2010 is the summer of the free agent—the summer to make bank.  Who can get into the biggest market for the biggest bucks? Amar’e landed in NYC. Wade and Bosh are headed to South Beach. LeBron can go anywhere he wants and demand that he be paid to do so. The most astounding fact of this offseason however is the re-signing of two franchise players and the lack of bright lights and large sounds in doing so.

The Dallas Mavericks signed Dirk Nowitzki to a new 4-year deal worth approximately $80 million.  The OKC Thunder signed Kevin Durant to a 5-year extension worth approximately $84 million.

No flash. No glamour. No drama. No brand building. No television specials. Just love for the game and the city that loves how you play it.

What’s that you say? Those are some big numbers to be clamoring about love for the game? Think about what the guys left on the table.  Dirk essentially gave the Mavs $16 million when he didn’t demand the max contract.  KD could’ve waited till next summer and hit the open market where you know the likes of the Knicks, Bulls, Nets, Clippers, etc. would throw bundles and bundles of money at him.  He decided to stay.  KD could’ve put in a player option in his extension, but he didn’t.

I’m not even going to discuss Dirk’s and KD’s stats.  We all know that they are both off the charts (certainly better than Chris Bosh, just saying).  I just want everyone to take a moment and recognize the love that these two amazing talents deserve.

Related posts:

1. Dirk and KD: True Love?
2. For Better or Worse
3. Durants Wants to Sign Extension

Kevin Durant:

www.kevindurant35.com

www.twitter.com/KDthunderup

www.facebook.com/kevindurant

Russell Westbrook:

www.twitter.com/russwest44

www.facebook.com/russellwestbrook

James Harden:

www.twitter.com/jHard13

Cole Aldrich:

www.colealdrich.com

www.twitter.com/colea45

Serge Ibaka:

www.twitter.com/sergeibaka9

www.facebook.com/pages/Serge-Ibaka/478676110787

Eric Maynor:

www.ericmaynor6.com

www.twiiter.com/EMaynor3

www.facebook.com/EricMaynor910

Thabo Sefolosha:

www.thabosefolosha.com

www.twitter.com/ThaboSefolosha

Daequan Cook:

www.twitter.com/DcookIsBack

www.facebook.com/DaequanCook

Nick Collison:

www.twitter.com/nickcollison4

BJ Mullens:

www.twitter.com/BJMullens

Kevin Ollie:

www.twitter.com/kevinollie

Kyle Weaver:

www.twitter.com/kyleweaver5

Related posts:

1. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview
2. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 2 Analysis
3. Thunder Acquires Eric Maynor

Opening statement:

“As has been the case over the last few years we’re going to take the next couple of weeks and summer months to sit down and talk about the year. We’ll have plenty of conversations – conversations, coaching staff, myself, Scott, front office – just try to figure out what the next step will be for us heading into next year.

“With that said this year was another step in the process for us. It was a positive step. At the same time while we feel it’s positive we’re not content or satisfied with where we are. I don’t know that you ever are but we certainly feel it was another step for the organization. It was a unique year on a lot of levels as well. There was a lot of firsts. Obviously it was the first time we were fortunate enough to be in the playoffs and have that opportunity. And when you have a lot of firsts it’s still a reminder of how young the organization is in terms of having those first-time achievements. But it was special to be a part of and I think everyone in the organization feels that way.

“In terms of the team we feel like this season collectively we had improvement as a team and not just on an individual level. Players and the coaches obviously, Scott, did an excellent job and deserve a lot of credit for continuing to focus and build on the things we think are important to building a basketball team that can have not just short-term success but also lasting success. Defensively we’ve taken strides and improved. I think we’re starting to create an identity for ourselves as a team that’s going to play hard consistently, night in and night out, and an environment also that will see our guys stick together through some tough stuff and tough breaks in addition to holding each other accountable when things are going well to not get too far ahead of ourselves. Also I think coaches and players deserve credit for the fact that they really focused on the task at hand and really committed to the process of building and growing from a day-to-day basis. Not getting too far ahead of themselves, not looking too far ahead down the road but really dealing with the work of the day and not skipping steps, which is easy to do.

