Offense: B-
The Thunder were able to push the tempo this week, as we expected them to do, amassing 57 fast break points and creating mismatches in the front court leading to fouls and easy baskets. The Thunder also attacked the paint well, despite their size disadvantage, keeping pace with their opponent in all three games this past week. The Thunder managed to score quite a few points, and currently sit at 9th in the league for points per game as a team. Of those points scored, the Thunder put together a string of good quarters, up until the Jazz game, and some timely shots, most notably Jeff Green’s go-ahead layup with 2.5 seconds left in regulation to lift the Thunder to a win over the Detroit Pistons.

The Thunder lacked good shooting, however. The ball movement is excellent, very sharp and crisp and leading to open looks, the players simply aren’t finishing. Kevin Durant has matured a lot since last year, but cannot continue to force shots in the waning minutes of games until he finds his groove later this season. Green needs to bury his open looks, and Daequan Cook cannot force big threes early in the shot clock. Shooting 39.9% as a team will not earn the Thunder to 50+ wins that they are their fans so eagerly strive for.

The Thunder need to continue to move the ball well. They are currently next to last in assists. The passing is there, the shots just have to be made. The guys can’t get selfish, either. Westbrook is doing his part, but the assists need to spread to the rest of the team. Assists are generally a good benchmark for how well a team jells and how much quicker they are than the opposing defense. Both of those are areas where the Thunder excel, so the assists should, in theory at least, follow.

Despite the poor shooting the Thunder have found ways to win 2 games, which bodes well for this young team. As the season progresses the players will find their shots, leading to more points and more wins. The Thunder also played a solid offensive 4th quarter against the Bulls, something they had trouble with down the stretch last year. And finally, turnovers were a point of pride for this young team. The Thunder currently lead the league with the least turnovers per game. Taking care of the ball will lead to more solid possessions, and if they improve their shooting Thunder opponents could be in for some long nights. The Thunder have also given up the least amount of steal per game in the NBA.

Defense B
The kinks are still being worked out on defense as well. The Thunder are showing a lot of energy on defense, and are making the plays that we expect them to be making. The Thunder are second in steals, and are doing an excellent job of jumping in the passing lanes to break up plays. They look quick, they’re not giving up a whole lot of easy buckets (except to Derrick Rose, but who can guard him?), and they look fresh. The block party isn’t in full swing yet, but Serge Ibaka and company are starting to get into gear. Not to mention the 2 huge blocks Thabo Sefolosha had in the 4th quarter against the Bulls, both on fast breaks.

The problem on defense is, much like the offensive woes, shooting. The Thunder are scraping the bottom of the barrel, allowing their opponents to shoot an unearthly 47.5% against them, including 50%+ to both Detroit and Utah. Maybe it is just blind luck, especially so on the Pistons side, as they hit everything even when it was heavily contested, but the Thunder are going to have to find a better way to close out of their defenders.

The paint area is also key for the Thunder. They will have to be more aggressive in the paint area to force misses and pull down more rebounds, especially because of their height disadvantage. More rebounds could lead to fast breaks, which, as we have seen by now, is a practically unstoppable facet of the Thunder’s offensive attack.

Other positives:
Free throw shooting and foul discipline have both been superb. The Thunder are playing quick and getting to the line, and when they’ve done that in droves as compared to their opponent they have come away with a victory.

Energy has been exciting. We knew we would get a good dose of high energy exciting basketball from this young quad, and they’ve given it to us. Great for ratings.

Final Breakdown:
Shooting: D+ Not the worst, not the best. Time will help this category soar as the Thunder find their mid-season form.

Rebounding: B+ It’s tough to compete when you’re smaller, but the Thunder need to find a way to thoroughly outrebound their opponents to ensure wins. No second chance points.

Passing: A Crisp, quick, and fancy. Taking care of the ball is key, and the Thunder did they perfectly.

Free-throws: A- Could’ve hit a few more, but the percentages are high and they’re leading to wins.

