Mick Cornett is awesome. Here’s another reason why: ”The Oklahoma City Thunder lost the first two games of their first-round NBA playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, but Mayor Mick Cornett still believes his town’s team will prevail. Cornett told The Associated Press he’s so confident the Thunder will rally that he reached Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by phone on Wednesday to make a friendly wager on the series’ outcome. Should the Thunder win, Cornett says the two mayors will take a picture together with Villaraigosa wearing an Oklahoma City jersey during the United States Conference of Mayors, which Oklahoma City will host in June. If the Lakers win, Cornett would wear a Los Angeles jersey for the picture.”
John Rohde wants Thunder fans to roar tonight: ”Some simple ground rules for those who attend: No one arrives late; no one leaves early; no one sits until the Thunder scores its first basket and it’s strongly suggested fans remain standing thereafter. A blue T-shirt and white pom-pom will be waiting at every seat tonight. What the Thunder wants more than anything right now is a chance to return to Staples Center — which would mean a win tonight, or Saturday night, or both. Game 3 belongs to the Thunder, and the home crowd will be a big reason why.”
OKC has the Lakers eye: “They have our attention,” Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons said. “They are a worthy opponent. They have our full respect.”
Video of Scott Brooks being named Coach of the Year.
A nice story on how George Karl has been a mentor to Scott Brooks: ”Brooks thinking about his friend with neck and throat cancer. Friend doesn’t really cover it. Maybe not even mentor. George Karl is nothing short of the guy that helped make this all happen. Brooks is a deserving Coach of the Year winner. Few, if any, would say otherwise, least of all his friend Karl, who is fighting throat and neck cancer and has been forced into a playoff sabbatical from the Nuggets. That’s the tearing part for Brooks, not the 0-2 deficit to the Lakers as the best-of-seven series shifts to the raucous Ford Center in a historic sports moment for the city.”
Chris Mannix with some thoughts on the series: “The Lakers may have a 2-0 series lead after edging Oklahoma City 95-92, but no one is talking sweep. Not with Kevin Durant (32 points, eight rebounds) starting to develop a rhythm, and L.A. having no answer for Russell Westbrook (21.0 points on 57.7 percent shooting in two games) defensively.”
To foul or not to foul up three? The NY Times looks at it: ”According to an analysis provided by Synergy Sports Technology, the situation presented itself 165 times in the last two N.B.A. seasons with 10 seconds or less left on the game clock. The conclusion? Although coaches debate the strategy of fouling intentionally, most rarely do. Teams deliberately fouled in only 19 of those instances. (One team tried to foul but was unable to because of ball movement.) No team fouled with a second or less remaining. Teams that deliberately fouled won 17 of the 19 games in regulation and lost once. Teams won all 14 of the games in which they purposefully fouled with five seconds or less to play. One game went to overtime, and the team that fouled when leading in regulation won. When teams chose not to foul, they won 128 games and lost 4 in regulation, according to Synergy, which logs every N.B.A. game and provides data to teams. Fourteen games went to overtime, and the teams split the victories.”
I thought I’d share my thoughts on it: I’m back and forth but I think I’ve settled on not fouling. My reason is, when you foul, you bring losing into the equation. If you’re up three with eight seconds left, typically your opponent is going to have a 40-foot runner or make a really difficult shot. I’d ay the shooting percentage on those things are probably somewhere in the 10-15 percent. But if you foul, you present the opportunity to lose. Make the first, miss the second and it gets tipped out and now the other team could hit s 3 and beat you. Obviously Synergy’s stats are hard to argue with, but the percentages on someone making that tough 3-pointer versus making the first, missing the second and then making a shot are probably similar. The only difference is, by fouling, you can now lose.
Craig Sager takes a look at the “haunted” Skirvin Hotel. Featuring his very white thighs.
A little Tulsa Shock preview: Camp outlook: While everyone will be watching Marion Jones to see if the former Olympian has enough game left to make the roster, Richardson will be putting together his “40 Minutes of Hell” game plan with seven new players and without Deanna Nolan, who has decided not to play in the league this season, and Katie Smith, who signed with Washington as a free agent.
