Welcome to OKCThunderGround!

So …here we are eighteen games into Florida Gators’ coach Billy Donovan’s debut NBA season and what to think. The Thunder are 11-7 so far and in all candor I really don’t see much difference from Scott Brooks’ Thunder and this North Florida version Thunder…except that Scott Brooks usually had teams who bought in defensively. Despite what Kevin Durant wants to think—this isn’t a great defensive team.

This is a team which has defensive lapses and doesn’t appear to have bought into the axiom that team defense wins championships. Don’t get me wrong, Billy Donovan seems to be a great guy and fairly interesting in his pressers, but I  really don’t see anything in this team to date which makes me think they could beat either Golden State or Cleveland in a seven games series.

Several things in my opinion are still obstacles for OKC winning an NBA championship. I’ve already talked about the defense. This is very simple–it’s very rare for a team that doesn’t play top ten in the league type defense to win a championship. KD can bristle all he wants, but he’ll be without a ring for another season until these guys get it through their heads defense wins post season championships.

Another primary issue I see is that as good as Russell Westbrook is…he still can’t pull the throttle back in the last six minutes in close games against good teams and make players around him better when it counts. I’m not into counting shots or any of that, but how in the world No. 35 doesn’t get looks in the fourth against Atlanta is mind boggling. We’re talking about perhaps the greatest scorer in the modern era and he’s not getting shots.

I’m not talking Adams or Kanter or Morrow or Waiters—I’m talking about getting the best pure scorer in the game today his shots in the fourth period.  Get the ball to your closer and let him close. Good lord.

The third issue I see with the Thunder is back to the third man issue. Who’s the best third man on this team? It should be Serge Ibaka. Durant and Westbrook have to show enough versatility in their games to allow Ibaka to thrive in this role.

As far as OKC’s bench–it’s all over the place if Durant and Westbrook aren’t on the floor. Probably a good idea by Donovan to make sure his two stars don’t rest at the same time against the better teams in the league.

I have OKC finishing as the No. 3 seed in the West in my Daily Thunder Western Conference Seeding Bracket Sheet, and quite frankly to date I haven’t seen anything which makes me feel wrong about that pick.

Mike Jackson

 

Not really even remotely excited about the OKC-Miami game tomorrow night. Actually-more into a kind of somber sadness of seeing Kobe Bryant look so incredibly bad last night losing to the horrific 76’ers. This is not the way legends should exit. Michael did not exit like this even with the Wizards. Tim Duncan is not exiting like this with the Spurs. It’s kind of very sad when you think about it.

I used to hate Kobe. Just hated the guy until I took the time to really listen to him. Then–I ended up loving him. I’ll never forget — he was talking about film making  and Quinton Tarantino movies–and he just floored me. I had no idea how smart of guy he was and how he saw his teams from a team building standpoint and specific roles.

Even though Bill Simmons is a complete douchebag—I love this interview.

 

Wish Kobe would have done this two seasons ago, but he still has to go down as one of the ten greatest players of all-time. Just a fabulous two way player who got it done on both ends of the floor and won five NBA championships. Hard to see him go out this way, but one of the greatest of all-time in his prime. I’d have Kobe No. 7 or so on my greatest all-time list. Truly a great basketball player.

 

Atlanta Hawks 106 — OKC Thunder 100

With 2:21 left in the 4th period, Russell Westbrook made a two-point jumper to give the Thunder a 96-92 lead. With the bucket, Westbrook was standing on seventeen points points in the period. It appeared OKC was on its way to a nice road win over a pesky Atlanta Hawks squad. Westbrook would not score again.

During the remaining 2:21 of play, Jeff Teague and Paul Milsap led a 14-4 closing run as the Hawks made all the winning plays. Teague made two buckets inside the game’s final seventy seconds to clinch the game. Simply put…Atlanta made the plays at the end, OKC didn’t.

Kevin Durant scored two baskets in the last half minute of the game for his only points in the fourth period.

I’ll go with Jeff Teague as my OKCThunderGround No. 1 Star of the Game. Teague had 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists on the night, and it was Teague who made the plays which closed the door on the Thunder’s modest four game winning streak.

Minus the final 2:21 of play,  Westbrook was three assists away from another triple double. On the night, Westbrook had 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Kevin Durant’s line went 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocked shots. But in the fourth during closing time–he didn’t see much of the ball until the game had been decided.

Serge Ibaka added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. On the night, OKC’s Big Three went for a combined 76 points, which means the rest of OKC’s roster scored  24 points on the night.