Foul Discipline: A Don’t give them anything free, but take everything they give you.

Clutch: B- Fell off against the Jazz and a bit against the Pistons, but they stayed strong throughout games other than that.

Keep Thundering Up my friends.

*All statistics courtesy of ESPN.com

-Justin Wright

We saw it last year, especially in the playoffs, and we’ve seen it twice already this season: Free-throws are important for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Points from free throws have propelled the Thunder to multiple wins, and have accounted for both the Thunder’s wins this season heading into their third regular season game against the Utah Jazz. The Thunder currently lead the league in free throws made and attempted per game, 37.5-45.5 per game on the season.

The Thunder were 37-44 (84.1%) against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night and 38-47 (80.9%) Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls from behind the stripe in two wins this season. Free throws have easily accounted for the scoring difference between the team each night. The Pistons were only 16-20, while the Bulls were only 13-22. This huge discrepancy in free throws is showing two things that the Thunder are doing well, and also exposing one major weakness in the Thunder’s offense right now.

The Thunder are playing much faster and much harder than any team in the NBA right now. Their youth, speed, and aggression has led to 55 fouls committed against them, most of those on shooting plays or while in the bonus. As players fight for good shots down low, slashes hard through the lane, or Kevin Durant uses his Kobe Bryant-esque rip move, the Thunder go to the line in numbers. They’re discipline from the line, though not stellar yet, will get them through many games, and if they continue to improve on their free throw shooting they will be hard to stop. This is especially evident in the fast break, when the Thunder are most effective. The Lakers, in the playoffs last year, resorted to fouls on the fast break when the Thunder had numbers. From an officiating standpoint, when a defender tries to make a play on a much quicker player, it looks like a foul, and more often that not it is called as one.

The Thunder’s defense has been improving ever since Coach Scott Brooks took over 17 games deep into the 2008-2009 season. Brooks preaches a defense first style of game play. The Thunder have played solid defense thus far, but have not gotten into foul trouble, something that will help them create deficits in games. As long as the Thunder aren’t giving away free points, they are in good shape. Their offense has not quite yet gotten the chance to blossom into its fullest, and yielding nothing on defense will be instrumental in winning those close games, especially as Thunder players flood the foul line on the offensive side.

Wins by free-throws do expose one weakness of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offense right now: shooting. The Thunder are shooting a touch under 40%, the standard benchmark for an average shooting percentage. If the Thunder do not pick it up, especially when a team like the Pistons turns red hot (good defense, hands in the face, good mismatches, all outside shots, the Pistons were simply locked in), it could turn, and almost did, disastrous for the Thunder. They are getting open looks, especially Jeff Green, but he must finish if the Thunder are going to have a successful season.

Get fouled, get to the line, and get the win. Thunder Up!

-Justin Wright

Jeff Green has been a staple for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the three years of his career. Now, in the early days of the 2010-2011 season, Jeff Green’s contract status has already been dealt with: Sam Presti and the Thunder will not offer Jeff Green a contract extension. Jeff Green will officially become a restricted free agent after this season. The Thunder have the privilege of offering Green a match on any contract any other team makes, but there is no guarantee that Green will sign.

What does this mean for the Oklahoma City Thunder? The Thunder will now risk losing one opf their hardest working players, one of their dependable defenders, an offensive threat, and a stable, friendly face within the locker room.

Jeff Green has decent numbers, not those of superstars, but decent nonetheless. He has averaged 14.1 points and 5.8 rebounds on 34.0 minutes per game over his career. Green, in his 4th year, has improved every single year since his selection at 5th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. He has protected the ball well, averaging a touch under 2 turnovers per game during his career, and has added 1.7 assists per game. This season, Green has given the Thunder 21 points, including 2-5 from behind the 3-point arc, and adding 1 steal, 1 block, and only 1 turnover.

So what is Green downside? It’s not his shooting, as he has improved his career percentage from 42.7% his rookie season to 45.3% last season in a category that generally improves with experience. It’s not his defense, as Jeff Green is a very intelligent basketball player, using his skill to compensate for his size. He constantly gets into passing lanes, and puts himself in the right place at the right time, very rarely getting beat and yielding less than an average 3 fouls over his career.

