Thursday Thunderbolts

Well, the Cubbies lost game one, so I’ll be bummed all day today. Big Z needs to save us in Game Two. Anyway, on to the

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• UPDATE: Single game tickets to go on sale Tuesday: “At 10 a.m. Tuesday, fans can purchase single game tickets through Jan. 18. The Thunder is offering up to 1,500 tickets for each game, including opening night. About 200 tickets will be reserved for game day walk-up sales. Single game tickets will start at $10 and a limited selection of seats are expected to be available throughout the building. Fans can purchase tickets online at thunder.nba.com, at the Ford Center box office or by phone at 1-800-4NBA-TIX. There is a limit of four tickets per transaction.”
• Recliner GM has a little season preview of the Thunder: “The Thunder drafted Durant and Green last year (and Westbrook this year), to be the cornerstones of their franchise. Durant showed enough potential last year to be considered a star in the making, and Green showed flashes as well. This will not be a very good team, and at this point for the franchise, all the OKC fans are looking for is some hope. If Green can improve on his solid rookie season (10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds), they can certainly dream about the potential of these two down the road. In order to do so, Green will have improve his poor shooting % (42.9%) for a 6′9 forward.”

• Sportsline.com has a quick preview capsule: “Player to watch: Joe Smith is a pro’s pro, just the kind of player who can help a contender. The Thunder is the furthest thing from a contender, which would make him a veteran on a young team. Nothing like trade rumors in October.“
• A peak at the starting lineup? Not so fast says P.J. Carlesimo.
• Thunder fans excited to see Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol may have to wait. According to the Oklahoman, Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson is considering holding the two stars out. “This week I’m just seeing how they feel, how’s their energy level, and then we’ll adjust,” Jackson told NBA.com. “I was told not to say that I wasn’t going to play Kobe in exhibition games. So I’m not going to say Kobe’s not going to play in this exhibition game or that exhibition game. But there is a chance they may not play in an exhibition game.”

• A first look into preseason training camp. Looks like they’re having a good time. I just hope they’re getting better at dribbling, passing, shooting… you know, basketball.
  

• And Day Two video with amazing, scintillating breakdown and commentary by Berry Tramel and walking mouth-fart, Darnell Mayberry.
• Mike Baldwin of the Oklahoman on Earl Watson’s teaching ability: “I came in the league with Gary Payton so it will be easy for me to teach him the position, which to me is one of the hardest positions in the NBA,” Watson said. “The transition from college to the NBA at that position is as much mental as physical. It’s an opportunity for me to teach him and get better myself.”
• Blue Blitz has started a “Getting to Know You” spot and the first feature is P.J. Carlesimo: “Anyone who has heard the name P.J. Carlesimo before he became the coach of the SuperSonics last year, probably knew about the time he was choked by Latrell Sprewell. In fact, that’s probably the only thing they knew about him. But, lets start at the beginning…”
• One quick note: It’s time to move on folks. I’m sick of every article about the Thunder having some little snip or quip or lip about the team. Enough. We get it. You think Clay Bennett stole them. You think the name sucks. You think the logo sucks more. You think the road jerseys look like Kramer’s technicolor coat. You think OKC doesn’t have internet and we still have black and white TVs. I get it. But just once, I want to read a preview article, a column or something that isn’t tongue-in-cheek making fun of Oklahoma or the team. We’re a team. We’re named the Thunder. I cringe every time I type it or read it, but it’s time to get over it. Move. The Eff. On.