“Before I talk a little bit more about what might be next this summer I also want to take the chance to thank a few people because I don’t have that many opportunities to do it. First, I talked about the players and the coaches. I also wanted to thank our medical team and our strength and conditioning team as well as everyone in basketball operations. I am incredibly fortunate to work with a great group of people who are really committed to what we are trying to establish and build as an organization and I enjoy that very much. I also want to thank our business staff, people down in Leadership Square. They’ve done an excellent job of really capturing the identity of our basketball team and helping to support the culture that we’re striving to create here in Oklahoma City. And I also think they’ve done an excellent job of creating an environment for our fans and an experience for our fans. I also would be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone in this room also because it’s concluding our second year here and we’re really fortunate to have the relationships we have and we look forward to continuing to work well together in the future.

“Also, I want to make sure I thank our fans. In addition to the other folks that we’ve talked about, it’s been a special experience to be exposed to the passion, loyalty and just the civic support that we have been afforded since we arrived here and especially through this season. And I really feel like it goes beyond the t-shirt toss or the rally towel but really to the civic pride that folks have for supporting a group of players that have Oklahoma City on their jersey and for the passion they have for the group that we have and it’s incredibly appreciated. We’re going to try to give back through every opportunity we have in the community because the concept of ‘Rise Together’ is as much about the community as it is the people in our uniforms.

“In terms of heading into the offseason our approach will be consistent with what we’ve set out in the past. Our focus is on, again, building a team that can grow together and last and it’s something that will take discipline and persistence not just through the tougher times we’ve experienced but also through a summer where we’ve had some success as well to be the same. Coming into this year and coming off a year where there was some external question as to whether we’ll win nine games through the year, through that and through those adversities I think there’s a genuine and authentic sense of humility that’s within the group and there’s an understanding and acceptance that we’re going to have to continue to earn our way through this thing. We’re going to have to stay true to the things we think are important and I don’t think anyone expects us to be handed anything. It hasn’t been the case thus far and I think we’ve got a group willing to put in the time to earn it.

“Knowing that the 50 wins we were fortunate enough to accumulate this year none of those are going to be transferred over to the 2010-11 season. I don’t think there’s any sense of entitlement that we are deserving of anything, any level of success outside of what it is we put our time into and we earn going into next year. I don’t expect us to be complacent but at the same time we’re going to have to continually look to get better. But we can’t let emotion drive our decision. We haven’t done that in the past in times of adversity and I don’t foresee us letting that happen this summer coming off a season where we’ve had a step in the right direction. That’s not to say we think we have the perfect mix or perfect blend. We’re certainly not in a position to say that. But we just have to be diligent in what we’re trying to do going forward.

“Our players, we expect them to come back better. I think Scott will do an excellent job overseeing that. He’s a hands-on guy when it comes to development and I think it’s one of his great strengths. And we need our guys to continue to grow organically and comeback better and more prepared that we’re asking them to play through the year. So there will be a tempo and a balance through the summer as we go through it. As I said, more conversations between the staff and a lot of listening on my part before we try to figure out where we want to go next.”

How is this summer going to be different from the previous two since you took over now that you have that 50-win plateau?

“I think the principles that we put in place will remain the same and I think that’s an important thing for us. As I said before we’re not entitled to anything. We have to do the work. I think our players understand that and our coaches understand that and coming into training camp next year we’re going to have to stay true to the things that afforded us this level of success. There’s no promises for next season outside of what we’ve been able to scratch together and earn.”

What stands out about the defensive improvements you’ve made?

“I think the fact that there’s really a collective unit out there this year and I think part of that is continuity. I think that more time together equals better habits, more trust. And I think the coaches and players deserve a lot of credit for that. It really is a system-based group and guys playing their roles. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s going to take as much attention to detail and focus on principles to maintain that level of play and try to improve upon that as well.”

Sam, you’ve worked so hard to clear up salary cap space, now you’ve built a young core. But it starts this summer and the next three summers with contract extensions. You’ve got Green and Durant to deal with then Westbrook. Can you talk about how you will juggle that all?

