manifestus
Aug 12, 2008 Dec 22, 2009 33 471
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Loud Links: 12/22/2009
by manifestus on Dec 22, 2009 10:25 PM EST
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So the big news of the day was the Maynor trade for our spare parts. And we got an expiring contract in return to boot. Fleecing folks is always nice, but when it sets you up for even bigger trades (yay for lots of expiring contracts!) it's twice as awesome. mleetch352 and Zorgon have already covered the finer aspects of the trade, but here are a few more articles to reference for good measure.
Thunder acquires Eric Maynor in trade with Utah | NewsOK.com
In exchange, the Thunder will send the draft rights to Peter Fehse, a 2002 second-round pick, to Utah. The deal will also bring Matt Harpring’s expiring $6.5 million contract to Oklahoma City, but the 33-year-old Harpring is out for the season after numerous ailments and surgeries deteriorated his performance.
Maynor, Harpring Traded to OKC - hoopsworld.com
Maynor comes to the Thunder offering a unique skillset that he honed while playing at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he averaged 22.4 points and 6.2 assists per game as a senior. He has a good amount of speed and a solid mid-range game, but he needs to work on his defense as he's not strong enough to defend the tougher NBA point guards just yet. He is a true point guard in every sense of the word – able to create with both hands and he has great vision to set up his teammates. Although he won't wow his new fans in Oklahoma City, he is tremendously solid – a jack-of-all-trades, master of none (yet) type of player.
Cap Analysis of the Maynor Trade - SLCDunk.com
It's a little strange that the Jazz would give away Harp's expiring contract essentially for free. With the $6.5 million owed to him coming off the books at the end of the season his contract could have been a valuable bargaining chip as the trade deadline approaches. Teams looking to get under the cap to make a run at the elite 2010 free agent class probably would have been willing to throw actual basketball talent at the Jazz. Instead the Jazz have opted to give that bargaining power to OKC, who could potentially combine his contract (after a two month waiting period) with another expiring contract -- such as Earl Watson or Etan Thomas -- to go after a high salary player.
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Loud Links: 12/17/2009
by manifestus on Dec 18, 2009 1:11 AM EST
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So the recap of the news for the last day is headlined by the loss to the Mavs along with KD's Creamsicle shoes. Then we have another Oden/Durant article, some snippets of news from John Hollinger, an article noting how oddly troubling this three-game losing streak is, and other stuff. Read on!
Durant's shoes only bright part of his game against Dallas Mavericks | dallasnews.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – It was a night of orange shoes for Kevin Durant. But his footwear was the only hot thing he had going Wednesday night. The former Texas Longhorns star has never had a seriously strong game against the Mavericks, and they continued to befuddle him in the form of a 4-of-18 shooting night in the Mavericks' 100-86 win.
Kevin Durant’s KD2 Creamsicles | dimemag.com
Yesterday against the Mavs, Kevin Durant debuted the outrageous "Creamsicle" colorway of his second shoe in the KD signature line, the KD2. The flashy kicks boast an all orange upper with a hint of "Oklahoma Thunder" blue on the swoosh and forefoot strap. Nike Basketball blessed other players on the squad with the Creamsicles as well so that the Thunder could style in sync. Unfortunately it takes more than footwear solidarity to get a W, as Dallas went on to win the game.
Durant Struggles; Thunder Fall | ksbitv.com
There were some bright spots for the Thunder as Jeff Green finished the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds, however all of those points came in the third quarter. The bench played well for the Thunder, a component of the team that has struggled for the most part this season. Nick Collison, James Harden and Serge Ibaka combined for 26 points and each added six rebounds to give the Thunder a boost keeping the team in the game for three quarters.
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Loud Links: 12/15/2009
by manifestus on Dec 15, 2009 10:47 PM EST
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So today we have articles on Westbrook's well-documented turnover struggles (as well as all the positives) from nba.com, the usual articles from our last few games against the Cavs and the Nuggets, stuff comparing Durant to the rest of the top-tier talent in terms of three-point shooting, and much more.
NBA.com: Westbrook taking his lumps as he learns point guard trade | nba.com
[Yes, same stuff. Glad even Westbrook realizes he's making turnovers. Too bad he's also quoted with the whole, "But other people make just as many turnovers as I do" bit. Comparing to others regarding your own area of weakness is stupid -- fix it rather than explaining why it's not that terrible ... sheesh] Make the basic pass, Scott Brooks tells Russell Westbrook. Westbrook listens and understands and even agrees. "The simple play is always best," he says at another time, when Brooks is not around. This has been going on for months. Brooks using his background to teach Westbrook, and the risky decision playing out. The final major act of the Seattle SuperSonics -- before the most major act of hitting the lights -- was to use the fourth choice in the 2008 draft on a point guard who had never really been a point guard.
