Daily Thunder.com

The comparison rings true

by Joe on July 23, 2011 at 12:42 pm 37 Comments

It’s definitely the slowest NBA news period since…well the last NBA lockout. There is just very little noteworthy going on. I’ve begun to realize how much of my online time is devoted to the NBA–probably a way too unhealthy amount. But still, even in these quiet NBA news cycles, old basketball junkies like myself still click away on sites like Basketball Reference.com or Hoopdata hoping something catches my interest. Yesterday I was reading about former Sonic Detlef Schrempf’s chances on making the hall of fame (not strong); and that got me thinking about whether or not Gary Payton was yet eligible for the Hall (I think he has to wait one more year), and that led me to look at GP’s awesome career stats and how those were lining up with our new young All-Star Point guard Russell Westbrook.  I’m like that. I just get going and rabbit trail hours away looking at how one player’s stats compare to another. I know, I need a new hobby.

Then I was looking at Twitter and saw that James Harden was getting ready to throw down in that game in the Philippines today. It made me think about how far he’s come in the two seasons he’s been in the league. He’s really being considered as one of the young up and comers in the league. All of the playoff exposure has sort of put him on the map as compared to other good young players at the same point in their careers who haven’t as yet sniffed the playoffs (Stephen Curry, Tyreke, DeRozan…etc). Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Hard work beats talent

by Royce Young on July 23, 2011 at 11:06 am 2 Comments

Happy day people of the internet. Thank you for your support of DT. Quick, everyone talk about how hot it is.

It’s everyone’s favorite time where I post a solid mix because there wasn’t really anything else floating out on the YouTubes worthy of a post. But this Kevin Durant one has a twist: It’s all based around KD’s favorite quote: Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. I can just picture KD saying that to himself over and over and over again as he puts up jumper after jumper after jumper in the practice gym.

 

Friday Bolts – 7.22.11

by Royce Young on July 22, 2011 at 10:15 am 23 Comments

I posted on Twitter yesterday a picture of KD with some new ink. A lot of people evidently weren’t aware that Durant has some tattoos. And evidently, some people turned a little silly about it, worrying about KD maintaining his squeaky clean image. A quick word: Tattoos, unless they include swastikas or something similar, don’t really say much other than, “Hey, I like this thing so much I wanted to put it on my body forever.”

Kurt Helin of PBT on KD’s tats: “He just crams all those tattoos into the parts of his body covered by his jersey. Why? Marketing. He knows he’s the clean-cut image guy, this way he looks like he doesn’t have tats while he plays. Okay, maybe that’s too cynical, maybe he likes just getting tattoos on his torso… no, I have a hard time thinking that’s the case. Whatever. It really doesn’t matter. That a guy in the NBA has tattoos — a lot of them, even — is not a sign of some “thug” life. It’s generational, and while the 50-somethings in the luxury suites don’t get it, their favorite 20-something up-and-comers at their law offices have tats under their suits.” Keep Reading…

Oklahoma City Arena now named Chesapeake Energy Arena

by Royce Young on July 22, 2011 at 12:27 am 30 Comments

Photo via thunder.nba.com

You probably should’ve seen this one coming. The arena formerly known as the Ford Center is now the arena formerly known as Oklahoma City Arena. When the season kicks off at home Nov. 4 (hopefully), you’ll be going to Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Chesapeake of course is one of the Thunder’s biggest corporate sponsors with chairman Aubrey McClendon being a part-owner of the team. Natural fit there, I’d say.

Clay Bennett on the change: “On behalf of the entire Thunder organization, we are extremely proud to enhance our already strong partnership with Chesapeake Energy. Besides being a leader in the national and international energy industry, Chesapeake is a dynamic business and community leader in Oklahoma. Together with the Thunder’s commitment to the community, it makes the naming rights partnership a perfect fit. The Thunder looks forward to many exciting years ahead playing in Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.”

So, how much did it cost? According to the team, it’s a 12-year naming rights agreement and has an initial annual cost of $3.0 million with a 3.0 percent annual escalation. The agreement includes Chesapeake branding throughout the building including on the basketball court, prominent premium placement on the high-definition scoreboard and new state-of-the-art interior and exterior digital signage. Most of the signage will be in place by the start of the Thunder’s 2011-12 season.

I have to say, Chesapeake Energy Center rolls off the tongue a bit better than Chesapeake Energy Arena. But whatever. It’s really the Thunderdome or Loud City, depending on your preference and that’s really what matters. Of maybe we can brainstorm a slick nickname — The Peake, Peake Arena, Aubrey World, The McClendome, and such and such.

Regardless, see you at the CEA this year. Hopefully.

KD to lead the Goodman against Harden and the Drew League

by Royce Young on July 21, 2011 at 1:38 pm 8 Comments

If you’re a fan of Kevin Durant, you know about the Goodman League at Barry Farms. Or better known as “Inside da Gates.” KD grew up playing at Barry Farms and makes a yearly return (or returns) to play in Washington D.C.

