Daily Thunder.com

Men: Don’t forget the Slam Dunk Competition Valentine’s Day is just, uh, let’s see… five days away. And no, don’t email me asking for ideas. Because I don’t have any either.

UPDATE: Marc Stein’s Power Rankings are out and OKC is this week’s biggest mover, all the way up to No. 21: “Leave it to us to spoil the moment and fixate on the downside of OKC’s 9-9 record — with six of those losses by four points or less — in 2009: Winning the rights to Blake Griffin in the lottery gets tougher with every W.”

The Root on Kevin Durant: “Pardon the cliché; but change has come to Durant’s game. It arrived around the time that final appointees for cabinet positions were announced. In December, Durant mounted an impressive stat line: 25.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 6.5 free throw attempts per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from behind the arc. Then in January, he showed it was no fluke, notching 27.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 8.7 free throw attempts per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and 39.6 percent from deep.”

BDL Behind the Box Score: “LeBron might be the league’s greatest offensive force, Dwyane Wade may have led the league in scoring for most of the year, and Kobe Bryant’s always a bad room service experience away from dropping 57 on you, but I’d be awfully surprised if Kevin Durant didn’t lead the league in scoring in 2010-11. I wouldn’t even mind putting money on him to lead the NBA in points per game next season. No weirdness or exaggeration. Just watch. At this rate, the kid is going to be right there. 39 jaw-dropping points for Durant on Sunday (OK, the four free throws he hit didn’t make my face go all funny, but the other 35 were crazy-hep), and it’s safe to note that this guy absolutely has it. I don’t care that it came against Sacramento, the league’s worst defense. Not interested. Durant is just as pure as they come. The next 17 years are going to be fun as hell.”

Sactown Royalty’s reaction: “When you don’t overcommit, you stand the risk of not really committing. This wasn’t so much a problem against OKC because no team in the league takes fewer threes than the Thunder. But it’s been a problem all year, and the lack of catch-up speed/effort also affects interior rotations. Spencer Hawes commits on rotations, but that usually results in an And-1. Jason Thompson commits on rotations, but that usually results in two free throws. There’s never a back-up plan. If a guard overcommits on a shooter to deny the open three, the player can step in and get an open jumper … because no one is backing up the initial defender.”

Sacramento’s beat writer left the Ford Center with bells in her ears: “My head is still ringing. Oklahoma City fans are loud, even if Spencer Hawes doesn’t want to admit it. As I wrote about in Monday’s Bee, Hawes was quite outspoken about his disdain for the Seattle SuperSonics relocating to Oklahoma City. He called it a “travesty.” Keep Reading…

Box score

The Kings rallied back from a 19 point deficit in the first half to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder forced the Kings into  a tough shot late, and denied them an inbounds pass with 3/10ths of a second to seal the deal and get redemption for the overtime loss in Sacramento on Superbowl Sunday.

Tonight’s game was sort of a study in contrasts with the Kings. In the first half the Kings couldn’t get anything going. They were missing tons of open jumpers and turning the ball over-11 of them in the first half.  Meanwhile the Thunder were playing incredibly well offensively. Spacing the floor, passing the ball and hitting the jumpers. The Thunder had a 38-12 points in the paint advantage at halftime  and a 13 point lead.  Along the way the Thunder shot 62% in the first quarter and 52% in the second, while the Kings shot 48% and 43% respectively.  The Thunder also had a 7 rebound advantage at the half.

In the second half, the Kings were like a different team. They just completely outplayed us in the third. They came out and competed defensively and shot lights out. They had zero turns in the quarter and shot 15-21 (71%). Meanwhile the Thunder opened the quarter going 4-12, causing Brooks to almost light his hair on fire and calling his second timeout to try and settle the team down. Finally Durant caught fire towards the end of the third hitting some jumpers and a pair of threes to end the quarter. During the third the Thunder shot 43% and Durant notched his 30th point.

