Ken Berger reported that Nene isn’t happy with the Denver situation right now and is eying three teams. Supposedly, one of those teams is the Heat. Another is the Mavericks. Who is that third team?
Shoals and Eric Freeman looking at the league’s worst players: “7. B.J. Mullens, Oklahoma City Thunder/Kosta Koufos, Minnesota Timberwolves (BS) BS: Let’s save time and make them one person. EF: Does he want became to call him Byron now because it makes him sound tougher? Because it’s worse than BJ. BS: BJ stops being an acceptable nickname around the time you learn what it means in sex slang. EF: BJ Raji somehow makes it work. BS: BJ Raji had the day of his life. Both of those guys should just be sent to the D-League for an entire season. This call up and go back crap gives them all false hope. If BJ Mullens got a triple double, we would respect the BJ.”
NBA.com power rankings: “The Thunder defense has regressed overall more than any team outside of Cleveland, but including Saturday’s thriller over the Knicks, they’ve now won five games in which they’ve shot less than 40 percent from the field. That’s two more than any other team in the league and four more than they won last season.”
NBA.com’s MVP watch: “Mail continues to pour in (OK, digitially appear) from Thunder fans who can’t seem to agree on the relative value of Durant vs. Russell Westbrook. The point guard had a better week but the NBA’s leading scorer (who lost 0.3 points off his average) still gets the nod here.”
Susan Bible of HoopsWorld: “We asked Ibaka what he thought about Durant’s game-winning shot. “That’s Kevin,” he answered. “He can do that. You know, it’s no surprise for Kevin.” When we shared Durant’s declaration about that last play being one of the best feelings ever, Ibaka quietly said “Yeah, me too.” “I wanted to win the game in that last shot,” Durant said plaintively. “I asked coach for it. He drew it up for me, and the rest is history.” We suspect many more game-winning shots will be included in his resume’ before it’s said and done.”
Did Felton shoot too early? NBA Playbook says yes: “Me personally, I am leaning towards yes. Felton takes the shot with 5 seconds left on the shot clock (9.6 seconds left in the game), and the reason I think he could have waited even longer is that it’s a simple pull up jumper. This is the kind of shot that Felton could have gotten whenever, so waiting another few seconds doesn’t really affect the quality of the shot/possession.”
A pretty neato picture of Jeff Green.
Darnell Mayberry on Russell Westbrook: “Should Westbrook finish the season averaging 22 points and eight assists, he’ll join only four other players since the 2000-01 season to accomplish that statistical feat. The chart to the right of the note in the stat pack lists Gary Payton (twice), Stephon Marbury, Chris Paul and LeBron James as the only other players to do so. Chicago’s Derrick Rose is also on pace to join the exclusive club, while Utah’s Deron Williams currently sits just 0.3 points shy.”
Former Thunderer Mustafa Shakur was called up to the Wizards and played well in his debut.
@Chocolate Ginobili
NICE!
Thanks for the shout out! Not unlike Royal, I'm just happy to be part of a winning team!
GO THUNDER!!
@Chocolate Ginobili
No Russ?
@Mrs. Daily Thunder
As long as it isn't cursed like the Coach of the Year Award where I end up being hated by everyone and armed guards remove me from the team's practice facility the following year.
@Chocolate Ginobili
Very nice!
so i'd be Dequane Cook - usually siting on the sideline and watching but at times I get a chance to contribute...
@Chocolate Ginobili
Obviously the best comment of all time. I wish we had an award to give you.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=45tlcjm
Green, Krstic, Mullens and the Clippers #1 for Nene. I like it. Not sure the Nuggets would though.
Of course...Ibaka starts for Green, Nene for Krstic and could possibly mean a few minutes for Aldrich or DJ.
@Chocolate Ginobili
;)
If the analogy is correct, I'm pretty sure Nick's teammates are annoyed at his jokes and have learned to tune him out. For the best, of course.
@TempBoy Brandon
maybe we need to convince him that the heat are devil worshippers, i mean their symbol is fire
@Chocolate Ginobili
shiki=4seasons should be Tibor Pleiss. A promising young poster, rough around the edges, currently playing across the pond.
I'd like to think of myself as DJ White. Good in limited minutes, not quite trusted by the coach (dreamweaver), spends as much time with a D-league team (Pistons) as the Thunder.
@Chocolate Ginobli
That was the equivalent of the Globetrotter's 4-point shot. Absolutely nailed it.
Royce, nice write up about Nene.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/27226669
I think the Knicks would be a good fit for Nene. Perhaps they can wait for Melo till the off-season.
