For much of the past week, discussion on this website has been centered around the theoretical acquisition of Oklahoma City’s first professional superstar, Chris Paul. And while the debate has raged between those who agree with me and think, “If you can a player as good as CP3, you do it,” and those people who are wrong, there is nothing close to unanimity on the topic.
So, today, I will try to change the subject and delve into another trading opportunity the Thunder could theoretically, but probably not, have. The idea came to me when I read this article (insider access required) by Chad Ford. For those without ESPN Insider, the gist of the article circled around the pipe dream that Miami might possibly woo both LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join a re-signed Dwyane Wade in the Summer of 2010.
The likelihood such a haul is irrelevant to this discussion, as what really matters is the Heat’s managment’s willingness to do what it takes for a chance to make the biggest free agent splash in NBA history. Because it would take a lot. A LOT. And that’s just for the opportunity to possibly coax those two into turning down a lot of other attractive opportunities.
Some of you may be wondering, “what does this have to do with the Thunder?” That’s a good question. Ford layed out three scenarios in which Miami could make a run at next Summer’s three premiere free agents. Numbers one and three were basically non-starters with the former involving sign and trades (which would be practically impossible for a Heat team that would basically have an empty roster) and the latter asking the three superstars to accept less so they could all play together (that only happens when players are trying to get a ring at the end of their careers).
That leaves the second scenario, for which Oklahoma City could get very involved. See what and how after the jump.
Read more…
Commentary
BOX SCORE
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hey, at least it was just a 14 point loss and not double that. Right? RIGHT?
Here’s what I’m telling myself: I wanted a split and a split is what I got. So the back end of this Florida back-to-back was very ugly. Very. Ugly. But yet, Oklahoma City comes home 6-6 with a winnable game Friday night.
Yes, that was a whooping. Yes, it doesn’t feel good. There are a TON of negatives to take out of that game, but consider: This was the fourth road game in five days for a very young team and the sixth overall in nine days. Oh, and playing at a fully rested Orlando Magic team that played for the big trophy last year. It’s not justification, it’s reality. This is a league where you play 82 times. Mail in efforts happen and they happen a lot. The Lakers just got walloped twice last week. The Nuggets took a beating a couple games ago. Heck, the Magic got smoked by some team by 28 if I remember right. Read more…
Recap
Orlando Magic
vs. 
TV: KSBI-52 (Cox 15, HD 715)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CST
View from the enemy: Orlando Magic Daily
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 102.9 (23rd), Magic – 108.8 (9th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 99.5 (4th), Magic – 103.4 (13th)
Pace: Thunder – 90.6 (25th), Magic – 91.7 (22nd)
Onward. A goal was to come back to OKC with a split. Now that’s locked away. So a sweep… well, that would be outstanding.
History would say that since Oklahoma City played so well last night that it will come out flat and under-perform tonight. But that’s only happened when a lackluster team follows the good game. So now you’ve got a really good team, with the Thunder coming off a big win. So I guess I would expect a loss, which means OKC will probably win which means I have no idea. I guess. I just don’t know what to think anymore. Read more…
Preview
Orlando Magic
I think all of us in Oklahoma City (or those that watch this team nightly) know what a defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha is.
He’s catching more national attention with stellar games against Kobe, Brandon Roy and Dwyane Wade, but for the most part, he’s not in the Top Defender discussion. But we all know he should be. A lot of times, in the NBA, defense is all about reputation. Have a couple nice games in the playoffs in front of everybody and your reputation is locked in as a great defender. Do it for five years and have the great players compliment you constantly, and you earn the reputation. But do it for a team in a small market that more still perceive as “sucky” and its hard to gain traction.
So I’m here to try and start creating that reputation for Thabo. I’ve watched him for about 30 games now and the guy is outstanding. Just outstanding. He plays with energy every night. He hits the glass. He helps. He cuts off passing lanes. He blocks shots. I think he defends three guys at a time. He. Does. It. All. You can see Thabo’s face lighting up to the challenge of guarding a great player. Some guys want to shoot it 20 times. Some want the glamour of a big highlight dunk. Thabo is in it because he wants to lock you down. Read more…
Commentary
Thabo Sefolosha
Not surprisingly, KD swishes it. As told to Art Garcia of NBA.com:
“I have a lot of respect for Michael Jordan and LeBron is one of my best friends, so whatever he wants to do as far as his own number I’m behind. But I also know who came before me,” Durant said. “Nothing against MJ, but if you retire his number around the league, what about Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor? And all of the other great players who went before?
“If you’re going to do that for Michael, you should do the same for the rest of those guys. Whatever happens, happens. I just don’t think guys like Russell and Robertson and Chamberlain should be forgotten.”
