Brooks: Maybe we play nastier the game after losses

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a reputation for bouncing back with wins after losses this season. As the Thunder prepare to bounce back against the San Antonio Spurs tonight, head coach Scott Brooks used the latest trending word, “nasty”, to explain the reasoning.

“I don’t know?” said Brooks on his team being great at bouncing back, “Maybe we play nastier the game after losses.” After everyone laughed, including Brooks, he had this to finish with, “I’ve never heard that before, I just made that up.”  It was all in good humor, as Brooks’ squad looks to steal a game in San Antonio tonight.

Indeed, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich’s in-game audio has stirred up a storm not only around the Alamo City, but the nation as well. Coach Popovich however, quickly shot down a question that included the word “nasty” from the get-go in his pregame press conference.

As for the fall Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook took late in game one, Coach Brooks said Westbrook is fine. “He’s fine,” said Brooks, “he’s ready to go.”

Brooks was also asked if he had thought about using the Hack-a-Shaq technique on Spurs forward Tiago Splitter, who is struggling from the charity stripe in the playoffs, and Brooks said he’s thought about it, but most game circumstances don’t warrant the tactic because Splitter usually plays very early in a quarter, or at the tail end of quarters.

Game two is set to tip-off at 8 PM CST. Will the Thunder steal a game? Or wil, the Spurs’ depth once again outshine the Thunder’s talented big three?

Pregame Tidbits

• Brooks said it’d be a “feel thing” if Serge Ibaka would be inserted into the game late in the fourth quarter.

• As I walked into the AT&T Center, I saw none other than NBA legend Hubie Brown being checked into the arena right beside me. Just by being in his presence, you can just sense the amount of basketball wisdom Brown possesses.

• TNT’s Craig Sager asked me for some media info in the writing room, let’s say his outfit is something only Craig Sager could wear.