Mavs Win Late, Thunder Serve Notice

The Mavericks won it late. But let there be no doubt, the Thunder were the better team. The Mavs won behind Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. In every other aspect of the game the Thunder had a mismatch.

The Thunder put the fear of God in the Mavs and served notice of the possibility this team posesses if they stick together. If I were a betting man I would say the Thunder eventually win nearly half of their last 30 games of the season. This team can be good.

It took nearly a career night for Nowitzki. After Nowitzky and Terry, the rest of the team combined for shy of 30 points.

It was great coaching and really great execution by the Thunder. Jeff Green played awesome. Durant was outstanding and Westbrook played well also.

Another development was the old guys playing in one group with the Young'ns playing the starter role It was a great dynamic and when Jeff Green eventually joined them it seemed like the perfect fit.

This game felt like good growth.

Towards the end of the game after a questionable out of bounds call that went against the Thunder, Jason Terry gestured to the stands waving his arms. It felt like the equivalent of when a football player celebrates celebrates a garbage touchdown or a hitter hits a solo shot up by six. It actually served as recognition of how lucky the Mavs were.

Puke early or late?

Here's what we know definitively about this 2008-2009 Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team; They are, hands down, the worst team in the NBA (applause).

Here's why. They defend like the French, they commit inexplicable (and usually untimely) turnovers, they can't shoot free throws and they have the respect of nobody (the other team and especially the referees-see below).

So, the question occurred to me as I left another crushing loss the other night to the witless Grizzlies, if the Thunder are the de facto worst team in the NBA how can you truly measure the quality of their opponents?

My theory is you can tell if the Thunder "puke" early or late in ballgames. For example, against the Cavaliers, Lebron and the boys jumped on the Thunder early and fought off a late charge for the win. The Cavs are on the short list of teams who can win the Title this year. The Thunder puked early against them. The Thunder also puked early against such opponents as the Celtics, Jazz, Hawks, Magic and Hornets. All more likely than not to make the playoffs.

Now look at the Grizz game the other night. The Thunder at one point had a 21 point lead. They puked late and lost. The Grizzlies are not going to make the playoffs. Not even close. The Thunder also puked late against the Suns, Timberwolves, Warriors, Pacers and Knicks. The Pacers and Suns might make the playoffs but they are by no means expected to do anything.

So with that I will put the theory to the test this weekend. A Texas two-step is on the schedule with a game tonight against the Mavericks and a game Saturday against the Spurs. I don't think the Mavericks are that good. I would offer that they are hanging on to playoff hopes with grit and veteran moxy. I predict the Thunder puke late against them and lose.

The Spurs, on the other hand, are rounding into form. They feature a hall of fame coach, one of the greatest forwards to ever play the game and a nice complement of skill players, veterans and a winning pedigree. I bet the Thunder puke early and lose by about 15.

One last thought

It's obvious that certain players get calls from referees. Dwyane Wade won a championship on this premise and it's just commonplace. That said I have to gripe about what happened the other night against the Grizzlies. First off, the Grizzlies are terrible. They have two stars; O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay. Mayo is a rookie and Rudy Gay, while good, is not in the Kobe, Lebron, Dwight Howard, D-Wade category yet. Not even close. Yet, both these players were getting calls all night long. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant, who is a budding superstar (at least on par with Rudy Gay) gets no calls. None.

I hate to blame games on referees but this had a serious impact on the game the other night. Gay-Mayo had five fouls between them whilst Durant, Westbrook and Green had 12. Again, I'm not blaming the disintegration of a 21 point lead on the refs but it was just blatantly awful refereeing the other night.

Change We Can Believe In? We'll Find Out in a Hurry

Scotty Brooks is wasting no time making changes to the Thunder lineup. Johan Petro is riding the pine. Damien Wilkens is in at Shooting Guard. Kevin Durant is moving to Small Forward, Jeff Green slides to Power Forward and Nick Collison completes the circle by sliding to Center.

By all accounts, KD has been playing out of position his entire (if not short) career and so has Jeff Green. I cannot do the X's and O's anymore justice than what Chris Silva from Thunder.NBA.com has already done so you can read it about it here.

I do know that the game tonight against the Phoenix Suns represents a fresh
start what with a new coach, a new lineup and a second chance to make a first impression on
the fans. That said, few teams could provide a better litmus test for the
effectiveness of these changes than the Suns.

Tonight we'll see KD mixing it up with Amare and Shaq, Westbrook against Steve Nash, Shaq against all comers. Not to mention Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Grant Hill and the goofier looking Lopez twin, Robin (the real life inspiration for Sideshow Bob and pictured, at left).

Moving KD to the PF is something that's been talked about since last year.
The reason it's never happened is because he's built like Bambi and these are grown men he'd be thrown in against on a nightly basis. But if you're the Thunder you're staring 1-14 in the face. Is there a better time to start getting on with it than right now? While we're at it, if Scotty is going to be open to lineup tweaks, I doubt it's long before Westbrook is inserted into the starting lineup. He had 11 assists off the bench the other night and if he keeps that up how can you not make the move.

