SB Nation User Blog: rickpidero

Forbes Ranks Each NBA Franchise According to Value

rickpidero — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:59:03 -0000

Forbes Ranks Each NBA Franchise According to Value

OKC ranks 20th, but they actually are the 10th most profitable team. It's amazing how many teams lose money.

Lots of Thunder players on the NBA award watch list

rickpidero — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:18:03 -0000

Lots of Thunder players on the NBA award watch list

Latavious Williams shines, makes Tulsa debut, via Ridiculous Upsid

rickpidero — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:42:27 -0000

Latavious Williams shines, makes Tulsa debut, via Ridiculous Upsid

Recap of Tulsa 66ers vs Iowa Energy. The kid drafted out of high school had himself a pretty good game.

NBA All-Star voting

rickpidero — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:35:36 -0000

NBA All-Star voting

You can already start voting for the NBA All-Star team. No surprise, Durant is listed. But, so is Jeff Green and Westbrook. You have to create a login ID to vote, shouldn't take too long. So go vote.

Got to give credit to BDL

Our old pal Robert Swift in the D-League

rickpidero — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:06:19 -0000

Our old pal Robert Swift in the D-League

Stumbled across this at our friend site Ridiculous Upside, I'm sure we can all agree that this is no surprise.

KD #6 on Bill Simmions most interesting people of the NBA

rickpidero — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:34:45 -0000

KD #6 on Bill Simmions most interesting people of the NBA

6. Kevin Durant
"Prediction No. 1: Your 2009-10 scoring champ.

Prediction No. 2: Lots of "The NBA's Hottest Young Superstar!" national stories.

Prediction No. 3: With 10 days to go, the Zombies will be fighting for the eighth playoff spot as everyone says, "Wait, are they going to make the playoffs?"

Not a prediction, but definitely in play: Twenty-nine-plus points and eight rebounds per game, with 50-40-90 averages for FG/3FG/FT. Last guy who did it? The Basketball Jesus.

(In other words, hold on to your seats. You're about to go on a ride.)"

Thunder's Award Predictions

rickpidero — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:02:13 -0000

Over at some little sports website, ESPN.com, they recently did their NBA Award predictions. About 20 sports writers picked whom they believed would win an '...of the year' award. The only Thunder-er (is there a term for this?) to get any nods was semi-surprisingly coach Scotty Brooks, for coach of the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=Predictions0910-COY

This had me thinking, which awards do the Thunder have a realistic shot at winning? The NBA gives '...of the year' awards for Rookie, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man, Coach, Defensive, MVP, Come Back Player and GM ( the last two were not listed by ESPN, so I could be wrong).

Rookie of the Year: James Harden probably won't win this award, but he at least has a s mall chance. It looks like he won't be starting to begin the season; he will likely be first of the bench. I wasn't wow'd by anything he did in the preseason, but he should still get enough looks to give him above average rookie numbers. He will really have to turn on his stroke to average enough points to win this award, and probably have to earn the starting SG spot. How about some other Thunder rooks? Well, if Ibaka channels his inner-Dennis Rodman and averages 14 boards a game then he might get some consideration (I wish). The only award BJ Mullens is winning is 'Most-Likely-to-Bring-Back-Memories-of-Robert-Swift' Award

Most Improved Player: I thought Durant had a legitimate case to win this award last year, didn't happen. So, he's out of the conversation. Jeff Green could have a real shot at this award. He had some considerable jumps last season, if he continues that trend and averages a David West-like 20ish and 8ish a game it would be hard to keep him from the award. However, Uncle may be battling his own teammate, RW0. If Westbrook can keep his points, bring down his turnovers, and ups his assists to 9 then he would be right there with the Green for the award in this dream scenario.

Sixth Man: I'm not sure if they give this award to rookies, but I imagine the Thunders only shot to win this will be via James Harden. It's basically the same case as for ROY, he has to burn the nets down, but in this more unlikely scenario Brooks decides he's a better asset coming off the bench.

Coach of the Year: Wooo, Scotty Brooks already getting some love as I mentioned before. This is simple, the Thunder have to compete for the final playoff spot in the West. I don't even think they would have to make the playoffs, as long as they are right there the entire season. It really depends on if other teams are having surprisingly good seasons. If the Thunder do make the playoffs, well then Mr. Stern, that's Scott with two T's.

