J.A. Adande: ”Just when I thought the Thunder had erased every reason to doubt they can win a playoff series — the usual suspicions such as “too young,” “too inexperienced,” “defense not tight enough” — they got served a big reminder of why they likely won’t get past the first round: They won’t get the calls from the officials. I hate to talk about the officiating as the key to any series. I hate to talk about it in any game. But it’s unavoidable after a no-call at the end of overtime in a wildly entertaining game, when Utah’s C.J. Miles hit Kevin Durant on the forearm while Durant was attempting a game-winning 3-pointer. The ball fell well short of the basket and Utah escaped with a 140-139 victory.”
KD’s reaction: “That game hurt right there I’m not gonna lie! But it was fun!! Blessed to have had the opprotunity to hoop again..thank u jesus!! Okc babe!” Read more…
Bolts
Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images
BOX SCORE
I don’t even know what to say. I’m sitting here, staring at this screen, trying to figure out a way to accurately sum this game up. And whatever comes spilling out of my fingers isn’t going to do it justice. It was a great, great game – the greatest in Oklahoma City’s short history – that was given a black eye by referee Tony Brothers who didn’t blow his whistle in a crucial moment. Such is life in the NBA.
First, the non-call. It was horrible. It was awful. It was ridiculous. As Brian Davis put it, it was tragic. Really, that’s the best way to describe it. This was one of the best games of this NBA season, one that will surely be seen again and again on NBA Hardwood Classics. And for it to end that way is a shame. If Kevin Durant’s jumper would’ve airballed, I could’ve lived with it. If C.J. Miles would’ve got the ball clean, I can deal with that. But for Durant to shoot his team back in the game the way he did – bringing OKC back from 11 down with three minutes left in regulation – and then to get robbed there? Tragic. As John Hollinger put it: “Note to Kevin Garnett: Michael Jordan gets that call. Read more…
Recap
Utah Jazz
vs. 
Okla. City Thunder (48-28, 23-15 road) at Utah Jazz (50-27, 31-8 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: 8:00 CDT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 108.0 (14th), Jazz – 110.8 (7th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.9 (8th), Jazz – 104.6 (10th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.9 (14th), Jazz – 93.6 (9th)
View from the enemy: Salt City Hoops
Oh, Oklahoma City is playing the Jazz tonight? Pfffft. That’s a win. I mean, the Thunder’s 3-0 against them, right? While that’s obviously true, winning in Utah against the Jazz is a tall task. I don’t know how the Thunder did it the first time, but to do it a second time would certainly be impressive. Most impressive. Read more…
Preview
Utah Jazz
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
Picking up right where we left off yesterday where we listed the current positions of the Top 5 teams in the Western conference, looked at what remaining opponents those five teams had and what their record has been against those opponents throughout the season, let’s now take a glance at the Bottom 3 teams and where they are at in the standings.
To remind you, after the projected finishes of each Top 5 team, the Western Conference standings would look like this:
1. Lakers 58-24
2. Jazz – 55-27
3. Mavs 54-28
4. Suns – 53-29
5. Nuggets 53-29
But could a team from the Bottom 3 leap ahead of any of the teams above them since the Thunder is only 1 1/2 back from ALL FOUR of the teams listed from the #2-#5 spots and actually still controls their own destiny with regards to winning the division (crazy, but true) and earning home-court advantage in the first round?
Well, let’s have a look… Read more…
Commentary
In his draft blog (Insider) and again today in his chat, ESPN draft insider Chad Ford said the Thunder is high on local product Daniel Orton and would take him if he was available when Oklahoma City picked.
I wrote today in the draft blog that the Thunder (who have 2 first round picks) are his floor. They’d take him with one of their picks. But they’re drafting in the early 20s. He could go a lot higher than that. Top 10 isn’t out of the question. Crazy for a guy who averaged 3 ppg. But you know how gaga NBA GMs get over size.
[...]
But as we first reported several weeks ago, Orton has caught the attention of a number of NBA GMs, the most prominent of which is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Sam Presti. According to a source close to the process, the Thunder are sending signals that if Orton is in the draft, they’d take him with one of their two first-round picks. Currently that would put Orton in the early 20s. However, a few other GMs have told ESPN.com that they’d consider taking Orton even higher.
