BOX SCORE
OKC beat Orlando 80-78. A few quick notes while we prepare for the LeBrocolypse tonight.
- No James Harden, no Eric Maynor meant more Mustafa Shakur and more Kyle Weaver. And both played pretty well. Shakur actually played REALLY well. Shakur netted 21 on 6-10 shooting, dished out five assists and only turned it over once. He was in control throughout the game and never wavered in confidence. I said last year he is an NBA roster player. Someone is going to grab him eventually. For shame OKC really doesn’t have room.
- Weaver on the other hand showed some good and bad. Good: scoring 21 points. Bad: taking 21 shots to do it (7-21). Good: seven assists. Bad: five turnovers. But Weaver went 3-6 from deep and the fact he actually took 21 shots is semi-encouraging. Normally he’s passive to a fault. He really tried to assert himself today. Read more…
Recap
BOX SCORE
What a day. But even still, you’ve got to make time for summer league. Got to. It’s can’t miss stuff, right? The Thunder defeated the 76ers 89-80 today. Some notes and observations:
- Another poor shooting day from James Harden. Just 3-10 from the floor, but again, he managed 21 points because he went 15-18 from the line. He had five rebounds too! But six turnovers. Harden hasn’t been bad by any means this summer, but he hasn’t blown anyone away either. Keep in mind though, Harden is doing what he’s supposed to – staying aggressive, getting to the line and creating opportunities. Forgive him a little. It’s July and he hasn’t played competitive basketball in three months.
- Kyle Weaver was in street clothes today (no reason as to why yet), so Robert Vaden got the start. And Darth Vaden didn’t exactly capitalize. In 28 minutes Vaden scored two points on 1-5 shooting. Eek. Read more…
Recap
BOX SCORE
What a game! The Bobcats beat the Thunder at the buzzer on a Jeremy Pargo runner, 86-85. HEARTBREAK IN ORLANDO. Some notes and observations:
- James Harden looked much, much better today. He was finishing at the rim and playing much more aggressively. His jumper has been a little off, but again, that’s not really the concern. Harden is a scorer/slasher first and foremost, so him finishing at the tin is the main goal for this summer. We know he can hit a 3, even though he went 1-5 today from deep. It’s about taking contact and scoring for him. The five turnovers are a bit alarming though.
- The offense did not run without Eric Maynor on the floor. In summer league, a point guard is the most important person on the roster. And Maynor is a pretty good one. The Thunder tried Kyle Weaver, Mustafa Shakur and even Harden a little there. Nothing really worked without Maynor. Maynor’s line: 18 points on 5 of 9 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and three turnovers. Read more…
Recap
BOX SCORE
The Thunder beat the Celtics 87-82, which is CLEARLY the most important thing from the day. I mean, what’s bigger than a July 5th win? But here are some quick notes and observations from the game:
Serge Ibaka has been working on his offensive post game. He looked terrific on a few post spin moves and though he didn’t shoot the ball that well, really appeared to be confident in his shot. However, he was injured on a play late in the second half and didn’t return. He left favoring his left leg and official word out right now is a sprained left ankle. While he was down though, I definitely stopped breathing for around two or three straight minutes.
- Of course it’s one summer league game against nary a real NBA roster opponent, but Byron Mullens looks much, much improved. Word has been that he’s been working his tail off and it showed for the most part. He finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, going 12 of 15 from the line and 6 of 12 from the floor. His hands looked softer, he looked much more aggressive, his footwork was improved and he looked somewhat comfortable in the post. I don’t know if he’ll ever been a quality defender, but hey, that’s what Cole Aldrich is for. I think there’s hope yet for Mullens. He was drafted as a project and projects tend to take a little time to develop. More stuff like today will go a long way in that, but the thing with Mullens is, is that there’s the possibility that he could go 2-8 with five points and four rebounds tomorrow. Read more…
Recap
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BOX SCORE
The sea of blue roared. And roared. And roared.
The clock read zeroes and the Lakers had one more point on the board than the Thunder. 95-94.
