Daily Thunder.com

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on how players age: “One of the most important discoveries of sabermetrics was that the peak age for baseball players was much younger than conventional wisdom held. For the most part, basketball research has found a similar prime to baseball, with a peak age around 27. However, the answer depends on the metric of choice because different skills age differently; players grab fewer offensive rebounds from the time they enter the league but shoot more accurately. Defense might peak latest of all because of the importance of experience. The continued success of this generation’s veterans, such as Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, also is forcing us to rethink how players decline in their 30s.”

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com in a 5-on-5 on OKC’s biggest hurdle: “The San Antonio Spurs. Same as it was last season. The matchups are mostly the same but don’t think Gregg Popovich hasn’t spent a long time thinking about how he’ll construct his strategy in a rematch.” Keep Reading…

Via Ball Don’t Lie, the Thunder have the cheapest beer in basketball: “What’s warming more than the previously stated findings is that the two most entertaining teams in basketball – the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder – offer the lowest beer prices of any team. The Miami Heat may be the championship favorites, but they lose points not only for their tardy fans but an annoying public address announcer and the second-highest (tied, with Washington and Boston, at eight bucks a brew) beer prices in the NBA. The Thunder and Spurs are on a fast track to yet another Western conference finals showdown, one that hopefully will go beyond the six games we saw last year between each team. It’s true that two beers (excluding tip, and please tip) during one of those games will cost you as much as that 30-pack of cans you used to buy in your early 20s, but you also weren’t allowed the opportunity to see Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook in person, going back in forth, in your apartment’s living room back then. Not a bad deal, Spurs and Thunder. Cheers.”

Darnell Mayberry: “I’ve not been a proponent of Perk guarding point guards. Seems pointless to have “the league’s best low post defender” D’ing up 40 and even 80 feet away from the basket. But he was terrific tonight. Perk pestered Vasquez and forced him into wild shots and quick decisions. Perk was so good it looked like a mismatch in favor of the Thunder. Rarely, if ever tonight, could Vasquez blow by Perk. On one second half possession when Vasquez tried, Perk soundly slid his feet to stay in front of him and blocked his shot once Vasquez forced up a shot near the paint.” Keep Reading…