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Practice Report: Kevin Durant in the post

by Royce Young on December 11, 2012 at 3:36 pm 454 Comments

D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

What makes Kevin Durant, well, Kevin Durant, is that he never sees himself a finished product. Despite having one of the most unstoppable, most complete, most well-rounded offensive games in the world, Durant approaches every summer, every practice, every shootaround, every game, as an opportunity to get better at something.

He talks about “getting better every day” ad nauseum, almost to the point where it seems like he says it without even realizing it. Like it’s just his talking point. But it’s not. He genuinely is trying to get better every single second, every single day.

We’ve seen it since his rookie year. He’s improved his strength. Improved his ability to get open. Improved his handle. Improved his passing. Improved moving without the ball. Improved his vision. Improved his defense. His rebounding, his leadership, his finishing, his left hand. Keep Reading…

Tuesday Bolts – 12.11.12

by Royce Young on December 11, 2012 at 12:11 pm 183 Comments

Zach Lowe of Grantland: “Perhaps the league’s biggest disappointment, the 4-18 Raptors have bigger deals to consider than any involving their December 15 crew; the whole NBA knows the Andrea Bargnani/Jose Calderon package is an almost perfect salary fit for Gasol, though the Lakers’ front office has presumably watched Bargnani shoot bricks and play some of the worst help defense in the league.” The Raptors are almost flirting with being TOO bad.

Darnell Mayberry on KD working for 50-40-90: “If he’s going to finally achieve his goal this season, Kevin Durant can’t have many more nights like he did Sunday. The exclusive club in which he seeks membership doesn’t allow for it. Fortunately for Durant, if this is what his off nights look like these days he’s probably in good shape.” Keep Reading…

Thunder Player Power Rankings: Rolling

by Royce Young on December 10, 2012 at 1:26 pm 905 Comments

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5

The Thunder’s progression of the first quarter of the season year over year:

After 21 games in 2008-09: 2-19

After 21 games in 2009-10: 12-9

After 21 games in 2010-11: 14-7

After 21 games in 2011-12: 17-4

After 21 games this season: 17-4

And here’s what looms this week: Home games against the Hornets and Kings. There’s a very good chance the Thunder are headed for their best start in Oklahoma City history. Keep Reading…

Monday Bolts – 12.10.12

by Royce Young on December 10, 2012 at 11:10 am 153 Comments

OKC’s No. 1 in NBA.com’s power rankings: “Last season, the Thunder scored 5.3 points per 100 possessions more than the league average. This season: 9.2, making them the best offensive team since the 2003-04 Mavericks. On Sunday, they rolled through the Pacers’ defense, which ranked No. 1 before the game started. The only teams that have held them under a point per possession are the Spurs and … the Pistons.”

Ian Levy for HP on shot selection: “Durant definitely seems to trend towards the shooting himself into a rhythm thread as well – nearly 40% of his shots in the first quarter come from mid-range. From there to the third quarter his mid-range attempts steadily decline while his three-point attempts and shots in the restricted area climb. In the fourth quarter his distribution is fairly consistent but his efficiency is particularly note-worthy – his eFG% is at least 53.0% from every area of the floor.” Keep Reading…

OKC wakes up in time to slide past Indy, 104-93

by Royce Young on December 9, 2012 at 9:34 pm 566 Comments

BOX SCORE

After Kevin Durant started off the game with consecutive airballs, everyone was saying the same thing: Haven’t I already seen this movie?

It wasn’t a sequel to Thunderstruck though. It was real life and Durant wasn’t playing well. And neither were the Thunder.

“Our first half was one of the worst we’ve played this year,” said Durant “It was one of those games. Grind out game where you got to push through.” Keep Reading…

Pacers vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on December 9, 2012 at 3:57 pm 1,221 Comments

vs.

Indiana Pacers (10-10, 5-7 road) vs. OKC Thunder (16-4, 10-2 home)

TV: 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: 6:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 113.6 (1st), Pacers– 9982 (28th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.5 (10th), Pacers – 99.6 (2nd)
Pace: Thunder – 92.5 (12th), Pacers – 90.1 (28th)

View from the enemy: 8 Points, 9 Seconds

Can the train keep on a rollin’ tonight against the Pacers? The NBA season is so full of ebbs and flows, highs and lows. It’s just not possible for a team to be up every game, to be ready to play. That’s not meant to say a team can’t win on those nights — that’s what truly separates the average groups from the great ones. Keep Reading…

TGR 83: Let Westbrook be Westbrook

by Thunderground Radio on December 9, 2012 at 9:27 am 304 Comments

This week Jared Dubin of HoopChalk.com joins Brad to talk all things Russell Westbrook as well as a general overlook of the Eastern Conference elite and everyone’s favorite controversy team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Topics of conversation include:

Westbrook’s postgame, including his passing out of the post

Russ’ improvement year to year

Why Westbrook is Jared’s favorite non-Knick NBA player

Scott Brooks’ rotations

Why the Knicks are working

… And much more

Download, listen and comment.

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Saturday Morning Cartoons: Thunderstruck, opened

by Royce Young on December 8, 2012 at 12:17 pm 175 Comments

Good weekend. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. No more 8:30 games, please.

Riveting video here, you guys. Some guy actually made a video “unboxing” KD’s movie. I love YouTube. But hey, a reminder that “Thunderstruck” is out on Blu Ray and DVD, so if you’re looking for a Christmas gift, there you go. And you know what, it’s not terrible.

Indiana Pacers (10-10, 5-7 road) vs. OKC Thunder (16-4, 10-2 home)

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