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Who’s staying and who’s going

by Joe on April 19, 2009 at 10:04 pm 17 Comments

Now that the season is over, I am already thinking about how this team might look come training camp in October. The particulars of course can not be known until they happen, but I thought it might be time to look at the odds of our four free agents coming back for next season or not.

I don’t have any special insight on these matters, I just thought I would examine the salary implications, the fit, and the intangibles surrounding each player and the team going forward.

Desmond Mason : odds for returning 30%

Desmond is in a unique situation in that he’s stated publicly that he would like to be back, and he has connection with the fans from his playing days at Oklahoma State and with the relocated Hornets. He seems to be a positive influence in the locker room, and despite his puny offensive production, the Thunder played some of their best basketball of the season in January with Des in the starting lineup. Des replaced Damien Wilkins as a starter for the Dec. 19th game against the Toronto Raptors. Prior to that game the team had lost 8 straight. As you may remember the Thunder got the win against the struggling Raptors that night. Over the next 6 or so weeks the team had some of it’s best success, but a closer look reveals there is more to the story.

Mason started 18 games during that stretch and the team was 8-10, which was a revelation for the team at the time. But during those 18 games, the Thunder also had it’s easiest schedule of the season. In those 18 games with Desmond as a starter, 10 of the teams we matched up against were sub .500 at the time, and 11 of the games were at home. It should also be noted that in the run up to that win against Toronto, the Thunder had been very competitive, almost getting wins despite Brooks experimenting with Wilcox in the starting lineup for 5 games and Petro for three; so there was a ton of roster changes during this time. Also, after the win against Toronto with Des as the starter, the Thunder lost five consecutive games. Keep Reading…

An early look at 2009-2010

by Royce Young on April 19, 2009 at 12:41 pm 37 Comments

I love the offseason. It’s really almost as much fun to me as actually playing games. Moving parts, roster changes, players working on their games, speculating… it’s fun. Time to start looking at who could be here, who might not be and just the overall (and very early) outlook for next season.

By John Mietus
Special to Daily Thunder

It’s a summer of reckoning for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Next season brings renewed optimism and expectation for the club. We as fans of the team must expect things to improve and we must expect to see major changes next year in the win/loss column. The players, who I and many others believe have the right talent to win at the NBA level must piece together “unexpected” victories and become a “surprise” team contending for the playoffs. Progress can only be measured in small increments, but this year’s version of the club has made significant strides during the course of the season. Scott Brooks has done an excellent job keeping the Thunder competitive to the very last week of the season, there is no question that the team had no interest in “tanking” in order to improve draft position. I believe this is good karma for both coach and ball club, not conceding an inch even when making the playoffs is a dream long dead. Brooks continues to demonstrate he is the right man for the job of leading the Thunder into next season.

With 18 losses this year coming by six points or less the Thunder seem primed to better their overall record in 2009-2010. Even a 50% improvement in “close games” would be a major leap forward in the standings. And this belies the fact that the club has yet to fully decide on its roster going forward. We’re sitting on a heaping pile of draft picks, right now based on record: three of the top 34. Considering the success with drafting Russell Westbrook fourth last year and the additions of Jeff Green and Kevin Durant the year before, there’s a good chance the team can add at least one, if not two contributors via the draft alone this offseason. In addition, the Thunder are so far below the salary cap that they’ve got plenty of room to maneuver in that area as well. The sun is shining on Oklahoma City. Keep Reading…

Thunder will represent in two summer leagues

by Joe on April 18, 2009 at 3:32 pm 14 Comments

Over at the team site Chris Silva has some bullet highlights from a post season interview with Sam Presti. There’s a lot of stuff in there and it’s worth the read, but here is my favorite part:

The Thunder will participate in both the Orlando and Las Vegas Summer Leagues. Westbrook will play only in Orlando. Serge Ibaka and DeVon Hardin, whose rights are owned by OKC, will probably play in both leagues. Shaun Livingston, D.J. White and Kyle Weaver will also play this summer.