What it boils down to is size. Jeff Green stands at 6’8″, undersized at the power forward position. Green was originally listed as a small forward when coming into the NBA, but had to change back to power forward, his natural position at Georgetown, when he was placed on the same Seattle Supersonics squad as the talented Kevin Durant. College allows for a guy at 6’8″ to have some success, especially in a fast break offense, but it does not translate well to the NBA.

Green makes up for his size not only with his intelligence but also his athleticism. Green is an extremely versatile player, with the ability to handle the ball well everywhere on the court, and the shooter’s touch to shoot from anywhere on the floor. He rarely takes bad shots, he just has not found the ability to finish on all of them, something that comes with experience. A lot of his shots draw good iron and then spin out, and he usually finds open space on the floor. Green has also improved his inside game, with the ability to post up against much taller defenders with success.

This season is going to be an interesting one. If Green has a great year it could be disastrous for the Thunder, as another team could offer him a contract the Thunder cannot match. The team will possibly be able to size to the line-up, but they will lose the athleticism, the versatility, and the intelligence that few other players possess. The locker-room will lose a great teammate and a guy who has had a great career playing second fiddle to Kevin Durant. The fans will lose an exciting player who has helped bring the Thunder on the fast break. Kevin Durant will lose a close friend, a guy who he has grown up with and shared the good and the bad with, from last year’s amazing turnaround season to the two years they struggled to put up wins.

All-in-all, only time will tell. Jeff Green’s legacy remains in tact for now, but could be challenged after the season’s end. Green’s potential is best realized in Oklahoma City, and he has expressed interest to stay in Oklahoma City. However, basketball is a business, and sometimes business takes precedent over love. Jeff Green needs to stay a Thunder player, though. Hopefully Sam Presti will realize that Green is an asset this team cannot lose.

-Justin Wright

The question now becomes: Who comes out on top? After strong seasons from the Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, and Nuggets, one can only think that this season will be hardly different, considering the few changes that occurred on rosters in the Western Conference. What this divisions outcome, one that will greatly affect the Western Conference Finals outlook, will boil down to is team chemistry.

Denver Nuggets
Good team chemistry isn’t exactly a term I would use to describe the Denver Nuggets this season. Face of the franchise Carmelo Anthony went through a “change of scenery” debacle similar to that of LeBron James’, though his wishes to join another team fell through this summer. Now, with the Nuggets sitting at 1-0, Carmelo has once again expressed his desire to leave Denver in favor for another team. Carmelo is slowly turning into a cancer for the Nuggets, and unless they can part ways with him soon, he could negatively affect the team down the stretch. Anthony could turn into a Terrell Owens type figure who, despite his great play in games, is a constant disruption from the general direction of the team. Anthony serves as the glue to an already stout line-up in Denver.

All-in-all, unless Denver parts ways with Anthony before Christmas, which I do not see them doing, their locker room atmosphere, along with their increasing age, could hinder their overall performance in the 2010-2011 season.

Prediction: 42-40, 3rd in the Northwest, playoff berth (7 seed)

Prediction: 36-46 4th in the Northwest Division, no playoff berth

Minnesota Timberwolves
There were very few good things that could be said about the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, except the valiant play of Kevin Love may have kept them from falling off the face of the Earth. There is more upside to this team this season, but not much. Kevin Love is more experienced, and could if given any help at all, be a great power forward in the league. Michael Beasley, one of the new arrivals in St. Paul, could do some damage and help Love out, but Beasley has been known to disappoint since his days at Kansas State. At the point guard position it seems that Luke Ridnour has emerged out of nowhere, and it will be interesting, though don’t hold your breath, if Ridnour kept it up and played strong basketball all season as an offensive threat.

This team has a lot more going on for them this season, but in this division you have to be the best to beat the best, and the best are damn good.

