ESPN’s panel of experts predicts OKC will finish first in the Northwest and third in the West. J.A. Adande’s comments: “Even if they can’t avoid injuries as successfully as last season the Thunder will still find the five more victories they need to move near the top of the West. By April we’ll be talking about Russell Westbrook in addition to Kevin Durant.”
Scott Brooks on Jeff Green’s contract situation: “Hasn’t even crossed my mind,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “There’s no doubt that some players I played with or that I coached, that is the agenda. But with Jeff, that has not even crossed my mind.” Brooks was asked why not. What makes Green so different? “Maybe because I know him,” Brooks said. “I know who he was when he came into the league, and he hasn’t changed. He still works every day in practice. He still tries to get better. He still tries to make the right play. He’s not forcing shots. He’s not taking bad shots … He hasn’t forced anything in camp. He’s a pro and he likes being on this team.”
Paul Coro from the Arizona Central predicts KD will win MVP: “It’s already his time. He will vie for another scoring title and lift his team higher, doing it all with class.”
Darnell Mayberry has five bad things we saw in preseason: “The Thunder made 77.6 percent of its foul shots throughout the preseason. But hidden in that figure is how three exceptional nights from the stripe made up for four ghastly outings. OKC ranked second in fouls shooting last season at 80.5 percent. But in four of its seven exhibition games, the Thunder converted just 95 of 136 (69.8 percent) free throws. Coach Scott Brooks even joked about firing the team’s hypothetical free throw coach.”
And check out The Oklahoman’s Thunder preview. Pretty good stuff. Mayberry predicts 57 wins (high) and Tramel 49 (low).
Marc Stein has new power rankings out with the Thunder at five: “Can the Thunder, shouldering real expectations for the first time, stay as healthy as they did last season? Seemingly impossible. Is Durant as near-perfect as a Face of the Franchise as he seems? Quite possibly.”
Mrs. DT carved a pumpkin with some friends last night and she was proud of it. It’s Thunder related so since I’m a good husband, I’m showing everyone.
Reason for each team to hope in the West.
A division preview from ESPN with a take from a scout: “This team is very well-constructed, but we’ll find out if last year’s success came a little bit too soon. Even though the Thunder has some terrific young talent on paper, you have to wonder if they’re ready to take the next step. Kevin Durant will be in the MVP conversation for the next 10 years, and Russell Westbrook’s coming along. I’m still not convinced that he’s a true point guard, but he’s such a dynamic player that all that true-point guard stuff can go out the window a little bit. Jeff Green’s a terrific role player for this team, as are their other guys, like James Harden, Thabo Sefolosha, Serge Ibaka and, potentially, Cole Aldrich. Ibaka can be a good role-playing big who rebounds, blocks shots, does the little things and becomes a real integral part of a winning team. He has the ability to be an indispensable role player, like Joakim Noah in Chicago. Their games aren’t that similar, but their roles can be.”
Diggy Simmons mentions Kevin Durant in a song, if you’re in to that sort of thing.
Thanks to all who picked up shirts over the weekend. They are only available in store right now, but will be for sale online soon.
jtshoopsblog :If u look at all the teams that r slated to win fifty games, add in the fact that each face each other at one time. It is mathematically impossible
Oh, so basically what your saying is it isn't mathematically possible for 8 teams in the same conference to have 50 wins. Wait a second...
Winning the Northwest (guaranteed minimum 4th seed -- right?) would be a very, very good result for the Thunder this season.
How many wins will it take? 51 seems right.
Denver won't have as many as last year. I don't believe in Portland. So it's Utah that is the challenge.
But I will be shocked if there are as many as 5 extra wins to be had y the Thunder over last year. Houston and New Orleans are better than they were and Minnesota is also going to steal an additional win here and there.
51 wins for the Thunder. Maybe just 1 or 2 more than Utah. 4th seed. Go from there.