“We’ve said consistently that we want to try to create a situation where we can let the group grow together. We understand that that point in time is coming but it’s not as if we haven’t seen that. We’re excited about the opportunity to allow that to happen and when the time comes we’ll sit down and have those conversations but we’ll have to work through that process when we get there.”

Sam, the draft process is about evaluation and we get to see the draft. But free agency is so different. Can you clue us in on what that’s like starting July 1?

“There are some things for sure to be cognizant of. For sure, one thing on July 1 when people are eligible to talk to players or agents, everybody for the most part is talking to everybody, and that’s part of the process. You evaluate all of your options and you have to be able to communicate in order to learn about what might be out there, what the market might be, what opportunities might be there. So there’s a lot of conversation. It wouldn’t be shocking that certain players get calls from 25 teams. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone’s just zeroed in on one person but that’s part of the process. As I said, we’ll have to look at everything as we go through it but it doesn’t mean we’re zeroed in on one thing or another. Part of my job is to improve the team and you’ve got to be active at least in communication to understand what’s going on out there.”

You mentioned this season being a step in the right direction. Does that speak to your approval of a season? Can you allow yourself to get excited about what we think is a great season?

“Yeah, for sure. To be around the group that we have on a daily basis and to see their commitment to doing the little things and not getting ahead of themselves I think they deserve a lot of credit for that. And as I said before I think the experiences from the prior year instilled a little bit of humility as to how fragile the NBA is and how small the variables are between winning and losing. So I’m certainly proud of the group and what they’ve accomplished but also knowing the group that we have, we’ve got a long way to go and we’re not entitled to anything because we had one positive year. But sure it was a unique year and unique by definition is not easy to duplicate for many reasons. S owe have to go back to the principles that put us in that position last year and try to keep working at them.”

Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant both said when the series was over how tough of an out the Thunder were. How do you view that? Did the team exceed expectations?

“I think the experience of playing in the postseason was really valuable for us and I don’t think just from an on-court perspective; clearly that was a great experience for us. But I think just the experience of going through the meetings, the walk-throughs, the preparation that takes place when you’re in a playoff series and I think that everyone noticed that we had three players assigned to the Tulsa team prior to that and they were getting ready to play in the D-League Finals. We chose to bring those players back to the parent club because we wanted them to be exposed to the preparation, to the meetings, to the skull sessions, to the adjustments that they were going to see because that experience is important for all of our players and the organization as a whole. You’ve got to learn from it, you’ve got to take what you can and hopefully apply those things through the summer months and onto training camp next season.”

Scott said you can win without a big man because the Bulls and other teams have done it. Where do you stand on maybe getting a big man?

“I think everyone would love to add a player or in the Lakers case two players to have that size and length. But I really have to give a lot of credit to Nenad, Serge and Nick, guys who manned that position for us throughout the year given the fact that we improved dramatically defensively and as I said we’re not a perfect picture. We’re not a finished product by any stretch. But by the same token our guys have stuck to the system and competed nad put ourselves in a position no win ball games consistently. And I think that our coaches and our players should be commended for that.”

Could you talk about the impact the salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement will have on signing Kevin and Jeff to contract extensions?

“Well, specifically with any labor issues there’s really not much I can add or say. I don’t think anyone really has that kind of information. That’s not for me to really talk about. As it pertains to specific players, again I don’t think anyone knows what the future might hold in that regard so we would be dealing with double hypotheticals and I don’t like to delve in hypotheticals in the first place let alone double down on them so it’s a hard question to try to answer.”

When you first started out the team was in the process of moving and more than a few free agents said ‘no thanks’ to going to the Thunder. Now you’re viewed differently, obviously. Will that change your process in free agency?

“I think there’s a little bit of a misconception in terms of us ever having any resistance in that respect. I think, again, I’ve said this consistently: we’re going to continue to look for certain players that we think can help us here, can fit with what we’re trying to do and can grow with our team and can contribute to what we’re trying to establish. And that might no be everybody. And by the same token we may not be the best destination for everybody either. We understand that. That’s why we’re really focused on the guys who are really good fits on our team and our organization and more often than not you’re usually attracted to guys that might have an interest in what we have here to offer. Generally speaking, guys that are interested in playing the game, playing it hard and being an organization that’s committed to trying to do things at an elite level in every phase. Those are the types of people we’ll be targeting whether it’s the draft or free agency.”