Prediction: 34-48 5th in the Northwest, no playoff berth

Prediction: 50-32, 2nd in the Northwest, playoff berth (4-5 seed)

Oklahoma City Thunder
They snuck up on everyone last year, even their own fans and coaching staff, and found their way into the team’s first playoff berth in Oklahoma City. Now, one year older, the team looks poised to give everyone, maybe even the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, a run for their money. Behind the strong play of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and company, it looks like this might be the Thunder’s year.

Injuries will be the only demon to this young team. The chemistry is high in the locker-room, the players treating the team like a college squad. With all the upside and promise this team shows, almost everyone is buying into the hype. With the scoring prowess of Durant, and the high energy run-and-gun style of basketball they played, backed by outstanding defense, the Thunder could take it all this year.

Prediction: 55-27, 1st in the Northwest, playoff berth (2 seed)

It’s going to be a fantastic year for this very talented division. Only time will tell who the real winner is.

-Justin Wright

The preseason is over. And while a 4-3 record doesn’t look that great for the Thunder, consider this: Everyone is 0-0 again. And with the regular season about to kick off here over the next few days, the beginnings of a run to the 2011 NBA Playoffs take form for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the season opener on Wednesday, the Thunder will be 1 step out of 82 closer to their valiant return to the playoffs.

This week is going to be a big week, starting Tuesday with the NBA Kickoff, and continuing Wednesday into the Thunder’s home opener against the Chicago Bulls. 3 games this week, and a way for the Thunder to really set the tone for 2010-2011.

On a side note, this Wednesday at 4:00PM CDT I will be guest appearing on www.chasingthegold.com talking about the Thunder as a part of their NBA Preview 2010-2011 show. Tune in if you can.

The Games:

Tuesday, October 27th, 7:00PM CDT Chicago Bulls @ Thunder on ESPN
2009-2010 Record: 41-41, 8th in the Eastern Conference, 1-1 against the Thunder

The Bulls made a huge move by acquiring F Carlos Boozer, but Boozer is currently sidelined with a broken hand, and will sit out for this game. This bodes well for the Thunder, as a 1-2 punch underneath along with Joakim Noah could have had disastrous results for a Thunder team still trying to get their swagger within the paint. The Thunder will likely rely on their core three guys: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Jeff Green to get things going.

[picappgallerysingle id="8550888"]
Derrick Rose is a tough threat to stop.

The match-up that really intrigues me in this game will be at the point: Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. Both coming out of the 2008 Draft Class, the two have begun to isolate themselves from the pack as the future elite point guards of the league. Speed on speed, it will be interesting to see which of them emerges as the stronger of the two. Let’s not forget, these guys were teammates this summer for Team USA, and Rose started over Westbrook. Westbrook might play a chip on his shoulder for that reason.

Key to the game: Rebounding The Bulls were 1st in the NBA in rebounding last year… but the Thunder were right there with them. If the Thunder can control the boards on both sides of the court they will create opportunities for a win.

Friday, October 29th, 7:00PM CDT Thunder @ Detroit Pistons on FoxSports-OK
2009-2010 Record: 27-55, Did not make playoffs, 0-2 against the Thunder

The Pistons are getting old, but never underestimate a team like that. They still have great players, and can get a lot done, but don’t pose the same threat they did several years ago. Big Ben Wallace still stands in the paint, which means a physical game in the paint, and with Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, you never know how well they will shoot from the floor. But the young Thunder should be able to outpace the Pistons.

[picappgallerysingle id="8096046"]
Richard Hamilton was one of the NBA’s best shooters, until plagued by injuries last year.

This could be a game where Jeff Green exposes the youth and inexperience of F Jonas Jerebko. Jerebko is in his second season, and is not much of a defensive stickler. If Green gets open space, and has the shooter’s touch, it could be a big night for #22. The key match-up in theis game will be seeing how Serge Ibaka handles the aggressiveness of Ben Wallace in the paint.

Key to the game: Defense The Pistons allowed opponents to shoot 48% last season. If the Thunder play the stingy defense they usually do they should come away with a win.

