Dime thinks OKC could be the team of the next decade: “Very soon, contract extensions and players seeking greener 
pastures will become an issue for the Thunder. But if they’re doing this much in their early 20s, imagine how they’ll look three or four years down the line. If they can keep their main core together and add some more solid role players along the way, I don’t see any reason why the Thunder can’t win multiple chips.”
Donate blood, get two free Thunder tickets.
BDL, behind the box score: “The Washington Wizards allowed Oklahoma City to score around 118 points per 100 possessions on Tuesday night, and for all the young Thunder’s talent, OKC is not that good offensively. They dropped about 115 per 100 against the Nets the before, but those were the Nets. Designed to lose. These are the Wizards, designed to compete, and they’re not. Not at home, even. Kevin Durant looked like a sage vet attacking that Wizards defense, he piled up 35 points a night after dropping 40 and brought the all-around game too – 11 boards, four assists, five turnovers. Jeff Green tossed in 18 points and was handed a series of open three-pointers (just two went in), and the Wizards look to be on the verge of imploding.”
A story on Eric Maynor from his hometown paper: “That game didn’t tell me I belonged here,” Maynor said. “I knew I belonged here when I got drafted. But it did give me the sense that I can really play and be a factor. “I’m not just on an NBA roster, I’m playing. I’m playing with the best in the world. I want to reach a point where I’m a 30-35-minute guy with the ball in my hands a lot.”
This is kind of cool: “Durant did something Tuesday that he hasn’t done all season. He wore a suit to the game, a blue pinstriped get-up that served as his unexpected homecoming outfit. “My mom, when she was at my house, she packed my bag and she snuck it in there,” Durant said. “I don’t wear suits to the games, but I did it since I came back home. She knew what she was doing, but it’s cool. It’s Mom’s.”
An interview with Eric Maynor from NBA.com.
Recap from Truth About It: “Then again …. maybe, juuuuust maybe …. I mean, look at the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Wizards are only 2.5 games out of eighth/seventh place and four games from sixth. Not exactly what the team was aiming for, but if they could get themselves together and sneak in as a low seed, who knows what could happen. Who am I kidding? Again, that denial thing.”
Flip Saunders just about melted down after the game.
I have to say, I am absolutely giddy right now. When this month started, the Thunder were 10-8 and headed into a gauntlet that we all thought would prove their worth. I saw them coming out of it 17-15, and even I felt like that was a little ambitious. Now with one game to play, they’re 17-14 and have proven they belong in the The Discussion. I can’t tell you how exciting that is.
D.J. White is transitioning into his role with the 66ers: “Because the Thunder owns the 66ers, White already knew the playbook and terminology. Now it’s about further developing his midrange and post skills offensively, as well as overall defense. “It’s written out what is expected of him and he knows before he gets here and we communicate each day the things he can do offensively and defensively to improve his development plan,” Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts said. The 66ers approach that development the same way the Thunder does.”
UPDATE: Awesome post from Nets Are Scorching on how KD got his 40 against the Nets. With video! Definitely worth a look.
Anyone else think we can go 12-3 in January?
Yeah I'm with dork, don't be such a Wiiknee
Oh, the humanity!
I also have to say that I feel sorry for two sets of people when it comes to basketball fans:
1) people who don't live in OKC's small TV media market and don't have the chance to watch every game and:
2) people who don't have fan blogs this good with comment sections this long and thoughtful.
@MartzMimic
LOL at your enunciation of your injury.. i say just slur it with a big ole smile :)
@MartzMimic
lol nice...
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?
I don't know, but it takes 56 finger swipes to get to the bottom of the Bolts.
It really scares me how many comments there would be if we ever beat the Lakers.
@Bryan@Dork
It all depends on the body part. Last year, I pulled something while playing Wii Bowling. What I didn't realize until my wife pointed it out was that you have to enunciate very well if you're going to call your condition "Wii Knee."
Durantula :@MartzMimicAgreed. It’s not really that my thumbs get tired. It wastes a ton of time scrolling dow the page. Very annoying.
It must just be certain phones because my blackberry has pages.
@MartzMimic
Agreed. It's not really that my thumbs get tired. It wastes a ton of time scrolling dow the page. Very annoying.
....aaaand scene! Good job everybody!
@Bryan
LOL so does yours :-)
@GAP
This is the part where I say something real mature and poignant lik: "your mom has a point in that post, and stuff"
@Bryan
Hahahaha, I just think he has a point in that post that's all.