PS- Scroll down for my breakdown of the OU-Tech game. Looks like I forgot to drink my Sooner Kool-Aid when I made my score prediction eh? The Bedlam preview is forthcoming. Hint: You should be worried Cowboys fans.

Sheik Yerbouti Over to nba.com and Vote!

http://www.nba.com/FanNight/

The Thunder v. Phoenix next Tuesday is up for a vote on nba.com. The winning matchup gets shown that night. Vote early, vote often.

Losing + Used to Winning = Panty Twist

Well, regrettably it is starting to happen. The foundation, at least in some parts, seems to be eroding just a bit due to the Thunder's losing ways. Fire the coach, make a trade, Sam Presti's in over his head, the Thunder will never be more than a mid-level team. OKC deserves better. Some version of these comments can be found at the end of any Thunder article in the Oklahoman. Usually it's just Internet trolls making noise but the OKC base seems to be getting louder.

Oklahoma sports fans are spoiled rotten. How can you tell me Oklahoma City deserves anything in the world of the NBA? Deserves to win? Please. We've played 11 games as a franchise. The only thing you could argue that we deserve is a team, which we have. Frankly, the idea that we've paid our dues and are the best fans in the NBA is a farce. People leave close games with 10 minutes left like someone was flinging poo in their section. Two games have sold out.

And what's so bad about being a mid-level team? First off, that declaration was supposedly given by someone on the Sports Animal which frankly carries about as much weight as a premature twin. When I hear mid-level team I think competing for the playoffs. That's a fine goal. That's like having a goal to get to a bowl game or make the NCAA tournament. What's wrong with that? If you get in you have a chance to do something more. That's all you can hope for is a chance. Anybody who thinks you are going to compete for a championship year in and year out is just fooling themselves and probably a spoiled rotten Sooners football fan. Sure, the Sooners "compete" for a championship every season in football but they haven't played for a championship since 2004 and haven't won since 2001. And they are essentially the Celtics or Lakers of the NCAA.

So, to recap, we have 11 games under our belt and you feel like the Thunder should be on par with the Lakers and Celtics? Look, not finishing last in the league should be a worthy goal. Not finishing last in the division is a worthy goal for this team. Rally around that. The next step would be to become a mid-level team, then a perennial playoff participant, then maybe win one.

The fact of the matter is not only is Sam Presti not in over his head, he has this team poised to be more than a mid-level team for years to come. Believe it or not. We have trade bait out the ying yang in the form of players like Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox, Desmond Mason and Johan Petro. One of those guys might be in a Thunder uniform next year. The Thunder have cap space and are wiping their butts with 1st round draft picks. Tell me why biding your time until the February trade deadline or the draft is a worse idea than having a fire sale today and getting some mid-level player today that can maybe, maybe help the Thunder win two or three more games.

Getting rid of Uncle Rusty could happen this season but I don't think it should or will until at least the All-Star break, if not the end of the season. A team takes on the personality of its coach if it likes him/her and puts in lackluster effort when they don't. At times this team fades into bolivian as Mike Tyson would say. The offense, or lack thereof, is an eyesore by any standard and no defense can improve enough to make up for it. That much is true.

However, crazy as it sounds I can see the offense coming around a bit. It's like hitting in baseball. It really does take care of itself if you have some decent players. Kevin Durant is starting to hit his stride, Jeff Green is turning into the 3-point threat this team desperately needs and Robert Swift (Stay healthy brah) is a quality player. I purposefully omit Russell Westbrook. He is going to be really good but I can't overlook a blown alley-oop from the game last night. Just ridiculously awful. He's in the doghouse for today.

There is something more sinister at play than lack of effort or youth to explain the losing. The vibe I get is that for other teams, the thought of losing to a bottom dweller like the Thunder is a huge motivation. The Thunder have every bit the target on its back that an upper level team does because everyone knows you have to win games against the Thunder. To not do so would be to give one away. Maybe if the Thunder just took on the role of spoiler, starting today, things could be better. Every game is a chance to dump on the dreams of some other hopeful.

Wednesday night the Thunder have a shot at taking a baby step out of the basement. The Clippers suck. This game could actually be pretty fun to watch because you have two teams that suck and they both know this is a rare opportunity. Someone has to win. I'm glad it's at home.

Thunder vs. Knicks 11-14-08 Live Blog

One of my favorite writers on the Internet is ESPN’s Bill Simmons. He’s made quite a living out of doing Running Diary’s for sporting events. Since I am an amateur and imitation is the most sincere form of flattery I thought I'd try my hand at it. It’s good practice right?

6:08 All settled in for the pregame. The dogs are fed, the beer is poured and KD is set to play. Little known fact; KD accounts for 25% of the team’s offensive production. Only Tim Duncan accounts for more of his team’s offense. The Spurs record; 2-5. The Thunder are 1-7 heading into tonight.