Sunday, October 31st, 6:00PM CDT Utah Jazz @ Thunder FoxSports-OK
2009-2010 Record: 53-29, 2nd in the Northwest Division, 5th in the Western Conference, 1-3 against the Thunder

The Jazz posted an 8-0 record in the preseason, but, as I mentioned earlier, that’s preaseason. This game is extremely important for the Thunder, as it’s their first divisional game of the season, and they need to set a good tone for themselves.

The new jerseys in Salt Lake City are just in time for the departure of their former starting Power Forward Carlos Boozer. Boozer’s departure solidifies Deron Williams as the face of the franchise in Utah. Williams and Boozer were the key contributors to the team last season, so it will be interesting to see how they will fare without Boozer. It looks like Paul Millsap will replace him, and Millsap will definitely do some damage.

[picappgallerysingle id="8447377"]
Deron Williams is hard to stop. Period.

The game looks to be a hard fought battle, and could be the beginning of how the Northwest will be won, especially with the Jazz opening against the Denver Nuggets. This game’s key match-up will be watching Kevin Durant against all odds, and seeing how he handles things after his experience this summer in a game with playoff implications.

Key to the game: The Paint The Jazz have a similar size deficiency down low as the Thunder. If the Thunder can be more agressive, pulling down rebounds, blocking shots, and playing hard-nosed defense, they should be able to pull away with a win, even against the prolific scoring of Deron Williams.

[picappgallerysingle id="8428897"]
It’s that time again. Get excited.

Well Thunder fans, it’s time to kick off the 2010-2011 season. Here’s to a good one

-Justin Wright

It’s no question, this generation of basketball is dominated by the slam-dunk. Almost every NBA player can do it, and when they do, they dare to defy gravity en route to a hair-raising, emotion demanding play that dazzles the eyes. It tends to be so commonplace, and it is certainly apparent: the dunk is a true staple of the game now. I’m not talking about the big men down low throwing down dunks from a standing position, I’m talking about the full speed break-away dunks, one’s that make you wonder if the Earth might have tilted just a little after that monster slam. And while it’s inception is rather unclear, it’s use over the years is not. It’s been drilled into our minds over time, and despite it’s overall simplicity, the dunk is one of the most powerful plays in sports.

On paper the dunk looks bland. Look at box scores and dunks only appear as 1 attempt, 1 make, and 2 points. On shot-carts, it looks even less impressive, as a 0 or 1 foot make. Even radio broadcasts can’t do the dunk justice, as no matter how much any announcer describes it, one’s imagination can only do so much. The dunk is a striking play that demands attention from the eyes. Conventional words cannot truly pay it the homage it deserves.

Few plays in other sports are so simple on the score sheet but so emotionally charged. Anyone that has been to a close game knows that a well timed dunk can almost lift the roof off of an arena.The home run in baseball and a kickoff or punt return touchdown in football come close, but doesn’t quite achieve the same emotion. And what about blown dunks? Fly balls to the warning track or returns that end up at the 5 yard line are not embarrassing at all, not like missing a dunk.

[picappgallerysingle id="3989678"]
Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard during the 2009 NBA All-Star Dunk contest. He won the contest with this dunk over Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

We’ve been privileged over the past few years with some amazing dunks, both in games and in the Dunk Contest held every All-Star weekend. Sheer power, athleticism, and creativity fuel these monstrous displays of the human body. Nate Robinson of the Boston Celtics (he won it while with the Knicks, though) won last year, as well as in 2009 and 2006, displaying amazing dunking talent at only 5’9. Then there’s the classic “LeBron James with no regard for human life” dunk over Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, which got played almost every day during this summer as LeBron inched toward his departure from Cleveland. Realistically, you can search for “awesome NBA dunk (insert your favorite player here)” on YouTube and will get results.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing a few great dunks in my day, including a dunk by the 29th pick of the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic Daniel Orton back in high school when he broke the backboard. The crowd reaction is the most important thing. The dunk is mostly a motivational tool. It pumps up the team, and, if at home, the crowd, energizing the field of play for the next minute or so. On the road it provokes the opposing team’s crowd, throwing salt in the wounds of a big lead or goading the crowd to get louder in a close contest. It impresses, invigorates, and excites, all in a matter of seconds. Watch the greats as the throw one down, and watch the crowd go wild. When Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or Dwight Howard dunk in close games at home, the lid is almost lifted on their respective arenas, and the building explodes with cheers. In sports where scoring is traditionally high, that rarely happens.