You talk about growing organically. Is that something we should read into in terms of free agency and what you may or may not do this summer?

“I think for us the summers have been beneficial for us. With a younger team I think it’s somewhat cliché that summer is a time to get better. But we’ve had guys comeback improved each summer and I think that we need that to take place again and that this won’t be the last summer we feel like we need to see something happen. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to look at other ways to improve the team but certainly the development of our guys is a very important part of the growth of the organization. And with the team that’s as young as ours – and we expect to see growth – we’re also going to look at other means and try to be creative in that fashion as well.”

Kevin said he was told to stay off the courts this summer. Did that come from you and could you talk about the decision to try to limit his activity this summer?

“That’ll be just about impossible. I think with anyone that plays significant minutes especially in the NBA with the travel schedule, with the level of the athletes and the physical stature of some of these guys and the pounding that takes place I think it’s important for these guys to get away for a bit and get some rest. That wouldn’t be just for Kevin, that’d be for everybody. Again, I think our group understands that we have to earn our way. That will continue to have to be the case so I’m not necessarily worried about them staying off the floor for too long but I think we can also give them a chance to recover physically and mentally before they get back after it.”

In terms of the growth of your team, after your series several Lakers said to just ‘keep these guys together through a natural process. They’ll be really, really good.’ Do you pay attention to remarks like that and does it influence you at all?

“You know, I have a lot of respect for the Lakers. Obviously they’re a great organization and they have a great team but we’re really focused on trying to continue on the path that we set out. It might be similar to what they said but we’re not necessarily just focused on what they’re saying and following their lead. We’re just constantly looking at our team and feeling like we have to find a way to keep growing the group. That can happen a lot of different ways. As I said before we grew as a team this year and not just on an individual basis. And I think the growth was in the fact that there was a more ingrained understanding as to what we have to do in order to win games consistently on this level in the NBA. The three things I cited was continued focus on our principles defensively; the fact that we’re going to have to bring great energy and effort on a consistent basis; and also understanding that we have to control what we can control. Those are all things that allowed the team to grow this year and if we want to see continued progress I don’t necessarily think we’re going to putting it in a different box and wrapping it up. I think it’s a matter of staying disciplined to what it is that has worked for us.”

With ticket sales going well, corporate sponsors increasing, as you go through this process the next two to three years has Clay Bennett given you any indication that they might be one of those teams to be willing to go over the luxury tax in that you can be a little more aggressive in negotiations?

“I think as I said earlier we understand that through a natural progression our payroll is going to rise. That’s part of the reason we’ve taken a disciplined approach to this point and I think your question is a great indicator to the fact that this business is about, there is some long-range planning that has to go into this and it can’t always be about short-term fix without cause for concern moving forward. But as we get to those points, we’ve tried to create flexibility so that we could continue to add to our team and as we get to that point we’ll continue to have conversations. We’re not there yet but I know our ownership group is committed to winning and excited about the fact that we have room to grow.”

You’ve always been a big proponent of community and how involved this team has been involved in the community. Can you talk about the exposure this whole process has brought to this city?

“Well, you know I’m always really cautious when asked to speak on behalf of the city because I’m relatively new and I know everyone in this organization has tried to immerse themselves here, learn as much as we can in the community in which we all live and call home and we’re just grateful to be a part of it. So I’m hesitant to speak as some kind of authority on Oklahoma City other than to say we’re fortunate to be here and surely the recognition our community has received through the season is well deserved because as I said before I think it’s beyond the rally towel. There’s certainly a civic pride in having a team and staying with that team and I don’t think we would be in the position that we’ve found ourselves this season without the continued support in the community. And I really do mean that we’re committed to continually giving back. We did over 200 community appearances for two years in a row so that’s 400 community appearances and counting so we’re looking forward to raising that number in the future.”

Now with the season over do you plan to give an extension to the Coach of the Year?

