OKLAHOMA CITYBulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is developing into a master of suspense, at least as it pertains to Rip Hamilton. Prior to Sunday afternoons showdown with the Western Conference-leading Thunder, Thibodeau said the veteran shooting guard would again be a game-time decision, although he appears to be healthy enough to play.
Im going to talk to him again, just to see where he is, said Thibodeau. Hes good. He did more yesterday, but Ive just got to be convinced. Its more me. He thinks hes ready, but I just want to make sure were smart.
There arent any problems. Hes taken on more contact, which is good, but I just want to make sure, he continued. I feel good about Rip because Rips been practicing, so hes made very good progress. He has no problems with his lower body, hes been doing a lot of shooting. The thing is the contact part of it, so I just want to make sure from that aspect, but all the lower-body injuries that he had, hes completely healthy. So, that parts very encouraging.
The assembled media didnt even ask Thibodeau if All-Star point guard Derrick Rose would suit up, knowing that Thibodeaus typical game-time decision update on Roses status simply means the reigning league MVP wont play for the 10th consecutive game, due a strained right groin.
Derrick, each day hes doing more and more, so hes moving along the way that he anticipated, said Thibodeau. Derrick is out, just in case anyone wanted to know.
The normally dour Thibodeau was in surprisingly good spirits leading up to the contest, even responding to Thunder coach Scott Brooks claim that he has no life, by affirming the verbal jabThibodeau said, Hes right about that, when informed of the verbal jab by Brooks, who played under Thibodeau in both Minnesota and New York during his playing daysbut remained focused at the task at hand, particularly MVP front-runner Kevin Durant.
Hes so unique because of his skill set and his size, and the release is so high, its very difficult to get to. The great playersDurant, Westbrook, HardenI dont think you guard them individually. I think it has to be done collectively and you can still defend them perfectly, and they still have the ability to make, but the idea is to try to make them work for their points, said Thibodeau, who also lauded the length of Oklahoma Citys frontcourt, which features defensive-oriented low-post mainstays Serge Ibaka, one of the NBAs elite shot-blockers, and Kendrick Perkins, who Thibodeau coached in Boston, along with Durant. The team is a lot more than just those three. Its a very well put-together team. Scott does a great job with them. Theyre very strong defensively. I think thats been their biggest improvement and theyre young, so each year, they continue to get better and better.