EMPTYING THE NOGGIN

SUMMARY:  The Thunder brought the heat to open the game the Jazz handled it and blew the game open and won 113 to 96 now lead the series 3 games to 1.

• The Thunder came with incredible aggression early in the game.  To their credit they also played with a focus and control that lead them to a 8 point lead.  The Thunder brought it and the Jazz took the hit and handled it and eventually took the game over playing their style and blew the game out.

• I really don’t think it ever crossed the Thunder’s mind that they could lose this series and the frustration is visible.

• The thunder stretched their lead to 8 but Joe Ingles had missed 4 open three pointers and the Jazz weren’t making shots. The Jazz finally clicked in and joe Ingles hit three straight threes to give the Jazz a 6 point half time lead.

• At that point it was really unclear what would happen. The Thunder had thrown everything imaginable at the Jazz. The Jazz had handled it and had a 6 point half time lead.  I opened the 2^nd half of the broadcast with Ron and asked is there a chance the Jazz are about to be up 15.  Sure enough that is exactly what happened.  The Jazz blasted them on a 9-0 run.  The Jazz scored on 12 straight possessions from the 2^nd quarter to the 3^rd

• Russell Westbrook had 3 assists in the first quarter and none the rest of the game

• Paul George had 32 and was brilliant shooting but the Thunder big three had 57 FGA and combined for 5 assists.

• Things that make the Thunder good aren’t happening. They had just 11 fast break points, they had just 9 offensive rebounds.   These are what make the Thunder tick.

• Their was no shutting down that *(^ as Ricky Rubio had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. His game maybe made for a playoff series as it is clear he is seeing the floor better and better as the series goes on.

• Donovan is amazing. 33 points. A New Jazz rookie record.  It has only happened 14 times.  His final line was 33 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 0 turnovers.

• Paul George has been great in the series, but Donovan and Rudy have been the two best players in the series.

• Joe Ingles got 11 three point attempts.

• The jazz defensive rating tonight was a 93.5

• The game had the most technical fouls since 2013 in a Heat v. Bulls game.

• To me this game was Rucker Park v. Team Basketball. To play at Rucker Park you have to not only be able to ball, but you have to own your terriority, you have to hold your ground.   If a new group thinks they are going to be able to play at Rucker they have to prove their worthiness. The Thunder were trying to own the park.  The Jazz handled that blast showed they had the resiliency and then played gorgeous team basketball with a system and structure the Thunder can’t find a counter too.

• Game 5 Wednesday in OKC