KD might be done Twittering: ”On Tuesday, we learned that the Durantula is currently fed up with Twitter. Fed up with unnecessary negativity he runs into anytime he attempts to reach out to his fans. “I get too many hateful messages on there,” Durant said. “Sometimes I don’t want to hear that.” When asked whether his hiatus is just for the playoffs, Durant didn’t mince his words. “I might be done with that Twitter thing,” he said. “It’s too many people that send me a lot of different bad messages. You got to take the good with the bad, but sometimes you don’t want to hear that so I just let it go.”
so our brethren over at OKC Thunderfans are trying to get a Cry Baby chant for Kobe everytime he goes to the free throw line. I think its a pretty good idea, just spreading the message
Jon :@dorkI was trying to stay Bedlam neutral, but you forced me into it…so by any home game at Iba, youre referring to all the empty seats that filled up Iba this year? i kid i kid.
oh snap! lol hence the qualifying good year bit :) but I really want the Ford Center to have fans like a college game not a typically NBA game where they only cheer on highlight plays or at the end of the game. Which we havn't done yet anyway..
AAAAAHHHHHH MAN i am way to excited to be working right now.
@dork
I was trying to stay Bedlam neutral, but you forced me into it...so by any home game at Iba, youre referring to all the empty seats that filled up Iba this year? i kid i kid.
@Jon
everytime LA has the ball we need to get so loud they cant talk to each other.
Jon :@JamesIm in too, i think Oklahomans only having OU and OSU before the Thunder helps out a lot as far as the arena atmosphere is concerned. Most Oklahomans only know what its like to cheer at a college game, and that carries over into the Ford Center. I almost wish Brooks had pulled a Bob Stoops this week and challenged the crowd to take it to the next level.
or been like almost any game at Iba :)
@Mrs. Daily Thunder I am not going to be at the game tonight, but I am so excited for everyone that is going! :) I'm sure the atmosphere will be amazing! I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can find some tickets for Saturday's game. Will you guys be at Saturday's game too? When the tickets went on sale, we didn't know that we could get to OKC on Saturday evening, but it turns out that we definentely can now.
clarkem :I heard a rumor that there was going to be some huge screen set up in the street somewhere that will be playing the draft
what a waste of a screen. should be of the game!
@James
Im in too, i think Oklahomans only having OU and OSU before the Thunder helps out a lot as far as the arena atmosphere is concerned. Most Oklahomans only know what its like to cheer at a college game, and that carries over into the Ford Center. I almost wish Brooks had pulled a Bob Stoops this week and challenged the crowd to take it to the next level.
@Sammy
Oklahoma Sooners .... close enough. : )
@f5alcon
Royce and I like the Vikings. But typically just the offense!
Sammy :@f5alcon
Gross.
I agree.
I've seen KD get into some childish fights on Twitter. By childish, I mean, they were one step away from calling each other doo doo heads. At least he hasn't had J.R Smith type of problems on Twitter
@f5alcon
Gross.
@Sammy
usually cowboys.
People in OKC follow the NFL? Which team?
I still can't believe in a few hours I'm going to drive 15 minutes to watch our OKC NBA basketball team play the Lakers in the playoffs. Add to that the youngest most exciting (in my biased opinion) team in the NBA and it doesn't get any better!
The Twitter thing makes sense. I'm sure Laker fans outnumber Thunder fans on Twitter by something like 10:1, and he's been flooded ever since the playoff matchups were drawn.
Durantula :And I completely agree that we should be satnding for most or all of this game! Let’s make this like a college game atmosphere!
I'm in for sure! Stand up and yell!!
@W.C.
actually work? its the thunders first playoff game, should be a state holiday
@Jeremy
we should all take the rest of the day off and go right now,lol
@Ryan
ya that would be awesome. I'm running out of things to read and watch online. I might have to resort to actually working...
Man, too excited for tonight. One of the most significant days in Oklahoma sports history.
What time is everyone heading downtown tonight?
@AD
i hope we pull it off with 4 straight wins, would be awesome. If they win mick cornett should wear an adam morrison jersey.
@Durantula
I would put tapwerks #1 because of the selection. Roosters is too novelty for me, and I prefer a better beer selection. Roosters and Hooters is about the same as far as beer selection.
Lots of Thunder fans seem to congregate at Toby Keiths and America's Pub.