In the fourth, both teams looked like they were competing on defense, but there were very few stops. Both teams just lit it up.  The Thunder shot 52% in the fourth, while the Kings shot 54%. But what was crazy was the ridiculous three point shooting by the Kings in the fourth, going 6-9 and making the crowd visibly nervous. But the Thunder forced Francisco Garcia into a terrible off balance three pointer to win with 3 seconds left to effectively seal the deal. Had Nick Collison hit his two free throws with 12 seconds left, no late game heroics would have been needed. Keep Reading…

Ok, so those guys in Norcal got the monkey off their backs last week when we had a defensive meltdown. I don’t expect it to happen again. Last week Sacto took us to overtime and managed to give us a black eye, but this time they have to come to OKC and prove it wasn’t a fluke, you see, we aren’t the worst team in basketball anymore….they are, and even a blind squirrel finds an occasional acorn…..

Vs  

OKC offensive rating season: 103                           Sacto offensive rating season: 104.4

OKC off. rating last 5 games: 111.7                        Sacto off. rating last 5 games: 102.9

OKC defensive rating season: 109.2                     Sacto defesnive rating season: 114.7 (last in the NBA)

OKC def. rating last five games: 112.6                  Sacto def. rating last 5 games: 121 (OMG!!)

A quick simple method of sort of “ball parking” a team’s credibility is to note the difference between the offensive and defensive efficiencies. For the Thunder you get -.9 points per 100 possessions using the last five games. Not great, but something close to .500 ball. For the Kings you get a -18.1!! Think ab0ut that for a second. For every 100 possessions that Sacramento partakes of (100 is just a tad bit more than you would find in a standard 48 minute basketball game), they give up 18 points more than they score…….WOW! Can you say “lots of extra ping pong balls”?

For OKC it is notable that the Thunder give up 6.2 points/100 less at the Ford Center than they do on the road. Home court advantage means something in OKC.

They punched us in the nose last week. Lets hope for a nice counterpunch today in OKC.

These days nearly everybody has a cell phone with a camera on it, and most have the ability to shoot video and audio from it as well.  What a great convenience when you need to capture some moment of time to save and share. However, if you are some sort of celebrity, this can be a real pain. Just this week Superstar swimming phenom Michael Phelps’ personal finances  and world credibility took a great hit because a picture surfaced of him with his face buried in a bong at what looks like a house party. In the information era, somebody is always watching or listening it seems.

So I am trying to understand the context behind Carmelo Anthony’s latest comments captured in a Denver Post story. Perhaps he was just talking to to a buddy or teammate completely off the record when some nosy Denver Post reporter happened to be in earshot and captured what was said on his cell phone.  Maybe somehow the words were taken out of context.  Maybe Carmelo has such an inflated self worth that he truly thinks he’s “all that”.  Who knows?

According to the Denver Post, Carmelo, apparently discussing his recent absence from the All Star roster was asked “who is the best small forward in the Western Conference”?  To which Carmelo replied  “I’m the only one out here in the West,” Anthony said Tuesday. “Can you name one better?”… Keep Reading…

I’ve encouraged fans to write in and be part of this blog and I got this awesome email about Kevin Durant the other day about how far he’s come and how far he could go. Really good stuff. Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes and read it.

By John Mietus (john.mietus@gmail.com)

Not often in a lifetime does an unconventional male sporting hero come along. One whom can be defined as a true genius of his trade, a marvel of modern engineering and competitive spirit. Only a few names come to mind as I think of the sporting achievements of men in my lifetime: Gretzky, Federer, Tiger, Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, men whose mental genius outweighs even their physical capability.

