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I’m indifferent to Reggie. He’s a nice kid basically who just didn’t want to be Russell Westbrook’s backup. In the end he’s not a villain of any sort, but by the same token not a player I’ll ever have any attachment to over the course of his career. In the end — you can’t fault a guy for wanting  a chance to start and be paid market value. I hope the OKC fans don’t boo him tonight. You should boo guys like Greg Hardy or the such, but not a nice kid like Reggie Jackson. Hope Oklahoma City doesn’t embarrass itself tonight because he never did anything like Joe Mixon or Ray Rice. Just wanted a chance to be his own man. Hard to fault a guy long term for that alone.

 

I’m not the average Thunder fan in OKC. I’d been a fervent NBA fan for about forty-five years before hurricane Katrina caused the New Orleans Hornets to play two seasons in Oklahoma City. My two favorite teams were the Sixers in the East and the Portland Trailblazers in the West. My single favorite team of all-time was the 1977 Portland team with Jack Ramsey, Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas and a group of no names who actually beat my Sixers in six games to claim the NBA championship. To date–that team is still my favorite NBA team. My second favorite team would be the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011-12 when they reached the NBA Finals by beating the San Antonio Spurs in the West to advance.

I never wear one of the community based themed T shirts when I attend Thunder games. Never have once. Never will. I’m not there to share anything communal or biblical. I’m there to watch the best basketball players in the world display their talents as some of the most gifted athletes in the world. Call me narrow or callous if you will, but I’m there to watch basketball and maybe some dogs do a really great halftime show every now and then.

So I think what I’m about to write is fairly objective about why Seattle lost their basketball team. Seattle primarily lost their basketball team because Howard Schultz was a piece of shit professional sports owner  who never should have owned a professional sports team in the first place. Even his best player and probably the most long standing face of the modern Sonics–Gary Payton- would agree with me on this. To me–Howard Schultz should be the primary focus of Sonics’ fans angst for the loss of their team.

Give me a break–how dumb can you be or more importantly how dumb do you think the rest of the world is in believing when Shultz sold his team for a nice market price he actually believed Clay Bennett and a group of Oklahoma based owners had any interest whatsoever in owning a team in Seattle. This same group had just fallen short of buying out George Shinn’s interest in the New Orleans team. So why in the world would they be looking to own in Seattle? They weren’t and never had any intention of doing so. Hopefully—if some Sonic fans somehow  stumble upon my obscure blog this admission from a guy living in Deer Creek, Oklahoma will be cathartic for you. Clay Bennett and Co. had every intention of moving your team from the second Howard Schultz said yes. So there.

Add to the mix the incompetence of Seattle mayor Greg Nikkel of dealing with the Stern issues. Plus the continual objections of Washington State Speaker of the House Frank Chopp to any kind of arena deal which would have satiated David Stern and you have the perfect storm for what transpired. People like Bill Simmons and Steve Kelly can paint Bennett as a villain all they want, but in the end Clay Bennett from my perspective just happened to be the person who David Stern used to rid him of Seattle’s own indifference to the Sonics.

Not trying to be callous, but unless you’re living in Green Bay and the team is owned by the fans–this is the modern world of sports ownership we live in. It’s a big business. A very big business and as Clay Bennett and his ownership group are about to discover–their franchise could conceivably go splat if Durant and Westbrook opt out of Oklahoma City in the summers of 2016 and 2017. I can assure you this about Oklahoma sports fans–they won’t tolerate bad teams. The T shirts and the communal thing will only go so far—so Clay Bennett better do what Howard Schultz didn’t…namely keep his best players paid at what the market dictates.

Therein this bring us full circle within the economic cycle–the NBA is a big business with huge payouts attached to owners, players, and cities. I don’t think it’s completely outrageous to call it a whore business. And the simple truth is Seattle can’t hide from the fact they tried to do to the city of Sacramento the very thing they condemn Clay Bennett for doing to Seattle. Basically–taking another city’s team because of community indifference to the host city team.

It’s a big business. The world can be cruel. Bill Simmons go away and die under a rock. I’ve said my piece on this. Moving forward with the season.

The end.

Mike Jackson

This blog is basically about the NBA in Oklahoma City. The eight years to date and this very important 2015-16 season. Much has been written about the team’s move from Seattle to Oklahoma City. While I don’t want to dwell too much on any of that because it’s  already been covered in a documentary called Sonicsgate—I think this might be a nice spot to put just a bit of background on the team’s move to OKC for some historical perspective.

