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Smart thoughts of the week: July 17-24

by Royce Young on July 24, 2009 at 1:30 pm 45 Comments

A new little weekly feature we’re going to try. Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least 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 well put.

Not the blue or the red one – the poison one. (Steve H): “Landing Gortat this summer would have required the sort of “Poison Pill” offer that Portland tried with Millsap/Utah- and as their example showed, even then it might not work. I do not think Gortat would be worth the $8-10million per it would have taken, but he would be a fantastic acquisition at his current price of $6+ per. I love the pairing of him and Krstic – our starting unit should be able to score in bunches without significant offense from the five spot- what it lacks is interior defense and rebounding.

Our second unit (Livingston, Sefolosha, Green and White) looks like a better defensive unit over-all that could really benefit from Krstic’s shooting ability. I still have my fingers crossed about landing Gortat this December – Mullens and a first rounder? Throw in a second round pick? Gortat certainly looks solid, but Orlando paying out over 1 million per average minute (after tax) on the floor seems plain crazy.”

Bringing home the prodigal CP3. (DSMok1): “By Wins Produced, [Chris Paul] is worth all of the Thunder’s roster put together. Seriously. In fact, he is the best player in the NBA by Wins Produced (above LeBron, Howard, and Wade). In fact, he is only the second player to go above 29 wins produced in a season (after KG from ‘03 to ‘05) this decade. If he were available … well, get him! He just carried an abysmal team to the playoffs (only Chandler and Posey were even above average!). Put Chris Paul and KD together, wait a couple of years, assemble a few pieces, and you have a title team. Seriously. Next year, you’d have a playoff team–even if you gave up Westbrook and Jeff Green. You would have the best tandem in the league, bar none. Of course, trading CP3 would be suicide for the Hornets. They better not do it!” Keep Reading…

Friday Bolts – 7.24.09

by Royce Young on July 24, 2009 at 10:56 am 15 Comments

The preseason schedule is out (all times CST): Wed., October 7 at Memphis 7:00 p.m.; Sat., October 10 at thunderbolt2New OrleanscTBD; Mon., October 12 vs. Phoenix 7:00 p.m.; Wed., October 14 vs. Miami 7:00 p.m. in Tulsa, OK; Mon., October 19 at Houston 7:30 p.m.; Tue., October 20 vs. San Antonio 7:30 p.m. in Austin, TX; Thu., October 22 vs. Sacramento 7:00 p.m.

Coach K raved about Kevin Durant’s play yesterday: “Pencil in Kevin Durant for a spot on the 2010 version of Team USA. Better yet, put it in ink. Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski singled out Durant and showered him with praise following the first day of a three-day mini-camp for a group of 20 young players trying to make the senior national team. Durant was the most dominant player on the floor in the team’s 12-minute scrimmage after the squad spent the bulk of Thursday’s practice working on drills. Friday’s practice was expected to be more focused on scrimmaging.”

A nice story about KD and his developing leadership: “That definitely is not the case for Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have developed a symbiotic duality that all teams wish to have with their franchise player. Durant, who told HOOPSWORLD at the Gatorade Player of the Year ceremonies that he plans to remain in Oklahoma City for the rest of his career because “that’s where [he] started,” has grown in front of everyone’s eyes and – at only 20-years old – has become the team’s leader and the face of the franchise.” Keep Reading…

What should we expect from the Thunder next season?

by Royce Young on July 23, 2009 at 12:00 pm 59 Comments

As I said, I’m out of pocket for the day, but J.G. has hooked us up with another lengthy, yet very insightful column about Oklahoma City, the Trailblazers and next season.

By J.G. Marking
Special to Daily Thunder

In season three of a rebuilding effort, the hardest thing for the fan is the question of how tempered their expectations should be for the upcoming year. In most year twos of a rebuilding process, the fan typically witnesses the rock-bottom point of the franchise’s complete roster and organizational overhaul (3-29 anyone?), as pieces of the old regime get phased out (farewell Wilcox, Petro and Sene).

But at some point in year two of any successful rebuilding process, typically towards the latter half of the season as young talent begins to gain invaluable playing experience and starts developing some true chemistry, there is a punctuated leap of improvement (20-30 for the last 50, remember that?). This eye-opening leap sparks an ever dangerous ember in the heart of the fan, reawakening the glorious notion of next year. After all, that’s why the NBA Draft tantalizes every fan of every team. And there’s next year, isn’t there?