@Chocolate Ginobili
Absolutely brilliant. I need to add some special personality trait to my posting in order to make the team.
The trolls can be Adams. But I suppose that analogy doesn't quite pan out seeing as we were happy to see the departure of said trolls...
My gosh, I hope Nene doesn't go to Miami. That'd be absurd.
But a guy that loves church and wants to win? Don't know why he wouldn't come to OKC. It's fun to think of this lineup:
Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Ibaka
Nene
Yes, please.
@ATH
Everything finally makes sense now.
@f5alcon
cus he is adams, he couldn't post under Captain Ron, that would be too obvious
@ATH
well he did leave when adams left
if nene goes to miami, they will win multiple titles, but they cant pay him more than mid level exception.
@ATH
absolutely, literally not metaphorically
@Chocolate Ginobili
Conspiracy theory: Kev = Ron Adams?
@Chocolate Ginobili
Hah! Great job.
@Chocolate Ginobili
I DEMAND YOU AMEND THIS AND MAKE ME NENAD KRISTIC OR YOU, ME, AND, THE CHAIR ARE GOING TO HAVE A RENDEZVOUS!!!!
@ATH
I'm less confident after this we'll land Nene, maybe Blake or K-Love in FA, though neither of them are centers.
@justin
Yes, I'm just saying--if he has no interest.
Everyone knows the Thunder need a big man. Nene watched us push the Lakers last year. If he has ZERO interest in coming here, it's only because it's Oklahoma. That's what would be depressing.
@Chocolate ginobili
Post of the year.
@Chocolate Ginobili
Well that comment gets a gold star from me. Brilliant.
Me, the most melodramatic, angriest poster on the board. I'll proudly throw chairs in honor of Kristic (though i have much better hair)
I disagree with the assessment of Mullins as one of the worst players in the NBA. To be considered a "player", don't you actually have to play?
@Chocolate Ginobili
Does that make The Don- Byron Mullens?
I think we had Fredette scheduled for a pre-draft workout last year but right before that he dropped out of the draft. I have not seen him play. Is he athletic enough to play the 2 in this league?
A comparison of Thunder players and staff to Daily Thunder commenters:
Kevin Durant -> Royce Young of course (Relentlessly positive. Committed to excellence. Brings his A game every day. Has a slightly misshaped head and could use some more muscle.)
Sam Presti -> Mrs. Daily Thunder (Quietly running the show behind the scenes. Has made a long-term commitment to the team’s star.)
Jeff Green -> Justin ironically (Definitely the team’s lightning rod. Constantly at the center of the discussion no matter the topic. Has a high basketball IQ. Everyone is amazed by the number of minutes he logs.)
Nick Collison -> Jax Raging Bile Duct (Puts in quality work on a regular basis and keeps the team upbeat with humor.)
Scott Brooks -> Dream Catcher (Believes in the team as currently constructed with all his heart. Personnel changes, schmersonnel changes, consistency is the key).
Thabo Sefolosha -> Kev (Defensive specialist who leaves everyone wondering why he hasn’t shown up this year)
Eric Maynor -> DSMok1 (Cerebral contributor who needs more minutes.)
Royal Ivey -> Cpt. C-Note (Always cheering on the team with a smile despite limited minutes.)
James Harden -> Chocolate Ginobili (Zero consistency. Lacks posting ability. Great beard. Has trouble finishing...)
I got really bogged down trying to figure out who was most likely to toss chairs at angry Grecian men and couldn’t think of anyone, so filling out the rest of the team is left as an exercise for the reader.
@ATH
He can't win championships in Miami or Dallas?
@Bryan
I don't know much about Nene, but if a man planning to retire early to serve his church has no interest in coming to our team (where he can be a star, the last piece, win championships, etc.) because of its modest market, then I'm buying the sad idea that OKC will never draw a significant free agent.
@lafowler255
I know, would be awesome to have a guy with whatever comes after "NBA range" though.
@gr8ball83
Jimmer is ridiculous! but the likely hood he ever wears a Thunder uniform is slim to none draft is too unpredicable.
Why would Dallas want another big? Injury insurance for Dirk, I guess.
Sad part about that pic is that Toney Douglas nailed that 3 after Green flew by.
I know that OKC is not the warmest or most glamorous city, but if I were a Big in this league (especially a defensive Big), I'd be tripping over myself to sign with the Thunder and play next to Russ, Kevin and Serge.
HA!! That pic of Green is classic. I've always wanted the Thunder to have a player who could fly!
Nene saw Haywood's contract and wanted in on the action.
@lafowler255
Please get Jimmer?
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14116612
Please get Nene!