

Practice ended with a scrimmage of two quarters, during which Perkins said they "ran our plays real hard".

Brooks said his team is young and athletic enough to run a hard practice and scrimmage between series, which, in turn, is helping the team keep its edge.

"The guys were really focused and at the very end the two scrimmages we had were probably some of the best scrimmages we've had all year," he said.

In looking ahead, Brooks said he plans to keep playing 10 guys each game, though some of their minutes may be reduced. A number of coaches cut their rotations to about eight players, but Brooks said depth is one of his team's strengths.

"A lot has been said and written about Russell (Westbrook) and Kevin (Durant) and rightfully so; those guys are terrific players and they're doing a lot to put us in positions to win," Brooks said. "But we are a good team because all of our guys chip in and help us find ways to win."

-Associated Press

(China Daily 05/01/2011 page12)