6:09 Brian Davis put his best outfit together for his trip to the big apple. He murdered someone’s plaid couch and made a coat out of it to go with his paisley tie. Also, Clyde Frazier showed up and it looks like he’s wearing his 70’s era travel suit himself.
Side note: We’ll also be checking out the Sooners v. American. That games boasts a chance to watch would-be Thunder #1 pick Blake Griffin.

6:15 KD tells Brian Davis the Knicks don’t have a shot blocker like the Magic and Dwight Howard. No one does, KD.

6:20 Why does Uncle Rusty wear reading glasses at practice that are smart looking, no glasses for pre-game interviews and then 80’s bifocals when he’s on TV and the nation is watching? Does he think douchebaggery is a secret weapon?

6:26 If you want to get obliterated try this drinking game. Everytime there is a Chesapeake, SandRidge Energy, Devon Energy, Oklahoman or Midfirst commercial take a drink. Conversely, stay sober as a kitten playing the reverse of this game.

6:31 “Welcome to the financial capital of the world, or what’s left of it” begins Brian Davis. Early candidate for wet blanket statement of the night.

6:36 After our first commercial break I’m now wasted.

6:40 Robert Swift gets his first start tonight. I believe this might be the third different starting lineup. The second was when KD was injured.

6:41 Big Red wins the opening tip and Earl Watson knocks down a shot. Big Red gets a board and KD knocks down a shot. Good start and since it’s on the road, to be expected.

6:45 Grant Long is explaining what a good shot is. Doesn’t necessarily have to go in but it’s one you’re teammates expect you take and make. You mean like an open shot?

6:48 Big Red has 5 boards in 5 minutes. Meanwhile, it doesn’t look like a Friday night tilt twixt the Thunder and Knicks is the hottest ticket in town.

6:52 Uncle Rusty inserted Joe Smith and predictably he knocks down his first shot. I love Joe Smith and his foggy mask.

6:53 The Knicks have already tried 9 three’s, making 3. The Thunder average a shade under 10 attempts per game.

7:01 According to Grant Long, Brian Westbrook learned from Block Fest 08 and passed the ball to Petro for an easy buckets rather than getting stuffed. I couldn’t agree more. Regrettably he followed it up with a brick the next trip down the floor. Knicks 34, Thunder 20 btw.

7:05 Earl Watson goes “back to the well” and misses. The well dried up at the 11:38 mark of the quarter.

7:06 End of the 1st. Knicks 37, Thunder 20. Good times.

7:14 Supposedly the Thunder are getting into a rhythm. If steadily getting further down is a rhythm so be it. I suppose a 14-2 run constitutes a run and they find themselves down 16.

7:15 Drink for a Chesapeake commercial.

7:18 A quick check of the Sooners game finds the good guys up 9-2 early. Willie Warren looks like a big kid.

7:22 Blake Griffin looks like a completely different human being. A man-child actually.

7:29 This might be the fastest game of all time. 3:40 left in the half and the Thunder are down 20. It’s a non-stop assault and the Thunder simply can’t shoot well enough to stay in the game.

7:31 KD is 4-9 from the field for 8. Shooting really well. Of course, he’s on the road.

7:32 I have to admit, as Friday nights in the big town go. I’m home alone watching the Thunder with the Sooners on the picture-in-picture. While on paper this has loser written all over it, it doesn’t get much better than this.

7:36 Well, KD, Earl Watson and Swift appear to have come to play. Regrettably that doesn’t look to be enough at this point. 68-44 Knicks lead at haltime.

7:40 Now switched over to the OU game and wondering why the NCAA didn’t just change the 3-point line to same distance as the NBA? Would it really kill anyone to have a worldwide standard? Especially given the fact high schoolers are now heading straight to Europe or spending only 1 year in college if they are NBA prospects.

7:56 An interesting thing to look at is where the respective teams shoot the majority of their shots. The Knicks have attempted 18 from point blank range. The Thunder have taken 4 and they were all in the 2nd quarter. So, you’re telling me easy buckets are a good thing?

7:58 At the half the Sooners are the Knicks to American playing the Thunder. OU 47, American 24.

7:59 I don’t care how much or how little he scores, Robert Swift is better than Johan Petro and needs to start and play healthy. Emphasis on healthy.

8:00 Should we call the team the OKC Durants? It’s pretty much him or nothing.

8:07 Sherri Coale’s haircut looks good. Really good. Meow.

8:11 The Thunder will be lucky to get 90 points. the Knicks have 92 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd.
Seriously, who is going to be Durant’s wing man? Jeff Green stepped up in Durant’s absence but he’s absolutely shrunk tonight (4 points). Westbrook has 6.

8:14 Grant Long mentions that making a basket on a fast break is one that you have to make. Thanks for that. Whilst I agree you need to have someone that played basketball professionally to be a color guy on TV shouldn’t he bring more to it than me?
So maybe this is a reasonable starting lineup: KD, Watson, Joe Smith, Robert Swift and Jeff Green. Sooner than later Westbrook takes over for Watson but not until he makes more than 15% field goals.