And I completely agree that we should be satnding for most or all of this game! Let's make this like a college game atmosphere!
How long do you think the mayor of LA hestitated before accepting Mick's bet?
IMHO, the best places to go before the game are in this order:
1. Brix (best TVs, cheap drinks (like everywhere else), but average service)
2. Bricktown Brewery
3. Toby Keiths
4. Roosters
5. Tapwerks
Rams fan?
I may soon be. Sucks the NFL Draft is on tonight, but thats what DVR is for.
@MartzMimic
Im not sure which lots are covered by that, but I parked in the car dealership just west of harvey and reno last night and thats what the guy there told me. Now how reliable that guy is, I have no idea.
@MartzMimic
playoffs could be an exception, but id def be ready to pay that much. Saturday will be horrible, because there is a baseball game also. might as well make it a mini vacation and stay at a hotel downtown,lol.
@Jon
I think the official OKTPA (or whatever the parking association is called) limits parking to $10 or less. That may not be what Big Bob's Bail Bonds charges, but it should include the Bricktown lots.
@Jon
wow thats ridiculously expensive, though i spent half the season parking for free so i cant really complain. Yeah im going as soon as i get out of work.
@Thunder Tim
Ill probably be at falcones pizza, id go to the bar, but i dont want to leave my seat to use the facilities during the game.
I heard a rumor that there was going to be some huge screen set up in the street somewhere that will be playing the draft
@f5alcon
I went to the Arts Festival by the ford center last night, and asked the guy how they were going to be charging for parking today, he said everyone in that area is going to be charging 20+ bucks. Im getting there 3-4 hours early and doing some tailgating
I'm coming down extra early to soak up the atmosphere before the game. What are some good pre-game places to eat that will be packed with Thunder fans?
If IBaka dunks on Gasol or Bynum and the Ford Center doesnt explode... i will be very disappointed by you guys... :D
@Anonymous
you realise your not logged in right?
Joshua G :
I don’t understand the whole “he’s only going to get better.” No one knows that. If that were true, wouldn’t Shaq be shooting 90% from the free throw line? I’m not saying that Westbrook can’t/won’t get better. I’m just saying that it’s not a guarantee.
Westbrook has consistently shown improvement, even within the regular season. I'm not saying he'll average 10 apg against the good defensive teams, but I would actually be surprised if he didn't approach double-digit dimes almost every night next season.
sorry to hear KD get many bad messages althought I dont use Twitter.
It is strange that KD get them .He never says anything follish as Beasley or Noah,never shows his nude as Oden.
Are the follish Kd-haters popular in USA?I just think they only live in China but it seems I am wrong
That and I hope everyone sings/yells along anytime they play thunderstruck!
@Jeff Allen
JEEZE I can't think about anything right now. I am way to excited about tonight. I will be very disappointed if the Ford center does not drown out the announcers on TNT at least 3 times tonight.
@Jeff Allen
Rooster is decent.
What bar is good to have a preagame beer before the game
@Joshua G
most players improve early in their careers, even shaq did. Plus westbrook is still learning to be a PG. Its not that their is continuous improvement but def from rookie to sophmore and probably the following year there are jumps in skill. I mean look at durants jump from last year to this year, no reason to think russ cant do the same.
@Mrs. Daily Thunder
i still dont have mine due to ordering system issues.
And the Broingtons is over *cry*
i dont know how our team assists will go up, unless we get a good passing big man, like jefferson. ibaka only had 10 assists all season, so if he starts i dont expect much out of PF. If harden starts he could get some more. KD will probably see some improvement, but nothing drastic. So really RW is going to end up with most of the assists, unless we really change our offense.
I don't understand the whole "he's only going to get better." No one knows that. If that were true, wouldn't Shaq be shooting 90% from the free throw line? I'm not saying that Westbrook can't/won't get better. I'm just saying that it's not a guarantee.
I hope everybody that purchased a Why Not shirt still wears it! Royce and I will be sporting ours!
Mayor Cornett would be even more awesome if he would declare today National Thunder day and cancel all work and school events. I can barely concentrate on anything I'm so antsy about tonight
Saying KD is a good passer is like saying Jeff Green is a good rebounder..