I don’t think anyone should take the Thunder too seriously about “sending signals”. Presti is a master of draft deception (Spanish Law Firm anyone?) But despite looking incredibly similar to Russell Westbrook (as pointed out by one astute reader), Orton would be a nice fit. Especially when you consider that Oklahoma City has moved itself out of the lottery and will be picking in the 20s now. That’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around, but it’s truth. Read more…
Commentary
2010 Draft
The Thunder trio is on the cover of the new SLAM: “And so it began—I spent the next couple days following the Thunder on their Cali swing—two games, a practice and a SLAM photo shoot. It was a wonderful opportunity to lurk around a young and vibrant team peaking much earlier than many expected. I quickly learned that everyone on the squad gets along and the young guys, most notably—Durant, Green, Westbrook, James Harden and Eric Maynor—are extremely close.”
Marc Stein has OKC seven in his power rankings: “Imagine how much trouble the OKC kids are going to cause if they ever acquire or develop a front-line center and get some actual, you know, experience. As it is, they’re going to win 50 and could still win their division.” Read more…
Bolts
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
Forgive me for writing yet another speculative piece regarding who the Thunder could/would/should meet in the playoffs depending upon if they grab the such-and-such seed after so-and-so wins or loses but honestly, at this point in the season, the Western Conference from #2 on down is quite literally a giant coin flip based off of who owns the tie-breakers, who the teams are playing (directly influenced by what that team has done against those teams previously) and, of course, what the teams record is going into the last week and a half of the 2010 season so it really does merit further column consideration.
But before we target the Thunder specifically, let’s take a snapshot at the Western Conference standings as they are right now and get a good look at just how wonderfully crazy the playoff positions have shaped up thus far, shall we?
1. Lakers – 55-22
2. Dallas – 50-27
3. Denver- 50-27
4. Utah – 50-27
5. Phoenix – 50-27 (see a trend, do you?)
6. OKLAHOMA CITY – 48-28
7. San Antonio – 47-29
8. Portland – 47-30
Crazy, huh? I’m not sure I ever remember a season where the second seed and the eighth seed where separated by only 3 games, let alone the second seed and sixth seed being separated by only 1.5 games. Read more…
Commentary
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com penned a fantastic piece today, connecting this Thunder team to the tragedy of April 19, 1995. No Oklahoman has forgotten where they were that day, what they saw or what they felt. There’s no way to accurately sum up the transformation this city has experienced in the 15 years since the bombing, but Howard-Cooper does a pretty stinking good job. (Plus, Kevin Durant’s quote in it darn near choked me up.)
This Thunder season has become higher-power stuff. God and basketball — that’s what it has come to. They went from a promising team with a chance to challenge for a playoff berth to a genuine factor in the Western Conference, on a 52-win pace as small forward Durant turns into a superstar at age 21, Scott Brooks becomes the leading contender for Coach of the Year and Sam Presti a top candidate for Executive of the Year.
They may charge all the way to home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.That’s nothing. Try: They may charge all the way to home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs when the first round of the playoffs opens the week of the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, with President Clinton scheduled to be in town for ceremonies. The Thunder, by making up the 1 1/2-game deficit to finish in the top four in the conference, could even host a game April 19, the date a guy with a grudge against the government for Waco and Ruby Ridge parked a Ryder truck with 4,800 pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil in front of the nine-story structure, put in ear plugs to protect himself from what would come next, set a timer and jogged to a getaway car parked in a nearby alley.
If there is a Thunder love fest that night, said Kari Watkins, the executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, “you’ve got to wonder if it’s someone bigger than us telling us, ‘You’ve done it. You’ve come full circle. Now keep going.’ “
Even if you’re a Thunder fan from afar, give it a read. Maybe it’ll help you understand the connection this city has for this team and its players. Maybe this will give a small glimpse into where this deep-rooted passion comes from. Oklahoma City has come a long way in just 15 years, so much so, that I can’t wait for the next 15.
Commentary
John Rohde with a nice story on how awesome you fans are: ”To celebrate the Thunder’s rise from the dead this season, roughly 100 people assembled early Easter Sunday outside a private hangar at Will Rogers World Airport. Fans lined a chain-link fence to greet the Thunder upon its return from a playoff-clinching victory Saturday night in Dallas. Roughly 18 hours later, a sellout crowd of 18,203 showed up at the Ford Center, and the rejoicing continued with the Thunder’s 116-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.”