Defensive Player: If the Thunder keep defending the perimeter like they did in the last couple preseason games then I'm not even sure if any player deserves a team Defensive Player of the Year award, just give it to Loud City. the Thunder really have almost 0% chance of winning this award. I guess if I had to wager on just one player it would be Westbrook. He's already considered one of the leagues best young defenders. It would just be a matter of getting the numbers. A Dwayne Wade-esque defensive season would be the best shot, then again, even D-Wade didn't win the award. This award is lodged firmly in Orlando

Come Back Player: This is a fun award. It's a great honor to players that have worked very hard to get their careers back on track. It's not hard to imagine Shaun Livingston having an okay season and sweeping this award. His injury was so horrific that it has to be burned into every NBA player, coach, and GM. If he makes a dramatic step forward this season the award is his. I think he will get enough minutes to get some decent stats, maybe sometimes even playing along side Westbrook. If you haven't seen what he had to come back from check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1VLN2dlbV0.

MVP: I think we can all agree that this should be Kevin Durant's breakout season, a 'Hi, I'm Kevin aka The Durantula, I came here to score on you in any and every way, from anywhere on the floor, excuse me while I embarrass you in front of your girlfriend and mom' kind of season. But, MVP is one of those awards that sometimes is more perception than reality. Lebron, Kobe, and D-Wade are far ahead in that category. It will take a season like we all expect Durant to have before he will be truly considered for this award. Cross your fingers though.

GM: It seems to be a consensus that Sam Presti is doing a great job building this young talented team. He hasn't made any rushed/ forced moves and has amassed what seems to be a budding core around Durant. But, this seems to also be a flashy award as well. Front offices that make ridiculous trades and all of a sudden their team goes from mid-range to contender win this award. Which is hard to really argue against, but shouldn't the idiot GM on the other side of those trades also receive a Worst GM of the Year award (staring down Jerry West and David Kahn). But, once again if the Thunder contend a bit or make the playoffs then Presti would be in the conversation.

I guess the Thunder don't have a great shot at any of these awards. In my opinion I would say Most Improved Player is the best shot for the Thunder, two players chasing the award makes the odds better. It would be nice to see Durant in the MVP conversation, especially after all the plus/minus garbage that came out recently. What do all of you on WTLC think?

Another note: keep this site alive!

Poll

Which NBA Award do the Thunder have the best shot at receiving?

BDL's preseason take on the Tunder

rickpidero — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:24:09 -0000

BDL's preseason take on the Tunder

Sonicgate full online

rickpidero — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:35:27 -0000

Sonicgate full online

Lots of controversy on this film from multiple WTLC articles/FanPost. Figured some may want to see what the buzz is about.

Seattle, I just found you a team, you're welcome.

rickpidero — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:21:56 -0000

JE Skeets over on Yahoo!Sports posted on his blog today a story about Sacramento possibly losing the team because the arena is not up to par. Sound familiar? The team's pretty bad right now, but they are rebuilding; the Evans kid has a chance to be a stud. So, get some money together and have them buy the team, lets say..., the 'other' MySpace guy, he went to Uni of Washington.

Okay, so now that we found you a team you can stop being mad at us. At least the city, but you have our permission to stay mad at Clay B forever. The balls in your court, or, well not in your court, it's in Arco Arena, go grab it. Hurry before the Maloofs get smart and move the team to Vegas.

Heres the story:

SL: Mayor Kevin Johnson, worried Sacramento could lose Kings

By J.E. Skeets

Ryan Lillis and Tony Bizjak, Sac Bee:"After learning that Arco Arena is considered unsuitable to host a major college basketball tournament, Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that Sacramento could lose the Kings if efforts for a new arena aren't stepped up. 'If we don't have a clear path to an arena in the not too distant future, then we as Sacramentans need to know that (the Kings) very well may look elsewhere,' Johnson said. The mayor made his statements after finding out the NCAA had bypassed Sacramento's bid to host the regional round of the men's basketball tournament. Arco Arena has hosted the money-making event four times since 1994. Sacramento Sports Commission officials said they were told the city's bid to host tournament games through 2013 had been denied because of concerns over the conditions at Arco Arena."