Welcome to OKCThunderGround!

Good game last night in Cleveland as the defending champ Celtics reminded all of us why they’re still the team to beat this spring in the NBA Playoffs.

The Celtics are starting to get that look of a team focusing in on the goal achieving arc of what it takes to repeat in the very challenging landscape in the NBA Collective Bargaining Era. It’s tough to repeat. Only the Kansas City Chiefs currently have had success in this regard amongst our four major sports leagues.

The Thunder play tonight and OKC is currently the No. 1 seed overall in the NBA. OKC…39-9, Cleveland, 40-10, and Boston 36-15.

My odds right now go…1 Boston, 2 OKC, and 3 Cleveland. If OKC were to meet Boston in the NBA Finals with homecourt, I’d probably be picking OKC to win in seven games. If OKC were to play Cleveland…I’d probably take the Thunder in six games.

So while the Thunder probably aren’t going to be able to pull off the 70-12 feat, I think it would be a fairly substantial accomplishment to have homecourt throughout the playoffs.

On the 70 win deal…the Thunder still have mathmatical chance. They would have to reel off a 31-3 to reach that incredible goal in the era of load management.

But, hey…they’ve got a chance and Shai shouldn’t be sitting because he’ll be dueling with Nicola for the MVP.

So…there’s a lot of interest in these final 34 games for NBA people like me to keep a close eye on the Thunder.

The Luka-Anthony Davis trade? I don’t know yet. I want to see if Dallas or the Lakers make anymore moves on the trade deadline before I cement my view on the trade. I want to see LA’s final roster as pertaining to the center position after tomorrow. Dallas should be a contender if AD plays as he should. I think for me the emergence of PJ Washington as a star and the addition of Max Christie make me think Dallas got the better of the deal for this season. But let’s see what happens tomorrow.

Closing…if I were Adam Silver… I would have fined the Milwaukee Bucks at a minimum $100,000 for that bullshit team they put on the floor in Oklahoma City the other night. What an insult to the overall integrity of an NBA regular season game which was a rematch of the Emirates NBA Cup Finals in December.

Pathetic.

Have a nice evening.

Mike J

It was an emotional day for those of us who attended the game yesterday in Norman. It was the OU Cancer Day Walk as a pink T-shirt was on every seat as we took our seats. I gave my pink T-Shirt to a young woman who said she had two grandmothers who wanted a shirt. Last season when OU beat Baylor on the CDW… I gave my T-shirt to my daughter-in-law, Elaine..as a means of me saying, “Thank you for all the love and thoughtfulness you’ve shown me through of all of this. Words cannot express my love and gratitude.”

Toby Keith’s wife and what I’m to assume were his grandchildren were sitting on the floor my side. She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with Toby Keith and a heart in crimson on the front of the shirt. She did not walk and there was no big deal made about her being there.

I didn’t walk for the second straight year because for the most part this cancer journey of mine… this has been a very personal thing between God, me, my family, and my inner core friends.

It was a very emotional day. The crowd stood and applauded for about ten straight minutes as it took awhile for the overflowed tunnel to empty to allow every person who took the walk.

Every OU player before the game held up a card as to who they were playing for..be it a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, or an aunt or uncle. It was truly moving.

My favorite player, Lexy Keys’, a defensive guard specialist said, “She was playing for her Grandma.”

OU lost the game to a good Kentucky team. No big deal.

Sometimes winning and losing doesn’t define a game.

This was one of those games.

Mike J

Great second half by the Sooners after a sluggish first half. This was a huge game for OU in that it could very well be OU and Vanderbilt are battling for one of the last SEC slots in March Madness.

You can see the pressure Porter’s feeling right now. He needs his team to make the Tournament. OU improves to 16-5 and 3-5 in SEC play, but winners of three out of their last four in the mighty SEC.

I’m giving out three games balls. 1 Dalton Forsythe was my MVP for the incredible energy he brought to his team late in the first half. Dalton is a baller, not just a shooter. 2 Fellow freshman guard Jeremiah Fears who was the one solid Sooner player from start to finish and had a great bounceback performance from his horrible road game earlier this week at College Station. And 3, OU’s best player Jalon Moore, who started slowly… but was incredible in the second half surge by the Sooners. Jalon is clearly the captain on this team, but it was the two freshman guards who stole Lloyd Noble Center’s heart in this game.

My hoops weekend marathon continues today at 1:30PM as Jenni B’s 15th ranked Sooners host Kentucky. I’m reset and reset. Still in disbelief though with the Luka-Anthony Davis trade if I read that right which I think will very much hurt the Thunder’s chances of advancing in the West if indeed that happened.

