An excellent article in the Kansas City Star (hat tip: jk): “Here in Oklahoma City, where the Sooners and Cowboys have 
long ruled the sports landscape, it’s an NBA team with an underwhelming 17-46 record that’s capturing the time and attention of Oklahomans. And with the Ford Center sitting at the center of the Thunder’s ascension, the Big 12 tournament that’s rolling into town this week is no longer the only high-profile ticket in town. Take notice, Kansas City. This is the impact an NBA franchise can have in that time between the Super Bowl and the start of baseball.”
The Lost Ogle on the Swiss diff: “Before the trade deadline, most Oklahomans knew only that Switzerland produces good chocolate, helpful pocketknives, secretive banks, and hot blondes. Little did we know that the country could also provide difference making basketball players. An afterthought dealt by the Bulls after their “blockbuster” trade which netted them John Salmons overloaded the team at the wing, Thabo Sefolosha’s being moved was not picked up by the media until well after the league’s deadline had expired. Just mere weeks later, the Thunder’s acquisition of the Swiss national in return for a late first round pick in a weak draft class is already being billed as the steal of this year’s trade season.”
Dime had a Q&A with Nick Collison and Jeff Green: “Dime: So I was just talking to Nick about the move to Oklahoma City. How are you liking it so far? Jeff Green: Oklahoma is wonderful. Great people and the weather is lovely. Different from where I grew up in the Maryland/D.C. area. You know, everything is fast paced, a lot of buildings. Oklahoma is kind of relaxed and always willing to help and lend a hand. It’s a lot of space, ya know. It’s quiet. I think it’s good for us, gives us a lot of down time. Time to relax.” And you got to love the answer about going to eat after every game and going bowling with Russell and KD. I love that that these guys are best friends.
An endorsement for Scott Brooks: “Brooks should become head coach. The Thunder, thanks to GM Sam Presti, have got everything else right recently, so making the former assistant the full-time sideline boss is likely. Ignore Oklahoma City’s mediocre record. This organization has momentum. And Presti, a young executive groomed by the San Antonio Spurs, deserves much of the credit for the turnaround.”
Shoals talking Most Improved Player: “I had Kevin Durant as my no-brainer pick. Once the Thunder made their coaching switch, Durant went from rising star to superstar seemingly overnight. When serious hoops aficionados like Kelly Dwyer make a case for Durant as the best small forward in the West, it’s hard to imagine not handing the former Longhorn the MIP by default. After all, no one who got better in 2008-09 ended up as good as Durant. But Durant was supposed to be this good; if the award simply went to high lottery picks who took one season to come into their own, there would be no point in voting. What’s more, KD closed out his rookie campaign with two months that, while they didn’t match the brilliance he’s shown this year, were easily All-Star level. That was his major breakthrough, that turning point where he announced that he was for real.”
Russell Westbrook Q&A in Sporting News Today (you may have to sign up, but trust me, it’s worth it): “SN: Kevin Durant was saying he gets recognized around time, but only because he’s tall. Do you? RW: I get it sometimes, but not as much as Kevin. I am tall but not that tall. That will come the more we get seen on TV and stuff.”
Fanhouse power rankings: “Apparently, Kevin Durant sucks and his teammates hate him. How else do you explain the team going 5-1 with their best player on the bench?”
Also, something I failed to mention in the recap last night: Brian Davis mentioned that Bedlam III will be tonight (Boomer Sooner), but he said, “We’ve got a rubber match at the Ford Center tomorrow with OU and OSU.” Maybe he had a heavy brain and was tired because of four games in five days, but does he not realize that “rubber match” means one team won one game and the other one another? That means the series is 1-1 and this game breaks the tie. Obviously, OU is 2-0 against OSU this year, so there’s no rubber game. Just something that bothered me all night.
Ball Don’t Lie Behind the Box Score: “There were a few fast break highlights — more than a few, actually — but Denver won this with halfcourt execution. They won it in the halfcourt, mind you, while pulling away and making it a semi-blowout in transition. There’s the distinction. Either way, the offense, against an improving Oklahoma City defense, is back. As mentioned in this space yesterday, I’m not too worried about the Nuggets. They’ve fallen back to earth a bit, but they’ve fallen to where they probably should be. This was never a conference contender, but they’re not about to fall out of the playoff bracket, either. Oklahoma City would have had a miserable offensive outing were it not for their 30-32 mark from the line. Russell Westbrook played nearly 30 minutes and dished just one assist, and who does he think he is? Derrick Rose?”
