Daily Thunder.com

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider compaes OKC to the 90-91 Bulls: “Technically, the Thunder’s combination of the league’s best offensive rating and a fourth-rated defense is more similar to the 1991-92 Bulls, but since we can’t repeat the comparison, let’s lean toward the narrative of a Chicago team that, like Oklahoma City, was trying to win its first championship. Structurally, both the Heat and Thunder are built in the rough image of the Bulls, with a star wing, another star perimeter player and a power forward as their third option. Of course, Chicago had nothing quite like Miami’s small lineups loaded with shooters. The Bulls were much more conventional, especially at center, which matches up better with Oklahoma City.”

Henry Abbott of TrueHoop: “The Thunder’s schedule is about to take a turn for the easy, and all this will be forgotten. But they did just lose to the Nuggets and Grizzlies, which counts as worrisome for a team that’s used to nothing but sunny news. Meanwhile, there has been some eye-opening ball-hoggery from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Against the Nuggets, the star duo combined for 44 field goal attempts and just 11 assists. Against the Grizzlies, it was 53 shots to a piddly six assists. Remember, their offense has long been at its best when the other players on the roster shoot more. Dean Oliver and Alok Pattani know this. I know this. I assume Scott Brooks know this. But until Durant and Westbrook know that victories are on the fingertips of open Serge Ibakas and Kevin Martins … that offense won’t be all it can be.” Keep Reading…

Nick Collison for GQ on his wood-grain mini van: “She had style. She had grace. She was a work of art. She dressed in navy with those rich mahogany sides. She had that shape I like with so much room in the back. We had some unforgettable nights. She even let my teammates come along for rides, because she understood “it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t come.” She was a 1990 Dodge Caravan and I loved her. The truth is, we were both young. We had our ups and downs. I still recall the night when, visiting friends at another school, her sliding door came off the hinges in my hand, and we had to drive 60 miles back home on the highway with no door. I still remember overhearing Drew Gooden tell a girl, “Yeah, I got a car… well I mean, its like all of ours. It’s the team van.” It was a crazy new time. We were just getting started when, tragically, her transmission went out the fall of my junior year. Eventually, I had to let her go. She was my first love.”

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on OKC: “Like I said, they almost did enough to win this game. But it’s not enough, and that’s now losses to Denver and Memphis inside of a week. They need better late-game execution and better consistency in their sets. They have some things to work on.” Keep Reading…