“You know, I got asked that question two weeks ago, and anytime we’re talking about contracts, terms, salaries, anything of that nature, we choose to keep that all internal. If anything were to change with that – not the policy, but the outcomes – we would let everyone know. But Scott has done an excellent job. As I said before he’s someone who coaches the vision of the organization and he really brings the culture of the organization to the sidelines on a daily basis and he’s a great partner to work with each day.”

In regards to upgrading through the draft, how serious would you entertain the thoughts of trading away your first round picks to move up?

“Well, the draft is one of those times where you’ve got a million things thrown around and we’ll certainly explore everything. That’s been the nature of how we’ve looked at things the last couple of years and we’ll do it again this year. It’s an opportunity to add players to your team and it’s kind of like Monopoly, when you go past ‘Go’ you collect like a chip but you get a draft pick here and you get a chance to add to your team. For us we’re going to try to find the right fit for us and for our team take the information we have and try to shift the odds and try to find someone who fits and can play.”

How do you view this draft: deep, pretty deep, decent, a little thinner?

“I don’t think you really know until you see exactly who’s going to be in it at the end. But it should be pretty deep. I think the draft is always about expectations as to what you’re trying to get out of that pick and how does that player fit and what you’re trying to gain from that acquisition. And everyone’s drafting for different reasons and different systems so I think we’ve just got to figure out the best way to use that, whether it’s trading the pick, drafting a player, packaging picks. That’s the puzzle.”

Are there one or two areas where you feel this team needs to improve on for next season?

“Well there’s surely more than one or two. I think that’s part of what the next few weeks are about. I think myself, Scott, the coaches, the front office, sitting down trying to identify those things, areas we want to touch on and improve and we’ll probably have some answers in that regard. But I think principally we’re not going to get far away from the things that Scott talks about on a daily basis with our players. We’re not trying to add a whole lot of bells and whistles. We have to figure out how to improve our team in the areas that have given us success and not become complacent in any of those.”

You talked about establishing a culture and you’ve either done that or are getting very close to what you want to establish. When you get there are you more likely to sign or bring in a guy that maybe doesn’t fit the culture but would adapt to it, as opposed to the last year or two where you weren’t going to bring in anybody that could upset the building of that culture?

“I think as I talked about earlier the environment we’re trying to create has a lot of layers to it. Every place is different. We’re just always trying to find people who we feel can grow with the team, not just that they can get better here but that they can help us as a collective group get better. We’re certainly not judge and jury on anyone as a person. That’s not our business. Our business is more focused on finding people that fit with what we’re trying to do. It’s an evolving thing because you’re dealing with human beings and I know very well myself I’m imperfect with a lot of flaws and we’re just trying to find people who can move us forward. Just because we don’t choose to take somebody or sign somebody it’s not a judgment on them as a person. And vice versa if they choose not to be a part of what we’re trying to do, I don’t necessarily think it’s a disdain on our organization but there is a goodness of fit and we’re always working to try to figure out what that might be and how it can help us evolve going forward.”

With all the success you’ve experienced this year are you surprised about how quick it’s come. And you talk about long term planning: is this team ahead of schedule?

“In terms of it coming quickly, we don’t really have a schedule. We’ll let other people mark the calendars in different points of time whether we should be doing this or should be doing that. I think the thing that works best for us is just taking each day and trying to figure out a way to improve. Even the tough days, taking those days and taking a look at them, too, and trying to come back the next day and be a little bit better. So in terms of schedules, other people can keep the calendar. We just have to take care of the day that’s in front of us and I think Scott does an excellent job with our group in that regard and I think Kevin Durant is certainly somebody who follows that philosophy instinctually.”

Related posts:

1. Western Conference Playoff Race a Jumble
2. Regular Season Wrap-up
3. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 5 Analysis

I really am pretty shocked. Well, maybe not. But pretty much I am. This game sums up why basketball and I have a love/hate relationship. 98% of the time I truly love the game and everything that makes it up. Making shots in basketball can largely be attributed to good spacing, form, and passing. Even with those things, confidence is thebiggest determinant in whether you make or miss a shot. In basketball, it’s not about which team is better. It’s about which team THINKS that they’re better. The more confident team always wins. The Thunder got gun shy last night after a few shots were clunkers at Staples. That’s the trouble with a young team. The reason that the vets win is not because they’re faster or more talented. They win because they aren’t easily rattled.

