Durant-Oden II. Thunder-Sonics return to the Pacific Northwest. Young Guns vs. Younger Guns.
Add it all up and rather than cruise into the All-Star Break we had a game that featured all the playoff-type intensity you would hope for from division rivals.
Oden outplayed Durant. He unloaded angst-filled dunks and let out some of the frustration that evidently collected after last week's disappointing performance in OKC. KD played well but when you put up 30+ in five straight games anything less is a dropoff.
A contingent of Seattle supporters were in person to voice their displeasure. You know nobody throws a protest like Seattle. According to an Oklahoman report, one guy booed a kid wearing a Durant OKC jersey. On TV it sounded like two or three (at best) voices joined in unison at the beginning of the game. (Interesting Blazers fans observations here)
The game ultimately took center stage. The Thunder gave the Trail Blazers all they wanted. The Blazers eventually pulled away in the 4th but both teams left the floor knowing they were in a scrap.
These inter-division games are quickly becoming the highlight of my blossoming Thunder fandom. Portland represents a two-to-three year's ahead version of the Thunder. The Thunder are a few pieces away from matching Portland's talent level. These two teams could provide the most anticipated matchup in the division for the next several years easily, if not in the NBA. It's within the realm of possibility that you'll have to go through OKC or Portland to win the division. Of course Denver will have something to say about that. Denver is turning into a great rival itself.
The Thunder have to be pleased heading into the break. They gave the best team in the NBA and a playoff team all they could handle on the road, back to back. The kicker is the Thunder didn't play their best basketball in either game. They shot under 40% in both games, they got worked in the paint and got into foul trouble. But they were in the games.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
H.O.R.S.E dba G.E.I.C.O, Lakers 105, Thunder 98
In case you haven't heard, Kevin Durant will be one of three participant's in All-Star Weekend's H.O.R.S.E. Contest. The other participants are O.J. Mayo and Joe Johnson. I'm excited about the event and that participant's. It's great exposure for KD and the Thunder. Plus, I think he has a real shot at winning.
Thoughts on Thunder v. Lakers
It was a really great effort by the Thunder all game long. The time for moral victories is over but this was not a bad loss. The Lakers are the best team I've seen the Thunder face all year.
The Lakers are the best because their entire lineup rebounds well on both ends of the floor, is the most disciplined team I've seen and they are big. Kobe Bryant is a nice asset as well.
In a hypothetical world which includes the Thunder in the playoffs, the Lakers are the team I'd want to face the least. It's not even close.
Pau Gasol is both a beast and First Team All Goofy.
Nick Collison had a rough first half. See above.
Jeff Green is quickly running out of places to wear pads.
The "MVP" chant for Kobe has become as cliche as "Everybody Clap Your Hands" at Thunder games. It's even more annoying.
The Lakers were so physical inside it seemed like a good chance for Chris Wilcox to get some minutes but he didn't play.
It's pretty clear that there are "Have's" and "Have Not's" on this team. The "Have's" will be on the roster next year and they are KD, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Kyle Weaver, Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison. Everyone else is likely gone except for maybe Dez Mason. D.J. White will be here too but he doesn't really count because he's inactive.
KD, Green, Westbrook, Weaver and Collison/Krstic are going to be playing A LOT together the rest of the year. I couldn't be more pleased about it.
Thoughts on Thunder v. Lakers
It was a really great effort by the Thunder all game long. The time for moral victories is over but this was not a bad loss. The Lakers are the best team I've seen the Thunder face all year.
The Lakers are the best because their entire lineup rebounds well on both ends of the floor, is the most disciplined team I've seen and they are big. Kobe Bryant is a nice asset as well.
In a hypothetical world which includes the Thunder in the playoffs, the Lakers are the team I'd want to face the least. It's not even close.
Pau Gasol is both a beast and First Team All Goofy.
Nick Collison had a rough first half. See above.
Jeff Green is quickly running out of places to wear pads.
The "MVP" chant for Kobe has become as cliche as "Everybody Clap Your Hands" at Thunder games. It's even more annoying.
The Lakers were so physical inside it seemed like a good chance for Chris Wilcox to get some minutes but he didn't play.
It's pretty clear that there are "Have's" and "Have Not's" on this team. The "Have's" will be on the roster next year and they are KD, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Kyle Weaver, Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison. Everyone else is likely gone except for maybe Dez Mason. D.J. White will be here too but he doesn't really count because he's inactive.
KD, Green, Westbrook, Weaver and Collison/Krstic are going to be playing A LOT together the rest of the year. I couldn't be more pleased about it.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Weekend Wrapup
Well, the last game I was able to see in person was last week's last second loss to the Nuggets. Over the weekend the Thunder beat down a quality Trail Blazers team and a bad Sacramento team. I was unable to make either. I've missed at least half this team's wins. If I didn't know better I'd think my presence was a bad thing.
A great win against Portland
I posted a few weeks back about how fun it is to read the other team's home paper. Nothing brings out bitterness, shock and disappointment quite like losing to the Thunder.
This story from Joe Freeman in The Oregonian illustrates this point.