8:21 Westbrook just willed himself to a basket right before the quarter ends. Great work. 93-73 Knicks. Great quarter for the Thunder.

8:25 Don’t look know but, can you believe it, after putting themselves in a giant hole the Thunder are scratching and clawing their way back.

8:26 Knicks 7-26 from 3. Thunder 1-7

8:27 Maybe Westbrook can pass. He just hit Mason on one of the best passes of the season for a rare fast break bucket. 96-81 Knicks.

8:32 Like KD’s shoes. I could be wrong but it could be the first time the team wore black shoes on the road.

8:35 Don’t look now but the Thunder are only down 11 with 6:50 left in the game. Come on boys.
8:35 Westbrook, Mason Collison and Green. No KD and Green make a bucket.

8:40 Green is better off with Durant not on the floor and vice versa.

8:41 Westbrook just destroyed! Now it’s a seven point lead. Offensive foul on the Knicks boards and Thunder ball!

8:44 We need to just spot the other team 30 and get a full 48 minutes to try and come back. Watching the Thunder put themselves in a hole is like watching the Sooners when they give up a kickoff return. You know it’s going to happen it’s just inexplicable that you can’t stop it.

8:49 what a play by KD. Drive, a foul and a prayer that goes in. Can get the Thunder within 8.

8:51 I think Swift just scored one for the Knicks.

8:53 Well, yet another valiant effort. Get down early and make it close late. Then lose by 8. Russell Westbrook has had an awesome game. 19, 9 and 5 for him.

8:55 We’re going to cut this off because it’s more or less over and the lady just brought home Mexican food. Peace out hope you enjoyed.

Back in Time for the Weekend

I've been curled up in a ball, in the dark, sucking my thumb ever since Dwight Howard single-handedly pistol-whipped the Thunder on Wednesday night. Superman was 3 blocks shy of a triple double at halftime. Most of those blocks were on Russell Westbrook who was roughly 0-38 from the floor.

Wednesday proved, if nothing else, the Thunder are not the best team with a singular nickname. The good news is that "nationally known" recording artist Natalie kept the crowd, "hyped" at halftime.

I must say out of all the games at the Thunderdome thus far, this game had the most fun and relaxed atmosphere. I would speculate this is because the outcome was never in doubt. There were never those tense moments where everyone holds their breath and hopes that nothing bad happens a la the Atlanta game. Quoth my sister who made it to her first game, "If you can't have fun at a Thunder game, you're not a fun person." Well then.

Also, in case anyone thinks Kevin Durant doesn't make a difference on the defensive end of the floor think again. 71 points for the Magic at the Half! We need KD back and how. And whilst he lulls people to sleep with smoothness, he evidently is much of the heart and soul. This fact evidenced by the lack of either on the floor for the Thunder in the first half.

So, it's on New York tonight. If the Thunder get off to their patent-pending slow start this could be a nightmare. The Knicks are not winning a title this year but they certainly score in bunches. If the Thunder don't have it together this could easily be a 120-92 type game. That would not be the party-time Friday night Thunder fans are looking for if you are scoring at home.

Saturday it's on to Philly in what, I'm guessing, is a little better matchup. It'd be nice if the boys can come home with a split.

Another Day....Another Learning Experience

We knew going in it could be like this. Losses piling up like bacon at a Holiday Inn breakfast buffet. This vision conjures up abject mediocrity. A level of losing such that the Thunder should never be in games. Lose from start to finish. Desirable? No, but fairly easily accepted after a while especially given the expectation.

But games like Utah, where a valiant comeback comes up just short. Atlanta, carrying a lead through three and a half quarters only to lose it in the last six minutes. And now, at Indiana, racing out to a big lead against a team that is shorthanded, only to once again lose in the final minutes.

The thing that makes it hard is these guys are trying. They are close. They're likable and some of them are damn good.

I'm going to keep telling myself that losses like these are going to make the next win that much better. The first two game winning streak will feel like 10 straight and maybe, someday, the playoffs will feel like winning the lottery (instead of the draft lottery like the Thunder is on the way to doing).

Oklahoma City is an NBA baby. The Thunder are, for the most part, babies in terms of experience. We are all crawling through this learning curve. Can we please start walking?

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

It's Monday and it's raining. Over the weekend the Thunder dropped one to the Utah Jazz. Once down by as many as 30 they showed some heart and valiantly came back before falling by 7, 104-97. Then, on Sunday, the Thunder lost what looked like almost sure victory against the Atlanta Hawks. The Thunder led by as many as 6 in the 4th quarter but turnovers doomed them and the Hawks won on the free throw line 89-85.

Disappointing though these losses may be, hopefully two key lessons can be taken away, one from each game. In the Utah game it's pride. Down by 30 and basically being mocked and toyed with by the Jazz, the Thunder collectively said enough is enough. The emergence of pride and tenacity was great to see. In the Hawks game the Thunder also came back from a miserable first quarter but put together roughly 3 quarters of quality basketball. Prior to this they've played one, maybe two quality quarters. They had a lead for a majority of the game. They need to learn to keep it. So, baby steps I suppose.