We’ve seen the young Thunder persevere many times this year in games against superior opponents. But, at the end of the day, do regular season games really matter? The young squad didn’t feel the pressure earlier in the year. They weren’t even expected to make the playoffs. Even late in the year they stumbled slightly down the stretch with those late season losses. This is the first time that these guys have felt this kind of pressure as a team. Sure, they rose to the challenge in games 3 and 4, but game 5 was different. They could feel the magnitude of what they were on the verge of doing and it affected them.

I’m sure that all of you were hoping for an analysis of the numbers and a quarter by quarter breakdown of trends, but this game isn’t about the numbers. I hope that game 6 is a good one. These guy need more big game experience. The regular season really doesn’t matter that much. Apparently seeding doesn’t matter either. The 1 and 2 seeds very well could still lose despite their good records. A close game 6 win would solidify the Thunder as a rising star in the NBA.

Scott Brooks does have to combat the genius of Kobe and Phil versus Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately there might not be an answer for that in this particular season. Luckily, this problem has come to light early in Russell’s career. Everyone knows that he can’t hit the outside shot, but only Kobe and a few select others have the athleticism and guile to back off and use the angles to negate Westbrook’s quickness. Hopefully, Brooks and Westbrook will work on that shot this summer. He would then be unstoppable. Until then, let’s hope that the Thunder can keep it close in game 6 and 7.

Related posts:

1. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 2 Analysis
2. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 3 Analysis
3. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview

This article was written here by Dexter Fishmore of SB Nation. He reviews Game 3 from a Laker fan perspective. Interesting stuff.

The Oklahoma City Thunder can score on the Los Angeles Lakers. That wasn’t at all certain before tonight’s contest, a 101 to 96 Thunder victory in Game Three of the first-round series, but OKC now has a strong offensive effort it can point to as evidence that it can indeed lay a glove on the Laker D. It helps to have 34 free-throw attempts, apparently, but it can be done.

About those free-throw attempts, and in particular the ginormous gulf separating the Thunder’s FTA total and that of the Lakers, who shot only 12. It’s hard to win when your opponent is shooting from the line so much more often than you are. The disparity tonight resulted from the Lakers’ playing offense on the perimeter far too much, their not being quite as quick or smart on defense as they were in Games One and Two, the Thunder’s relentless efforts to attack the rim, and officials swayed by the noisy home crowd. How to allocate causation among those factors, I leave to the conscience of each individual reader. I’ll just say that the Lakers could’ve worked harder to reduce the discrepancy in foul shots, and kudos to the OKC locals for repping strong on their home court. I wish Staples could get that loud once in a while.

Related posts:

1. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 2 Analysis
2. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 5 Analysis
3. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview

This one ends much like you thought it would. As much as all of us wanted the young Thunder to pull it out, we all knew that Jeff Green couldn’t guard Kobe. Kobe absolutely torched the Thunder defense in the final three minutes. After Nick Collison fouled out, Scott Brooks finally went with Thabo to guard Kobe and it was obvious that he should have done it sooner. I hate to do this, but I put this one on Brooks. Jeff Green was not only getting abused by the most skilled offensive player in the game, but he also was not having a very good night offensively. It would be one thing if he were hot, but Green had only hit one big shot all night. Thabo was a glove on Kobe during his final few possessions of guarding him.

Anyway, OKC still had a chance to win at the end. Durant just wasn’t clutch, again. One of these days I’ll wrangle the numbers on how bad Durant is in the fourth quarter, but not tonight. That will probably be a project for the summer months. Despite having 8 turnovers (1 of which was extremely untimely), Durant got his swagger back tonight. After being beat up, harassed, and even bullied in Game 1, Durant was able to stay a step ahead of Artest most of the night. On Thursday, I expect that Brooks will continue to advise Durant on how to minimize turnovers against Artest.