The Drew League is basically the West Coast version of it and somewhere that KD and James Harden have both played this summer. And know organizers are matching them up for a head-to-head showdown.

It’s Aug. 20 in D.C. and can be seen streaming here. And now we have the full rosters.

Representing the Goodman with KD will be John Wall, Ty Lawson, Gary Neal, Tyreke Evans, Michael Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, Josh Selby, Sam Young, Donte Greene and from the And1 Tour Hugh Jones, Emmanuel Jones and Warren Jefferson.

For the Drew League James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Nick Young, Dorrell Wright, Brandon Jennings, JaVale McGee, Craig Smith, Pooh Jeter, Bobby Brown (Aris BC), Marcus Williams and three more players yet to be named later.

With a dark summer of no official basketball because of the lockout, you should be very, very excited for this. And there’s no doubt that the Goodman has a major edge here. First, it’s in D.C. Second, look at that roster. KD, Wall, Lawson, Reke and Beasley are quite the core. Harden’s been tearing up the Drew (he scored 52 there a couple weeks ago), but the Goodman roster is way better.

You can be sure this showdown will be awesome. And you can be sure I’ll be watching. You better be too.

Thursday Bolts – 7.21.11

by Royce Young on July 21, 2011 at 9:52 am 23 Comments

The Orlando Sentinel ranks Russell Westbrook fifth among point guards: “A truncated or canceled 2011-12 season would slow Westbrook’s development, and that’s a shame. Who knows what the new CBA will look like, but he should receive big offers if he becomes a free agent next summer. No wonder Thunder fans are concerned whether the small-market franchise can keep him for the long haul. If he stays in Oklahoma City, he could accomplish great things alongside Kevin Durant.”

SLAM with improvements for the Thunder: “One of the Thunderʼs biggest weaknesses heading into next year is their lack of leadership. You would think with an all-star forward and reigning scoring champ in Durant, as well a championship winner in Kendrick Perkins, that the Thunder would have enough leadership to take them to the next level. But thatʼs not the case. In most instances during the Playoffs, Westbrook decided to take games over in his own hands, which didnʼt work out in the Thunderʼs favor. He would throw up wild three-pointers, drive into congested lanes, and force turnovers in crucial possessions.” Keep Reading…

Back-to-backs, and then some

by Royce Young on July 20, 2011 at 3:23 pm 3 Comments

After the schedule comes out, most of the discussion around it centers around back-to-backs. They can take a seemingly easy month and turn it into an incredibly difficult one. Having to play Wednesday night at home and then turn around and fly to Orlando for a game less than 24 hours is not easy.

But simply looking at back-to-backs is just the beginning. It’s only scratching the surface. The real meat and potatoes to the difficulty of a schedule comes down to not only the back-to-back, but what the team you’re playing on that second night comes in looking like. What if you’re playing your fourth game in five days but your opponent has had three days off? Those are the type of minor quirks in a schedule that can really make a difference come April.

In the Thunder’s case, they are in the middle of the pack in back-to-backs of just 17. The Thunder are on the high end of four games in five days though with three (five teams have four of those), but are on the low end of three in four days with a back-to-back with just nine (only three teams have fewer). Here’s how the whole thing shakes out for the Thunder:

SITUATIONTHUNDEROPPONENTS
4 in 531
3 in 4 (B2B finish)94
3 in 4 1216
1 day rest3032
2 days rest1611
3+ days rest511
Games against unrested opponent12N/A
B2B's on the road178
Total B2B1912

The Thunder only get one game this season against a team playing in its fourth game in five days, but the 16 games against opponents playing their third in four days is tied for the most in the league. OKC’s 11 games against teams coming in with three days rest is pretty high and only 12 games against teams coming off a game the night before is extremely low (the most is Atlanta with 28). Keep Reading…

Wednesday Bolts – 7.20.11

by Royce Young on July 20, 2011 at 8:39 am 10 Comments

Zach Harper for TrueHoop on notable games this season: “Apr. 8: Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder: Kobe wants to prove he’s still the best player in the West. Durant will be showing off his impressive scoring ability that many thought would carry him to the MVP before last season. Both players should be well within MVP contention this year. The team defense of OKC will attempt to slow Kobe and make him more inefficient while Ron Artest will try to continue his physical nature of making Durant miss a lot more often than he should.”

Berry Tramel on the schedule: “The Thunder’s intraconference, but interdivision, schedule is tough. The Thunder plays every team in the Northwest Division four times each. That includes playoff teams Portland and Denver. But of the five other Western Conference playoff teams, OKC plays four of them four times. The Thunder gets Memphis just three times but plays the Lakers, Mavericks, Spurs and Hornets four times each. That’s a tough schedule.” Keep Reading…

Back to Top

Headlines

Copyright © 2008-2012 DailyThunder.com
Designed by iThemes Creative & Hosted by Site5