Riff Raff
Kevin Durant
A little announcement: In production is a series of wildly awesome Daily Thunder T-Shirts or as my wife likes to 
say, “DT-Shirts.” It’s a collaboration project between mwah and Tree and Leaf Clothing, who does awesome work. I’m just kind of putting this out there to hopefully get people excited and when they drop in the near future, you feel comfortable about laying your cash money on the table for one. So far, we’ve got five or six designs and are probably doing more. It’s all very exciting.
Livingston’s surgery a success: “Thunder guard Shaun Livingston underwent a successful minor arthroscopic procedure today to resolve swelling in his left knee. During the procedure, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Bill Clancy, a loose anchor was removed from Livingston’s left knee. The anchor was originally placed during a previous surgery. “Shaun Livingston had successful minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee,” said Dr. James Andrews. “His knee surfaces and previously repaired ligaments look excellent. He should be back to 100% in a few weeks.” It is estimated that Livingston will be out 3-4 weeks.” Read more…
Bolts
BOX SCORE
(AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
I have no idea what is going on here. This actually comes to mind.
So the Thunder drops a bad one at home to the Clippers. Then heads out on the road – the place they were 8-33 last year – and beats the 7-2 Miami Heat 100-87. That gives Oklahoma City its third straight road win, the first time that has happened for this franchise since 2007. Did we see this coming? Yes and no.
I think it’s clear this team is going to win games. If you picture them at all like last year’s group, just forget it. This is like a Wayne Knight transformation. Like I’ve said, it’s not about hoping to be competitive anymore. That was last year. But it’s also not really about expecting wins. This team is at the point where you expect to have a CHANCE to win. And when you do that, you come out on top a lot of the time. Read more…
Recap
Miami Heat
vs. 
Oklahoma City Thunder (5-5, 3-2 road) vs. Miami Heat (7-2, 5-1 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 753)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:30 CST
View from the enemy: Hot Hot Hoops
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 101.9 (25th), Heat – 105.9 (16th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 99.5 (4th), Heat – 99.2 (3rd)
Pace: Thunder – 90.9 (25th), Heat – 90.8 (26th)
Can someone tell me why the HEAT always capitalize their name? I’ve always wondered this but never wanted to ask. So I am now. Why do they shout their name at us? Anyone?
Anycrap, Oklahoma City travels to Florida for a two-game tilt in Miami and Orlando. Right on time too because the weather decided to get extremely cold here in Oklahoma. So enjoy your sun boys. This is a game last year where I watch only to hope to see a competitive team. I watch just to hope it finishes in single digits. This year, I’m not EXPECTING a win, but I’m watching because I realistically could see one. Read more…
Preview
Miami Heat
Ah, so this is why he hasn’t been playing. From a press release:
Thunder forward Shaun Livingston will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee it was announced today by the team. “Recently, Shaun has experienced an increase in swelling following activity,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Although his knee is structurally sound, after consulting with the Thunder medical staff and Dr. James Andrews, it was determined that the best course of action was to perform a minor procedure to resolve the swelling and allow Shaun to continue full activity in the coming weeks.”
Dr. Andrews will perform the surgery today, in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Andrews will remove staples from Livingston’s knee that have recently caused some swelling in the knee. The staples were originally placed during Livingston’s knee reconstruction that was performed by Dr. Andrews on March 13, 2007.
A timetable for Livingston’s return will be determined after the procedure.
News
Shaun Livingston
UPDATE: I guested on the Thunder Madness’s podcast this week. Listen to it. And subscribe if you see fit. 
Nice story from Darnell Mayberry on Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant: ”Durant wanted to reach out to Michael Beasley, but what would he say? The Thunder’s star had never been admitted into a rehabilitation center as Beasley was in mid-August, never felt like it’s not worth living and never got so frustrated that he needed to publicly declare that the world was against him. “I didn’t want to be the guy that said the same things everybody else had said,” Durant said. “So I just prayed for him. That’s all I could do because I didn’t know what to tell him.”
Power rankings time. Marc Stein has OKC at 13, up one spot: “OKC’s defense/length/athleticism seen in San Antonio suggest this team can handle seven roadies in nine games just fine . . . except that it bookended that win with an L in Sacramento and a home L to the Clips.” Read more…
Bolts
(This was written Friday, shortly after the Byron Scott firing. But it might not could have run at a better time. A lot of folks are split on the Thunder’s current point guard, so this will likely further the discussion. And PLEASE remember, it’s just that: a discussion.)
By J.G. Marking
Special to Daily Thunder
With the team’s horrible 3-8 start, with the recent firing of Byron Scott done BEHIND Chris Paul’s back, only the Hornets superstar player and the best point guard in the world and the face of their franchise, and with the Thunder holding a veritable smorgasbord of trading chips, draft picks and salary cap space to play with, one can’t help but ask the question that we’re all honestly wondering:
Can Chris Paul ever be traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Now let me preface this by saying it would absolutely kill me to lose the players it would take to make this deal happen (you’re still my boy, Westbrook!). But when you have the chance to take a player that would instantly make everyone on your team two times better at playing basketball than they are now, a player who absolutely loves your small-market community (even still owns a home in the Oklahoma City metro) and is, without question, an annual MVP candidate and is STILL ONLY 24 YEARS OLD (turns 25 in May of 2010), don’t you have to pull the trigger and pull it hard?”