Since it's Monday and one of the highlights of Monday during the football season is Peter King's Monday Morning QB column, I thought I would blatantly rip off Mr. King with my very own 10 Things I Think I Think section, now 6 games into the season and standing in the rain with a 1-6 record.

Ten Things I Think I Think:

1. I think I can't decide if Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant is better. KD's game is so subtly smooth and when it's clicking a joy to watch and Westbrook looks like a runaway freight train most of the time but he's fearless and clutch. I'm excited to have this duo as the nucleus of this time for the next few years at least but one of these guys will need to emerge as the Alpha Dog for this team to go places.

2. I think P.J. Carlesimo (dba Uncle Rusty) has had so many different lineups on the court I'm not sure which one is best but I think I like this one; KD, Westbrook, Earl Watson, Jeff Green and (Joe Smith or Nick Collison or Dez Mason or Chris Wilcox or Robert Swift or Johan Petro).

3. I think before the season started I thought AC/DC's Thunderstruck would get run into the ground at home games and now I think it's not played near enough.

4. I think you could watch 50 random NBA games and not see a single team go through shooting slumps like this one does.

5. I think (nee, I know) I will be making a Robert Swift T-Shirt that says Go Big Red on the front with his number on the back. I will do it as soon he starts getting more playing time. He's a crowd favorite (or at least a crowd curiosity).

6. I think Earl Watson of all people could ultimately be a huge key for this team. The Thunder need a distributor for KD, Westbrook and Green.

7. I think if you want to pick up Thunderwear, the only place to do so is at the Thunder Shop at the Ford Center. Not Leadership Square, not the Internet. It's ridiculous what they have there that cannot be found anywhere else.

8. I think I like the energy of Westbrook, Dez Mason and Joe Smith. Having the veterans really energized says a lot to me and it's fun to watch.

9. I think the OKC fans have been really good. But they will not be great until they can keep from leaving close games early. It absolutely baffles me. Less than 10 points and 6 minutes left in the game does not mean it's over. Not even remotely.

10. I think we need a consistent 3-point shooter and I think we might have one. Jeff Green.

Who I Like Tonight and I Don't Mean Dancing with the Stars (Also a blatant ripoff of Mr. King):

I hope I'm wrong but at Indiana tonight I think the Pacers are a one or two years ahead version of the Thunder and they know this is a must win game for them. That said, they are imminently beatable and the Thunder have been in virtually every game. I'm quaffing Thunderblue Kool-Aid at this point so I'll say Thunder 94-Pacers 91.

Not Just Any Victory

The Thunder's 88-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night was more than just the franchise's first victory. It marked an important step in developing synergy between the team and its new fans.

I think it's fair to say that many season ticket holders are either bigger fans of OKC than NBA basketball or bigger fans of the "Hornets Circus" than basketball. That's fine, especially in the case of wanting to support OKC.

That said, the crowd, along with the team, learned just how much they are going to mean to each other this season. As the second half began and Minnesota went on a 10-0 run, it was the effort of the players who got the crowd going. Then it was the players,now feeding off the crowd, who held the TWolves to 12 4th quarter points and a huge first victory.

I think the crowd began to realize that, more than just blindly throwing themselves behind whatever cast of characters we got from the move, this is a team of hard working players who dislike losing as much as anyone else.

Everyone got into it. Kevin Durant had some ferocious dunks, Jeff Green got it going, Desmond Mason hit a big time shot to end the 3rd quarter. Nick Collison kept doing the little things that has him on the fast track to becoming a fan favorite. Russell Westbrook continue to gets better and better. Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith played solidly and even Earl Watson played in control.

The important thing for the players to know is that as long as they can keep it close the crowd will always be there to help push them over the top.

What was really cool to see was the players getting more and more involved as the fans got louder and louder. Then to see Joe Smith, the oldest player on the team, start waving his arms asking for more crowd noise. They all had smiles on their faces that you could even see from Section 309. The entire team stood along with the fans. And, collectively, everyone realized how much fun winning is.

What a Difference a Day Makes

On opening night the Thunder showed just how far they had to go. On Saturday night against Houston, a team with lofty expectations, the Thunder showed glimpses of growth.

Kevin Durant put on a display going for 26 points and five boards. The Thunder held their own and led the Rockets in most categories yet still lost by 12.

The Thunder shot 40% from the field versus 36% for Rockets, had fewer turnovers 14 to 16 and beat the Rockets 21-7 on the fast break. Moreover, even facing Yao the Thunder dominated in the paint 48 to 32.

So what happened? Two keys. The Rockets were 6 for 21 from 3 point range and the Thunder were 0-4. Also, the Rockets made three times as many free throws as the Thunder, 27 to 9. Ball game.

Most discouraging has to be the three point shooting. The Thunder are just 1-10 through two games. Ten attempts. Conversely their opponents have 39 total attempts and have hit on 13.

