
ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Earl Watson, Shooting guard
Kevin Durant, Small forward Jeff Green, Power forward Nick Collison, Center Robert Swift. Bench -- Guard Russell Westbrook, Forward Joe
Smith, Center Johan Petro, Guard Damien Wilkins, Guard Kyle Weaver,
Center Mo Sene, Forward Chris Wilcox.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Earl Watson believes it's only a matter of time before the
Thunder gets on track. Until then, the Thunder has to take its lumps.
"We learn the hard way," Watson said. "We can make a thousand excuses,
but excuses are for losers. We all came from collegiate backgrounds
where we all won. So we know how to win.
"We got to have fun. We got to play hard. We got to hold each
other accountable. We got to play with energy. I feel like our
energy's not there for whatever reason, but we've got to find it."
--F Jeff Green has picked up the pace, even if the Thunder hasn't.
He's scored at least 20 twice in the last four games and hit 16 in the
other two.
"Shots are just falling for me," Green said. "I'm just taking the
shots that they give me. Teams are going under (screens) a lot and
I've been working on my jump shot. I'm just knocking them down right
now. It's still some flaws in my game that I want to improve on, so I
just want to continue to be aggressive."
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F D.J. White (jaw surgery) had a benign tumor removed Oct. 13.
The second phase of the surgery, expected to follow in about six
weeks, involves mending the jaw with a bone graft taken from his hip.
Recovery time is 4-to-6 months.
--F Desmond Mason (sprained right elbow) will miss about 10 days.
He is averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench. He said the
elbow was injured in the third game of the season and flared up after
Friday's loss to New York.
--F Chris Wilcox (sprained right knee) was active Monday against
Houston. He suffered the injury Sunday against Atlanta.