Jeff Green was just atrocious tonight. Not only was he 2-11 from the field (1-6 from 3), but he simply lacked the aggression necessary to win at the highest level. It’s not like I don’t like the guy, but what he brought to the table tonight was not playoff win material. He isn’t the reason that the Thunder lost, but his lack of offensive ingenuity went a long way in putting them in a hole. As was mentioned in the commentary, Green would make a perfect 6^th man in the mold of a Lamar Odom. I don’t know that the Thunder have the cap space to sign another elite big man, but the signing of a Chris Bosh could be a great fit for a championship squad.

Eric Maynor was playing extremely tight in the first half. When Russell Westbrook had to go to the bench for the end of the first half and Maynor came back for the second time, he was much more smooth. He controlled the offense and distributed the way that he has all season. He wasn’t able to get the jump shot to fall, but he played with poise and offered the Thunder everything that is expected of Russell Westbrook, minus the athleticism.

How about Serge Ibaka? I really think that he might be the answer next year. In my humble opinion, he is the rookie version of Dwight Howard minus two inches. Yes, I said Dwight Howard. You heard it here first. I think that he is All-Star caliber. He is kind of small for a center, and kind of defensive minded for a forward, but he could still be a great player. He finished with 7 blocked shots, 4 of which came very early in the game. With some development from Mark Bryant, Ibaka could be a force for OKC next season at the pivot.

Finally, I think this game gives the Thunder great momentum headed back home. Despite sometimes playing better on the road than at home this season, I fully expect the young Thunder to defend their home court with full effort. This will be the first time that NBA playoff basketball has been played in the state of Oklahoma, and it will be fantastic. The Ford Center will be rocking like it never has been before, and that’s saying something. I think that OKC pulls out Game 3, but it won’t be easy.

Related posts:

1. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 3 Analysis
2. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 5 Analysis
3. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview

This article was originally posted here by Casey Womack of the Bleacher Report. He outlines the Thunder’s first round matchup against LA.

With Oklahoma City losing last night to Portland, the Thunder locked up the eighth seed and will meet up with the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs this weekend.

This will easily be the most watched first round series throughout the playoffs.  The biggest reason is that the Lakers are playing.  But also because a lot of NBA fans haven’t had the chance to see the Thunder play this season (only three nationally televised games) and will have a chance to see Kevin Durant and company.

The Thunder do have a chance in this matchup.  I was actually praying Oklahoma City wouldn’t play the Nuggets with the sixth seed because I had a terrible feeling of getting swept by Denver had Oklahoma City played them in the first round.

The Thunder have competed every game this season with the Lakers and have blown them out once.  However, that was in the regular season.  This is a totally different atmosphere, obviously.

The Lakers are filled with veterans and are resting Kobe in preparation for the postseason.  Plus, they will most likely have Andrew Bynum ready to go by Sunday.

Now, going by the matchups, it’s going to be an extremely interesting four to seven games.

Russell Westbrook shouldn’t have too much trouble with Derek Fisher.  Fisher has shown throughout the season that he can’t keep up with Westbrook’s speed.  Although you can never count Fisher out, as he has one of the most clutch shots in the league.

However, Westbrook has solid perimeter defense and should be able to contain him decently enough.

Kobe Bryant going up against Thabo Sefolosha will be one of the marquee matchups in the series.  The last time these two met, Sefolosha frustrated Bryant to almost double-figure turnovers and an early exit.

However, Bryant thrives in the playoffs and will most likely find a way to dissect arguably the best guard defender in the league a time or two.

On the flip side, Kevin Durant will also be going up against another one the best defenders in Ron Artest, who gets a lot like Kevin Garnett in the playoffs with his passion. Artest has either done extremely well or played lazily on Durant all season.  I see Durant getting the best of him more times than not.

Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison will be a huge part in the Thunder’s success if they want any chance at taking down the Lakers.  They both will be on the court a lot trying to contain Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum down low.

Lamar Odom will be a huge factor for the Lakers and will be a big matchup for just about anyone on the Thunder roster.  Jeff Green has had decent success against Odom in the regular season and will try and capitalize on his recent stellar play on both sides of the court.

However, I like Thunder’s bench over the Lakers’ with Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Nick Collison, and Eric Maynor all contributing in a huge way all season.

Jordan Farmar looks like he lost a step athletically, and Shannon Brown hasn’t been the same since the All-Star break.