As the players soar above the hardwood, Charles Darwin revels in the evolution of humans, and Sir Isaac Newton tries to rethink the idea of gravity. Over the history of basketball, the dunk has been showcased more and more. And in 2010, the dunk will be just as important as ever. Here’s to the dunk.

-Justin Wright

Last season was, for a fact, the best season the Oklahoma City Thunder have ever seen… not that it should surprise anyone, considering there are only two years to pick from (yes, Seattle there were better years, I understand, but this is Oklahoma City’s team now).

Very few Thunder fans will soon forget how memorable the 2009-2010 season was. It was the cornerstone for what this team will do in this new decade. The team isn’t getting any younger, but at 24 years and 260 days (as of October 13, 2010), the Thunder don’t have to worry about age for a good while. Last season’s devastating ending, however, can be chalked up to inexperience.

[picappgallerysingle id="8620411"]
Outside of the Ford Center, the Thunder struggled in the playoffs.

The post-season was not kind to the young Thunder players, and nerves got the best of them in the Staples Center. The hostile environment got to the Thunder. While they shot fairly evenly (and not exactly efficiently, both makrs under 40%) both in Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, the stats in Los Angeles are a bit worse. 14.7 fewer points per game, 10 fewer rebounds including 3.3 on the offensive end, 2.3 fewer assists, and an assists to turnovers ratio 1.1 points lower. It’s pretty safe to say the young guys might not have quite been ready for their first trip to the playoffs.

The numbers are even more staggering when you look at the numbers for the Lakers. Despite the losses in Oklahoma City, including the 110-89 Thunder win the even the series, the Lakers never played poorly–they were simply outplayed by the Thunder. A veteran team with a veteran swagger.

Now begins the Thunder’s newest journey on the road to the NBA Finals. They were out of the hunt in 2009, fell a few steps too short in 2010, and now, for the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the Thunder look poised to find a way to the Finals, no matter who is in their way. And all the ingredients are there for the Thunder to cook up the magic that no one saw coming last year, but they’re doubling the recipe.

[picappgallerysingle id="8604167"]
Few teams have as strong a camaraderie, between players and coaches alike, as the Thunder.

It all begins with Kevin Durant. Even he had forgettable shooting performance in the playoffs last year after being crowned the NBA’s Scoring Champion. Durant added to his already stunning list of accolades, leading Team USA to it’s first gold medal in the FIBA World Championships since 1994. Not only was he given the chance to show how icy his veins could be in the clutch on a world stage, he did it by being the backbone of the team with the highest expectations in the world. He has developed his leadership ability, his teamwork, and his superstar status, none of which came at the expense of his humility. He is a crowd, and especially a hometown, favorite, and is drawing a following by simply doing exactly what he loves–playing the game.

Then comes the immediate supporting cast, who have consistently found ways to help Durant lead the Thunder to victory, just not all necessarily at the same times. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green both logged minutes this summer along with Durant on Team USA, and Westbrook was fortunate enough to make the cut and travel to Istanbul, Turkey for the FIBA Worlds. Jeff Green then spent the rest of his summer scrimmaging with college and pro athletes from his home town in Maryland. Both have been instrumental to Durant’s success, creating outlets and assists, as well as taking some of the heat off of him by adding double-digit scoring of their own. Thabo Sefolosha has been a defensive pest for the Thunder, bothering the prolific scorers of other top-tier NBA teams. Nenad Krstic added to the mix by stepping out and hitting big 18-foot jumpers at the top of the key. Then comes the bench, with the young guns James Harden, Eric Maynor, and Serge Ibaka, as well as veterans like Nick Collison.

