Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
Who? Who says we won’t win 50 games? (Will): Who’s to say we wont have 50 wins this season. If you break the past two seasons down into trimesters (just over 25 games) we have staedily improved over every time period. and the last 25 games we have gone 16-9 (.640 win percentage). Apply that percentage to the next 32 games (thats the rest of this season) and we come out at about 20 wins (20.48 really), which puts us with 49 wins. Couple that with the previously mentioned improvement and…… 50+ wins…
Also, last game Russ had a steal and clear breakaway in which he turned around and gave the ball to an ICE COLD Kevin Durant, which truly got him going. Without that, KD ends the 25 point streak with a very underwhelming game. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Smart Thoughts makes a triumphant return, with a new logo! Big thanks to Colin for it.
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
Yeah, that Durant guy is alright. (justin): It’ll be tough to increase his scoring efficiency much more than it is currently. It’s probably possible that he’ll experience a few 50/40/90 type seasons a la Larry Bird, and with the increased free throw trips of this era, he could pull off some 62% TS seasons.. otherwise, there really isn’t much precendent for a wing player being that much better as a scorer than KD is right now. I think 50/40/90 is his peak as a scorer, and at his volume and ability to draw fouls, that’s up there in terms of historical significance. KD could score 32-35 points a game on those percentages with his kind of usage. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
I believe he’s at six thousand words per minute, all incredibly alliterated. (Aaron): Oh yeah, I forgot to mention another that bothers me about Pinto. I feel like he is constantly trying to set a record for words spoken per minute. Every time I’m listening to a game on the radio I worry that I’m gonna flip my car cause I’m concentrating on the radio so intensely.
Go inside the paint young man. And score. Score points. (Mark!): Throwing my hat into the Jeff Green discussion… My biggest gripe with Green isn’t his offensive style, size, ability to defend in the post, or his rebounding rate.
And while I love his locker room chemistry, work ethic, potential and versatility… I think he has to be the guy to take the ball inside, get hacked and pull us through in tough games like the one last night against Cleveland. No one wanted to penetrate, and we gave up the game trying to match 3s with a team on fire from deep. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
Expectations for Chewblocka. /wookiesound (Kirk): I have read all about Ibaka on numerous websites and watched just about every video of Ibaka there is to watch, from when he was in high school up through some of his games in the NBA. There is no doubt that this guy is oozing with athleticism.
Ibaka’s timing on blocking shots is flawless. He almost never jumps too early to block a shot. He looks like he could be a premier shot blocker once he earns more minutes in the NBA. And I belive he has a 42″ vertical jump, and for a 6′10″ guy that is flat out amazing leaping ability. That is actually an incredible vertical for any player regardless of size, but for someone that is 6′10″, that is almost unheard of. So he can get up and block just about any shot that comes near him.
His offensive game should come around quite nicely too. He has good range w/ his shot for a big man and can step out and knock down a mid-range jumper and he can occasionally step behind the 3 pt and line and knock down a trey. And obviously he can throw down dunks and score points off of offensive rebounds. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
Home sweet dome. (Bryan): On the home record thing… I think it’s just a matter of a young squad having a hard time with the additional pressure of 18,000 screaming fans with high expectations. All the extra noise seems to help them on the defensive end, but when they get possesion and the crowd is holding it’s breath, they seem to crack.
I think they just need to build a little confidence with a few good wins at home and they will be fine from then on.
I would also say that the Thunder seem to genuinely strugle with teams after they have played them once already… it’s a small sample size but it’s starting to look like a trend. Five of the Thunder’s eight losses were to teams they had already played. They are 0-5 in the second half of two-game series. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
I asked Berry Tramel if people (as in The Ultimate) were serious about wanting to give up on Russell Westbrook as a point guard. He gave an outstanding answer. (Berry Tramel): Yes, they’re serious. They’re also silly. Here’s the problem. None of us knew anything about the NBA when it came. Some people want to be experts, though, so they say something, then they cling to that to prove their mettle. Russell Westbrook is a four-year project at least. All 20-year-old point guards are. That’s the price you pay when you decide you’re going nowhere with Luke Ridnour. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
The kool-aid tastes bad anyway. Ooooohhhh yeeeeeaaaahhh. (okiefunk): I feel kinda bad for these kids (millionaires that they are!), when they can’t speak their minds and be themselves because of media-types looking for the next hot story/controversy to “expose”. (No offense Royce–luv ya!)
I am personally a HUGE Thunder fan, and happy Oklahoman, but I do not share the illusion that our PAID. PROFFESIONAL. NBA. ATHELETES (or their brothers) have to drink the cowboy kool-aid in order to give me my season-tickets worth on the court! This is their JOB people, and I might have to move to New Jersey for my job(heathen, hell-hole of bad manners….) but I bet if I like my job and the people I am working with, I will find something to like about it! Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d]. 
