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Thunder vs. Pistons: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on November 12, 2012 at 4:48 pm 2,672 Comments

vs.

OKC Thunder (5-2, 1-1 road) vs. Detroit Pistons (0-7, 0-1 home)

TV: FS OK (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: 6:30 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 106.1 (7th), Pistons– 99.3 (22nd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 97.8 (5th), Pistons – 111.8 (29th)
Pace: Thunder – 94.4 (6th), Pistons – 92.0 (22nd)

View from the enemy: Piston Powered

Scott Brooks made a good point after the Cavs game Sunday that it’s a pretty nice break to get to play the only two games against the Pistons so close together. They’ve only had one game since OKC played them meaning nothing is going to really change in the scouting report. In terms of preparation, there really shouldn’t be much to it. And not just because the Pistons stink. Keep Reading…

Thunder Player Power Rankings: Sergeing

by Royce Young on November 12, 2012 at 12:15 pm 323 Comments

Doug Pensinger/NBAE/Getty Images

WEEK 1

We all know how an NBA season works. About the ebbs and flows, the ups and downs, the high and lows. We know how it’s not wise to read too much into any win, nor any loss. Don’t focus on a great performance and don’t dwell on a bad one.

The NBA season is best evaluated in bulk sample sizes. Weeks of play, or even months. Because one stretch of ugly play can quickly turn around and become a winning streak pretty easily. The Thunder are about to close out a second week of play, which should provide a decent amount of data and tape to get a little feel on the team.

After a 1-2 start and some iffy on the future of the season, the Thunder have turned things around fairly effortlessly, returning the normalcy of winning to the fold. This last week saw four wins and no losses and while the opponents weren’t the most impressive thing, the Thunder’s work on the defensive end as well as the appearance of turning a corner offensively send out a pretty positive message.

But just like that, the positivity of a week can’t spin on its head and a three-game losing streak send worry and anxiety rippling throughout the media and fanbase. Though again, making any sweeping determination about any team this early is premature, I think the Thunder have established firmly that they are still good even after trading James Harden.

Now, let’s rank. Keep Reading…

Monday Bolts – 11.12.12

by Royce Young on November 12, 2012 at 9:13 am 225 Comments

Jeremy Bauman of Sheridan Hoops on Serge Ibaka: “It’s easy to fall in love with a player as talented and quirky as James Harden and his beard were; he embodied the Thunder tradition and what they were all about… But when you have a 23-year old Congolese native who speaks five (yes, five) languages, who has proven that he’s clearly a quick learner, who is still beginning to scratch the surface of his limitless potential as a forward in the NBA, it should help to ease the pain for Thunder management and fans, alike.”

Darnell Mayberry: “Kendrick Perkins played well again. That’s now two straight games after a dud in Chicago. He had 10 points, five boards and one pretty assist to Ibaka. He also held Anderson Varejao in check, helping to limit the Wild Child to just one offensive board. I wouldn’t make any bold proclamations after two encouraging performance. But it looks like Perk is turning the corner.” Keep Reading…

Behind a Westbrook spark, OKC finishes Cleveland 106-91

by Royce Young on November 11, 2012 at 9:44 pm 250 Comments

BOX SCORE

Finally.

It took seven games, but the Thunder finally put a complete game together and gave us a little taste of what they might look like when they’re fully operational. Explosive runs (heh), energized, intense defense, scorers scoring and a dynamic offensive attack piling up points in a hurry.

This is a painfully obvious statement but the Thunder are a dangerous team when their best players play well. What makes them elite is that they can win when they don’t, but when things click, look out. When Kevin Durant scores in rhythm, when the bench chips in, when defense turns to offense, when they get out in the open floor and when Russell Westbrook is knocking down shots, there’s no good way to stop them. And Russell Westbrook was Russell Westbrookin’ big time tonight.

The Cavs had closed on Oklahoma City a bit in the third, cutting it to three, 76-73, with 2.7 seconds left. The ball went in to Westbrook, he buzzed up to halfcourt and threw a missile at the backboard that caught an angle perfectly and rattled in.

“I say it was about 80 percent luck, about 20 percent Russell,” said Kevin Durant. Keep Reading…

Cavs vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on November 11, 2012 at 3:31 pm 1,045 Comments

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Cleveland Cavaliers (2-4, 1-3 road) vs. OKC Thunder (4-2, 3-1 home)

TV: FS OK (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 – 105.6 (9th), Cavs– 102.4 (15th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 98.5 (5th), Cavs – 107.1 (26th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.9 (11th), Cavs – 96.2 (1st)

View from the enemy: Cavs: The Blog

Question: Is this the most interesting matchup yet at home this season? The Hawks are definitely better than the Cavs and there’s more history with the Blazers, but in terms of intriguing players, the Cavs bring the best roster, right? Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters is probably the most interesting group to play in OKC this season. Keep Reading…

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Thunder Trax

by Royce Young on November 10, 2012 at 9:17 am 869 Comments

Happy weekend. Thanks for your support of Daily Thunder. Winning is more fun than losing.

Having KD mic’d up is nice, but give the people what they want: Perk. The Inside Trax might just be two continuous minutes of bleeping, but that would still be amazing.

OKC handles business against the Pistons, 105-94

by Royce Young on November 9, 2012 at 11:11 pm 165 Comments

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

BOX SCORE

Clearly, it was the jerseys. Undefeated in the new duds.

The basics here: The Thunder beat the now 0-6 Pistons, 105-94. Serge Ibaka set a new career-high with 25 points, KD finally scored 25 and added 13 rebounds with it and Kendrick Perkins tied for the team lead with six assists.

Really though, outside of the Pistons winning, nothing from this game was likely to be all that notable. The Thunder were going to win, probably fairly comfortably. This is one of those games that I’d file in the 40-degree win category. No big lesson, not really memorable at all. It just happened, that’s it.

And while the Thunder moved to 4-2, winning their third straight, I’d say this: They haven’t really played one good game yet this season. At least in terms of everything clicking and their best players performing to the capability. Keep Reading…

Pistons vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on November 9, 2012 at 3:26 pm 1,377 Comments

vs.

Detroit Pistons (0-5, 0-4 road) vs. OKC Thunder (3-2, 2-1 home)

TV: FS OK (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: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 103.6 (12th), Pistons– 101.1 (23rd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 97.5 (5th), Pistons – 113.1 (28th)
Pace: Thunder – 94.3 (9th), Pistons – 91.8 (24th)

View from the enemy: Piston Powered

Most exciting thing about this game: Alternate uniforms! Because holy crap, the Pistons are terrible and not fun.

The win over the Bulls is especially nice because the Thunder have a chance to put a few good wins under their belt ahead. Pistons, Cavs, Pistons again, Memphis at home, Hornets and the Warriors before the Clippers come to town. That’s a realistic chance to win eight in a row and go to 10-2. Or at least seven of eight. Keep Reading…

OKC Thunder (5-2, 1-1 road) vs. Detroit Pistons (0-7, 0-1 home)

Cleveland Cavaliers (2-4, 1-3 road) vs. OKC Thunder (4-2, 3-1 home)

Detroit Pistons (0-5, 0-4 road) vs. OKC Thunder (3-2, 2-1 home)

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