Look at this starting lineup. Kevin Durant, Earl Watson, Jeff Green, Nick Collison and Johan Petro. Watson is the obvious 3 point "threat" but he's not a very good shooter (a team low 28%). Durant can shoot it but it's not his primary option (he's 0-3 from 3 so far).

Westbrook is the only guy who's made a 3 pointer and he's made one. Absolutely crazy.

So, while the Thunder looked downright proficient at times against Houston the lack of a 3 point threat absolutely killed them and will continue to do so. If the Thunder continue to lose by 8-15 points this will probably be the reason.

So what of the Basketball?

Indeed, lost amidst all the hoopla which included Commissioner Stern, Mayor Mick and, lest we forget, a pregame concert from C+C Music Factory (Yes they are still alive and, surprisingly, available) and the National Anthem and halftime performance from OKC's very own Graham Colton there was a basketball game.

It wasn't pretty but there was one. Rather than give a recap the likes of which you can read at such notable places as here, here and here I'll just break it down Halloween list style with what I liked and what I disliked. We'll start with what I liked because I'm trying to stay positive as much as possible.

Treats (besides the Thunder Girls):

• Nick Collison's hustle. He grabbed some offensive boards, chased down loose balls and pretty well scrapped and clawed any time he was on the floor. More than anyone else he did the little things to help the team that don't show up on the stat sheet.



• The energy of Chris Wilcox, Desmond Mason, Russell Westbrook and Collison. Interestingly, all but Collison came off the bench. Wilcox led the team in points and boards with 15 and 7 respectively. Mason had some really nice plays and knocked down some shots. Westbrook continues to improve and will get more minutes sooner than later (please, hopefully).



• The 4th quarter comeback which was sparked by a humongous Mason dunk (not the "Wave" as some blockhead caller on KREF intimated).

Tricks (deep breath):

• The shooting or lack thereof. The first quarter was particularly atrocious. It's possible that it was just nerves. Wilcox seems to think this might have been partially to blame. One three-pointer the whole game. What?



• The rebounding or lack thereof. On one possession the Bucks had three offensive boards before getting an easy layup. It hurts, it stings and is unacceptable on virtually all levels of basketball.



• Kevin Durant's 0-point 3-personal foul first half. I can definitely see some of the nerves coming into play here and I seriously doubt we ever see this again. But you have to admit, it stunk like a stale fart.



• Getting lit up by Andrew Bogut. "Lit up" and "Andrew Bogut" go together like turds and punchbowls.



• The lack of a floor general. More than anything I believe this will be the most difficult to remedy. Who is going to set other guys up for this team? I hope Earl Watson. Because as much as I like Westbrook he's a shoot first point guard at this point. KD also desperately needs someone to set him up as well.

It would be foolish to think that one game will define this season. But the Thunder have plenty to work on obviously. After watching the Rockets depants the Mavericks in Dallas last night it will be interesting to see if there are any improvements come Saturday night in Houston.

Welcome to the NBA

Great great night for Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. Everything was over the top and beyond the loftiest of expectations. I snapped some photos and recorded the player introductions and will post those shortly.

There has been all this negative talk (I would link but it would probably crash the Internet) about how this city and market can't or won't support a team three years from now or how losing will dull the enjoyment and, hence, undercut fan support. One of the things that struck me last night was that this is really our 3rd season. We aren't NBA rookies. When the Hornets came to town we were awestruck by the effort that goes into the fan experience. This time around we expect it.

Not only were the fans not let down but I think it surpassed in some ways. I love the addition of a live band for instance. Or having a group of drummers (although it'd be cool if they replaced the piped in "defense" drum). The Thunder Girls are hotter and better than the Honeybees. My wife couldn't even make fun of them and that's one of the joys of going to the games for her. The lighting seems to be darker during the action, more like the Lakers at Staples. I personally like that. The intro was awesome and vastly exceeded anything the Hornets did.

There are some differences to be sure though and they are striking and have more to do with the basketball.

It is now obvious to even the most casual of OKC Hornets fans that Chris Paul is something special. He is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. When the Hornets were relocated and Paul was a rookie you could sense that he was special. He has court vision that absolutely flabbergasted me at the time. I would be sitting in the club level and he would see things at court level that weren't even there until his passes created it. I once saw him make a bounce pass from the left elbow of the 3-point line diagonally to the right elbow of the 3 point line at the opposite end of the court, through a defender and hit his target (can't remember who it was- probably Mason) in stride for a dunk. That's probably not in his career top 10 highlights. We got spoiled rotten without realizing it.

The Thunder will be lucky to ever have a point guard half as talented as CP3. That's no disrespect to Russell Westbrook who is easily one of the best players on the team today. But he's not really a point guard. Not in the CP3 sense. And this team will struggle for it. This team has no one who can create shots for other people. Kevin Durant would go lights out if somebody set him to abuse his man. You can just tell. Honestly, Westbrook could do the same thing. But I digress.

