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Knicks stay hot and cool the Thunder, 125-120

by Royce Young on April 7, 2013 at 4:31 pm 627 Comments

Giving up 125 points? Bad. Allowing at least 29 points in all four quarters? Bad. Giving up 19 offensive rebounds? Bad. Allowing 15 3-pointers? Bad. Getting outscored 15-9 after taking a one-point lead with four minutes left, at home? Really bad.

But you know what, it’s really not that bad of a loss, honestly. (That is, unless you’re one of those people that lives and dies game to game over an 82-game schedule.)

Here’s the quick and dirty of it: The Thunder lost a great, fun game. They had their chances to win it and failed to finish. The Knicks hit some very big shots — most notably, that J.R. Smith miracle with 56 seconds left — and the Thunder couldn’t keep up. The Knicks executed their gameplan to near perfection, getting a massive game from Carmelo Anthony, getting a non-idiotic scoring night from J.R. Smith, by hitting 15-of-34 from 3 and by crushing the offensive glass. The Knicks played the way they dream of playing, and the Thunder couldn’t ever find an answer to it. Keep Reading…

Knicks vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on April 7, 2013 at 9:51 am 994 Comments

vs.

Knicks (49-26, 21-16 road) vs. Thunder (56-20, 33-5 home)

TV: ABC
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 12:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.4 (2nd), Knicks– 110.6 (3rd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.4 (4th), Knicks – 105.9 (16th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.4 (8th), Knicks – 89.6 (26th)

View from the enemy: Knickerblogger

OK, so yeah, getting a win is the most important thing. The Thunder having more points than the Knicks, not one Thunder player having more than one Knicks player, is the biggest part about the game. But come on, it wouldn’t be so bad for KD to get his AND for the Thunder to win, now would it? Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Sasha Fierce

by Royce Young on April 6, 2013 at 10:50 am 481 Comments

Happy weekend. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. The Playoffs are coming.

Here’s a wonderful behind-the-scenes video of Russell “Sasha Fierce” Westbrook’s ESPN the Mag photo shoot. It’s fun, but all I can think of is how horribly awkward I would feel if I were in that position. The posing part of taking pictures, especially in front of lots of people, is really uncomfortable.

Also, after the jump, bonus cartoon with a new Levi’s commercial featuring Sasha and Clyde Frazier. Keep Reading…

Thunder power past the Pacers, 97-75

by Royce Young on April 5, 2013 at 10:33 pm 320 Comments

BOX SCORE

The thinking was, coming off a big game the night before, that included arriving at a new destination at 4:30 in the morning, that the Thunder would wear down in the latter stages of tonight’s game against the Pacers.

Nope.

Behind a 25-8 fourth quarter domination that featured the Pacers going just 2-of-18 from the floor, the Thunder not only cruised to an excellent road win against one of the East’s best teams, but did it in dominating fashion. To follow up last night’s takedown of the Spurs with a destruction of the East’s second/third best team, on the road, is pretty darn impressive. Keep Reading…

Thunder at Pacers: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on April 5, 2013 at 5:23 pm 799 Comments

vs.

Thunder (55-20, 22-15 road) at Pacers (48-27, 29-8 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.3 (2nd), Pacers– 104.6 (19th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.6 (5th), Pacers – 98.9 (1st)
Pace: Thunder – 93.6 (8th), Pacers – 90.1 (25th)

View from the enemy: 8 Points, 9 Seconds

Considering the circumstances, this might just be the Thunder’s most challenging game of the season. Just some 20 hours ago, they were putting the finishing touches on a big win against the Spurs. Then they hopped on a plane, lost an hour crossing timezones and ended up in Indianapolis around 4 a.m And to make it all that much more difficult, they’re playing the rugged Pacers, maybe the toughest most physical team in the league. Keep Reading…

THTV: Gunning for a scoring title?

by Royce Young on April 5, 2013 at 4:17 pm 62 Comments

With a showdown against the Knicks coming on Sunday, more than another tally in the win column is on the line. Carmelo Anthony has made the scoring race interesting again with a recent barrage of points. So I joined Henry Abbott on a TrueHoop TV to talk about the scoring title, and if it matters.

Spoiler alert: It matters. To me, at least.

Friday Bolts – 4.5.13

by Royce Young on April 5, 2013 at 11:05 am 274 Comments

David Thorpe of ESPN Insider: “However, right now Thunder coaches and management are more focused on the postseason. The Thunder staff deserves credit for playing Fisher, despite the struggles and animosity. A healthy, sharp and confident Fisher could play a role in postseason success. Veteran guards are always a plus in the playoffs, even if they just act as insurance. Of course, that would not be an option if Fisher were sitting; he has to be allowed to play his way into playoff readiness, even if that process looks as ugly as it does now.”

Jason Gallagher of Ballerball on meeting KD: “And that was it. Keep in mind, I just had an easier conversation with Kevin Durant than I have ever had with some of my own family members. It did not feel like he was a world-wide mega star. For that minute or so, he was just a really cool guy. I don’t know Kevin Durant and I’m not claiming to. But he shattered my expectations with the level of respect he was willing to show me, even for that short time. He had no reason to turn and chat with me. There were no cameras, or media, or fans around to document this interaction. His image would not been shattered if he had just ignored me. He stuck around though, to talk to some guy who had nothing to offer. I may not be a Thunder fan, but like I said before, I’m a fan of decent people and for that reason, I’ll always be a fan of Kevin Durant.” Keep Reading…

Thunder even up with the Spurs, 100-88

by Royce Young on April 5, 2013 at 12:48 am 189 Comments

BOX SCORE

To the Thunder, Thursday’s win over the Spurs didn’t do anything but add another game to the win column. To everyone else, it did a whole lot more.

First, the obvious part: The Thunder now control their own destiny for the top seed in the West. Now the other part: The Thunder beat a top four team for the first time in almost two months. Seems like a nice little shot of confidence, right?

“We never lost confidence, that’s one thing,” said Kevin Durant. “We lost a few buzzer-beaters to some of these teams. I know we lost to Denver, we lost to San Antonio at their place, but we never lose confidence man. It’s the regular season. We just want to continue to get better and I think that’s what we’re doing.” Keep Reading…

Knicks (49-26, 21-16 road) vs. Thunder (56-20, 33-5 home)

Thunder (55-20, 22-15 road) at Pacers (48-27, 29-8 home)

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