But what about the Thunder’s next year? What are we to expect from a team that had such a drastic difference in play last year, from the lows of one of the worst starts in NBA history to the highs of near .500 play and knocking off playoff bound competition for one of the league’s youngest and most inexperienced teams? Keep Reading…

Thursday Bolts – Not really Bolts Edition

by Royce Young on July 23, 2009 at 7:45 am 24 Comments

Good morning my friendly Thunder fans. I am out of town today so there’s not going to be any bolts for you to soak in. I know, it sucks. This is like the first weekday that’s missing these bad boys since… well a long time. So as an early morning replacement in an effort to not throw off your morning routine (because I know so many of you go to bed looking forward to these), I’m tossing up an old column from earlier in the year. Enjoy and I’ll see you Friday.

Originally published February 17th, 2009

Let me tell you up front, this is the toughest post game recap I’ve had to write.

I wanted this game. I mean, I wanted it.

I know it’s some meaningless mid-season game for a 13-40 team. I know by all appearances, this game is just another in a long season. But it was more than that.

Everybody could feel it today. The Thunder were the talk of the town today with the big Tyson Chandler deal. Everybody was buzzing about the Hornets in town with a new mascot to be unveiled. The Thunder had everyone’s attention in this state. The phone lines on the Sports Animal were full all day. But not to talk about Blake Griffin or OU football. Nope. People wanted to talk about Kevin Durant and Sam Presti.

And tonight, with our first love in town, I saw this as the night we turned the page. We could close the book on the Hometown Hornets and completely open up a new one for the Thunder. I envisioned a back-and-forth game with the Thunder pulling out a tight one in front of a ballistic crowd with our new hero, Kevin Durant leading the charge. It all set up to be the story-book way to officially make this team our own. Keep Reading…

Wednesday Bolts – 7.22.09

by Royce Young on July 22, 2009 at 7:30 am 24 Comments

Not so much a doin’ on the Thunder front today. But worry not ladies and gents, I found a few things for you to peer at on this lovely Wednesday.

A story on Dime about James Harden and his destiny to be  star: “Harden was known as being unselfish (sometimes too much) on an ASU squad that didn’t feature much depth offensively. This will be a huge added benefit to Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Harden also has a reputation for deferring individual success and credit back towards his teammates. Doing this will not only help the Thunder have a calming presence on the floor, but will also solidify him as a player that teammates love to play with – and that, my friends, will lead to a lengthy career.”

NiceKicks.com has an interview with Kevin Durant: “Last week we caught up with Kevin Durant at the Gatorade Player of the Year Awards honoring the best high school athletes. In this interview, Kevin Durant discusses who inspired him on the on and off court, what he thinks about the controversial “1 year”, and of course a number of sneaker questions you would ask him as well.”

Tim Potvak of FanHouse on the NBA age limit rules: “Don’t you just love it when the politicians put their noses where they don’t belong, knowing they’ll probably screw up things? The NBA has been defending its age-requirement rule – a good rule that would be even better if another year was added — after Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) strongly urged the league to scrap it.” Keep Reading…

So, uh, what do we do now?

by Royce Young on July 21, 2009 at 12:28 pm 55 Comments

The draft came and went, as did the summer league(s) and it doesn’t look like the Thunder’s going to do anything in free agency. And there’s over three months until the season starts. So what am I supposed to do with myself? Watch the WNBA? Yeah and after that I’ll stare at the sun for two hours. Don’t fret, I’ve got ideas to get you through the actual offseason.

Watch baseball. It’s not everybody’s thing, but I dig it. It’s more than enough to keep me occupied for now, especially because there’s a game every day and I have a favorite team. And if you hate baseball, I guess watch soccer or something. Or go live in Europe because obviously you hate America. Why don’t you kick a baby and curse the name of Stephen Colbert on your way out too. theriot3

Read every college football preview on the planet. As much as we all love the Thunder, this is still a college football state. And it probably will always be unless John Blake comes back for Round 2. There’s something like 2 billion college football preview magazines and they’re all saying basically the exact same thing. So do yourself a favor and read every single one of them. I know you’re dying to know what Phil Steele has to say about the TCU secondary. Don’t pretend like you’re not.