Cavaliers: Mo's halfcourt shot had full effect - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio
[Okay, that shot was great, but I don't know if Mo Williams felt any sort of "arrogance" go out of the arena. What the heck was he referencing here? I'm totally lost. Really.] When Mo Williams' 48-foot, halfcourt shot dropped through the hoop on Sunday night, he said he could feel it deflate the Oklahoma City Thunder. "You could feel the arrogance go out of the whole arena and the bench," the Cavaliers' point guard said. "You just feel it. 'Ahhhhhh.' "
Nuggets storm past Thunder | INDenverTimes.com
Oklahoma City Thunder (12-10) came into Denver (17-7) on Monday night looking to ride their star, Kevin Durant, who has become the leading active scorer against the Nuggets, but left instead with a 102-93 loss. Durant is only 21 and is also the third-leading scorer in the NBA. Oklahoma City is a young, up and coming team. They are a good road team, as they are one of three teams in the Western Conference with a winning road record. They came in sitting in fourth place in the Northwestern Division and four games behind Denver.
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Loud Links: 12/10/2009
by manifestus on Dec 11, 2009 12:27 AM EST
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So today we have some news that was in the recap yesterday (see: Holiday Gift Assist) as well as info on Durant (comparisons with other valuable college hoops stars from then and now, his All-Star vote tallying, and so forth). Other random interesting stuff interspersed within the mix.
Group could close on dunes by Dec. 31 | woodtv.com
The land sits on each side of the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. McClendon, a billionaire who is an owner of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, bought the 402 acres in 2006 and plans to develop the property on the north side of the river.
Thunder rolls in to help during holidays | newsok.com
It was the Holiday Gift Assist. Grandparents raising grandchildren went around Target with the help of these NBA players to get Christmas gifts for the children. It was awesome, to say the least. I overheard some of the interaction between the Thunder and the kids. You would’ve sworn these guys were just big kids themselves. They were excited and engaged and really showed they had hearts of gold.
Surprises, letdowns after NBA's first quarter - NBA News | Foxsports.com
Our quarter-pole Coach of the Year is Oklahoma City Thunder sideline boss Scott Brooks. As the leader of the league's youngest core rotation, Brooks has overcome turnover-producing inexperience on offense and developed the NBA's fifth-most-efficient defense without the luxury of a certified baseline bruiser or shot-blocker. Kids who play team defense? That also makes Brooks eligible for the surprise list.
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Loud Links: 12/08/2009
by manifestus on Dec 8, 2009 11:18 PM EST
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Here's Tuesday's edition of Loud Links. Lots of recap articles, so I'll present really just the one. Same goes for more of that Durant/Oden debate, what with the injury and all. There's stuff on OKC's sales tax extension (you know, the one that paid for arena the Thunder play in) and talk about Clay looking at setting up some exhibition games.
Thunder 104, Warriors 88 | Thunder Rumblings | newsok.com
If ever you get sick of hearing about the character of the Thunder, about how the players genuinely get along, or how they’re good for the community, Monday’s game served as a reminder of the shade of green that lies on the other side. Golden State, in 48 minutes, should have shown you all you needed to thank the basketball gods after every game for the type of players being gathered in Oklahoma City. The Thunder has a locker room filled with 20-somethings who understand the meaning of team. They play hard and they play for each other. They spend time off the court and they do their damndest to ensure everyone excels on it. Golden State is a franchise in turmoil.
Tim Donaghy, Greg Oden among hot topics in NBA - NBA - SI.com
They made a mistake, but not because of Oden's injury. It doesn't take an NBA scout's mind to realize that Oden, while a big and capable center with superior defensive instincts, does not have nearly the same upside as Durant, a potential All-Star this season and a sure-fire MVP candidate within a few years. Oden will be back, no doubt, and I believe he'll have a long and productive career. But he won't be as dominant as Durant, which is what the Blazers were hoping Oden would become when they selected No. 1.
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Loud Links: 12/03/2009
by manifestus on Dec 3, 2009 10:47 PM EST
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So a pretty large round-up of articles tonight, starting off with a great piece on Durant and more on whether teams doing poorly should start playing for the draft. Lets get started ....