Dion Waiters, Anthony Morrow, and DJ Augustin went 3-21 from the field scoring 11 points between them. This simply cannot happen if OKC is to beat good teams on the road and be an elite team.

Paul Milsap and Al Horford both had double doubles on the night for Atlanta. Milsap had 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Horford went for 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. Kyle Korver was the fourth Hawk player in double figures with  11 points.

Here’s something I can’t ignore…OKC’s Big Three went for a combined 76 points, while Atlanta’s Big Three went for 74 points. But here’s the thing about winning against good teams on the road…the best closer in the NBA–namely Kevin Durant, didn’t get the ball until it was too late to matter coming down the stretch.

How can that happen?

This game is a microcosm of why it’s hard to imagine the Thunder beating the Warriors or the Cavs when  it matters most come May and/or June.

OKC drops to 11-7 with the loss.

On the road again on Thursday against the Miami Heat.

Mike Jackson

The Thunder in Atlanta tonight to play the Atlanta Hawks. Hawks currently at 11-8 and the seventh seed. Atlanta should have a nice season, but hard to envision them as a serious championship contender to take it all in the East. Atlanta comes in off a twenty point loss at San Antonio on Saturday night and are 4-6 in their last ten games.

OKC enters tonight carrying a four game winning streak going 7-3 in their last ten. With Kevin Durant’s return—the Thunder have settled down somewhat and have played good enough in fourth quarters to win four straight games and improve to 11-6.

Two good teams playing tonight, but both teams not really where they want to be as far as overall level of play.

Hawks lost Demare Carroll from their core of a year ago which should help Kevin Durant have a pretty good night. Paul Milsap, Al Horford, and Jeff Teague remain the core, while Dennis Shroeder, Kyle Korver, Kent Bazemore, Thabo, Mike Scott and Mike Muscala round out the Hawk primary rotations.

OKC needs to continue playing better team defense, moving the ball, keeping Serge Ibaka involved offensively, and trying to stay within a reasonable distance of  San Antonio for the second seed in the West. Find a way to win and get better defensively.

 

Back to the year 2008 when Oklahoma sports were ruled by college football and college sports in general. Not the case since the arrival of the Thunder, but still OU football is at the least on a par with the Thunder as far as statewide sports relevance. Never since the arrival of the Thunder has OU football seriously contended for a national championship entering the month of December until this season.

 

I love this video. It represents so much of what Oklahomans value in sport.

With OU’s 58-23 win over Oklahoma State in Bedlam–OU football for the first time  since 2008 and the Thunder’s arrival in Oklahoma City head into the month of December as a viable national championship contender.

In 2008, Sam Bradford won the Heisman and OU advanced the National Championship Game against Urban Meyer’s Florida’s Gators. OU lost that game 24-14, but it was basically a one possession game. Interestingly, OU lost to Texas 38-28 to Texas that same season, but like this season, ran the table to advance. Guess beating or losing to Texas really doesn’t mean that much anymore.

Before the Thunder’s arrival in Oklahoma–OU football ruled the sports roost with its iconic brand and national championship heritage. Not so since the Thunder’s arrival in 2008 as a kid from the University of Texas named Kevin Durant has taken claim as the most important sports person in the state.

So–for the first time since 2008, OU football and Thunder basketball share the limelight in Oklahoma heading towards Christmas.

Oklahomans have a deep rooted passion for their sports teams and this sports year could be special.

At 17-0 the Golden State Warriors have positioned themselves to possibly make a run at Chicago’s 72-10 team of ’95-’96. Something we have to start keeping track of as the weeks begin to peel back on the season.

 

OKC Thunder 103 — Detroit Pistons 87

Current Detroit Piston and ‘sometime’ minimalist Reggie Jackson returned to Oklahoma City to play against his former mates for the first time since he and his agent pretty much gave Sam Presti an ultimatum at last year’s trade deadline. The much anticipated Reggie Jackson-Russell Westbrook mano y mano never materialized though as both got into foul trouble and were both borderline horrible on the night.

As expected—Jackson was booed without mercy as if he were Ron Artest, Patrick Beverly or even the douche bag Bill Simmons. The OKC crowd was not ambiguous with their reaction to Jackson–pretty much saying, “You suck and we hate you”.  I have to admit I didn’t boo because I don’t feel Reggie Jackson is boo worthy, but I did smile amidst the booing.

It didn’t matter that Westbrook fouled out and perhaps played his worst game of the season with an 11 turnover  atrocity of a game because No. 35 for the Thunder was in a word…. sublime.