I’ll blog about the trade on Tuesday or so unless Trump starts a war with Panama or Greenland or Canada or Mexico on Monday. One thing is certain–though with POTUS 47…he will not send troops to Taiwan and f–k with China, China, China. He only bullies those who are weak and kiss his ass ring….like 49 of the 51 GOP senators do on a regular basis and most of the gutless Dems as well.

I’m amped about the Lady Sooners today. Ever Since Jenni took over for Sherri Coale she’s had me as a fan. And the fact of the matter is, and I hate to write this because I love Porter—she’s done a better job than Porter. Jenni was not a DEI hire…just sayin’. She’s a ball coach.

Not even close.

A warmup song for me today would be nice.

Good luck today, Lady Sooners.

MJ

It’s beautiful weather in Oklahoma this week-end. Low 60’s and sunny skies. The Super Bowl is next week-end and our white apartheid country ‘hope’ both black quarterbacks can figure out how to get their teams into their sets because we know Donald Trump still has his racist Birther doubts about black QBs, black head coaches, and black GMs. BTW…Trump white apartheid–Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin both have Super Bowl rings. Yep.

And you know what I would like to see if I’m still living in 2026? I’d like to see a Trump vs. Barack Obama 2026 presidential election. Shit man….turn ’em loose. FDR was elected to four terms. Let’s see how the oviously almost as senile as Joe Biden…that being Donald Trump embraces a presidential race against a candidate not named Hillary or Kamala. Let’s go…Trump Nation.

I’ll wait till next week or maybe even after the Super Bowl till I invoke my thoughts on the 25th Amendment and how we will probably at some point be talking about it in relation to the mentally errant King of the Anglo World.

This week-end it’s all hoops for MJ. I’ll be sitting first row right behind the Sooner bench today as OU hosts Vanderbilt in what I think is pretty much a must win if Porter’s team wants to stay on Joe Lunardi’s bracket. This is a big game. Jeremiah Fears, six words words…show up, buddy..we need you.

Then tomorrow…I’m sitting first row on the students’ side as Jenni B’s ranked Sooners host Kentucky. Another big SEC game. They’re all big and tough in the monster SEC. Ironically…it appears the SEC in basketball is now a better conference than the SEC is in football post Saben era.

I need to write this…the OU athletic department has treated me like royalty since my health issues became very serious over two years ago. These wonderful human beings and the people at Lloyd Noble have treated me with more love, compassion, and empathy than I can express.

I love you people. Thank you so much for your kindness.

This is a big test me for today. I’m doing so well on this one-hundred and twenty day regime of infusion chemo that Dr. Showalter and I agreed if I wear my Sooner Hoops mask then its time for me to start living again, but in a very smart, measured manner. It’s all about livin’ every day to the max.

And then we have the leveling off Thunder hosting the Sacramento Kings tonight. The 70 games deal isn’t going to happen for OKC, but the Thunder could still win the overall NBA Playoffs No. 1 seed in the event they meet Cleveland in the Finals.

Awesome. I need to do my mini-workout this morning and then get down to Norman.

Eternal peace,

MJ

I’m ashamed to be an American after witnessing the bullshit Donald Trump just laid on America following the air tragedy in Washington D.C.

Before I go further..to the loved ones who just suffered this heartwrenching loss…my heart goes out to you. I lost my father-in-law twenty years ago in a sudden and unexpected airplane crash. It forever changed my wife’s life. Which in turn forever changed me. I know exactly what you’re about to go through the rest of your lives. It will never leave you. It’s far worse than Stage 4 cancer. Not even close. Take my word. Get a Bible, keep your family close to your heart, and a good dog wouldn’t hurt. A really good dog.

Since I married the daughter of a U.S. Air Force SAC Bird Colonel…over the years by assimilation I’ve become pretty well versed on some of nuances of aviation. For instance, a sitting second term President and his equally unfit just confirmed Secretary of Defense shouldn’t use the words ‘height’ and ‘elevation’ in an American presser like the one today. In American aviation the word ‘altitude’ would be the appropriate word usage.

Note: SAC or Strategic Air Command was the branch of the U.S. Air Force when the Soviet Union was America’s chief adversary. I’m not sure if Donald Trump or Partyboy Pete are aware of SAC and its history. So there’s that.

I’m not going write on here what I think will be the final verdict of this tragedy. But I have a very good hunch and it has absolutely nothing to do with the complete bullshit Donald Trump just laid on his MAGA base and the others who just voted for him.

This guy’s lack of ground level basic decency never fails to amaze me. Though…I am proud I helped him carry out his Execuive Order to Fire Mike Gundy. Somebody had to do it.

So basically…I thought it would fun to see the Al Campanis video from 1987 on race in baseball. Dusty Baker and Dave Roberts…any of you MAGA dipf–k racists? Yeah..that’s what I thought.

Or Mr. Trump..since the Super Bowl is just round the corner…do the names Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, CJ Stroud, or Jaden Daniels ring a bell…at all?