Kevin Durant is NEXT | espn.com
[Battier presents the point well -- it's a progression of establishing yourself as a player year by year. In our case, it's also about establishing where we are as a team, and KD is the focal point of that development process.] "No matter how talented a young player is, his first year is sink or swim," Battier says. "Can he survive in a man's league? Obviously Kevin did, and he did pretty well." (Durant was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year after his first season, 2007-08, his team's last in Seattle.) "Year 2, the hurdle is, Can I bring it every night?" Battier says. "Can I average double figures? Can I be consistent?" (Durant improved in nearly every statistical category last season, his first in Oklahoma City. His three-point shooting percentage jumped from .288 to .422, and he averaged five more points per game, 25.3, and two more rebounds, 6.5.) Battier continues. "The next level is, Can I be dominant? That's Kevin's final step. He's shown flashes of dominance, but can he be dominant every single night? The great ones -- Kobe, LeBron, Garnett -- had to pass through that fire. Kevin still has to run through his flames."
Should the Detroit Pistons play for the playoffs or the draft? | mlive.com
[The rest of this article is interesting to read as well, as it pretty much sums up the impact of the draft on the fortunes of teams over the last few years. Falling into the lottery hasn't panned out all that well for the vast majority of teams, as it's been somewhat of a hole that takes a lot to climb back out of. Draft poorly and you're set back even further. I like how they sit around and point out that Portland could have Deron Williams running the point had they drafted him rather than trade down for Pick No. 6 ... alas such is life.] Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Sonics: Eight picks for them. They have drafted immensely better of late. The last three have yielded Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden (not to mention Jeff Green in the Ray Allen trade), all of whom will be key players for them. Pre-OKC? Not so great ... unless you dig Robert Swift.
After two years, Thunder have solid footing in Oklahoma | nba.com
[Look -- it's yet another article talking about how we're defending better this year. Amazing!] It's hard to say which is the bigger surprise: that the Thunder, after winning only 23 games all last season, are winning on the road. Or that defense, always a challenge for young teams, isn't an issue. The players have bought into coach Scott Brooks' philosophy about team defense, and considering the Thunder lack a proven shot-blocker or designated stopper, their improvement is clearly due to a collective effort. Oklahoma City is allowing nine points fewer than last season and taking a large measure of pride in that. It's a defense that would make Barry Switzer proud. "That's why we've improved as a team," Brooks said. "Everybody is on the same page. The effort has to be there. We've improved because we're thinking like a defensive team."
More after the jump, including Westbrook's 15 assist day, D-League stuff, and our long-lost friend Robert Swift.
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Loud Links: 12/01/2009
by manifestus on Dec 2, 2009 12:59 AM EST
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The big news of the day is that Hardin is headed to the D-League. And some other roster movement updates -- Collison might return for the next game and Livingston might be ahead of schedule. And more people are starting to take note of Ibaka. All of which are good things!
Thunder draft pick Hardin headed to D-League | USATODAY.com
[Highlight of the day. Good to see Hardin get in some solid playing/development time.] TULSA, Okla. (AP) � DeVon Hardin, a second-round pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, has joined the team's NBA development league affiliate in Tulsa. Hardin played overseas after being drafted 50th overall by the Thunder last year. He has yet to play in the NBA, but was included in a trade to the New Orleans Hornets last year that was later rescinded when Tyson Chandler failed a physical.
Thunder notebook: Nick Collison could return tonight against Philadelphia | NewsOK.com
[Yay, good news. I'm more interested in seeing Livingston or Weaver make it back earlier though. But either way -- potentially good news all around!] "As long as I don’t get any swelling or pain through the night or shootaround I’m going to try and go," Collison said. "It’s still day-to-day. As of now I feel good about it.
Roundup: Sergio Rodriguez’s career-high, Serge Ibaka | interbasket.net
Serge Ibaka, a 6-10 center from the Congo has been receiving consistent minutes in the last several games for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Outside of one DNP, the first year player that was drafted with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, has averaged 21 minutes in the last five games. Ibaka recorded career highs of 11 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks in 31 minutes during the Thunder’s 101-85 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
More after the jump!
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Loud Links: 11.26.09
by manifestus on Nov 26, 2009 3:52 PM EST
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Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! And this Thanksgiving, in terms of the team, is looking good. We've won games to the point where the team looks competitive most every (other) night. Progress is being made and while some bits still need work (see: lack of interior big man, sloppy PG play, etc) all in all I'd have to say that this year is off to a nice start. So, moving on to the Loud Links, which are a bit short due to all things Thanksgiving.
