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Player Power Rankings: OKC wins when…

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 4:44 pm 898 Comments

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

A back-on-track week of sorts for the Thunder, breaking a three-game skid with two solid home wins. Time to start cranking up for the postseason, time to start finding that standard of performance they want to play with.

Enough of that. Here are some stats I found interesting on the Thunder’s record when they achieve certain things. The Thunder’s record when… Keep Reading…

Why are the Thunder bringing back Derek Fisher?

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 12:56 pm 219 Comments

Ronald Martinez/NBAE/Getty Images

Simple question: What do the Thunder want 38-year-old Derek Fisher for?

He seemingly retired after a nine-game stint with the Mavs that ended with him hurting his knee. He hasn’t played a game since November. He’s 38. He’s not that great. But now he’s back to join up with Oklahoma City a second time? Why?

Here’s why: insurance.

The Thunder traded away Eric Maynor at the deadline to Portland for a trade exception, leaving them with an open roster spot and light at the point guard position. You don’t want to roll into the postseason with just two point guards on the roster, especially when you don’t have a player like James Harden anymore that could assume the duties. A rolled ankle for Reggie Jackson and you’d be left with just one point guard, something that’s not ideal. Keep Reading…

What is Russell Westbrook: A cat or dog?

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 11:56 am 23 Comments

A TBJ investigation to solve one of the season’s most pressing issues: Is Russell Westbrook more like a cat, or more like a dog?

Westbrook’s take: “A wolf.”

Touche, Russ. Touche.

Monday Bolts – 2.25.13

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 11:29 am 107 Comments

Darnell Mayberry: “I couldn’t understand why the Thunder didn’t push the pace in the early stages. After nearly every stop early on, the Thunder walked the ball up the court only to find itself in a much more difficult halfcourt situation. The Bulls are a great defensive team, and part of that is their ability to get back in transition. But the Thunder, it seems, wasn’t even trying to push the tempo.”

Berry Tramel on KD: “Let’s not pretend Durant is in some kind of slump. Not since December has he gone back-to-back games shooting under 50 percent, and even then his percentages were in the mid-40s. But last Wednesday in Houston, when Durant made just four of 13 shots, he still produced just the second triple-double of his career, with 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Similar game Sunday night, and Durant might very well have tripled-doubled again, had the Bulls been courteous enough to make this a ballgame and require Durant to play the fourth quarter.” Keep Reading…

Thunder suffocate the Bulls, 102-72

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 12:09 am 59 Comments

BOX SCORE

With a winter storm supposedly set to roll in to Oklahoma City tonight, apparently it hit the Chicago Bulls a few hours early. Because they were ice cold.

(See what I did there? So good, right?)

Seriously though, “inept” isn’t even a good enough word for the Bulls’ offensive performance tonight. By quarter: 6-30, 4-18, 7-20, 8-18. For a grand total of 25-86 from the field, or a 29.1 percent. The Thunder’s defense has been a question as of late as they’ve allowed four straight teams to score better than 105 points. They went to the other extreme tonight, allowing the Bulls just 72.

“Defensively, it was probably as good as we’ve played in the last five or six weeks,” Scott Brooks said.

Now, before you start being impressed, realize the Bulls are a very weak offensive team and were playing without Kirk Hinrich who, yes, actually matters quite a lot to them offensively. Still, 72 points on 29.1 percent shooting is 72 points on 29.1 shooting. Officially, it’s the lowest percentage (actually 29.06 percent) from any team this season topping 29.11, which the Bobcats put up against… the Thunder. Keep Reading…

Bulls vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on February 24, 2013 at 3:32 pm 1,209 Comments

vs.

Bulls (32-23, 17-10 road) vs. Thunder (40-15, 24-4 home)

TV: ESPN (Cox 29, HD 720); FSOK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.7 (1st), Bulls– 103.4 (21st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.5 (8th), Bulls – 101.3 (4th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.8 (8th), Bulls – 89.2 (27th)

View from the enemy: By The Horns

The Thunder have struggled defensively the last four games. The last four, OKC’s allowed more than 105 points in all of them. So here’s a good remedy: Play the Bulls, a team ranked 24th in offense at 100.4 points per 100. Keep Reading…

TGR 92: A dose of reality or just a season lowlight?

by Thunderground Radio on February 24, 2013 at 9:04 am 179 Comments

Rough week and a half for the Thunder, with All-Star festivities and the trade deadline in the middle. Joel and Brad discuss the lowlights that were losing to the Heat, Jazz and Rockets.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Dare to Russ

by Royce Young on February 23, 2013 at 10:58 am 149 Comments

Good Saturday. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. Don’t hate on the Brodie.

New Air Jordan commercial featuring Russell Westbrook in a colorful shirt? New Air Jordan commercial featuring Russell Westbrook in a colorful shirt.

Bulls (32-23, 17-10 road) vs. Thunder (40-15, 24-4 home)

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