ESPNLosAngeles’s Laker blog broke down the Lakers most favorable matchups: “I don’t know that OKCwill go far in the playoffs, because they are too young to be counted on, but I’d rather not see that type of youthful exuberance in the playoffs. A matchup with them is like Russian Roulette. They’ll probably kill themselves, but if not you might be dead.” Read more…
Bolts
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
BOX SCORE
Have you ever wondered what it would look like if the Thunder played a half against air? And then wondered what it would look like to completely flip a 180 and play pitiful basketball quickly after?
Because that was the story tonight against Minnesota. The first half, Oklahoma City was scoring at will, moving the ball and pretty much dominating in every way. The Thunder scored 43 first quarter points and held a 72-50 lead at the half. Then after a short locker room break, OKC came out in the third quarter and absolutely played down to their opponent, or even dropped a level below that. There was no energy, no sense of urgency and no focus. The Wolves cut a 25-point Thunder lead down to eight and trailed by nine going into the fourth after a 31-18 quarter over the Thunder. In a word: Frustrating. Read more…
Recap
Minnesota Timberwolves
vs. 
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-61, 5-33 road) vs. Ok. City Thunder (47-28, 24-13 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: 6:00 CDT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 107.8 (14th), Wolves – 101.5 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.8 (8th), Wolves – 111.1 (27th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.9 (14th), Wolves – 96.1 (3rd)
View from the enemy: Howlin’ T-Wolf
Wait, so we have to keep playing? I thought it was all finished last night? That’s the state of mind that scares me a little tonight. The weight of the playoff chase has been lifted, everyone can let off a big sigh of relief and forget about that. Yet, there are still seven really, really important games left. Read more…
Preview
Minnesota Timberwolves
Glenn James/NBAE /Getty Images
First things first: WOW! What seemed impossible this time a year ago has happened and the Thunder have clinched a spot in the 2010 Playoffs, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Ahem, now back to business.
BOX SCORE
The Thunder looked as though they would manhandle the Mavs about midway through the fourth quarter when they were up by 19 points but the crafty Mavs fought back to within four points and only Eric Maynor’s clutch three pointer with under 30 seconds left helped the Thunder seal this victory AND CLINCH A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS!
Okay, seriously, that’s the last time you’ll see me do that…I, um, promise. Read more…
Recap
Dallas Mavericks
Playoffs. Play. Offs. Playoffs. PLAYOFFS. PLAYYYYYYYYYOFFFFFFFFFFSSSSS!!!!!
I honestly can’t believe it. We all knew the clinch was going to happen soon, but that doesn’t make this any less surreal. To think where we stood last year and how hopeless it all felt at in last December to how we feel now? AMAZING. And the best part is, this team is so good that we don’t have to just be satisfied with a playoff berth. There’s still a lot more to play for these last two weeks and even more to play for after that. But tonight is a start, a step, a LEAP in the absolute right direction. Wow.
Anyway, the point of this post is to invite you to congratulate the team when they arrive home tonight. I’ve been offered some information from a little bird that knows a friend that knows a friend that the team will be arriving home at Will Rogers Airport at midnight. The team will unload from 6405 S. Meridian, Hanger 2 and 3. So… if you’d like to be a good little Thunder fan, make a sign, bring your shouting voice or throw on a WHY NOT? shirt and head down and congratulate our boys on a playoff birth, go for it. Hopefully I’ll see you there.
Other
vs. 
Okla. City Thunder (46-28, 22-15 road) at Dallas Mavericks (50-26, 26-12 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: 7:30 CDT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 107.6 (14th), Mavs – 108.6 (12th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.6 (7th), Mavs – 106.5 (12th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.8 (14th), Mavs – 92.4 (15th)
View from the enemy: The Two Man Game
You know what I like about setting arbitrary goals for the Thunder when the have a stretch of games? When they accomplish the set goal with games still to play, it makes me feel like something great has happened. Read more…
Preview
Dallas Mavericks
I found this post on the blog called Red’s Army, and I thought it was interesting enough to repost. Especially in line with Royce’s earlier post about Garnett’s post game comments, and his subsequent fine for said comments. The picture to the left is the first of a few more in an article called ” A referee’s guide to calling an Oklahoma City game“.
Click on over and enjoy some humor from the Boston perspective. I think it’s funny and creative even if it’s obviously intended to make a slanted point.
My take on the whole thing about Boston feeling like the Thunder got “all the calls” is that it is a little hypocritical. For me, from a fan’s perspective of many years, it seems that Boston, the Lakers and Cleveland complain about calls (all the while doing everything under the sun to draw calls) more than the other 27 teams combined.
But I digress. Enjoy a little Saturday humor.
Other
