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Monday Bolts – 10.12.09

by Royce Young on October 12, 2009 at 10:02 am 19 Comments

Charley Rosen grades the NBA coaches and Scott Brooks gets a B-plus: “Scott Brooks (Thunder) is a young coach who’s growing along with his young players. He knows the game, and his enthusiasm is contagious.”

Shoals previews the Thunder for the Baseline. I think he’s excited about the Thunder: ”Indeed, OKC’s team often serves as a cipher meaning many things to many people. However, this fragmented view of the Thunder misses the most obvious point: If you sleep on this team, you’re missing out on what’s probably the most exciting, innovative and altogether intriguing young squad in the league today. Yes, they’re shrewdly building up their ranks; as with the far-duller Blazers, there’s a plan and a mix of players that makes you feel like you’re watching the growth of something important. The Thunder, though, are positively bonkers. Hit-or-miss as they may still be, there’s no question that, on any number of levels, this team is the future.”

A little more video I took from yesterday. Senior VP Brian Byrnes talking about next year’s renovations among other things. Keep Reading…

A tour of the new and vastly improved Ford Center

by Royce Young on October 11, 2009 at 5:58 pm 19 Comments

I attended a media tour of the Ford Center this afternoon and let me tell you, it’s a whole new place. I just assumed it was going to be little things like some new paint here, some fresh tile there and you wouldn’t really notice a whole lot. But… wow.

We now have a big league facility with even another round of improvements coming next year. My first impression was, “I actually feel like I’m in a major league arena.” It felt fresh, it felt new and it felt first-class. The first thing that makes the fan experience top notch is the product on the floor. But if you can combine an exciting basketball team with a great facility, then you’re going to have a place that keeps people coming back again and again.

Lots of video and pictures of it all after the jump. Keep Reading…

Kevin Durant doesn’t care about your “plus and minuses”

by Royce Young on October 11, 2009 at 3:43 pm 8 Comments

Evidently KD got hold of Henry Abbott’s article from Friday that broke him down as a player using plus/minus. Durant tweeted today:

Everybody that is doubtin me as a player and my team as a whole..all i can say is that we all are tryin and workin our hardest!

What more do u want? let me be the player i am…i come to practice everyday..and push myself to my limit, God has put me n a gr8 position!!

I love all the REAL basketball fans who appreciate hardwork, passion and love for the game..and not jus “plus and minuses”…wateva dat is!

You know KD, I’ve kinda sorta defended you on this matter… just keep that in mind.

Hornets 88, Thunder 79: Five very important thoughts

by Royce Young on October 10, 2009 at 7:08 pm 35 Comments

I didn’t have a chance to listen, but here’s five things I took from the box score:

1. Russell Westbrook wants to be a point guard and he’s proving it so far. How does 18 assists and three turnovers in two game do you? He had just seven points on 2-8 shooting today, but eight assists in 24 minutes is dandy. The scoring will be there. I think it’s obvious that he’s doing his best to run the show rather than be the show.

2. Serge Ibaka has a chance to make this team. Twelve points on 6-10 shooting and nine rebounds gives him a leg up on Byron Mullens already. Add on two blocks and the big guy could be the back up center on the team this year. I thought he was likely Tulsa bound but with performances like today coupled with his solid Summer League, he has a shot.

3. Oklahoma City was outrebounded 50-36 today. That. Is. Not. Good. Basically, Serge Ibaka and Jeff Green rebounded the ball well (nine for Green as well). Keep Reading…

Thunder at Hornets: Preseason pre-game primer

by Royce Young on October 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm 15 Comments

vs.

Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1) vs. New Orleans Hornets (0-2)

TV: None
Radio: The first hour is on 105.3 FM. The rest is on WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 1:00 CST

View from the enemy: Hornets 24/7

Hello? Anybody here?

So who’s listening to the Thunder play a preseason game over watching OU-Baylor or the end of OSU-Texas A&M? Anybody?

Regardless, the Thunder will go ahead and play in New Orleans against the Hornets. Scott Brooks mentioned that he plans to mix up the starting lineups, so who knows what we’ll see. No word yet on Kevin Ollie, Nick Collison and James Harden’s statuses. Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Mixing it up with RW and KD

by Royce Young on October 10, 2009 at 7:30 am 2 Comments

I’ve always said it: I’m a sucker for mixtapes. I don’t know why, but I find myself watching them over and over again from time to time (especially Adrian Peterson’s – probably 1,500 views on this one are just from me). And when it’s a good, professional-looking mixtape? Hello favorites.

What’s makes a good mixtape you ask? Six things: 1) High quality video. 2) At least a listenable song selection. It doesn’t have to be great, just something that doesn’t make me want to ram chopsticks into my ear holes. 3) Some nice natural sound pops with an announcer jumping with things like, “Rus-sell WESTBROOK TO THE RIM!!!” 4) Reasonable length. Anything over five minutes just gets old. 5) Some fancy editing features that separate it from a routine clip show and 6) Good highlights.

And with the season (kind of) underway, let’s review the excellence of two of the Thunder’s top players via solid mixes. (Click here for Russell Westbrook’s.)

The dissection of Kevin Durant by the writer Henry Abbott

by Royce Young on October 9, 2009 at 12:47 pm 19 Comments

Go. Read. Now.

Obviously, you can read for yourself, but I found this part that had nothing to do with KD particularly interesting:

Of particular interest here is Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are very good when Westbrook’s on the court, and generally pretty bad when he’s off. (Wayne Winston says this effect is so pronounced he could build a strong case that Westbrook should have been rookie of the year over Derrick Rose.)

How does Westbrook do it?

In some ways, he’s the opposite of Durant. He is not a gaudy scorer — in fact, he’s a pretty bad shooter. He also has a high turnover rate, which is typically murder on team efficiency.

Yet Westbrook is a good defender. He draws a ridiculous number of fouls on both ends of the floor. He gets the team in the bonus, which in turn earns all of his teammates free throws. He rebounds well for his position, particularly at the offensive end, which can often lead to easy baskets.

Emphasis mine on the bold. This topic has been covered around these parts as well. Now go read it. You’ll be a better person for it. And come back ’round here and we can talk.

Smart Thoughts of the Week: Oct. 2 – Oct. 9

by Royce Young on October 9, 2009 at 12:10 pm 6 Comments

Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].

I enjoy optimism. Because I’m shamelessly the Viscount of Optimism. (KingGondo): Thought it was interesting that he has KD fifth in the league in PER (@ 23.50), but every other Thunder player is below 15 (i.e. below the league average).

I would put good money on Westbrook making a solid leap into 18-19 territory (he was above 15 last year, and Hollinger really thinks he’ll get worse this year?). If anything, with a greater understanding for the game, improved shooting around him, and a more spaced floor, I could see Russ really becoming a much more efficient and valuable player.

Hollinger has it right when he says, “Westbrook is the Thunder’s unquestioned starter at point guard, and at this point all they can do is throw on a saddle and see where he takes them.” More than any other player, Russ’s development will determine how much the Thunder improve this year. Based on his strong work ethic, Coach Brooks’ positive feedback in training camp, and his excellent showing at USA camp, I’m very optimistic. Keep Reading…

Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1) vs. New Orleans Hornets (0-2)

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