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.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thunder Open Practice + Free = Good Times
So the Thunder held their mandatory open practice for the fans last night at The Ford. I used it as an opportunity to get a kid from the Oklahoma City Foster Care program that I mentor up close and personal to the players. It was, after all, billed to be for the kids.
And so it was. Isiah had a great time.
To my surprise, Coach PJ (dba Uncle Rusty) along with Damien Wilkens, Johan Petro and Chris Alexander were standing in the foyer waiting to greet fans. We walked right up to Coach and chatted with him for a moment before I snapped a photo of Isiah with Damien Wilkens. Pretty awesome. It's not like they were behind a table either. They were just hanging out and chatting it up with everyone.
The Thunder also had various things set up in the concourse for the kids. Magicians, animal baloon makers (is that a technical term), face painters, caricature artists and some Pop-A-Shot type games.
Once practice commenced Nick Collison greeted the crowd and then it was pretty standard from there.
PJ (we are on a first name basis now after all) wrapped things up. All in all good times and a great opportunity for people who might not get to go to a game or sit that close to the court an opportunity to see the players up close.
From a basketball standpoint it I have to say that Kevin Durant has one of the sweetest looking shots I've seen and definitely the best on the team. The players joined up with some kids for a shooting contest and KD looked like he was born taking jump shots. It was very easy to picture him in an empty gym back in the day shooting for hours and hours.
Jeff Green probably impressed me the most. He was all over the place following misses with dunks and generally getting up and down the floor really well.
Johan Petro continued to look good as well and Mouhammed Sene got some time with the starters also.
Russell Westbrook and his school age playing partner wound up beating KD in the finals of the shooting contest by the way.
Friday, October 17, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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.
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.
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