If u look at all the teams that r slated to win fifty games, add in the fact that each face each other at one time. It is mathematically impossible
In our lastnight fantasy draft, the computer picked me first. I got KD, RW, and James Harden
@Sas
Good thought! I would like to see KD participate as well. He's probably too busy that weekend.
@Bryan
presti probably said ill give him to you for brandon roy
@DizzyDai
Instead of Cook, we should pull for Harden to go to the 3pt shoot out.
4razr :The Portland Trail Blazers have found a trade to create some extra roster room, agreeing Saturday to deal guard Jerryd Bayless to the New Orleans Hornets for a conditional future first-round pick, according to sources close to the situation.
Thank You Sam Presti!
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17699#ixzz13OBTkmfz
$20 says Cho has already called Presti and begged him for Eric Maynor lol
Wow that pumpkin is incredible!
Other predictions of mine (orginally posted elsewhere)...
The Thunder will have homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Lose in the conference finals (7 games).
Ibaka and Harden will play on the Sophmore Team.
Aldrich will barely make the Rookie Team.
The Rookies will dominate the Sophmores.
Daequan Cook will be invited back to the 3pt shoot out. He will lose.
Durant will be the H.O.R.S.E. Champion again.
Westbrook's name will be mentioned during All-Star selections, but he'll likely get snubbed.
KD will be an All-Star + MVP + All-NBA 1st team + Scoring Champion.
Krstic will lose his starting gig. Green will raise his PPG by getting to the free-throw line more often.
Thabo & Westbrook will both make the All-Defensive Team. Westbrook will be on the All-NBA 3rd team.
Brooks will not win coach of the year, but he will also not get fired.
*see something
I honestly think we will something between 45-53 wins. Unlike some, I tend to lean toward the lower end, as I see it being more difficult to pick up wins against last year's bottom feeders who have nice front courts (Memphis, Clips and Kings) and against the Rockets with Yao Ming back on the court. Also, San Antonio is going to be a tough match up this year. And let's not forget that Chris Paul is healthy and that Deron Williams still lives in Utah and that Portland could be improved (health pending).
And last time I checked, the Nuggs still have Melo and company for now.
I know everyone is talking about improvment out East, but it looks to me like the West got better yet AGAIN.
I guess if I have to make it official, I'm going to say 49 wins.
Can I claim a ten game (55-65) range?
I expect 73 wins. I love being dissapointed. ;)
Not sure if I want to predict a record, but I do think the Thunder will finish higher than 8th in the west. Of course, I just got to thinking that if someone unseats the Lakers as the top seed, we could end up playing them first round again this year. Wouldn't that be ironic?
Mathematically impossible. LOL.
I'm trying to keep my expectations in check so I don't evnd up disappointed. So, I'm going with 23 wins...
Just kidding. 52.
@ThunderHorn
53 wins.
Wow so much hype for this team.
I think OKC ends up taking a step forward, finishes just behind Portland or maybe loses the tie breaker with Portland for the Northwest. Gets the 4th seed and home-court advantage in the 1st round.
Can we do an Official Daily Thunder pool? Like, give an overall record, maybe month-by-month for more immediate bragging rights?
I'll go for 51 wins.
@jtshoopsblog
Mathematically impossible is winning 83 games during the regular season.
I'm in for 53 wins myself.
@DizzyDai
I was wondering what kind of math he was using to know this before the season even starts.
@jtshoopsblog
I wouldn't say mathematically impossible.
Mannix picks us to win 60 games and make the finals( lose to celtics)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/nba/10/25/2010-11-preseason-crystal-ball/
The Portland Trail Blazers have found a trade to create some extra roster room, agreeing Saturday to deal guard Jerryd Bayless to the New Orleans Hornets for a conditional future first-round pick, according to sources close to the situation.
Thank You Sam Presti! :-)
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17699#ixzz13OBTkmfz
The Thunder will not win 57 games. That`s mathmetically impossible if u look at their competition in the Western conference and the league
@thunder tim
Why can't it be now?!
Comparing Ibaka's value to Noah? I can only hope.
2 more days!!!