But the question remains… could he ever be conceivably traded to the Thunder? And all I’ll leave you with before the jump is this: Yes. Read more…
Commentary
Chris Paul, Trade Talk
From Both Teams Played Hard: “Thunder players made more charity/community-motivated appearances last year than those of any other team aside from LAL.”
If you can handle some Oklahoma City ribbing, Deadspin picked up the KD slap video: ”Because I’ve had my fill of hate mail recently, and because OKC fans have already made their feelings known when I dared to suggest that the wind is the defining feature of their city, I’m going to refrain from pointing out that if KD played in New York or L.A., there are actually clubs and bars that are open on Thursdays. But I will say there’s a certain segment of our audience, perhaps from a certain Pacific Northwest city, that’s not exactly rooting against the Thunder’s franchise player going down with a career-ending slap-related injury.” Read more…
Bolts
BOX SCORE
(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Now that’s what a bad loss looks like.
The one in Sacramento wasn’t a good one by any means, but this was a bad, bad one. A 3-7 Clipper team that is ready and willing to quit at the drop of a hat, comes in to the Ford Center and beats Oklahoma City 101-93. Hand it to the Clips though, they made plays. And you can guess which team didn’t.
But step back from the ledge my friend. You could cut ties with all the lies, that— uh, I mean, it’s a long season. Nobody thought this was a championship team this year. It’s one of many more losses to come. But as frustrating a loss this is, you know what the worst part is? The part that makes me want have Vinnie Jones slam my head in a car door a la Snatch? In the most crucial moments, the parts of the game where you HAVE TO HAVE a bucket, the guy with 40 points doesn’t touch the ball. Doesn’t even sniff it.
Now I don’t dispute Jeff Green’s shot. Heck no I don’t. That’s a good shooter with a wide open look. He just missed it. And I don’t really hate Russell Westbrook’s jumper either. He’d a hit a few in the second half and he’s hit that one many times before. But at the same time, with hindsight vision being very clear, Kevin Durant needed a shot. Heck, he had earned it. Read more…
Recap
Los Angeles Clippers
vs. 
Los Angeles Clippers (3-7, 1-2 road) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-4, 2-2 home)
TV: NBA TV (Cox 256, HD 726) FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 753)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CST
View from the enemy: ClipperBlog
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 101.6 (25th), Clippers – 102.0 (24th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 98.0 (3rd), Clippers – 106.6 (18th)
Pace: Thunder – 91.1 (24th), Clippers – 93.9 (13th)
Because it never, ever gets old. Fifth win last season: Jan. 6. Third road win: Jan 21. This season, Nov. 14 for both. That’d be two months ahead of schedule kids. That’s good.
But if this team wants to start taking steps toward .500 or even the playoffs, games like tonight have to be taken care. Have to. None of this, “Oh, came out flat and we’ll get ‘em next time” stuff. You’re playing a 3-7 team at home, without two of its best players. You should win. Simple. Read more…
Preview
Los Angeles Clippers
This was a big time confidence builder game for the Thunder tonight on the road.
BOX SCORE
Go ahead and take a look at the box. It’s kind of weird how close this thing was. Only one field goal separated the two teams tonight and just one three with the same 3fg% of 16.7%. The teams were only separated by two rebounds, had the same number of steals and were in the same ball park on turns. The two big stats that stand out are the 10 blocks by the Thunder (3 for the Spurs) and the 9 extra charity stripe freebies. Nads Krstic was the man with three blocks and Kevin Durant had 13 of his 25 points at the line.
I thought most of the first half of tonight’s game was actually a little dull as far as entertainment value goes. I felt like we were actually kind of lucky to only be down by 7 at the break. We weren’t shooting especially well and weren’t defending to any great degree. We allowed the Spurs to drop 28 on us in the second quarter and shoot 8/16. The saving grace is that they were not hitting from deep.
Our guys in blue came out smokin’ in the third putting 14 quick points on the board in the first 4 minutes and knotting it up at 53 apiece. Whatever Brooks said at halftime was working as the Thunder seemed to have all the hustle and passion. We finished the third by scoring 32 points on 62.5% shooting while holding the Spurs to just 21 points.
The Spurs really made a tight game of it in the fourth quarter with much better shooting (10/21). The Thunder were really working and hustling on defense but almost shot themselves in the foot with turnovers and missed free throws. Still despite the missteps the drama at the end made the game that much more interesting and intense. Read more…
Recap
San Antonio Spurs