Whatever.

Wake up, America…before you really do lose your country.

Mike J

Stunning as it may seem…MJ of all the bloggers in the blogisphere was contacted by a ‘Deep Throat’ source from POTUS 47’s social media staff. They like my work. In fact, they want me to replace the highly pedestrian Joe Rogan as President Trump’s Special Czar Blogger of sorts even though I voted for Kamala Harris and would have voted for my neighbor’s dog over Trump.

They evidently feel my courage as a Stage 4 cancer survivor, plus my highly eclectic work might be a nice pivot from the usual 4th grade reading level drivel we observe from POTUS 47’s social media people.

So…this is what they shot me for my first Trump assignment: Mike Gundy Executive Order No. 1.

Dear Coach Gundy,

POTUS 47 just wanted to touch base with you following your winless Tier 4 level Big 12 football season. ‘We’ have certainly in the past years enjoyed your support in using-wearing Trump T-Shirts, Trump Hoodies, Trump Anglo Saxon Condoms, Trump Super Strength Viagra, and Trump Stuffed U.S.A. Thongs. In our book…you’re right there with the Markwayne Mullins and Tommy Tubervilles of Trump Universe. You’ve been GOLD…in a word.

But here’s the thing, POTUS 47 cannot have losers representing his brand who cannot even win one single conference football and get Walking Dog Pissed by the Golden Colorado Buffaloes.

Trump loved Boone and Carl Icahn… they were like debt leverage takeover brothers. POTUS 47 actually did several very ‘creative’ real estate deals with Boone. But the Trump brand simply cannot be associated with this winless level of performance.

Part of Trump simply wants to pause our relationship for the time being, but as we both know…that isn’t Trumpy enough for the MAGA crazies in Oklahoma.

So, consequently…YOU’RE FIRED.

DJT by way of MJ

Damn, I mean…damn. I cannot imagine how tough it is for you this Monday morning. That was one of the grittiest quarterback performances I’ve ever seen from a QB who didn’t actually hoist the trophy at the end.

Even grittier than the sublime performance of two years ago when you didn’t get to touch the football in that overtime loss. In fact, that game made the NFL change its overtime protocol.

I’m fairly certain I’m not the only NFL fan hurting for you. You overcame the horrific mis-mark on that fourth and 1 which in itself was a game changer… to then lose this game on probably your best play of the game.

Josh, you can avoid a corner blitz and throw an off balance back foot pass right on the mark, but you can’t catch it as well.

It was brutal.

And again, after that dropped pass by your teammate…you never saw another play on the field.

Doubly brutal.

All I can say is this…Patrick Mahomes is the Tom Brady of this generation of quarterbacks. You are currently the Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton went through this very same dynamic with Tom Brady and those historic New England teams.

Peyton never surrendered and eventually beat Tom Brady and the Patriots and his first Super Bowl just like you’ll do at some point. Peyton even won a second ring as a game manager QB on that 2014 Denver Bronco squad which almost beat Cam Newton to death.

Trust me…the sun will shine again for you.

You are a champion QB just like Patrick Mahomes.

You will have your day.

DO NOT SURRENDER!

This is life, buddy. Sometimes life can knock you down really hard and this is when we find out about ourselves.

Mike J

I’m pretty amped for our two Conference Championship Sunday games today. Russell Westbrook struggled yesterday on ABC versus the Timberwolves, but so did every other member of th Nuggets. You have a game like that now and again.

Coversely, my Sooners won their second straight SEC game with a critical one point win at the buzzer inside of an overflow crowd inside of Bud Walton Arena. If you’ve never watched a game inside of Bud Walton Arena…you’re not really a college basktball fan. An incredible homecourt atmosphere. Kind of like a macro version of Gallagher Iba back when it was small and they had a DI basketball program under Coach Sutton.

My Sooners improve to 15-4 with a mid-week road game at Texas A&M and a home game on Saturday against a surging Vanderbilt squad. The game on Saturday will be my first game attended since the December 3rd game against Georgia Tech. I have consulted with Dr. Showalter and we agree if I wear my OU mask there should be no problem with me sitting on the floor. MJ’s chemo quarantine is officially over…as in done.

I like Philly if Jalen Hurts’ ankle is healthy today. Philly has the best running back in the league in Saquon Barkley and the best offensive line in the NFL. It’s hard for me to pick the Cinderella Redskins given they have one of the league’s weaker rushing defenses. Note…I still call them the Redskins. It’s because of weakass lit-woke nonsense like this Donald Trump got a second term. Jaden Daniels…I love you, dude. But this could be a tough one for you.

I love Josh Allen as well. If the Bills were playing any other team in the AFC today…I’d be picking Buffalo. Unfortunately, they’re playing against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce inside of venerable Arrowhead Stadium. Another iconic sports venue.

