Basketball! Tonight! I can’t believe it. This summer felt abnormally long and it was due to the ridiculous amount of anticipation we’ve all had ever since Russell Westbrook’s prayer clanked off the iron in Game 6. We’ve been waiting for opening night for a while now. And it’s finally here.
I have some reservations about this game just because anticipation and over-excitement make me nervous. This team knows it has a ton of hype and expectation surrounding it. And there might be some pressure to go out and prove something big in the opening game. Plus, a sketchy preseason doesn’t really lend a ton of confidence heading in. Read more…
This was a game Oklahoma City needed. Coming off two straight heartbreakers, the best medicine to heal the wounds from the road was sure to be the start of a nice four-game homestand. But it was not to be. Chicago pummeled the Thunder in the fourth quarter, outscoring OKC 28-20 in the final frame to win their fourth straight, 96-86.
What disappoints me most isn’t just the loss. It’s the way it all went down. With 8:30 left in the fourth, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook checked back in with OKC trailing by eight. It was time for the two studs to pick up a team that was struggling offensively. They didn’t. Let me put it this way: The Thunder didn’t make their first basket until there was 3:53 left in the final frame and started out the quarter 0-14. Not awesome.
KD hit a couple shots late after the Thunder fell behind by 16 to make it all feel a little bit better. But still, the offensive ineptitude can’t be ignored. After the Bulls put in 56 first half points, OKC locked down holding Chicago to just 12 points in the third. It felt like last time. The Thunder was going to tighten the screws, make some plays in the fourth and take care of business. But in order to do such a thing, you have to put the ball in the basket. The Thunder shot 36.9 percent from the field. That’s not putting the ball in the basket. Jeff Green was stellar, but for the most part, if Kevin Durant doesn’t play like his normal self, this team isn’t scoring and sometimes winning. And that’s not encouraging. Read more…
Now starts a four-game homestand. And it’s not an easy one. Chicago, Denver, Golden State and Atlanta all stop by the Ford Center (and hopefully stay at the Skirvin amirite?) in the next week. And while coming home 2-2 from last week’s road trip was acceptable, a 2-2 stretch at home would be slightly disappointing. But with a loss tonight against Chicago, I think we might have to be hoping for 2-2. So this game is definitely important. Read more…
What a bummer. I honestly don’t know if I can pick myself up after this one. I wanted it. And to think Kevin Durant was just 58 games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games with 30 or more points. As Mrs. Daily Thunder put it, “Looks like Wilt’s record will just have to wait.” Alas.
But as a consolation prize, at least the Thunder won the game, taking over in the second half to beat Chicago 98-85 and stop the Bulls streak at four.
If I weren’t looking at the score every six seconds, I would have thought Oklahoma City trailed by at least 15 points in the third quarter. Chicago was absolutely pounded the Thunder on the glass (11 offensive rebounds in the third quarter) and just appeared to be abusing OKC.
But the Thunder was actually ahead four. And actually had complete control of the game. In the second half, the Thunder held the Bulls to just 33 points. That’s 14 in the third, 19 in the fourth. Meanwhile, OKC scored 51 in the second half. That right there people, is a good formula to winning. Read more…
This is one of those games where the scale can tip a bit. Coming off a tough overtime loss in Milwaukee just two night ago, the Thunder will likely be a little tired. They’ll likely be a little lethargic in the early going. Especially after all that shopping Jeff Green said they did on Michigan Avenue yesterday. Thunder be shoppin’. Read more…
This game was right at the beginning of the Thunder’s 2009 renaissance. Going in to Chicago, OKC was 5-32, but had just won two of its last five, which was pretty good considering. But this game was on the road and the Thunder had only one previous road win and held a road record of 1-16 coming in. So the chances of victory hedged somewhere between none and none. But after finishing regulation tied at 94-94 and missing out on a last second chance to win, hopes of OKC playing well in overtime were about as low as they could be. But the Thunder shocked the world outscoring the Bulls 15-4 in extra time, to lock away win No. 6 behind Kevin Durant’s game-high 28 points. Read more…
vs. 