And the crowd roared.
I honestly can’t sum that moment up in 1,500 words. Heck, I couldn’t do it in 150,000 words. This team, this season, this city – it was just a moment. I wrote months back that this season would likely be one that we all hold very near and dear to our hearts. And despite the fact it ended in heartache and heartbreak, I’m not sure how any season could ever top this. What we saw was a city embrace a team not just as something to root for, but as something we all felt part of. Read more…
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LA Lakers
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BOX SCORE
It’s a seven game series.
Kevin Durant has said it multiple times. And it’s best you keep that in mind. Especially after Game 5. Because boy, that was not fun.
It was just a spanking. A total butt-kicking. It was ugly from the start and stayed ugly for pretty much the entire 48. But it only counts as one loss. We knew that Oklahoma City would have to win one game in Los Angeles if the Thunder wanted to take this series. Obviously, this wasn’t the one. Read more…
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LA Lakers
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The final score from Game 4: Thunder 110, Lakers 89.
Whoa. Like whoa.
Mrs. Daily Thunder put it best I thought: “Who would’ve thought with eight minutes left to go in a playoff game in Oklahoma City, it would probably be OK to leave?”
But here’s the thing. Nobody did. Kevin Durant didn’t play a minute in the fourth quarter. Neither did Russell Westbrook. Kobe Bryant slipped off to the locker room about halfway through the last quarter. We got a steady diet of the basketballing styling of Byron Mullens, Etan Thomas and Kevin Ollie’s mustache. Yet no one budged. Instead the last 12 minutes were basically a victory lap for the Thunder. Chants of “Beat LA!” rang out periodically. Bursts of random noise filled the Ford Center for no reason. And despite the wide margin, Thunder fans were still engaged pumping out “DEE-FENSE!” chants, exploding on an Eric Maynor 3 and standing for the majority of it. Game 3 welcomed the world to Loud City. Game 4 showed everyone just how awesome it really is. Read more…
Recap
LA Lakers
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BOX SCORE
I really don’t know where to start. I’m sitting here, staring at a blank screen trying to will some letters to come out of my fingers. But I don’t feel like I can accurately sum up what tonight’s game was like. I guess loud would at least be a start.
With thunderstorms rolling into Oklahoma City right around tip-off, I thought this might be the sign. It kind of felt like destiny. I think people in Dallas could feel the energy pulsating from the Ford Center, even 30 minutes before the game started. Fifteen minutes before tip, everyone in the place was on their feet. And they stayed there until the first bucket dropped.
But what was so wild is that everything went wrong. The Lakers scored on their first seven possessions, jumping out to a 10-0 lead. They led the entire first half and kept the Thunder an arm’s length away. Every time OKC tried to sneak in the game, Kobe would hit a 3, Pau Gasol would come up with a big rebound or Derek Fisher would drop a big shot. For the first 34 minutes, the Lakers had the Thunder right where they wanted them and for the most part, kept the lid on the Ford Center.
And then Russell Westbrook happened. Read more…
Recap
LA Lakers
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BOX SCORE
Oklahoma City down two, 15 seconds left, with possession. Quick, you have 20 seconds to decide what you want to do.
Me? It was simple. I had my mind made up before the team made it to Scott Brooks to talk about it. Go for the win. Live or die, right here, right now. Win or lose. You came to Los Angeles to let it all hang out, so why stop now? With the way the whistle was turning in the last two minutes and the fact you’re on the road in Staples, what do you like better? A 3 to win, or overtime? Plus you have a guy like Kevin Durant to take it for you. I pick the 3 to win every stinking time. Read more…
Recap
LA Lakers
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After one quarter, Oklahoma City trailed the defending champions 27-13. The Thunder were 5-19 from the floor, scored a season-low 13 points and just looked completely lost. They were rattled. They were visibly shaken and nervous. The game had a look and feel of a pending blowout.