The other notable difference is the personalities of the two teams. CP3 not only is one of the top players in the game but his personality lights up the whole arena. You just want to like him, you can't help it. Those Hornets had PJ Brown also who is one of the most likable people in the NBA. In their second year they got Marc Jackson who owns horses and dreamt of being a cowboy.

The Thunder players and the OKC fans haven't quite connected on a personal level yet. The players, to their credit, are saying all the right things and they are getting active in the community. They do seem accessible and they all come across as really good guys. They are just soft spoken and it takes time.

The good news is we have the time now. They are here for good no matter what anyone says and this team is not on loan the way the Hornets were.

NBA Fan Night

This is actually a really cool idea by the NBA. Every Tuesday is Fan Night on NBATV. NBATV will show a game voted for by the fans. Voting for the games is done during the week prior. This is the only way the Thunder can hope to get additional games televised nationally. As it stands, the Thunder have one game televised nationally, Friday, November 21st against the Hornets. The Thunder have 11 games scheduled for Tuesday night this season and among them such notable opponents as the Lakers (twice), the Spurs (twice), the Suns, the Hornets and the Knicks. Obviously, the Knicks and Lakers are in the two largest markets so there's some opportunity here.

There are 3 games nominated each week so the Thunder won't always be an option but keep this link handy in case it ever happens. The link is also on the right of this page.

It's Game Day

He we are on the precipice of glory in OKC. We officially have made it. We are in the NBA. Listen, Oklahoma City is the biggest small town you will ever see. There is no six degrees of separation, it's more like three. Yet, historically there has always been a well marked line right down the center. On one side Sooners and on the other Cowboys. Households, streets, neighborhoods, offices. All are divided. The Thunder brings it all together. And yes it may sound hokey to an outsider or someone from a place where there's football, hockey, baseball and basketball to divide people's time and attention. But we are officially united in the professional ranks with one team to get behind. Our Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oklahoman has good coverage on this. Berry Tramel, who annoys me with his folksy banter, pretty much reiterates what I just said.

So yesterday Mayor Mick declared it a, "Day of Thunder" in OKC. Today, the festivities start at 2pm. Reno will be closed off, there will be live music, face painting, sign making, BMX stunt riders and goodness knows what else. The line for walk up tickets also starts at 2pm with the first 75 people getting EZ chairs to sit and there will be drawings for free tickets.

Interestingly, I've been feeling like people have been breathlessly waiting to see how the "game experience" compares to the Hornets. And I still do. But, I was surprised to find myself to be somewhat relieved and excited to see that Loud City officially makes its return. I think it's a great move. As team officials say, the fans made Loud City and the Hornets named it, not vice-versa. Just so you know, Section 309 is in Loud City.

I'm also interested to see the drum line. Hopefully we're talking live drummers and not piped in beats to get the crowd clapping. I recently read something about the Atlanta Hawks have a live funk band that plays during games to keep the crowd going. Similarly a live drum line would be pretty slick I think.

The team has also put banners up for every team in the league which should help with the ambiance. The Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is a monument to basketball. The Ford Center, whilst multipurpose hopefully can be retrofitted to be similar.

Finally the court has been delivered. Although it appears there was some sort of snafu due to the team utilizing one kind of goal fitting and the court's three-point lines being painted at a distance meant for a different kind of goal. So, the Ford Center crew had to paint a new line on the court to be the correct distance. Not sure how best to rectify this but I'd be pissed if I were the Thunder. It sounds like an internal screwup unfortunately.

I'm going to try and head down straight from work tonight to see the festivities and I'll snap some pictures and post them here.

Go Thunder!

Thunder 93, Suns 102

If you believe in such a thing as moral victories then last night's 102-93 Thunder loss to the Suns was certainly one. The Thunder played their best game thus far in the preseason. Better still they did it with only 9 guys on the active roster and against a Suns team that, while aging, is still a viable playoff contender.

Johan Petro continued to show that not only can he be a serviceable Center, he is threatening to become a valuable asset on both ends of the floor. He is nearly deadly from the top of the free throw circle which reminds OKC NBA fans of that same favorite spot on the floor David West has now made millions from. Johan finished with 17 points and 5 boards.

Robert Swift saw action for the first time and played real well also. He's very good and clogging passing lanes and as he gets up to game speed could be pretty valuable on the defensive end. He's a big dude that takes up a lot of space and I don't just mean his goofy hair. Also, the nickname Big Red is going on a t-shirt soon.

Russell Westbrook looked sharp in his first matchup against Steve Nash. Most encouraging was Westbrook knocking down some 3's. This team desperately needs someone besides KD with a reliable stroke from deep range. His driving to the basket is solid against anyone.

Overall the team played really solid team defense and it was great to see legitimate strides were made in the last week. Even more encouraging is the fact Phoenix had their starters out for crunch time and the bench-short Thunder hung in. Granted, Phoenix is old but I think if given some truth serum they would admit some surprise with how doggedly the Thunder played them.