James Harden won't start making those shots, because the shots he's taking are in traffic. They are low percentage shots. The DON, you are correct that James Harden's ability to collapse a defense and penetrate is valuable; but his recent inability to make a sound basketball decision when he does so makes it worthless. There's no point to collapsing a defense if we are not taking advantage of it. As Kev has pointed out many times, James Harden is missing wide open teammates on these drives. Instead of passing he's taking low percentage shots at the rim - mostly an attempt to get to the free throw line.
Hopefully he figures it out and strikes a balance because he's currently shooting worse from the field than Thabo, and that's not very acceptable for our 'scoring guard' of the future.
@The DON
And YAY! We disagree on something again. I feel so much better now...lol
And @GAP we rarely disagree.... what's up?
The DON :People are seriously overreacting on Harden’s minor little rough patch recently. You guys may not realize how valuable having a PLAYER on the court like him is, even if he isn’t converting. He commands the attention of the defense and forces his man to exert energy on defense no matter if his shot goes down or not, whereas Thabo’s defender does not have to even think about him on defense and can take those possessions completely off to rest for when they get back on offense. I actually don’t even have that big of a problem with majority of the shots he has missed, because those are shots that will be going down for him in due time. He is only 20 right now and and he will be a monster in 2-3 years, you all can book that. This is him trying to find his way, and as he is finding his way he is still helping his team FAR more than hurting it. Please keep things in perspective and come to grips with the reality that he is our starting SG of the future, that we are lucky that he is, and that he doesn’t have the luxury of a long leash in his 1st year like westbrook did in his 1st year. At least Harden is trying to do what he is supposed to do and what his role is, which is to be a scorer. Majority of the people here insisted on being patient with RW even though he wasn’t being very PG-like through his 1st year growing pains
All Kev and myself (and others) are saying is that he is having some growing pains that WE hope do not develop into a trend. Every player on the squad has hit a rough patch this season and Harden is not different.
BUT, it's such a dramatic departure from the silky smooth playmaker we saw up to this point that it's hard to have a little of that, um, WFT feeling. I mean, I didn't rejoice on draft night because I thought he was going to take it to the rim despite a double team every time he got the ball at the top of the key.
And of course Harden is the SG of the future... but that doesn't mean we can't goad him a little when he plays so resoundingly different from his usual game.
@The DON
I agree with you on this one.
dork :@MartzMimic yet your thumbs have the advantage!! only the first few weeks do you suffer from Nintendo Thumb!
Don't they call that "Nintendonitis?"
People are seriously overreacting on Harden's minor little rough patch recently. You guys may not realize how valuable having a PLAYER on the court like him is, even if he isn't converting. He commands the attention of the defense and forces his man to exert energy on defense no matter if his shot goes down or not, whereas Thabo's defender does not have to even think about him on defense and can take those possessions completely off to rest for when they get back on offense. I actually don't even have that big of a problem with majority of the shots he has missed, because those are shots that will be going down for him in due time. He is only 20 right now and and he will be a monster in 2-3 years, you all can book that. This is him trying to find his way, and as he is finding his way he is still helping his team FAR more than hurting it. Please keep things in perspective and come to grips with the reality that he is our starting SG of the future, that we are lucky that he is, and that he doesn't have the luxury of a long leash in his 1st year like westbrook did in his 1st year. At least Harden is trying to do what he is supposed to do and what his role is, which is to be a scorer. Majority of the people here insisted on being patient with RW even though he wasn't being very PG-like through his 1st year growing pains
@MartzMimic
yet your thumbs have the advantage!! only the first few weeks do you suffer from Nintendo Thumb!
@justin
current team?
D.Williams ( I can't stand the baby...err i mean Paul)
Kobe
Lebron
Dirk
Duncan
Duncan + Dwight would be a clogged interrior imho (though the lakers somehow do it /shrug)
I'd still take Duncan over Dwight on this team... Though its REALLY close.. another year and Duncan gets taken over (due to age more than likely)
@Royce
Is there any way to spread comments over multiple pages on the mobile site? Here we are after a win over the Wizards with more than 150 comments. My thumbs are getting to be the equivalent of Greg Oden's knees from scrolling down so much.
Or Dirk. Probably Dirk.
I'd probably put Bosh in that team instead of Duncan, I think he'd be better next to Dwight.
f5alcon :Current player top team
chris paulkobelebronDuncanHoward
That's just mean
We should sign Adam Morrison this offseason.
@f5alcon
Probably, but he'll have to continue to shoot the three ball well to score that much.
@justin
If he keeps scoring over 30 point per game he wins the scoring title
@justin
As far as the offense goes I'm not sure its a change of Philosophy as much as it is the players finally getting used to it and realising what needs to happen.... have I mentioned latley that I love this team?
Unrelated, but Kevin Durant's TS% is now higher than last year's, even with the lower 3pt%. He's getting to the foul line and making free throws, is the reason. 9FTA/g is in LeBron James territory..
