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TGR Finals Preview: Heat vs. Thunder

by Thunderground Radio on June 11, 2012 at 11:23 am 14 Comments

Back for a regular episode, the guys are joined by Royce Young and Nick Gelso of clnsradio.com to give us a look at the finals from a team (Boston) that’s battled LeBron and the Heat in the post season more often than most.

Topics covered:

Do storylines matter?

The significance of NBA Titles to a star players legacy

The Godfather’s keys to a Thunder victory

Why we can’t stand Lebron…

The difference between Thunder and Heat fans

The Heat’s biggest weakness

All this and tons more…

Download, listen and comment.

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Monday Bolts – 6.11.12

by Royce Young on June 11, 2012 at 9:19 am 274 Comments

Anthony Macri for ESPN.com: “One of the things that Miami’s defense tends to do very well is contest every catch and force players to make one-on-one decisions against closeouts. They choke off passing lanes and their length forces teams into difficult shots, especially when Bosh is healthy and contributing big minutes. His presence allows the Heat defenders to press up and get into the feet of their opponents, and offenses tend to back away from this kind of pressure. Oklahoma City, however, may be able to thrive in this situation. The one-on-one ability of their “Big Three,” especially the always-in-control Harden, could become a difference-maker in this series. Miami closes out so hard that the Thunder’s ability to take advantage of the tendency to over-pursue could make a huge difference.”

Paul Forrester of SI.com: “The Thunder seem to have all the pieces in place to play for championships for many years: young stars in Durant, Westbrook and Harden, an improving, 22-year-old power forward in Serge Ibaka, a defensive-minded center in Kendrick Perkins and unselfish role players such as Nick Collison. But it won’t be long before small-market Oklahoma City is forced to confront the question of whether general manager Sam Presti will be able to keep the team together, especially if it means having to pay the luxury tax. The Thunder might have to become a taxpaying team to retain both Harden and Ibaka, who are set to be restricted free agents in 2013, unless they agree to contract extensions after this season. Are the Thunder willing to spend like a big market?” Keep Reading…

Some things never change: The new Thunder era

by Michael Kimball on June 10, 2012 at 2:53 pm 276 Comments

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

The NBA Finals are a huge machine of everything that’s descending upon Oklahoma City this week. Drama, the NBA’s brightest stars, important people and people who think they are important, perhaps the brightest media spotlight ever to shine on Oklahoma that doesn’t involve tragedy, disaster or scandal: It’s all coming, and it’s coming all at once.

Thus dawns a new era in Oklahoma City and for the precocious Thunder. Now that the NBA Finals are here, and an NBA title is four wins away, some things are going to change that won’t be changing back for this hopefully-a-decade-or-longer current Thunder era and beyond.

From the team’s perspective, the first permanent change is the obvious. Keep Reading…

Five early thoughts on Thunder-Heat

by Royce Young on June 9, 2012 at 11:23 pm 311 Comments

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

Obviously full preview and other stuff to come, but five quick thoughts on the Thunder’s matchup with the Heat in the NBA Finals.

1. I’ll be honest: I wanted it to be Boston. Really bad. I was pretty sure that if the Thunder drew the Celtics for in The Finals, Oklahoma City was going to sweep. I think my official prediction would’ve been OKC in five, but that’s just because I was going to try and remain reasonable. The Thunder’s youth, athleticism, speed and ability to turn defense into offense was just going to overwhelm the Celtics. Boston could’ve taken a game or two just by pure heart and determination, but I couldn’t see any way the Celtics were going to win four against OKC. Keep Reading…

Celtics vs. Heat Game 7 open thread

by Royce Young on June 9, 2012 at 7:15 pm 686 Comments

Who’s it gonna be?

The Thunder will have an opponent by the end of tonight. There are pros and cons to both the Heat and Celtics, but it’s out of anyone’s control. It’s just going to be who it’s going to be. Whether it’s the Celtics or it’s the Heat, the Thunder can’t expect to cruise to an NBA title. Both teams present hurdles, both teams will be a challenge.

Either way, at least we can stop talking about who in a few hours and get on with talking about what the Thunder have to do to bring home a trophy.

Practice Report: With no opponent, OKC working on themselves

by Randy Renner on June 9, 2012 at 3:10 pm 60 Comments

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

The first full practice in a couple of days for the Oklahoma City Thunder went off without a hitch today, even though OKC doesn’t have an opponent yet for The Finals, head coach Scott Brooks figures they have plenty to work on anyway.

“We wanted to have an intense practice and we did,” Brooks said, “having a couple of days off was important for the guys and today I wanted to get together and go over some of the things that we’ve done and the things we have to continue to do no matter who we play.”

That mystery will clear up tonight when Boston and Miami play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but as for today’s practice session Brooks was pleased. Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Thunder!

by Royce Young on June 9, 2012 at 11:30 am 47 Comments

Good Saturday. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. Just sitting here waiting.

I think I’ve actually used this video before, or a variation of it, but I stumbled across it again through my internet travels and it’s too good not to share again. Or maybe “good” isn’t the right word. You know what I mean.

Win NBA Finals tickets, help a great cause

by Royce Young on June 8, 2012 at 4:33 pm 25 Comments

Want Finals tickets? Dumb question.

Want Finals tickets at potentially a cheap than standard price while knowing your money is going towards a great cause? Yeah, that’s more like it.

Game 1: Auction for charity

Totally Tickets has donated a pair of tickets to Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City. Tickets will be upper level between the baskets. This will be an auction with the opening bid starting at $300 for the pair of tickets. All money will go to Hayden’s Hope a charity which helps raise awareness for the need of children’s organ and tissue donation/transplant.

The charity was established by ESPNU anchor Dari Nowkhah and his wife Jenn after their five week old son Hayden passed away while awaiting a heart transplant. The auction will close at 3 p.m. on Monday June 11^th. At that point the winning bidder will be provided a link to make the winning donation. Once payment is made the tickets will be emailed to the winner. To bid, just drop your number in the comments. Please, please, only serious bidders. Please.

If you don’t win the auction but still want to go please call Totally Tickets at 405-295-2222 or visit www.totallytickets.com.

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