All in all, the Thunder have built up a team stocked with young talent and teamwork. They have dubbed this year’s training camp “Thunder U,” establishing a college-like atmosphere, playing with high-emotion and teamwork, and working those elements into skill. Under head coach Scott Brooks, the Oklahoma City Thunder has a team that, if for no other reason, will win games due to hard work and playing like a team. And they’ve done it all with plenty of room under the salary cap.

The best statistic of all coming from last season is that now only 2 players on the current Oklahoma City Thunder roster (the 15 man depth chart), D.J. White and Cole Aldrich, have not played in a NBA Playoff game, and D.J. White has at least seen the atmosphere. There’s no more being too young. The experience is finally there, the drive is finally there, and the want is finally there.

The NBA’s youngest team, the NBAs feel-good team (in the midst of all the Miami Heat talk), looks ready to strike. Don’t be surprised if they make a run.

As always, keep Thundering Up

-jw

And I’ve been slacking a bit, but this week will, hopefully, be a busy week for me.

So let’s run down this week’s events:

Tuesday, October 12th, 7:00PM CSTThunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies at the BOK Center in Tulsa
2009-2010 record: 40-42, 10th in the Western Conference, 2-2 against the Thunder
Radio: WWLS, the Sports Animal

A battle of the two teams with the most improved records from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010, should be interesting to see the two youngest teams in the league duke it out.

Thursday, October 14th, 7:00PM CSTThunder vs. CSKA Moscow
Radio: WWLS, the Sports Animal

International team. Not much to say. Hard to see how this game will go.

Other News
Eric Maynor has been solid while coming off the bench for Russell Westbrook. Averaging 25.5 minutes per game and 10.5 points per game, Maynor has been a sturdy rock the team can rely on while Westbrook rests.

The labor issue continues to be unresolved in the NBA, and many are preparing for a lockout.

This week should be a big week for me, I’ve got a lot of ideas brewing for posts this week, so hopefully my studies won’t interfere with my posts.

Check out the games this week if you can, both on WWLS.

Until tomorrow, keep Thundering Up

-jw

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the proud owners of a 1-0 record. Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing. The game, however, was an integral step in a 2010 season that looks extremely promising.

The story of Wednesday night’s preseason opener was Jeff Green. Folks, the shot is back. For all of you who continually criticized Jeff Green for the number of three pointers he took and missed last season: he went 5-7 behind the arc Wednesday night, as well as 4-7 from the rest of the floor. The only way to truly get a shooter out of a funk is to have him shoot his way out, and it looks like, though it’s only one game, that Jeff Green may have shot his way out of his slump. Green played a solid 28 minutes before he was forced to sit out the fourth. Green’s 25 points were a game high.

The return of Jeff Green’s offensive game could mean less pressure on Kevin Durant, and re-opens a whole new page in the Thunder playbook. And remember that big three pointer that could’ve won Game 2 in Los Angeles and completely shifted the series? Now that goes in.

The player to watch in this game was Serge Ibaka, and whether he could find an offensive rhythm or not. He started in place of the injured Nenad Krstic. Ibaka added 12 points on 5-13 shooting, which isn’t particularly effective, but at least he wasn’t afraid to let the ball fly. Ibaka did have a game high 11 rebounds, and gave us a little taste of what he loves to do by denying a shot, something we’ve come to expect from Ibaka. For Serge to be effective, and for him to be the offensive presence the Thunder desperately need on the inside, Ibaka will need to trade the 10-20ft shots he is taking in favor of short, 2-5ft shots in the paint, and use his length to get good position of defenders.

James Harden also showed a lot of promise, finding his way to the free throw line several times, and finishing with 16 points. He started in place of Thabo Sefolosha, who missed the game due to illness. He also had 5 steals, and was constantly plugging up the passing lanes.