Sometimes, I feel like being an NBA scout can be one of the easiest jobs ever. Because it seems like they’re really going out on a limb here: Blake Griffin is considered a safe pick: “I think one of the reasons why [Griffin is] considered the number one pick is, for sure, for a lot of people he’s a safe pick,” said an NBA player personnel director, who requested anonymity because of league rules prohibiting teams from speaking about underclassmen. “He’s going to be a bona-fide rebounder, night in and night out, and a lot of his scoring is through sheer effort. How he’s going to affect the game, I think Karl Malone is a pretty good comparison.”
Roundball’s game reaction: “It sure was nice to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game that did not require a last second shot for once. Denver was in control from start to finish, but before we get too carried away with an easy win against a less than stellar squad, let’s take a look at how Denver did in the areas we highlighted earlier this afternoon.”
The Robert Swift/Chris Andersen matchup last night was definitely epic in every way possible. If you were watching the game with a buddy, you probably spent at least 10 minutes ripping jokes there. Basketbawful noticed it too: ”Basketbawful reader Eric G. wrote in to say: “Wow. Robert Swift and the Birdman are in the Thunder-Nuggets game and they’re guarding each other! Has there even been a more tattooed scrawny, lanky, tall, white guy matchup in NBA history? Maybe they look less ridiculous because they’re standing next to each other?” I cannot find a picture of this epic duel. Please, somebody help me out! By the way, neither man could contain the other: Birdzilla scored 10 on 5-for-6 shooting (to go with 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots) and Swift erupted for 10 too (on 4-for-5 from the field). You can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them they go to a tanning bed. Bonus lulz from the AP recap: “That left the Nuggets without much of a bench beyond swingman Chris Andersen, who strained his right calf when Robert Swift toppled over him while they were going for a loose ball with 9:37 left before halftime.” I love this game!”
Darnell wants a take-back on saying Durant would be back for San Antonio. He’s thinking maybe this Saturday against Phoenix: “Before I get to the game, a quick note on Kevin Durant. I wrote in this space after Tuesday’s game against Sacramento that I expect to see him return Monday against San Antonio. But after a couple of conversations tonight, it looks like KD will be a go for Saturday at Phoenix. Durant said before the game that he’s able to do a lot more and feels only a pinch of pain. His conditioning, he said, is more of an issue than his foot at this point.”
Diener can play. Every time he is on the court his play makes you take notice. Reminds me of a much more efficient scoring Ridnour like you said.
In some ways it would be Ridnour II but probably at half the cost, with better shooting and maybe less melodrama about role.
Here is a name you don't hear hype for acquisition - til I do so now-
Travis Diener.
Plays modest minutes but per minute takes a lot of 3s and is hitting almost 40%, has a 5.5 / 1 A/To, career best on steals, actually hits the few inside shots he takes at a high rate, neutral on adjusted. Kinda weak on D but that would be yang to Westbrook. Really raise team assisgted rate while on court, something the Thunder could use if/when Watson goes. Can opt out this summer but probably has to take a backup level deal. 27 is a good age for that role.
I'm just looking at the starting lineups. With Amare out, the Suns have shifted Hill and Richardson over to PF and SF, respectively, and then inserted Barbosa.
@girlballer
Boooooooooooo
Don't you all think that Durant will spend more time on Grant Hill and Matt Barnes at the three than Jason Richardson at the two? I think he will.
I would bet Thabo gets Richardson.
You know the way to beat Phoenix is slow; like San Antonio has been doing for years. A track meet with Phoenix is like rolling with a pig in the mud..they like it.
I KNOW this isn't the right place for this but..... HOW BOUT THOSE POKES!?!?
@Vega
Monroe seems way too up and down for a supposed top 3 player. If you check out the draft page on ESPN or most other up to date places, Monroe has been falling a bit since his big start (much like Thabeet). The fact is, top picks don't let their teams miss the tournament, and Georgetown seems like it will do just that. Two other things that give me big pause on him: 1) He has almost the same stats as Roy Hibbert, who is looking terrible thus far, 2) He's a lackluster defender and rebounder. If we aren't looking to get strong rebounding and/or defense out of our 5 man, we might as well stick with Krstic.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
The biggest problem seems to be accountability. The NBA and NCAA tie their hands behind their backs when it comes to junior high and high schoolers, and thus makes it impossible for them to really do anything. Obviously the seedy underbelly of becoming a sports agent is terrible, but until the people making shelling out the money are ready to take on extra responsibility in policing this, it won't change. And that's just it. NBA owners don't care whether a prospect was tampered with, only that he can play. Since they're signing the check that the agents get a piece of, they're the only ones who can make a difference.
I read that too today. Pretty eye opening.
I just finished reading an excellent article on Agents and the AAU circuit. It paints a rather poor picture of how people take advantage of the players.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ys-agents031109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I think that Greg Monroe is the ideal pick for the Thunder this year, even worth trading up for. I would package our lotto pick with the Suns '10 pick (Or maybe we could sucker some team in to taking Earl's expiring contract.) for the two or three pick.