So I’m thinking of a Super Bowl rematch of two years ago.

In honor of Toby Keith and Little Toby Keith it will be Toby Keith week thru Wednesday here at okcthunderground.com this week.

Enjoy the games.

Nirvana and Toby Keith on the same page…why not?

Mike J

This is awsome for me as an NBA blogger. My hometown Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the West. But Denver… the city which in a sese has become the place I feel more at home…has suddenly become the biggest storyline in the West has we veer towards the trade deadline and the All-Star break.

The Denver Nuggets appear to have found themselves in the aftermath of Nicola challenging his teamates in public. The Nuggets are too far back to catch the Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the West, but are right where they need to be as far as passing both Memphis and Houston for the No. 2 seed in the West.

This is a beautiful story for Russell Westbrook. I’m so happy for Russell. On my ballot…he’s currently No. 1 for NBA Comeback Player of the Year.

But Russell is only one piece of how the Nugs have turned their season around. Jamal Murray lost some weight and it appears his calf issues have improved. Jamal is on a tear. Every game he looks more like the same guy who was key in the Nuggets’ championship run two years ago.

Even Michael Porter has turned it up a notch or two. Same with Christian Braun who scored 21 points last night in a win over the Sacramento Kings. Same for Julian Strawther who scored 23 points two games ago in another Denver win.

Aaron Gordon is the TSN guy on this team He’s the bluecollar lunchpail worker who in essence is a version of a more offensively skilled Nick Collison. Nick was a better passer, Aaron is a better scorer.

Peyton Watson still needs to pick it up a notch as a bench versatile big, while lo and behold the aged veteran Deandre Jordan is filling the role Jeff Green played two years ago on the championship team.

It’s a team deal, but we all know it’s Nicola who drives this Nuggett bus. He had something like his fifth consectutive triple double last night and is now averaging a triple double for the season. Plus, he heaved in a near full court bucket at the end of the first half last night.

But what makes me happiest of all is that Russell Westbrook’s smile is back. He seems at home…finally.

The only thing I’m going to add about the Thunder’s home loss to an injury decimated Dallas Mav team last night…is that the pressure of winning 70 games no longer exists. The Thunder in these games without Isaiah have found out who in reality may be their co-MVP–that being Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder are not the same team without his rebounding and physicality.

Get well soon, Isaiah. Your mates need you.

Note: Russell and I both love Carrie Underwood, but not as much after the debacle on Monday. Here’s the thing though…apparently MJ has a better sound system on his blog than Trump could put in place for his Inaugural. And this guy is going to fix immigration, the debt, the New World Order, and our trade issues…I don’t think so.

But this is for Carrie. She’s married to a hockey player…I’m giving her a mulligan. I could care less about that punk fake tough Cowboy Jason Aldean. F–k that little redneck.

MJ

-Staff Reports-

I think most are now seeing the value of Shai Gilgeous-Alexxander to this version of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without Shai, the Thunder late last week lost to a Dallas Mav team which did not have either Luka or Derek Lively on the floor.

The Thunder then beat up on the hapless Brooklyn Nets with Shai back in the lineup a couple of nights ago.

Then last night, the Utah Jazz who are arguably the worst team in the West visited Paycom Arena and it took every one of Shai’s career high 54 points to get the Thunder past the lottery headed Jazz.

It can’t be ignored that without Isaiah Hartenstein on the floor the Jazz pounded OKC on the boards last night by the count of 52-39.

I love Jaylin Williams but it can neither be ignored in almost twenty minutes of floor time he had but 2 rebounds against this Jazz team. Two rebounds in twenty minutes of play. I think if I were Coach Mark I’d pull JWill aside today at the team shoot-around and point out to JWill he had 2 rebounds versus the worst team in the Western Conference.

Hey, JWill…MJ loves you and was strongly advocating for the Thunder to pick you from Arkansas…but the Thunder need more out of you and your minutes than 2 rebounds in twenty minutes with Isaiah not available. Let’s see less smiling and some TSN (Toughness, Snarl, Nasty) tonight versus the Mavs without Derek Lively who’s a definite DNP. Command your floor space.

On a more positive note…I enjoyed seeing former OU player EJ Harkless getting some nice floor time for the Jazz last night. I loved EJ during his time in Norman. Porter didn’t use him correctly or in the manner Lon Krueger used EJ, but that’s on Porter.

Anyway…It’s good to see EJ’s NBA career moving in the right direction. Anyone who needs a 10th or 11th roster spot filled with a wing who’s tough as nails defensively and can at times hit the open three should maybe give EJ a look if he’s available at some point this season. Yeah, maybe even someone like Calvin Booth… the GM of the Denver Nuggets.

Dallas at OKC tonight still without Luka and Derek Lively.