Thunder notebook: Kyle Weaver sidelined with shoulder injury | NewsOK.com
[Yikes. See the article below.] With Shaun Livingston and Kevin Ollie both battling knee ailments, Weaver was thrust into emergency point guard duty in Tuesday’s 104-94 win at Utah. But if Weaver misses an extended amount of time, the Thunder could be without a backup point guard to starter Russell Westbrook.
Report: Thunder To Sign Mike Wilks | newsok.com
[So, while we might scratch our heads and wonder "Who the heck is Mike Wilks?", this looks like a precautionary move. It'd be terrible to have no backup to RW0 with Weaver, Livingston, AND Ollie out.] According to the Web site InsideHoops.com, the Thunder will sign free agent point guard Mike Wilks. The site is reporting that Wilks agent, Bill Neff, has confirmed that Oklahoma City will add the 30-year-old Wilks to provide backcourt relief behind starting point guard Russell Westbrook.
Thunder waives F Ryan Bowen, roster now at 14 | USATODAY.com
[So this move removes some of the redundacy we had in a position of strength to open up more roster space for guys like Wilks. I'm pretty sure we're not going to miss Bowen.] Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced the move Wednesday. Bowen had played in only one of Oklahoma City's first 15 games, finishing with four points, two rebounds and one steal in eight minutes in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
More, including a Bucks-Thunder preview, after the jump.
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Loud Links | 11.24.2009
by manifestus on Nov 24, 2009 11:06 PM EST
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So today's Loud Links is up pretty late as I was held up at work. Regardless, here we go -- Ibaka is saying all the right things to the press, Weaver is back, and the 66ers start play this weekend.
Serge Ibaka knows time will come | NewsOK.com
[Thank goodness he knows enough to say good things to the press. I for one hope he gets some more minutes; we need to see what we have here.] "So for me it was very important to play well. Maybe next game I play five minutes or zero minutes. For me, that is no problem. For me, the (goal) is to focus every day and work hard every day. That’s very important for me and when my time comes to be prepared."
The Canadian Press: Thunder recall Weaver from Tulsa of NBA D-League, guard to suit up for Jazz game
[I love this move. Weaver is a much superior option from the bench then some of our other options, and I'm not sure how beneficial D-League would have been for him, in contrast to Mullens, who clearly needs to work on some fundamental drills.] A second-year player, Weaver scored 11 points in his season debut last week against Orlando. He also played the final minute of the Thunder's victory Friday night against Washington.
Tulsa 66ers Start This Weekend | tulsatoday.com
[So, all you people in Tulsa, time to go turn out for this. Maybe.] The rebirth of the professional sports scene in downtown Tulsa continues this weekend as the Tulsa 66ers NBA D-League team will make their debut in the newly renovated Tulsa Convention Center. The 66ers are coached by Nate Tibbetts and are owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
More after the jump -- including stuff on Jennings whom we'll see shortly in a wonderfully televised matchup, Jerry Sloan's take on the Thunder, etc.
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Lets talk Westbrook
by manifestus on Nov 23, 2009 3:53 PM EST
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hisjazziness put it succinctly in his recap of the last game (emphasis mine):
19 Thunder turnovers led to 25 Lakers points. There was just a general carelessness with the ball. This happens too much from Westbrook. I love watching him play, and he does some amazing things (like the block on Gasol and the career high 3 blocks in general) but there are times when he has a shoot-first mentality (something I don't like out of a point guard) and other times when he's not careful with the ball.
Westbrook dished out 7 assists to pair with a team-high six turnovers. While it could theoretically have been even worse, that's definitely not good. Couple the loose ball-handling with a 0.313 FG% on 16 attempts (2nd behind Durant's 20 attempts) and you're asking for disaster. Point of the matter is that Westbrook needs to stop losing the ball -- and tone down the shoddy shooting. On the flip side, one can't allow Bynum to dominate the interior to the point of an 0.818 FG%, 9 boards, 2 blocks, 25 points AND a steal ... in under 30 minutes. To make matters worse, Gasol and Bynum combined for a grand total of 2 personal fouls. The Thunder were thoroughly destroyed inside on both sides of the ball.
However, that's just one game in isolation -- and while it was a thoroughly terrible one, one game is just one game. The more interesting question would be to ask how Westbrook's been doing in the early going overall? Beyond what we've all obviously observed in game to game lapses or highlight moments, I thought it'd be fun to take a few seconds to pull up some of his aggregate stats for this young season.
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