Daily Thunder.com

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I did this last season around this time because reckless speculation and postulation is always good fun mid-August. I felt like last year I was being far too optimistic with it and wouldn’t you know, the team blew right past every expectation.

So let’s try again with an eye towards extreme optimism, because you know, that’s the way I roll.

Oct. 27 – Nov. 15 (Chicago, at Detroit, Utah, at LA Clippers, at Portland, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, at Utah)

The Thunder’s opening month isn’t easy, but their first 10 games are fairly brutal. It starts out meager with games against Detroit, the Clippers and Philly mixed in, but other than that, nothing is a gimme. I actually like OKC to start out 4-0 before traveling to Portland for what will certainly be an early season treat. Six of the first 10 are at home which is definitely a plus and a big reason I lean towards an optimistic 7-3 rather than 6-4. I’d say best case in the first 10 is 8-2 with OKC surprising either Boston, Utah or Portland on the road and a worst case would be 5-5.

Prediction: 7-3
Record through 10: 7-3 Read more…

Commentary 2010-11 NBA Schedule, 2010-11 Season Preview Series

After the schedule comes out, most of the discussion around it centers around back-to-backs. They can take a seemingly easy month and turn it into an incredibly difficult one. Having to play Wednesday night at home and then turn around and fly to Orlando for a game less than 24 hours is not easy.

But simply looking at back-to-backs is just the beginning. It’s only scratching the surface. The real meat and potatoes to the difficulty of a schedule comes down to not only the back-to-back, but what the team you’re playing on that second night comes in looking like. What if you’re playing your fourth game in five days but your opponent has had three days off? Those are the type of minor quirks in a schedule that can really make a difference come April.

In the Thunder’s case, they had one of the lowest totals of back-to-backs of just 17. Only the Lakers and Suns have fewer. The Thunder also are tied for the fewest number of four in five days games with only one. That’s huge. And the Thunder have 11 three in four days with the final being a back-to-back, which puts them a in the middle of the league.

As for the flip side. Oklahoma City has three circumstances where its playing a team playing in its fourth in five days, which is in the top half of the league. And the biggie: The Thunder has 10 games against a team that is coming in having played the night before. Only one team has more and that’s Phoenix (15). The Thunder only had six games against a team playing on three days rest, 11 against a team on two days and 30 against teams on one day. All three of those are in the upper half of the NBA. Read more…

Commentary 2010-11 NBA Schedule

The schedule is out! And while some summer vacations have yet to be taken, it’s never too early to start looking at the Thunder’s schedule in search of fun trips to watch Oklahoma City take its show on the road.

For the purposes of this post, road games that could make fun trips are defined as those that someone with a job or a class schedule would only have to take one or two days off, not including the weekend. And airfare or hotel prices can change by the minute, so anything listed here is just a general idea of what’s available to an ordinary travel shopper right now.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively, and I’ve yet to find a reason to doubt my belief that there’s plenty in any city large enough to have an airport to entertain you for a couple of days and nights. Some places may be more fun than others, and some places may have more options than others, but I haven’t found a city yet that wasn’t worth exploring. That being said, no offense to the residents of places like Milwaukee or Sacramento, but the focus here is on more traditional locales for weekend getaways.

And one last bit of motherly advice: the earlier you start planing the better, especially if it involves air travel. Single-game tickets will go on sale at different times throughout the year, but that would be no reason to wait before you jump on a decent airfare. Just be aware of when upcoming ticket sales deadlines are and don’t miss them. As for hotels and rental cars, reserve early because most places will let you cancel without penalty until very late. If you find a better deal elsewhere, you can nab it. Read more…

Commentary 2010-11 NBA Schedule

When it’s August, and you’re an NBA fan, schedule release day is like Christmas. It’s something to talk about, something to think about and more importantly, something to write about. So let’s have a look at the important parts of the Thunder’s 2010-11 schedule.

Five must see home games
1. Lakers, Feb. 27. The Thunder only gets the Lakers one time at home this year and it’s a Sunday game at 1:30 on ABC. If there’s going to be a toughest ticket for this season, it’ll be this game. Maybe OKC will bust out the Sea of Blue just for one regular season game this year.

2. Heat, Jan. 30. Like LA, Miami only comes to the Ford Center once this year. It’s the other network television game for the Thunder and of course Wade, LeBron and Bosh will be the draw. Plus, as we’ve covered ’round these parts, it’ll be a bit of the good guys and the bad guys in this game. Nothing would be sweeter than a Thunder win behind a huge game from KD.

3. Bulls, Oct. 27. The Thunder kicks off ESPN’s season with a home game against Chicago. Besides the fact it’s the home opener, it should be a good game against good teams. And any time Russell Westbrook goes head-to-head with Derrick Rose, I’m watching.

4. Denver, Dec. 25. Christmas Day games in the NBA are THE spotlight in the NBA. And not only are the Thunder in that game, but they’re in primetime in a huge game against a division rival.

5. Utah, March 23. Last year, a late-season road loss to the Jazz dropped the Thunder down the Western ranks and basically sealed OKC’s fate for eighth. Now the tables could turn with a home game against Utah late in March with potential seeding on the line. Tony Brothers joke goes here. Read more…

Commentary 2010-11 NBA Schedule

I’ll have my breakdown of the schedule here shortly, but here’s the 2010-11 schedule in full. Lots of national TV games (15 with two on ABC) and a fun finish against the Bucks at home.

OCTOBER
Wed 27 vs Chicago 7:00pm
Fri 29 @ Detroit 7:00pm
Sun 31 vs Utah 6:00pm

NOVEMBER
Wed 03 @ LA Clippers 9:30pm
Thu 04 @ Portland 9:30pm
Sun 07 vs Boston 6:00pm
Wed 10 vs Philadelphia 7:00pm
Fri 12 vs Portland 8:30pm
Sun 14 vs San Antonio 6:00pm
Mon 15 @ Utah 8:00pm
Wed 17 vs Houston 7:00pm
Fri 19 @ Boston 6:00pm
Sat 20 @ Milwaukee 7:30pm
Mon 22 vs Minnesota 7:00pm
Wed 24 vs Dallas 7:00pm
Fri 26 @ Indiana 7:00pm
Sun 28 @ Houston 6:00pm
Mon 29 vs New Orleans 7:00pm Read more…

News 2010-11 NBA Schedule