And I don’t blame them. They played like a bunch of 21-year-olds playing in their first playoff game ever. In Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, no less. Heck, I was shaky and all I was doing was watching on a TV 1,300 miles away. I can’t imagine how I would’ve felt if I had to walk onto a court and try and get all that anxiety out while playing excellent basketball. So after 12 minutes, Oklahoma City looked overmatched. They looked a little scared. And I feared the worst for this Game 1. Read more…
Recap
LA Lakers
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I really didn’t think there was any way the Thunder could win their 50th game (giving them a plus-27 win increase) and win it by nine, and it give me a slightly uneasy feeling.
Don’t get me wrong, this was what Oklahoma City needed. The Thunder snapped a two-game skid and a stretch they’d lost four of five by beating a quality Memphis squad 114-105, and did it by playing well in the last three minutes. Some momentum and some confidence has been built heading into the series with the Lakers. But the fact the Thunder struggled with some of the same issues that had gotten them into trouble this past week is what is bothersome. They gave up 56 points in the second half and executed poorly at times in late in the third and in the fourth. Again, they won. I’m happy. I’m actually thrilled. I mean, 50 wins! But if this game were an effort to right some of the wrongs from the last week, I think I’d give them a C-. Read more…
Recap
Memphis Grizzlies
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BOX SCORE
Hold it. Put that candle stick down. Don’t throw it across the room. It’s going to be OK. It’s going to be all right.
I know you’re frustrated. I am too. What’s happened to Oklahoma City’s defense? What’s happened to Kevin Durant in the second half? What’s happened to the Thunder’s ability to close games?
My theory? They’re tired. They’re worn down. Heck, I’m tired and I haven’t done anything but sit on a sofa and blabber on about the game. None of these guys have ever played in important games in late April (except Nick Collison). They’ve never had to play this hard in Game 81. They’ve never really been on the road in an atmosphere like that. For the youngest team in the league, I see tonight as much a learning experience, as playoff preparation, as you can get. Read more…
Recap
Portland Trail Blazers
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At this stage in the season, meaning three games left, I could see how it might be easy to lose a little focus when playing a team 30 under .500. Especially when you jump out to a 20-point lead early in the first half and drop 42 first quarter points. I could see how maybe you coast a bit, letting the other team go on a 16-5 run and get back in the game. Heck, I could even see the game tightening in the third going into the fourth. It’s the NBA. It happens all the time.
But losing this game? That’s just ridiculous. Read more…
Recap
Golden State Warriors
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With five minutes left, I thought we were about to watch the same movie we just saw. And the ending wasn’t a very fun one. Oklahoma City closed the third quarter on a big run, built a double-digit lead and had a ton of momentum. But it all fell flat in the fourth. The offensive execution went flying out the door, passes got sloppy and worst of all, they missed open looks.
And honestly, nothing changed for the entire fourth quarter. The Thunder’s offensive execution stayed poor and they missed more shots. Spoiler alert: the Thunder ended up winning. But it wasn’t by snapping out of the funk. They grinded out possessions, went three minutes at a time without scoring and shot just 39 percent for the game, but did what needed to be done to just win. It was the type of game that you kind of wonder how your team finished on top, but despite only scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Thunder had just enough to edge Phoenix, 96-91. Read more…
Recap
Phoenix Suns
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Well that stunk.
Perhaps the nicest thing I can write about tonight’s game was that it really looked like the Thunder had learned a lesson from last night’s game and about midway through the fourth quarter seemed to be holding Denver to limited looks on offense by clamping down on the defensive end, while executing on the other end of the court without Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in the game.
Unfortunately there was still the other half of the fourth quarter left to play and the Thunder’s offense pretty much vanished, not scoring a basket for the final 9 minutes of the game, which meant that the Nuggets ended the game on a staggering 22-5 run to kill the Thunder’s hopes for a division title and, realistically, home court advantage in the playoffs. Just what we needed after last night’s crushing loss in overtime. A horrible, gut-wrenching, choking collapse down the stretch! Awesome!
And now the 8th seed looms large on the playoff horizon. Read more…
Recap
Denver Nuggets
