The Sports Guy wants to get you excited
October 23rd, 2009
Bill Simmons, in his NBA preview today counting down the 33 most intriguing story lines for the season:
6. Kevin Durant
Prediction No. 1: Your 2009-10 scoring champ.Prediction No. 2: Lots of “The NBA’s Hottest Young Superstar!” national stories.
Prediction No. 3: With 10 days to go, the Zombies will be fighting for the eighth playoff spot as everyone says, “Wait, are they going to make the playoffs?”
Not a prediction, but definitely in play: 29-plus points and 8 rebounds per game, with 50-40-90 averages for FG/3FG/FT. Last guy who did it? The Basketball Jesus.
(In other words, hold onto your seats. You’re about to go on a ride.)
I just peed not a little, but a lot.
you know… I’m kinda start’n to like Zombies… Thunder Zombies.
And this can be the song that connects us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VELvq-faGk
This is the best website ever. Where else can you can go from a Saved By The reference one day to Thundercats, too a freakin White Zombie video? This is awesome.
Honestly, drop the Thunder and go with the Zombies. Seriously… change the colors to black, white and red and make the court dark and creepy.
A mobile site? Excellent
@Royce
And he also has the Thunder going 42-40 while the Blazers go 41-41. Show of hands for anyone here who actually think that will happen?
… … …Anyone?
Me thinks Simmons has let his man crush on Durant (though who can blame him?) get the best of his better judgment. Though I’d absolutely LOVE to be wrong!
You know, we’ve been doing a lot of talking about trading for center, like Gortat or Biedrins, but there is one name that none of us has yet mentioned; Marc Gasol. Memphis signed him to mere three-year contract, and I doubt that they will shell out any sort of decent money to keep him when he expires. And when you consider that they just drafted Thabust, their supposed center of the future, they might be willing to part with Gasol. I’d offer them Thomas, Weaver, and maybe the Phoenix pick for Gasol and Marko Jaric’s horrific contract.
We span all globes around here.
@Vega
Hmmm… That’s VERY intriguing. We all know Presti is looking for a big man (see: failed Chandler trade), and it’s a commonly-held belief among frequent posters on this site that he’ll try to acquire a center at some point this season. Considering Memphis’s propensity for horrible trades, the fact that they drafted Thabeet, and our absolute arsenal of assets…
I like the way you think, Vega.
Re: Simmons:
I don’t believe we’re that close to a .500 record with this current lineup, but if we get an inside presence I’d say we’re right there. Simmons’ logic on the Blazers is persuasive when you consider that the Northwest division isn’t going to get any easier this year, and that they’re still playing with the same young lineup that arguably overperformed last year. All bets are off if Oden has a stellar second season, but he has yet to show me anything.
And as my last thought for this VERY long post, I’m curious what everyone around here would think if OKC signed Green for the same amount as Portland just signed LaMarcus Aldridge? Both are undersized PFs who don’t rebound particularly well, but both have a nice jumper and play about the same number of minutes. I could easily see Green’s numbers this year being as good or better than Aldridge’s last year…
5 years/$65 million seems a big excessive, no?
@Vega
Marko Jaric would also bring Adriana Lima with him as well (men in OKC would hope foolishly) but I can’t see the Griz doing that deal and I definitely can’t see Presti sending Thomas, Weaver AND an unprotected lottery pick for Gasol and a career long and not great backup guard.
Gasol looks better, but he’s that different than Krstic to be honest. Just a little younger and MAYBE a little better on the boards. Why do you think they needed a SHOT-BLOCKING/REBOUNDING center in the first place?
@KingGondo
There is no way Green gets that much, and he probably knows that.
*bit excessive, d’oh.
If OKC does become the Zombies, they absolutely have to bring back Robert Swift as mascot. He’s pale and stiff enough to have a tinge of a zombie look, played his entire career dead and might already worship the devil. It’s a no-brainer to me. This HAS to happen. He could replace Rumble (sorry, Rumble) and instantly repay Bennett the money he owes him for sucking.
Imaging what kind of dance moves he could come up with. Zombie Up!
@Dane
Robert Swift would get injured five games in to his first year as mascot.
@KingGondo
I would have Green at 5/45 maybe 50. 65 is way too much.
ESPN’s experts gave Scott Brooks two votes for Coach of the Year. No other love for the Thunder. Hopefully some improvement this year will put some of our players in that mix next year.
42-40? Hmmmm…. Any chance the Sports Guy is trying a reverse jinx out of spite?
@Dane
….worship the devil? Oklahoma Bible thumpin’ state? Naaah!!
But Mascot could stay the same… a Zombiefied Rumble… wait we would get serious hatemail from the native americans around here… hmm…
On a side note how awesome would it be for us to get Rob Zombie to perform at a half time show (Yes a clean version) with him dressed as a zombie wearing a team colored tshirt that said “Simmons” on it?
Steve Nash, Reggie Miller, Mark Price, Larry Bird and Kevin Durant…..that’s some nice company in the 50, 40, 90 club.