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The decision that will haunt Brooks

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08:19 AM ET 06.18 | Russell Westbrook would likely have preferred to make a greater impact Sunday night. Remember 48 hours ago when Scott Brooks and the Oklahoma City Thunder were determined not to change [Westbrook's] hyper-aggressive playing style? No worries. Scott Brooks doesn't remember either. Sunday night, with the Thunder up six points midway through the third quarter and flirting with taking control of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Scott Brooks decided to temper Westbrook's hyper-aggressive playing style. He benched his All-Star point guard and quite possibly irreversibly changed the momentum of this best-of-seven series. In the matchup of young head coaches being dragged through the Finals by trios of superstars, Scott Brooks blinked before Erik Spoelstra.

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Russell Westbrook, Icon Sports Russell Westbrook, Icon Sports
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June 18, 2012  08:32 AM ET

Din't watch the 3rd quarter... Caught the 1st half and the 4th quarter... I was under the impression that the issue was KD being in foul trouble? That certainly played a factor in game 2? Meaning they were without their primary offensive scorer for a significant amount of minutes?

June 18, 2012  08:33 AM ET

phantom call 3x wade and lebron freebees

June 18, 2012  08:35 AM ET

Westbrook and Durnat being out in the 3rd quater and refs call again did them in ,let the players play !!!

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June 18, 2012  08:42 AM ET

Durant needs to be smarter and stop those silly fouls

June 18, 2012  08:42 AM ET

Good morning all.

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June 18, 2012  08:53 AM ET

When Hardin or BrickBrook attack to on a fast break or a mini-break, it is so predictable what's going to happen. Neither of them are going to pass!!!!

Hardin NEVER passes on any of these breaks and basically gets stuck with circus shots, and mostly no fouls are called. Or just jack up a 3 regardless of how poorly he's been shooting.

Whereas both James and Wade have been making that extra pass ALL the time.

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June 18, 2012  09:04 AM ET

Glaring weakness I have come to regarding the Thunders weakness is on ball defense they lack that big time the only player on that team that is an on ball defender is Thabo. That is why they are having problems with the heat because they go to the cup everytime Wade, Lebron, Bosh. They had few outside shots compared to previous games and series, they have found the Thunders weakness.

IF THE HEAT CONTINUE TO GO TO THE CUP THEY WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN MIAMI.

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June 18, 2012  09:07 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

Harden might be playing his way out of okc........

They can not have him shooting so poorly since he is their 3rd offensive weapon there whole team besides KD & RW and himself are the only scorers.

And whoever thinks that Harden & RW should start are crazy they dont mesh well on the floor at the same time. They play reversed somewhat HArden is a facilitator playing the 2, RW is a 2 trying to facilitate but he struggles because he demands the ball himself. Harden needs to be on the floor with KD not RW and I don't think Harden should start either.

June 18, 2012  09:09 AM ET

Westbrook is wild as can be. He's probably the fastest player in the NBA. He also misses more layups than any other player in the NBA. What's with the nasty chip on his shoulder? I can't tell if he wants to play basketball or fight most of the time. He needs to stop reading his own press. Shoot first point guards don't win in the NBA. If he moves the ball correctly then they are tough to beat. That's a big "if."

 
June 18, 2012  09:09 AM ET
QUOTE(#14):

Glaring weakness I have come to regarding the Thunders weakness is on ball defense they lack that big time the only player on that team that is an on ball defender is Thabo. That is why they are having problems with the heat because they go to the cup everytime Wade, Lebron, Bosh. They had few outside shots compared to previous games and series, they have found the Thunders weakness.IF THE HEAT CONTINUE TO GO TO THE CUP THEY WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN MIAMI.

I sure hope you are wrong. Last night's game was brutal for a Thunder fan. Good morning, by the way.

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