Take Gretzky, the slowest skater, perennially on his championship Edmonton Oiler teams. Bird, the worst run/jump athlete to ever star in the NBA, Roger Federer whose thorough dissection courtesy of David Foster Wallace reads like a manual into the mind of the greatest unusual tennis champion of all time. What cannot be measured in athletics is the mind’s ability to process and react within a fraction of a second, finding the razor’s edge margin between victory and defeat, and allowing the finest of the champions to stand out not only for their physical prowess but also their mental acuity. I hesitate to even use the term “mental” as if this type of genius is something that can be taught or learned. It’s a gift. And so few have it that it remains infinitely recognizable, even in a sea of sports culture. Even within the confines of statistics and SportsCenter highlights, even within a world of critics and haters, it stands out.  Keep Reading…

Amirite?

KD: 43 minutes, 31 points, three boards, two assists, no turnovers.

Greg Oden: 16 minutes, four points, two rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and four fouls.

Ben from Blazer’s Edge:

At this point in his career, Greg Oden doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same paragraph with Kevin Durant, let alone the same sentence.  One is a polished, all-purpose threat who plays with a joy for the game, confidence and passion, doing everything from knocking down pull-up 3s to blocking Joel Przybilla shot attempts.  The other can’t stay on the court for a week straight and has made zero adjustments, mentally or physically, to give his coach a reason to play him.  Nate has temporarily lost confidence in him.  And Greg knows it.  That’s a vicious cycle for someone with Greg’s demeanor.  Greg’s roller coaster rookie season continues.  The truth hurts.

But who cares about all that? That’s not what was important tonight for Thunder fans. The important thing was Oklahoma City never trailed and put a pretty solid beat down on a really good Blazers team, winning 102-93 in front of a frenzied Ford Center tonight. The Thunder outplayed the Blazers in every way. Shot better from the field, hit more free throws, turned it over less (I know, can you believe that?), outrebounded them, had more assists, had more steals and SCORED MORE POINTS. Great game. Probably the best of the season.

Check out tonight’s four factors, a clean sweep.

             Pace       Effe              FG          FT/FG     OREB%     TOr
POR     89.0     104.5          48.8%        18.8             22.0          14.6
OKC                 114.6          51.3%        25.0            28.2           11.2

Why am I so excited? Do I not realize OKC is still 12-38? Well, that sure beats the heck out of being 11-39. And in this new year, we’re looking at a .500 team and I’d love to keep that up. After three lackluster defensive games and everyone wondering if OKC could stop anybody without Desmond Mason, the Thunder cashed in a gem defensively and won its first game post-Desmond. OKC held the Blazers to 45 percent from the field for the game, but worked their tail off all night. The Thunder rotated and helped as good as it has all year. They blocked shots. They were physical. And they got big stops when they needed them. The Blazers scored just 40 points in the first half to OKC’s 60 and if it weren’t for a little late run, Portland would have been lucky to crack 80.

The Thunder were lights out in the first quarter, lighting the Blazers up for 37. Then more in the second, throwing up 33. And then more in the third, racing to an 81-69 lead on an awesome sequence. Joe Smith rotated over and rejected Brandon Roy at the rim. Earl Watson (who was fantastic tonight) scooped up the ball and zoomed down court. He had KD on his right and everyone thougth an oop to The Delicious One was coming. But Earl dropped a behind the back bounce pass right into Jeff Green’s breadbasket and Green sent the ball tearing through the net – literally. The Ford Center was electric. But there was about a 15 minute delay as the net was replaced at the Thunder end.  All the momentum was sucked out of OKC at that moment and the Blazers went on a 9-0 run as soon as play resumed. Everybody started to get that little squirmy feeling where you’re looking at the scoreboard every three seconds to see if they have gotten any closer. But the Thunder responded and closed. I’ll admit, I was pretty worried there for a second, but Watson got to the line and knocked down two and KD had a big bucket. The Thunder played too well to lose this one. I’m glad they didn’t. Keep Reading…

vs.

Portland Trail Blazers (30-18, 12-13 road) vs. OKC Thunder (11-38, 8-18 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 102.8 (28th), Portland: 113.6 (2nd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.3 (21st), Portland: 109.1 (19th)
Pace: Thunder: 93.7 (7th), Portland: 86.1 (30th)

The story lines are there. We got Oden vs. Durant for the first time. We’ve got the “rivalry,” that really isn’t a rivalry at all. The slow-it-down Blazer offense against the high-tempo OKC game. Blazer head coach Nate McMillan against his former team – sort of.