After shooting 23% from 3pt range in November he's shooting 39% in December. If KD can shoot the three at 39% and continue to get to the line 9 times a game he wins the scoring title IMO. It's up to whether or not it's just a hot month or he was off from long range to start the year.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Kareem could score against an entire team.. yea all 5 people guarding him in the post.. one hook shot and it doesn't matter.
@justin
Thought about Payton but Magic was more fun to watch (mine was a team for watching :))
The more I think about it the more I'm amazed Rodman wasn't an All Star more often. I know its due to his antics but still..
@justin
That's because Jordan and Olajuwon are ON your team! ;)
Actually, I think Kareem could score on anyone.
Current player top team
chris paul
kobe
lebron
Duncan
Howard
As far as all time lineups:
Gary Payton
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Hakeem Olajuwon
Nobody would score on my team..
Part of ranking rookies is probably the amount of minutes they get, since that ultimately affects the impact they have on the game. Serge has excellent per minute stats, but his minutes are limited for a reason - mostly fouls. He's averaging 5.3PF per 36 which is obviously high.
Some people are losing sight of the fact that as frustrating as it is sometimes, the offense is heading in a positive direction overall. We're ranked 17th by offense rating when we've been in the bottom third of the league for most of the year. Some of this is definitely due to Kevin Durant having a hot month but I think a lot of it is a change in philosophy, more shots at the rim, etc. Also getting to the line, we're one of the best teams at it.
"Olajuwon – Kareem"
You mean there would be other players on the court? Thats just silly, All I would do is watch these two go at it... Though I hate to admit it but I get the edge to the Sky hook :)
@Kev
Oh all time watchability team? Thats a good one Kev!
Magic
Jordan
Durant (not best alltime but I like watching him ALOT :))
Rodman
The Dream
Bench
Zo (preMed condition)
Reggie Miller
@J.G.
yeah i went back and looked at more stats and ibaka isnt a top 10, but def top 20, maynor is a top 12 probably. Part of it is some rookies are getting 30 mins a game which makes their numbers look great, i mean ibaka averages 11 points and 11 rebs and 2 blocks per 36
Jax Raging Bile Duct :Would love to see Kev’s dream team go up against another old-school squad.
Nash – StocktonJordan – MagicBird – ReggieMcHale – MaloneOlajuwon – Kareem
What an awesome game that would be.
would be a great game, that's for sure . . .
Would love to see Kev's dream team go up against another old-school squad.
Nash - Stockton
Jordan - Magic
Bird - Reggie
McHale - Malone
Olajuwon - Kareem
What an awesome game that would be.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Agreed.
@dork
Took the coughs right out of my mouth.
@f5alcon
*cough*Jeff*cough*Green*cough*
Sorry say that again?
I still say part of Harden's problem is that he hasn't fully grasped how to execute the PnR like he should. The staff is increasingly using him to run that play, more than anyone else, and he just hasn't got the hang of it yet.
I think he's a few film sessions away from realizing what to do better.
@dork
They need to watch tape of themselves, for the shot fake, some of them a really obvious that they are not going to shoot
@f5alcon
I'm not sure they're all Top 10, but I definitely think MANY of the people ranked ahead of Maynor and Ibaka don't deserve to be.
But then again I know I'm biased so I'm trying to factor that into it as well. :)
To be honest I wish the coaches for one practice or two go over some REALLY simple things. (Or just have collison show them)
1. Correct Shot fake. (exact starting motion as your shot not just raising ball up)
2. How to Fake a pass.
3. Teach the Bigs Basic Post game footwork (mainly for Ibaka)
4. Collisons School "Taking Charge!" and the fine art of it.
@Kev
Mark Bryant is the Thunder's big man coach.
@Kev
Thats true but I mean really if the Dream was our bigman coach for even 1 month I don't think I could stop dreaming (even if he can't teach Lance Armstrong how to ride a bike)
What I want to see happen Is Jeff green getting a move that goes baseline that isn't a fadeaway. He has a pretty nice baby hook going towards the middle and if my memory serves me right the defenders are somewhat stacking towards the lane side leaving a spin move open. (though I could be having the dream flashbacks now lol)
Kev :
J.G. :@Kev Oh I know you were just listing big men, that’s why I wanted to add Kobe on there myself!@dork
Excess of riches indeed…if only they could spread that excess to their bench! What’s going on there?
I’d give anything if Brooks hired Hakeem to tutor Ibaka in the post.
who’s our “big man” coach??
I think that you can develop an adequate post game if you have a good tutor, and the student is dedicated (I guess you can say that with just about anything in life) . . .
I wish we could get olajuwon to be out big man coach