 

 

Reggie Jackson returns to Oklahoma City on Friday for his first appearance here as a Detroit Piston. Let me say this about Oklahoma City NBA fans—they are extremely fair and respectful of players. It’s a great building for players. Other than Artest after the elbowing of James Harden–I can’t remember much disrespectful behavior from the crowds. Patrick Beverly gets booed, but he deserves it. Blake Griffin occasionally gets a smattering of boos but that was earlier in his career when he quite frankly deserved some of it for his theatrics. But for the most part–Oklahoma City fans are fair. They respect players.

Some wondered what kind of reception Harden would get his first time in OKC as a Rocket. He was almost universally cheered. I still wear my Harden T shirts. Still love him even though I hate Morey and the Rockets in general.

So Reggie Jackson, the self proclaimed minimalist comes to OKC on Friday night. I’m very curious to see the reception he gets after his departure from OKC on the trade deadline last season. I don’t boo players. I called Artest a cock roach, but never booed him. Same with Patrick Beverly—never booed him. Kind of in a old school way admired his moxie albeit injuring Westbrook.

With Reggie I won’t boo either. But unlike other players who have come and gone thru OKC both with the Hornets and Thunder—he’s not one I have any lasting affection for at the end of the day. It’s like to me—he doesn’t exist. I’ll probably just yawn when his name is announced which is kind of sad because he did some really nice things during his time in Oklahoma City.

 

OKC Thunder 110 — Brooklyn Nets 99

After OKC’s bench unit screwed around and allowed Brooklyn to tie the game early in the fourth period with Durant and Westbrook both resting, Billy Donovan made a lineup change to combine Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Waiters, and Morrow. It worked to perfection as OKC exploded from an 85-85 tie to a 13 point lead at one point.

Durant started the explosion with a couple of threes, then assisted Waiters on another trey. Durant and Waiters both hit another three and the working margin  OKC created was enough to carry the Thunder to their tenth win of the season and third place currently in the West.

Actually– a fairly entertaining game to watch as Brooklyn hung around most of the night. OKC led 56-52 at the half. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 26 points. Thaddeus Young went for 18 points, 8 rebounds. Rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson chipped in with 11 points, 11 rebounds.

Durant and Westbrook were both extremely efficient in this game. Either could easily be selected as my No. 1 Star of the Game. Durant went for 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals on an 11-18 shooting night. But I think I’ll go with Westbrook as the OKCThunderGround No. 1 Star of the Game. Westbrook’s line went…27 points, 13 assists, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals going 10-16 from the field.

Dion Waiters had another game where he made big plays coming down the stretch with the game in doubt scoring 16 points. Serge Ibaka was okay going for 12 points and 8 rebounds, but he did some nice things down the stretch as well.

Anthony Morrow played 24 minutes and was quiet, but with him in the lineup which basically won the game for OKC–it was a good floor look as Brooklyn had no man to cheat off of. All five can hit threes. Fun lineup to watch.

Other things:

• OKC shot 52.6% from the field, 41.7% from behind the arc.
• Brooklyn shot 45.7% from the field, 23.1% from threes.
• OKC had 26 assists to 19 turnovers, but there was great ball movement at times.
• Kyle Singler did not see the floor and has become the Daily Thunder Official Whipping Boy for the 2015-16 season. First white guy since Cole Aldrich or Byron Mullens to win this honor.
• Overall bench play was average to poor tonight. Collison was okay, Augustin struggled keeping up with Larkin, and Kanter had what I would describe as a quiet night.
• Dion Waiters has become the Thunder’s third best option in fourth quarters to date this season.
• Didn’t see a tangible incremental step forward as far as team defense.
• Sat floor side tonight and quite frankly Steven Adams’ hair looks even more horrific up close than it does from other venues in the arena or on the flat screen.
• Sam Presti walked right by me before halftime and I thought he was an albino. Thunder to do list….Get Presti to a tanning salon, get rid of Steven Adams’ ponytail.
• Halftime show with the stunt dogs was excellent. I rose three times to give the dogs standing ovations. Great halftime show.
• Reggie Jackson–the minimalist back in OKC for his first appearance in OKC as a Detroit Piston. I won’t boo him, but I might hiss a couple of times.
• Have a great Thanksgiving with your families.

Mike Jackson

Haven’t done this yet on my rogue Thunder blog. I used to know this guy in another life. Play some defense, Thunder.

 

 

 

NBA seasons are a marathon journey. Some really tough lows, but some exultant highs as well. If you’re a Thunder fan never forget two generational players are still together in Oklahoma City. Sure–we all get caught up in the quest for a championship, but never take for granted how special every game can potentially be when Durant and Westbrook take the floor. Savor the journey and put away memories for a lifetime. Embrace the season. Happy Thanksgiving.