Some choice cuts:
"In one of their worst and uninspiring performances of the season, the Blazers were outworked, outclassed and overmatched against the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 102-93 in an even-worse-than-it-sounds head-scratcher before 18,694."
From Brandon Roy, "They weren't scared of us -- at all," Roy said. "They came out from the opening jump and said, 'None of you guys can stay in front of us.' It was different than any other game. It was almost like they didn't have any respect for us. From the opening jump, they felt like they could beat any one of our players at any time. I don't know, I feel they just disrespected us. But if you can do it (and get away with it), do it."
Growth in the win over Sacramento
If the win over Portland was a confidence builder, the win against Sacramento could be even more important. As the Thunder continue to grow it's going to become more important to win games against teams of the King's (and the Thunder's) caliber. Portland dropped from 4th to 5th in the Western Conference with Friday's loss. Hopefully the Thunder find themselves jockeying for playoff position and every win is going to be critical.
The Thunder also showed great fight. The Thunder lost a huge lead but battled back. The Thunder have lost probably 10 games that followed this script.
New Mascot a bison
Here's the link from The Oklahoman
I like it. Bison is what I liked for a name and I think it works well with Thunder. I am surprised it wasn't some kind of Thor figure because so many people at games dress up in that sort of costume.
I just hope they make it look tough more than cartoonish and, for the love of all things holy, it has to be better than the horse mascot's that OU started using a few years ago. This hideousness sets the bar for me.
A Tacky Move
I was looking around the "Interweb" for Thunderwear and noticed that the price of identical products on the official "Thundershop" website and NBA.com are different. The Thundershop prices are way higher. At Thundershop you can get an authentic jersey, any size, for $240.00. At NBA.com the same jersey is $209.99 for XXL, $179.00 for smaller sizes.
Shooting Shirts (warmup shirts) on Thundershop are $80.00 for short sleeves and $90.00 for long sleeves. NBA.com has them for $53.99 and $69.99.
There are other examples. You can find Thunder gear on Yahoo! as well and it eflects the NBA.com pricing.
This is either poor work by merchandisers who can't get on the same page somehow or it's gouging on the part of the Thunder.
I hate to say it but I think it's the latter. Unfortunately, if true, it lends credence to the argument that Clay Bennett et al are money-hungry, opportunistic bastards. I know it's a business but they are robbing their neighbors. I can't imagine much merchandise goes outside of the state.
That's my public service for the day. All the extra money they are getting on merchandise had better go towards keeping Kevin Durant.
A great win against Portland
I posted a few weeks back about how fun it is to read the other team's home paper. Nothing brings out bitterness, shock and disappointment quite like losing to the Thunder.
This story from Joe Freeman in The Oregonian illustrates this point.
Some choice cuts:
"In one of their worst and uninspiring performances of the season, the Blazers were outworked, outclassed and overmatched against the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 102-93 in an even-worse-than-it-sounds head-scratcher before 18,694."
From Brandon Roy, "They weren't scared of us -- at all," Roy said. "They came out from the opening jump and said, 'None of you guys can stay in front of us.' It was different than any other game. It was almost like they didn't have any respect for us. From the opening jump, they felt like they could beat any one of our players at any time. I don't know, I feel they just disrespected us. But if you can do it (and get away with it), do it."
Growth in the win over Sacramento
If the win over Portland was a confidence builder, the win against Sacramento could be even more important. As the Thunder continue to grow it's going to become more important to win games against teams of the King's (and the Thunder's) caliber. Portland dropped from 4th to 5th in the Western Conference with Friday's loss. Hopefully the Thunder find themselves jockeying for playoff position and every win is going to be critical.
The Thunder also showed great fight. The Thunder lost a huge lead but battled back. The Thunder have lost probably 10 games that followed this script.
New Mascot a bison
Here's the link from The Oklahoman
I like it. Bison is what I liked for a name and I think it works well with Thunder. I am surprised it wasn't some kind of Thor figure because so many people at games dress up in that sort of costume.
I just hope they make it look tough more than cartoonish and, for the love of all things holy, it has to be better than the horse mascot's that OU started using a few years ago. This hideousness sets the bar for me.
A Tacky Move
I was looking around the "Interweb" for Thunderwear and noticed that the price of identical products on the official "Thundershop" website and NBA.com are different. The Thundershop prices are way higher. At Thundershop you can get an authentic jersey, any size, for $240.00. At NBA.com the same jersey is $209.99 for XXL, $179.00 for smaller sizes.
Shooting Shirts (warmup shirts) on Thundershop are $80.00 for short sleeves and $90.00 for long sleeves. NBA.com has them for $53.99 and $69.99.
There are other examples. You can find Thunder gear on Yahoo! as well and it eflects the NBA.com pricing.
This is either poor work by merchandisers who can't get on the same page somehow or it's gouging on the part of the Thunder.
I hate to say it but I think it's the latter. Unfortunately, if true, it lends credence to the argument that Clay Bennett et al are money-hungry, opportunistic bastards. I know it's a business but they are robbing their neighbors. I can't imagine much merchandise goes outside of the state.
That's my public service for the day. All the extra money they are getting on merchandise had better go towards keeping Kevin Durant.
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