I enjoy optimism. Because I’m shamelessly the Viscount of Optimism. (KingGondo): Thought it was interesting that he has KD fifth in the league in PER (@ 23.50), but every other Thunder player is below 15 (i.e. below the league average).
I would put good money on Westbrook making a solid leap into 18-19 territory (he was above 15 last year, and Hollinger really thinks he’ll get worse this year?). If anything, with a greater understanding for the game, improved shooting around him, and a more spaced floor, I could see Russ really becoming a much more efficient and valuable player.
Hollinger has it right when he says, “Westbrook is the Thunder’s unquestioned starter at point guard, and at this point all they can do is throw on a saddle and see where he takes them.” More than any other player, Russ’s development will determine how much the Thunder improve this year. Based on his strong work ethic, Coach Brooks’ positive feedback in training camp, and his excellent showing at USA camp, I’m very optimistic. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything [sic’d].
“I read.” “Books Jerry. Books.” (Jax Raging Bile Duct): I read a lot of basketball articles, and I forget when and where I read what I read, if that makes sense. But, I do remember reading that it takes players about 5 seasons to establish themselves as a defender. Of course, there are always players that come into the league just for defense. Guys like Thabo and Ariza and D12. 
It took Mello a trip to the Olympics to figure out that his colleagues were focusing their efforts on defense. But when he did, he got much, much better in one off-season. That was the start of his 5th year.
Kevin is ahead of the curve when it comes to offense, so he may be able to focus on defense sooner than other players, thus establish a defensive presence sooner than other players. Time will tell. But if not, then we’ve got this season and next to go before Kevin hits that magical 5th year of defensive growth. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything sic’d.
Tell us how you really feel. (Todd): Concerning Jordon’s acceptance speech, let’s just say if and when Kevin Durant or anyone else from the Thunder enters the Hall of Fame, I hope they do it with a little more class than Jordan did. Maybe he tried to “beat down” every opponent as a player, but I didn’t see any opponent up there on the stage with him the other night. No one trying to steal his moment or stop him somehow. It was just Jordon, taking one final shot 
at everyone whom he ever thought slightest him in the least. He could have tried to be a little gracious, but apparently it was too much to ask. Apparently he’s not content unless he’s rubbing someone else’s face in the dirt, even as he’s being given his sport’s highest honor.
I’ve never had a “Jordan moment” myself as I never really warmed up to him all that much, but I had started to come around a little. Till this. Now, this will be my own “Jordan moment.” The one thing I’ll remember about him the most. At what should have been the crowning moment of his professional career, he basically stuck his tongue out at us and said, “screw you.” He may be one of the greatest players of all time, but as a person, I think he’s a jackass. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Consider everything sic’d.
Points for Keith. He called it. (Vince): I think the idea that we should COMPETE for a playoff spot is the best measure of success. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re playing for keeps the last week of the year, but in February and March we need to be on this board saying things like, “You know, Phoenix is headed on the road for four games, and if we can put together a little streak 
here we might have a shot.” It’s key for a young team to play 70 meaningful games to get that experience for 2010-11 when the playoffs will be THE goal, not a hypothetical.
I also think it’s important for the team and the fan base to get people talking about the team. Our attendance was excellent this year — and the passion on this blog is to be admired — but TV ratings for the Thunder were very poor this year. People are impatient nowadays, and a few February sellouts with potential playoff implications can help grow the fan base and bring over some converts from the Mavs, Cavs, etc. (the Lakers fans can stay where they are, no one’s interested in them). Read more…
Smart Thoughts
Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least somewhat thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and for the most part, well put. Everything sic’d.
I don’t know, the Oklahoma City AIDS has quite a ring to it. (Jax Raging Bile Duct): In my opinion, the subject of team nicknames, color schemes and logos should stay in where it belongs, in 7th grade. I realize a team needs these things, but the fact that anyone really cares about it is beyond me.
I remember reading several times where people were opposed to the Thunder as a name because “Thunder doesn’t scare anyone”. Why this is important is again, beyond me. Maybe we’d have won 50 games last year if we were the OKC AIDS, or the Oklahoma H1N1, or maybe even the OK City Taxes, Lawyers, Needles, Heights or First Dates. Kobe would shiver if we were the AIDS, and Chris Kaman wouldn’t take the floor if we were the First Dates.
Maybe we should have enlisted one of those heavy metal artists to design our logo. One look at it and your soul goes straight to Hell. Whew. I feel better now that I’ve got that off my chest.
Talking alternate jerseys. Because in the end, looking good is really the most important part. (Dylan): Now the question becomes, is the alternate colored yellow (too Lakers), dark blue (too Knicks), or orange (too OSU)? I doubt they go orange, as it’s a color despised by 75% of the state’s sports fans and I doubt they go dark blue, since it’s too similar to our current roads. I think a yellow alternate with some super retro looking front (the bison is a great idea) would work pretty well. And I am definitely in favor of splitting Oklahoma and City up on the road jersey. As it is, it’s too top heavy. Read more…
Smart Thoughts
