Daily Thunder.com

Very interested post.

If interested:

Durant takes the 6th most 16-23 footers in the league but on a FG% of 42% compared to league FG% of 40%. Among those who take 5+ of these a game his FG% is right at the median. He probably is better late in games though.

Krstic makes this list too in the shortest minutes of anybody, at 41% FG%.

Green fewer attempts but is still in the top 25% on attempts but at 32% FG%. Only 1 player who took more attempts shot worse and Green tied for 2nd with McGrady.
Westbrook at 38% FG and Thabo at 27% last season.

The Thunder 4th highest in the league on 16-23 foot attempts and 2nd lowest of that FG%.

@Chris
Not a bad idea. I think I can swing this. Let me get organized and we'll try it. (Last contest, the draft one, we had like... well, a BUNCH of entrants and it was hard to get them all sorted.)

As someone said earlier 40% is pretty close to the after new year win percentage from last year. Maybe I am being too optimistic but I would like to see that number go up even if just a little, I think 38 wins would be the perfect number. Any chance we can get a win total contest going Royce? Maybe KD's ppg as a tie breaker...? Awesome prize (t-shirt) for the winner?

@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I guess we are of differing opinions here. I'm specifically seeing KD as a star, and the rules really are different for stars. I've seen Lebron, Wade, and Kobe win games from the free throw line all the time. The team denies the layup, but seems to invariably be called for a foul. And when I see the refs swallow their whistle, it seems to have more to do with who is committing the foul than if a foul was or was not committed.

@Keith

I don't think your strategy is a bad one, but I also don't think it's as easy as that. I don't have any stats to back this up, but in my mind, refs swallow their whistle that late in a game. You know a team isn't willing to be beat in the last seconds by a layup, so you know the D will be tough, the shot will be tough, and the contact will be tough with a slimmer than normal chance of a whistle. I think a pick and roll or drive and kick scenario to get a guy an open shot from 18 may be just as effective in that scenario (9.2 seconds left).

I just don't see refs putting guys on the free throw line to win it all unless the foul just can't be ignored, and most are ignored that late in the game.

I believe the Thunder should have kept Tre Kelley. He would have helped provide stability at the point gaurd position and when comfort set in possibly have some big scoring nights.
I'm not speaking down on Livingston or Ollie, but after Westbrook takes the bench with his pure athleticism you're not left with much to control the floor. I know Livingston was on his way to superstardom but he will never get that back again and Ollie is 37.
Other than that I think they should have a pretty decent season. That is unless things get out of hand in the beginning of the season again and looking at the schedule it very well could.

@scott
U-Verse has Fox Sports and KSBI so the answer is yes

@Jax Raging Bile Duct
And how many games did we lose by 5 or less? Free throws are free points for this team. I accept the premise that Durant can hit a 20 footer at a high rate, but deny the conclusion that it is more effective to shoot a 20 footer than get within 5 feet and draw contact.

I'm trying to remember if any of our buzzer beaters last year, resulting in a win or a loss, was done on the free throw line. I can't think of any.

Edit: "most game-winners being jumpers"

@Royce
No offense, but we had a huge problem last year settling for jumpers when there was no reason. And as for most game-winners being three pointers, that's probably because of one of two things. One, the game winner was a three pointer. Two, there wasn't time to get all the way to the basket. When I look at the best players in the game (Lebron, Wade, Kobe) I see guys who primarily drive and get fould (Lebron, Wade) and one guy who can hit any shot but still is more likely to try drawing a foul than take a 20 footer at the buzzer. I know I'm exaggerating a bit, but the final 60 seconds of a basketball game has been made nearly as long as an entire quarter with tons of fouls. Nobody just "let's them play" anymore.

does at&t u-verse in oklahoma city have all of the thunder games?

ESPN power rankings are in with OKC at # 21....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2010&week=0

We have a chance to beat anyone on any given night. But 5 out of the first 6 games we will be underdogs.

kings, pistons and rockets are winnable games, blazers and lakers are possible if we play great and get lucky

@KB
I feel that. I wouldn't say must-win, but a loss to a team that we should be, especially at HOME, would be a little deflating. Actually a lot deflating.

For the first time EVER, I'm getting nervous about the Thunder game tomorrow. I say it is a must win against a team that is widely considered one of the worst teams in the league. After that we start a stretch of 5 very good teams (maybe not Detroit). All I'm saying is it could be a very lonnngg start to the season if they lose tomorrow. If they win, hopefully it will be a jump start to a better season. I'm just a little nervous, must win in my book.

Durant last season had 11 three 3 point make games and 16 five 3 pt attempt games.

Granger had 37 three 3 point make games and 55 five 3 pt attempt games.

Durant needs to become like Granger in this regard.
Or go even further.

Good luck.

@Keith
I'm sorry you didn't like it. If I remember right, over 70 percent of game winners are jumpshots, not free throws or layups. You won't get calls in the lane most times under 10 seconds. And if you do in the lane, you'll get mugged and you're leaving the game in the hands of a referrees whistle. I'd rather not do that and put the ball in the hands of an excellent shooter is can be automatic on a jumper.

@Boots
I've had it for a while now. A reader made it for me. It's pretty cool.

I want to be on board with all this, but that play really is dumb. If you are down one, you take the ball to the hole and either get a much easier close shot or fouled (most likely fouled given how NBA games are officiated). Both KD and Westbrook are good free throw shooters. How do you not run a play with a high percentage of leading to free throws? If you are down by two and going for the win, you set up a three point shooter. If you are down by two and just playing for overtime, you STILL take the ball to the hole. Not to mention, KD is "the next best thing." If people breathe on him too hard he will be shooting free throws in the future.

That said, I think this is a 35-40 win team. KD's superstardom will win us a couple games on it's own when he puts half a team in foul trouble and takes 18 free throws. Also, my biggest concern last year was PG play and offensive flow. I think Westbrook has made huge strides and our offense won't look so painful next year. Defense wins championships, but we aren't a championship team anyway. Defense will come with experience and coaching, and when it does we will have the pieces in place to compete with anybody. I can't fathom playoffs until we get a legitimate big man. The West is too good and big men are too important on both ends of the court.

Is that DT logo new? I've only been following a few months, so it could be older. It looks sexy though.

I know we will be better than last year, but the total inability of our guards to hit open shots will prevent too big a jump.

The "Alamanac" refers to 08-09, not 09-10.

If "The Play" is a 20 footer from anyone they don't have the right priorities.

“Nick can make jump shots,” said coach Scott Brooks.
Same hard to let pass nonsense that PJ floated at the start of last season.

Thunder was 20-30 to close the season. True but the most favorable slicing. They were also 10-21 to close the season. Beginning with game 33 they were 10-9. I think it is appropriate to note that this about the time a college season peaks. The young guys still more on that seasonal "biological clock"? That will eventually have to change, extend.

Talked to a thunder rep. I told him what an atrocity Thunder up is.. and to my suprise.. HE sounded suprised... but said he would tell the marketing people... (also let him know everyone I have talked to didn't like it) *crosses fingers*

I really like this team but I'm trying my best not to get too optimistic... I think that comes from being an OU fan that is used to getting his hopes up for the big games, only to be denied...

After the 3-29 start, they went 20-30, which is a win percentage of 40%. If they win only 34, that's still just about 40%. If they just maintain that percentage from the latter part of last season, I don't see how that's much improvement.

@Dai
I hope you're right.

I think OKC will be better than 34 wins.