@joey
The beauty of the KD-Richardson matchup is that Richardson is really just too small to contest most of KD's shots. Even with the bad ankle, KD could get away with a lot less movement and play more of a sharpshooter role. He could certainly be rusty, but for a sweet shooter like KD, I think he'll be ready.
And defense is always the determining factor when the Suns or Thunder play. Both teams can score, especially when healthy, but neither is good defensively. As such, whoever best makes up for their weakness should win.
You know, I hadn't even considered trading future picks to move up. I was always focused on our pick, the later pick, and an expiring contract like Watson's. Guaranteeing ourselves a Griffin or Rubio type player would probably do more for the team than taking second or third tier talents in this weaker draft and next year with late lottery picks.
@Keith
I don't disagree with your assessment of Westbrook's advantage over Nash or Green's youth wearing down Hill, but I do think you're not taking into account the rust factor for KD. He should struggle on a tender ankle after not playing for multiple weeks. If he doesn't, and just lights it up and contains Richardson...then, well, he's just that special.
Ultimately though, the offensive advantage the Thunder have in terms of youth and quickness will be a wash because of the offensive advantage the Suns have in experience and pure shotmaking. The real X-factor will be defense and defense alone.
Whoever stops the other team from dropping 130 points, will win. But with Collion's status still up in the air, I don't like that matchup even with Malik Rose's resurgence.
Lastly, I couldn't agree more with Keith and spike about the state of all things Suns. That 2010 first rounder is looking really, really good for the Thunder since it's unprotected now.
Maybe we package it with others to move up in this year's draft if we don't land the #1 pick? Should be an interesting next few months.
@Keith
I think we can exploit those matchups if we can make them play at our pace. Their whole philosophy is to get a score before the matchups are set. And so far, we tend to run with the fast teams despite what Brooks wants.
I still think it'll be a ton of fun. I think we still owe the Suns a couple additions to their Loss column.
Phoenix is a trainwreck. Steve Kerr may know a lot about basketball, but he doesn't know much about the salary cap. The Shaq/Marion trade will kill them for at least a few more years.
On a side note, is there any team feeling worse about standing pat at the deadline than Phoenix? Obviously they couldn't have predicted the Amare injury, but they had a lot of great offers for him and now they have nothing. I'm feeling better and better about their pick next year as the days go on. Even with Amare back, they have all the same guys locked up who can't win now, and 3 of their starters will be 35+ (Nash 35 going on 36, Hill 37, Shaq 37 going on 38).
@everyone
Shaq was once the most dominant player in the NBA, but that really isn't the case any longer. Can Krstic mach up with him? No, but that's why I say we are going to use a bunch of fouls. Shaq is still a historically bad free throw shooter, and still only manages the energy to play 30 minutes a game. Not to mention, he's fouled out of two games this month, and been in foul trouble at some point in every game except against Dallas. If we have Westbrook and Kid Delicious driving to the basket enough, they can take him out of the game themselves (Westbrook especially against Nash).
And by the way, even if we give up 45 to Shaq, we have the offensive advantage against every other starter. Nash and Barbosa should be backed down all night, Richardson is too small to stop Durant's shot, and Hill is too old to run with Green all night. I never intended to imply that we are going to win, only that the matchups may be "fair" overall.
@Keith
Keith, Shaq...Shaq, Keith.
Have you two not met? :)
In no way is anything regarding our interior post presence fair against Shaq. Shoot, only two or three teams in the entire NBA have a "fair" matchup against Shaq: Duncan and the Spurs, Dwight and the Magic...and maybe, maybe Yao and the Rockets but that's pushing it.
But I do agree with you that we'll use all of our big men's fouls and have to win the shooting % to have a shot. And if Collison's still out, we better shoot 80% from 3 to have a chance.
I imagine that if Shaq wanted to, he could score 45 again on us.
I wish Russell was a better outside shooter; facing the matador defense of Steve Nash will be the slackest defense he'll face all year.
Despite the overall great play of the last 7 games, is anyone else giddy to see "Kevin Durant had another stellar game, turning in 32 points and 12 boards to go along with his 5 assists?"
Without Amare, the matchups may actually be pretty fair. If the Suns go with their small lineup, our guys will have a significant length advantage. It will all come down to whether we can defend the paint or not. We'll probably have to use all of Krstic and Collison's fouls, but this will be a huge test of our defensive awareness. Phoenix won't want to shoot over our guys and will be looking for backdoor cutters all night. If our guys stay with their man, we should have a good shot at winning the shooting % battle.
You had me until "Boomer Sooner." Go Pokes!