Likewise, complain about the BCS. I actually am a fan of it, but evidently to hold your college football fan card, you must spend at least 15 minutes of your day whining about it and talking about how perfect and wonderful a playoff would be. The more you gripe to your roommate about it, the faster it will get fixed. I think we’re using the same approach for the economy.

Try out for the Thunder girls. What’s that? Only girls are allowed to try out? Sexist pigs. Oh well, their loss. I have some awesome moves and look excellent in a cutoff jean shorts and an open plaid blouse. The finals are tonight at Toby Keith’s so if you’re weird and creepy, be sure to go there and “watch.”

Work on your post game. With OKC’s best option on the block being either Nick Collison or Shaun Livingston (yes, seriously, Shaun Livingston), you never know. Especially if you’re freakishly tall. You could wind up with a roster spot. Hey, it worked for Robert Swift. Keep Reading…

Tuesday Bolts – 7.21.09

by Royce Young on July 21, 2009 at 7:44 am 29 Comments

Sean Deveney looks at who made some sort of impression in Vegas, whether it be good or bad: “Hasheem Thabeet has thunderbolt23a long way to go. The fact Thabeet struggled offensively is no surprise. But the fact that he was whistled for 26 fouls while blocking just four shots is worrisome.”

Looks like DeVon Hardin is likely headed back overseas: ”Last year’s 50th overall pick DeVon Hardin could be headed overseas for the 2009-10 season. Hardin still hasn’t signed a contract with the Thunder, and the team might want him to continue his development abroad rather than add the raw 6-foot-11 post player to the roster. “I’m not sure, but I would imagine I’m probably going to have to do another year overseas and then come back and be ready to go next year,” Hardin said. “Of course it’s not exactly what I want to do, but if it happens it’s just another step on my journey.”

A nice little story about how Kevin Durant fits the superstar mold in more ways than one: “What goes into making a superstar NBA player? It’s obviously a combination of talent, size, discipline, intelligence (whether it’s IQ or the basketball version, it’s no matter), and coachability. Kevin Durant gets high marks in all of those categories, and then some. He even has the intangibles that everyone wants in their hometown superstar. He is great in the community, as you might expect, but you know that with Durant, it’s genuine. You know this because his parents are hard-working, intelligent people who raised their son correctly. You know this because he has spent his past two summers taking some summer school classes in order to get a little bit closer to earning his college degree. I don’t know about you, but if I was a multi-millionaire at 20 years old, I certainly would not be spending time in a classroom, earning a degree that I will never put on any resume’. He is a class act, but that’s just the beginning.” Keep Reading…

Breaking down the somewhat complicated Thunder roster situation

by Royce Young on July 20, 2009 at 1:22 pm 46 Comments

Per NBA rules, teams can have 12 players on its active roster, meaning 12 guys that are dressed and ready to play. You can have up to 15 players on the team, as that’s a provisional for players that are injured, but any man over 12 isn’t allowed to be in uniform and is deemed inactive. This is also known as the Robert Swift Rule (not really, but it should be).

Also, you must have at least one player on your inactive list and any player sent to your D-League affiliate counts toward your inactive players. The active and inactive list can be set on a game-by-game basis, one hour before tip-off, with no length of stay required for either list. If, for example, a star player is injured and forced to sit out one or two games, the coach can place him on the inactive list and “activate” another player, giving the team a full 12 players available to play. Really not all that complicated. That is, until you get to the Thunder roster.

Oklahoma City has nine spots currently locked up:
Kevin Durant
Jeff Green
Thabo Sefolosha
Nenad Krstic
Damien Wilkins (sigh)
Nick Collison
Chucky Atkins
Russell Westbrook
James Harden

Those guys will be on the active roster without any doubt, barring a buyout or trade. So with three spots remaining on the active roster and six guys still out there, who gets what and who’s going where?

Shaun Livingston – 99 percent chance to be on the active roster
A virtual lock to be on the opening night active roster. With Earl Watson being bought out, the Thunder’s down to two point guards – Westbrook and Atkins. And Atkins probably isn’t going to be with the team much longer one would think. Livingston looked great during the summer leagues and with his height and length, he can play three positions and give OKC that versatility it loves. Keep Reading…

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