Awesome! Both summer leagues are the bigger, better alternative to the low budget less expensive Rocky Mountain Revue that the previous owners always ran the Sonics through. The Vegas league especially is a pretty big deal. Last summer it had 21 NBA teams participate. The Orlando had 6 teams (one of which was OKC-before they were the Thunder) and Westbrook and Green were first teamers. There will be plenty of coverage of our young guys there and our two new draft picks. You can read the rest of the article here.

It’s just one short month plus one day until the draft lottery (May 19). I think our luckiest player should go and represent us when the ping pong balls come out of the hopper. After Jeff Green’s game winner bank shot against GSW, and his missed free throw putback for the win against Sacramento, Green should be there with a truck load of OU colored rabbits feet.

The playoffs start tomorrow and we didn’t get invited

by Royce Young on April 17, 2009 at 12:26 pm 21 Comments

Man I really wish Oklahoma City was in the playoffs. It just looks like so much fun.

But since we’re not, who will you be rooting for? Everybody’s got that backup team that they’d like to see win if your team can’t. I would have said Portland until Jason Quick informed me that “OKC blows”. But you know what? I like Kobe. I don’t know why, but I just do. So I wouldn’t mind seeing the Lakers win. I would say the Jazz because I love Jerry Sloan and I’d love to see him get a title, but come on, they’ve got no shot. Also, for some reason I’ve always liked Mark Cuban, so the Mavs making a run would be all right with me. This year’s playoffs should be awesome and even though my team’s not involved, I’m still excited to watch. So who’s wagon are you jumping on?

(Also, Hardwood Paroxysm is hosting the TrueHoop Network Playoff Smackdown. My first round picks are in so click there if you want to know the correct picks. Because you know, I’m never wrong. Except in my March Madness pool where I finished fourth. Darn you Louisville.)

Friday Bolts – 4.17.09

by Royce Young on April 17, 2009 at 8:03 am 13 Comments

Bleacher Report finals power rankings with OKC at No. 24: “My personal favorite losing-team to watch currently, the thunderbolt2312 OKC Thunder will be much better next year. Kevin Durant will be an All-Star, and rookie Russell Westbrook will have another year of adjusting to NBA play under his belt. Imagine if the Thunder land another scorer in the draft?”

Kevin Durant took home CelticsBlog’s MIP award: “Though his defense still has a ways to go, Durant made progress in every aspect of the game this season with the most significant coming in his jump from 51.9 to 57.6 true shooting that accompanied a scoring increase from 20.3 to 25.3 points per game. It took just two years for KD to become an elite scorer in this league, and his rebounding, passing and ability to take care of the ball all took a step forward this season as well.”

Chris Silva has the scoop on all the exit interviews for the team. Lots of great information here: “Green will head back to his hometown of Washington, D.C., where he will take more courses towards his degree in Women’s Studies at Georgetown.” Jeff Green is majoring in Women’s Studies? Weird. “If he had to grade his performance this season, Green said he’d give himself a ‘C.’” I’d give him a B+. “Away from the media, Westbrook did say that he might wear protective sleeves on his arms next season; his arms were covered with bruises, scratches and scars from attacking the rim on a regular basis.” Keep Reading…

Top 10 Thunder moments from the 2008-09 season

by Royce Young on April 16, 2009 at 8:02 am 28 Comments

The season is officially over. While the 23-59 record was less than stellar, there sure were some lasting memories made during this maiden season in Oklahoma City. So let’s count ‘em down!

10. Russell Westbrook up, up and over Mario Chalmers

Why do I love that dunk so much? Because one thing Russell became very popular for in college was his soaring dunks over people. And to watch him do it in the NBA on a fast break makes my face tingle. All over. Even my eyeballs.