Keep in mind the following regular players were out of action for the Thunder; Earl Watson, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith. Whilst none are superstars per se they certainly are each solid veterans who could provide valuable minutes.

All in all this game for the first time showed a glimmer of hope that this team can be pretty good and possibly surprise some people. They were certainly fun to watch. They played hard on defense and looked good on the break.

Tickets are Out

When I went home last night the UPS man had left a note on my door that he had tried to drop off tickets. I went and picked them up today. I must say they certainly look big league.

Breaking News! Thunder Execrises Options on Durant and Green

Oh you already heard that? Well it's awesome in any event. It's now possible that the two of them could be in Thunder uniforms through the 2011 season. That hopefully bodes well for ticket sales.

Even getting them through next year should be all the time necessary to determine if they are, in fact, keys to the championship puzzle. All signs point to yes obviously with Durant but Green has work to do. Although, he did make the NBA All-Rookie team last year along with KD so that should at the very least bode well.

After I heard the news it got me to thinking about the question of the Thunder being able to keep talent and to attract marquee free agents. This is one of the topics detractors of the NBA in OKC keep raising. People like to say that there is no way any one would want to come here to play or live or have anything to do with this "small-time" city. It seems to me the answer has something in common with the University of Oklahoma.

Think about it. Marquee recruits have the opportunity to play anywhere in the country. In any environment they like. Los Angeles (USC, UCLA), Miami, anywhere else in Florida, Austin (great night life), Colorado (mountains) and on and on and on. Virtually anywhere has arguably better scenery or better nightlife or more entertainment options than Norman, Oklahoma. Go ahead and lump OKC in there for that matter. Yet, recruiting talent is never a problem. Maybe it's tradition, maybe it's coaching, maybe it's wanting to play for a perennial winner. Whatever the case, they come. Insert the, "Maybe it's the money" joke here.

As it relates to the Thunder I have to believe that, with all things being equal, OKC should be able to compete for free agents and retain top level talent. While tradition and perennial winning might not be a calling card yet there are several benefits to OKC. One, this team seems to have a vision of what it wants to be and how it needs to be built to be competitive year in and year out. Two, this team is stockpiling assets in order to position itself to be a player in the free agent market. Three, a person's money goes further here than it does in other places.

Also, whose to say that each and every player is going to base his decision on nightlife or activities available. Is that not what roadtrips are for? Maybe some guys like to stay in or maybe they are family men. I'm just saying there is more to it than the social scene (which really ISN'T that bad- I have to believe it compares favorably to Salt Lake City for instance).

Ultimately, players are fiercely competitive. They can't make it to this level without a desire to succeed. If the OKC front office sticks to their plan and vision to build a competitive team the right way then why wouldn't someone want to come here, be a key cog in the wheel and have an opportunity to star and help win basketball games? They have a chance to be the only game in town, heroes of the city and to play for great crowds night in and night out.

A Little Time Off Hopefully Goes a Long Way

The Thunder don't play a game until next Thursday. This is welcome news on many fronts. Half the squad is in the infirmary so they get to spend some time in the ice baths. More offense will get installed, film can be watched and teaching and personnel meshing can continue.

Another note from the Thunder's home game the other night. There were a lot of people rocking Thunder wear and that was cool to see. It really is awesome that this community, and by that I mean the entire state, can rally around a single team.

This is taken from thundermadness.com, The Oklahoman's Thunder fan site and I think it illustrates my point from yesterday people wanting to compare everything to the Hornets.

Quoth Kandi, "After having season tix for the Hornets 2 years,and purchasing 4 for this year, I was ver much anticipating Tuesday night. But WOW! what a left down. Everything seemed thown together. The crappy announcer was dry and really didn't have energy and seemed to be prodded from behind to speak sometimes. The sound or music selection (or lack of) wow sad, the music sound lights and announcer should be the driving force behind the croud getting it pumped up. Not saying "Ok guys lets say defence." How lame! No pregame light show except the light going off then on. No time out stunts, half time was like Hinder decided to stay in the stands, so they had to come up with a quick idea. Thunder Girls? That was the best they could come up with. And did we see them dance? No. No t-shirt launcher. I was front row club level and I was S.O.L. I really hope they are holding back for the regular season because everyone paid WAY too much money to watch a high school production. I'll have to wait and see."

First off, it's the National BASKETBALL Association and not the National Sideshow Association. Shouldn't the basketball be most responsible for fans getting into the game? Also, when the team put together a list of "things that must be done by the first preseason home game" how high was smoke machine or t-shirt launcher do you think? Higher than, say, uniforms, tickets, a court, a practice facility, places for players to live, staff, etc?

Regrettably, Kandi is not alone in this sentiment. My blessed mother could very well be using the moniker Kandi to post (although my mom can spell and doesn't speak Interweb). And there are thousands like them.

Patience please.

66'ers Get Top Pick in D-League Draft

The Tulsa 66'ers, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Thunder have drawn the first overall pick in the upcoming D-Leage Draft.

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Over 100 former D-League players are on current NBA rosters. 3 point shooter anyone?