On nights like this, you realize just how lucky you are to be witnessing one of the most efficient, natural scorers in the history of the game. You realize that Kevin Durants don’t come around all that often even to big city markets, let alone sleepy NBA outposts like Oklahoma City. You just pinch yourself and enjoy the evening  in Mystery, Alaska with the locals.

On the night, Kevin Durant scored 34 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, handed out five assists, and blocked three shots. With Westbrook too hyped up to eviserate (spelling?) Reggie Jackson and delight the crowd like a bullfighter going for the kill–Durant had to carry the load on this night and more than delivered the goods in an OKC 103-87 win over the Pistons.

Kevin Durant is easily my OKCThunderGround No. 1 Star of the Game.

OKC’s defense wasn’t very good in the first half and the Thunder trailed 55-48 at halftime. But in the second half it was a different story as OKC held the Pistons to 32 points and an 11-46 shooting performance. Behind much better team defense and Kevin Durant—OKC ground the life out of Detroit by a 55-32 margin in the second half. There was no drama needed at the end as OKC improved to 11-6 and garnered its first four game winning streak of the season.

Other things:

• Steven Adams despite playing with what looks like a dead animal nailed to his head—grabbed 13 rebounds and scored eight points on a 4-5 shooting night.
• Serge Ibaka was solid going 7-8 from the field and blocking four shots.
• Kanter chipped in 14 points and filled his bench role.
• DJ Augustin was needed with Russell having an off night and was what I would describe as a functional backup point guard.
• Waiters had an off shooting night but did other things pretty well.
• Morrow only played eight minutes and basically did nothing except make sure Kyle Singler never saw the floor—and rate a 6.6 on the MSKSNSTF metric.
• Thought Billy Donovan did a nice job. He seems to be gradually getting a better feel for his ball club.
• Quiet night for Nick Collison.
• For the first time this season Andre Drummond didn’t grab at least ten rebounds.
• Reggie shot 4-16 and was -20.
• Combined—Reggie and Drummond shot 11-32 in the game.
• Marcus Morris has one of the best beards in the NBA and led the Pistons with 17 points.
• Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks would have helped Detroit in this game.

Next up–at the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

Mike Jackson

 

Horrible weather in Oklahoma City currently. Cold, icy, and windy. Just horrible weather.  I’ll be sitting behind the OU bench tomorrow at the Bedlam  football game with some O State friends. Might actually include a Bedlam recap tomorrow night with the Thunder being idle till Monday after tonight’s game against the Pistons.  Big sports week-end in Oklahoma. A Bedlam game with OU literally playing for its first appearance ever in the relatively new Final Four Tournament format. Plenty of hot coffee and Jack Daniels to be consumed tomorrow night. Look forward to having a conversation with Joe Mixon. OU a seven point road favorite in a rivalry game which has had spectacular finishes of late.

But tonight it’s Thunder basketball in Oklahoma City as the Detroit Pistons and Reggie Jackson make their only appearance this season at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

OKC enters as the three seed in the West with a 10-6 mark. Detroit as the eighth seed in the East with an 8-7 mark. Both teams coming off mid week wins, both teams rested. Detroit coming off a nice win over the Miami Heat. The Thunder in the midst of their third three game winning  streak of the season in search of their first four game winning streak of the season.

Reggie Jackson matchup against Russell Westbrook will get the pregame noise, but what I’m going to be looking at is whether OKC’s bigs can handle Andre Drummond in the paint. Drummond comes in averaging 18 points and 18 rebounds a game with a current PER of 25.2. He’s a load who should give Ibaka, Adams and Collison all they want and more.

Detroit with coach Stan van Gundy have a fairly nice roster with Jackson, Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ersan Illyasova, Marcus Morris Stanley Johnson, Aron Baynes, Anthony Tolliver, Spencer Dinwiddie, Steve Blake and Reggie Bullock.

Pistons enter tonight averaging 97 points a game while giving up 96 points a game. OKC at 109.8 and 103.8 respectively. Pace will favor OKC if they can get out in transition with Westbrook leading the break.

OKC with Kevin Durant back in the lineup these last two games has scored 110 both games.

Several things I would look at tonight…1 Westbrook vs Jackson matchup, 2 can OKC’s bigs hold their own against Andre Drummond, 3 will Kentavius Caldwell – Pope light up OKC’s still suspect perimeter defense, 4 will OKC be able to dicate a faster pace which is more in their offensive comfort zone, and 5 will Serge Ibaka continue to play better since Durant’s return to the lineup.

Waiters and Morrow’s combined efficiency is something else I have circled to keep track of as the night moves along. Plus, will Billy D be trotting out that small ball lineup of Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Waiters and Morrow.

Should be a good game