9. Nick Collison out-hustles Chris Bosh to seal a Thunder win

Maybe it wasn’t the most glamorous play and maybe it didn’t make SportsCenter as a top play, but without Collison’s grit and effort, OKC probably doesn’t win this game. And that can be said for a lot of games this year. Collison did the dirty work that needed be done and this play was a perfect example of exactly what he brings. (Video: Go to the 4:58 mark)

8. Earl Watson dishes off the backboard to Jet Zero for the flush

This was one of those “HOLY CRAP!” plays. And the coolest thing is about at half court, you could see it coming. Russell filled in behind Earl and it just set up perfectly. Nobody better to lay it off to than Westbrook because he always finishes with a little flavor. Keep Reading…

Thursday Bolts – Today Is Next Year… Edition

by Royce Young on April 16, 2009 at 7:55 am 16 Comments

I realize Russell Westbrook dropped in a lot of people’s eyes in the rookie race recently. If I had a vote (and I do in thunderbolt2311 our “blogger” awards) I’d go Derrick Rose, Russell, Brook Lopez in that order. David Thorpe’s has had Westbrook as high as one for most of the season in his rankings and consistently in the top three. Well his final rankings came out and Westbrook is at SEVEN, behind guys like Michael Beasely, Marc Gasol and Kevin Love. What the heck?

Darnell has a clarification on Russell’s “non-committal” stance on Scott Brooks: “Speaking of Brooks, allow me to clear up something from Wednesday’s editions of The Oklahoman. Russell Westbrook was not and is not opposed to Brooks. He was simply saying that the decision was not up to him and never gave a firm answer one way or the other. But I know for a fact that Westbrook enjoys Brooks as a person and as a coach. In fact, while I was interviewing Brooks before the game, Westbrook gave his coach a hard five as he walked by.”

Well this was just unneccesay. Jason Quick of the Oregonian blasts Oklahoma City: “About the only good thing about covering a game in Oklahoma City is that the hotel I stay at is literally 20 feet from the Ford Center. Other than that, it’s easily No. 29 on the NBA tour of cities, even worse than Sacramento and Milwaukee. One reason why? When I arrived here with Oregonian photographer Bruce Ely (second roadie of the year for Bruuuce!), it was about 9:30 p.m. and we were starved. The downtown here might as well have had tumbleweeds blowing through it, but they do have what could pass as a lively section called “Bricktown” – which was within walking distance … OKC blows.” Cool. Keep Reading…

Can we hire Scott Brooks before every game?

by Royce Young on April 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm 20 Comments

Box score Thunder Clippers Basketball

Now that’s the way to take some positive feelings into the summer. The Thunder absolutely embarrassed the Clippers Wednesday night in the season finale by a season-high 41 points, 126-85, and did it with a certain flash and flair.

It was a high-flying, high-intensity all-out assault that was as much fun to watch as any game this season. I seriously think the Thunder may have had something like 40 dunks (actually it was 14). They were coming from everywhere. Shaun Livingston’s awesome oop from Earl Watson. D.J. White’s two-hand destruction barreling down the lane. Russell Westbrook’s double-clutch lob in the third that he followed with a soaring flush that he capped with a little airplane strut. Jeff Green’s aggressive follow-up flush. And on and on and on. Those were just the best ones. I’ve got a post all ready to go for Thursday with the top 10 Thunder moments of the season, but I may have to revise and just post the game film from this game.

I really expected the team to come out with great effort as a way to show unwavering support of Scott Brooks. Boy, they sure did. Backing your leader with a 41-point destruction is a pretty good statement. And it’s good momentum to carry into the offseason. Now the team goes into the next couple months with a direction, a purpose and the feeling that something good is happening.

But man, the Clippers. I’ve read Bill Simmons’ rants about this group, but geez. That was such a poor effort. It’s really hard to describe it unless you watched it. Now a lot of it had to do with the Thunder’s excellent focus, intensity and execution, but a lot of it also had to with the Clippers lack thereof. I had to check and see if P.J. Carlesimo was coaching them. I suppose Mike Dunleavy is in the same ballpark. If the Thunder were sticking up for Coach Scotty, I think the Clips were doing the opposite for their guy. Keep Reading…

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