Kevin Durant only played 17 minutes, not to anyone’s surprise. He will likely continue to have a reduced role since he had a huge summer in Turkey.

The Thunder did a great job forcing the Bobcats into 27 turnovers, 18 of those steals, and scoring 35 points off of those turns, and pulled down 18 offensive rebounds. The Thunder, however, still turned the ball over too many times, and allowed the Bobcats to shoot 47.8% as a team.

Overall, it was a good game, and some of the young guys that we’ve been expecting to have a good season started to show their colors. And Jeff Green finding his shot is fantastic for the Thunder.

[picappgallerysingle id="9320043"]
The Big Three, minus Wade, will meet the Thunder Friday.

Tonight is Thunder @ Miami Heat, 7:30 PM tip-off, broadcast on FSThunder as well as WWLS The Sports Animal.

As always, keep Thundering Up.

-jw

Well, it’s almost that time. After almost one solid week of Training Camp, after media day, after a handful of scrimmages, early workouts, chalk talk, and all the business that goes with preparing for a new season, the Oklahoma City Thunder get ready to hit the court this week. The Thunder have two preseason games scheduled this week: versus the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, and against the Miami Heat on Friday, both on the road.

Happy Monday Thunder fans. I’m gonna take a look at the upcoming events for this week, and as mentioned, I will perouse this weeks matchups.

Now keep in mind that this is preseason. The stats will be a bit off, the younger guys will get a larger share of the playing time, and you don’t have to play for keeps. Most teams won’t even showcase most of their offensive sets, just the bare bones of what they might be doing this year to see what works. Having said that

Wednesday, October 6th, 6:00PM CT Thunder @ Charlotte Bobacts
2009-2010 Record: 44-38, 7th in the Eastern Conference, 1-1 against the Thunder

Friday, October 8th, 7:30PM CT Thunder @ Miami Heat
2009-2010 Record: 47-35, 5th in the Eastern Conference, 0-2 against the Thunder

The primary focus on this game will to see how each team will come out from the offseason. The Thunder will be exposed to their first game since the break, and after one week of team scrimmages, it will be interesting to see how well the team gels together. The most important thing about these games is seeing how the younger guys play, especially the likes of the sophomore trio, Eric Maynor, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka. Hopefully these guys come out strong and show how much they’ve developed before the season starts.

Another fun thing will be watching the impact of Miami’s big three, and how well they play together. I’m expecting a huge hit on output for the three of them individually, but their impact to the team as a whole could be tremendous–or catastrophic, we will see with time.

Unfortunately, the Charlotte game will not be on local TV, but it will be on WWLS the Sports Animal for those of you who want to listen to the play-by-play on the radio. The Miami game, however, will be broadcast on FSThunder, as well as WWLS the Sports Animal, so check the games out if you can.

Player to Watch Serge Ibaka

[picappgallerysingle id="8524049"]
Air Congo needs to have a big offensive game this week.

If you do get the chance, or even if you don’t, this week’s focus should be on Serge Ibaka. With the injuries to Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic, and with the ever developing role of young “Air Congo,” see if he asserts himself in the paint on the offensive side. We’ve all seen his defense, but now it’s time for Serge to become an offensively minded player as well. Look for him to really use his length to get open and get good shots in the paint.

Other News
Nick Collison sat out of training camp due to a bone bruise in his knee.

Nenad Krstic had surgery on his broken finger, the same one that bothered him through much of last season, and has been sitting out of training camp during his rehab.

4 rookies, Desmond “Tweety” Carter of Baylor, Longar Longar of the University of Oklahoma, Elijah Millsap out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Jerome Dyson out of Connecticut, are also on the roster for the Thunder’s training camp, trying to make a name for themselves and find a spot on the team or on the Tulsa 66ers roster.

Construction on the Thunder’s practice facility, The Integris Health Thunder Development Center, continues.

Sam Presti and Scott Brooks are still considered “the man.”

That’s all for this week’s tip-off.

Thunder Up!

-jw