But the best storyline is that it’s a Friday night game against an exciting team that I hope to be like in the next one or two years. The Blazers have built a contender through primarily the draft, the same way Sam Presti is trying to do, and have a strong, young core.

As for the game, the Blazers are on a quick three-game roadie and lost at Dallas Wednesday night. But like a lot of teams, they’re very mediocre on the road (12-13). Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge will be a handful for the Thunder tonight because OKC really can’t match that size inside. While there’s a bunch of big guys at OKC’s disposal, I don’t know if any of them really match up all that well. And Brandon Roy is one of my favorite professional athletes. He’s the rare combination of Glue Guy that does all the little things with superstar talent. I wish OKC had him. I wish he could be my favorite player.

But instead of your typical, what we need to do, what they do well, who’s gonna win thing, I did a little question and answer with OregonLive.com and you can find that HERE. And they were kind enough to return the favor as Sean Meagher answered a few questions: Keep Reading…

Really fun post from Low Posts on classic NBA gaffes and goofs. I love seeing these super-human guys look incredibly human: “Have you ever seen something so unbelievably bad, that you need to watch the replay three or four times before you can believe it actually happened? For me, the defining moment can in the mid-’90’s, when I watched Shawn Bradley brick a sky hook of the side of the backboard just a few feet away from my seat. I’m sure that every fan has their own version of the Bradley shot, and you’re more than welcome to share them in the comments. Let’s take a look at some of worst plays and funniest moments in NBA history.”

Someone is ready to say the Blazers messed up: “Here’s the problem though, Blazer fans: “Your rapidly-ascending squad could have been better. Much, much better. As in, NBA powerhouse. Not just next year. Not just in a few years. Not just several years down the road. I’m talking about right now. It’s been nearly 25 years since the Blazers passed over Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie, and while Durant is no Jordan (and Oden, for his sake, is no Bowie — at least not yet), the Blazers may again find themselves selling the franchise short of what it could have been.”

Who’s ready for some G-E-I-C-O? Yep, our world got sadder. The NBA sold the naming rights to H-O-R-S-E: “Sports are often made for TV. And TV is made for advertisers. So it shouldn’t surprise — especially as all sports are scrambling to find new places to hang “for sale” signs given the current economy — that the NBA’s first H-O-R-S-E contest won’t use those letters. As that contest joins dunking and three-point shooting contests as part of TNT’s NBA All-Star Weekend coverage, the as-yet unnamed three contestants — who’ll be overseen by an NBA ref — will play G-E-I-C-O. As in the insurance company that will be the event’s unavoidable sponsor. (Suggestion: The winner then takes on the famous ad lizard to really drive home the brand awareness.)”

I stumbled across this little NBA Draft preview from last year on Deadspin. Pretty spot on: “I’ll admit it: Westbrook has seduced me with his athleticism. He can sprint and slash, and explodes off the ground like NASA built him. He’s not a great ball-handler and can’t hit consistently from distance, but he’s an above average passer who has shown a knack for improvement. He has strong work ethic and an aching hunger to play defense. He has…I can’t believe I’m saying it…incredible upside.” 

And in the same vein, Draft Express takes a retroactive look at Westbrook (really great stuff… read it): “Fast forward nine months, and it looks like another in a quickly growing line of excellent decisions made by the Thunder GM, as Westbrook has put all those doubts to rest in impressive fashion. Oklahoma City’s starting point guard has been arguably the best rookie in the class to date, even though he just turned 20 in November and is only three years removed from being seen as just a mid-major prospect. In the fifth installment of our new “Rookie Retrospective” series, we’ll be taking a look at another future star right in the thick of the Rookie of the Year race.” Keep Reading…