However, the Lakers are still the Lakers and are the No. 1 seed in the West for a reason.  Plus, they have home court advantage over the Thunder.

Los Angeles will probably win this matchup, I am aware of that.  As a Thunder fan, it kills me to say it.  But I honestly think people are sleeping on Oklahoma City.

Don’t be surprised if the Thunder take the series to six or seven games.  Actually, don’t be surprised if they pull an upset.

Related posts:

1. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 3 Analysis
2. Western Conference Playoff Race a Jumble
3. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 2 Analysis

It really is sad that it had to end this way. This was a big one, and there is no doubt about that. It’s not that the Thunder folded. I don’t feel that at any point (unlike the GSU game) there was a lax feel to the defensive effort in the second half. Sure, the whole team looked like it was a step slow, but I don’t think that it was because of a lack of effort. I just don’t think they had their legs tonight.

Some of these guys are barely even college-grad age, so the grind of the 82 may still be too much for them to handle. At this point last season this team, minus James Harden and Serge Ibaka, was getting beat down by playoff contenders in meaningless garbage games in April.

I’m just not that worried. Most of the starters are going to be rested against Memphis. This much we know. Scott Brooks would not have canceled practice twice recently if he didn’t think that they were tired. Sure, everyone has that excuse at this point in the year, but the true championship contenders are ready to perform at this time. This young team is just not there yet.

It’s not all their fault either. This team isn’t built to handle offensively minded centers yet. They are still one good big man away from good post defense. Serge Ibaka could be the answer, but it’s just too early to tell at this point. I personally believe that he could be just what we need, but he needs some more polish and time to prove himself.

Kevin Durant disappeared down the stretch tonight. He went 3-13 in the second half, after lighting it up in the first. Dead legs. Even the best of shooters need some spring or they won’t hit anything. Again, I don’t feel that anyone gave up tonight. Durant was trying to will his team to a victory. He knew how important this one was. He is not a selfish player. He wouldn’t have taken to many shots if he didn’t believe that they would fall.

As important as Durant is to OKC offensively, I am beginning to believe more and more than Russell Westbrook is the straw that stirs the drink. Don’t get me wrong, KD can win games without his production, but it’s the nights when KD doesn’t score 45 that Westbrook is needed. That is most nights, obviously. I can’t begin to explain how he can play starter’s minutes and not record a single assists. That may have been some homegrown officiating in Portland, but I bet that the scorekeeper doesn’t care how many assists that he tallies up.

All in all, this game doesn’t bother me near as much as the Utah game. I think that was the key to this final stretch. Call me crazy, but I think that win gives you enough energy to finish against GSU, Portland, and Memphis. At this point, Memphis doesn’t even matter. Only the Lakers matter now.

Related posts:

1. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 2 Analysis
2. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview
3. Thunder vs. Lakers: Game 3 Analysis

This article was orignally posted here by The Oregonian staff as an updated prediction for the Western Conference playoff chase.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers need one more victory to clinch the No. 1 seed in the West.The NBA’s regular season is nearly over and the West’s eight playoff teams are locked in, but good luck trying to figure out who will be playing whom when the Western Conference playoffs begin next weekend.

If the playoffs started today, the Trail Blazers would be the No. 6 seed and would get a first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets. (See complete standings)

As of this morning, here’s a rundown of where things stand:

At the top: The Los Angeles Lakers need one victory to wrap up the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Lakers’ remaining schedule: at Denver (tonight), at Minnesota (Friday), vs. Portland (Sunday), vs. Sacramento (Tuesday), “at” L.A. Clippers (Wednesday).

Three-way tie: With records of 51-27, the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns sit in a three-way tie for second place. Dallas owns the tiebreaker with the Nuggets and Suns, having beaten each two out of three times this season. The Suns have won two of three meetings against the Nuggets so far, with one matchup remaining. Phoenix is at a disadvantage against the likes of Dallas, Denver and Utah, though, because it can’t win its division (at best the Suns could tie with the Lakers, then lose the head-to-head tiebreaker). The Suns would therefore lose tiebreakers against any teams that win their divisions.
Dallas’ remaining schedule: at Portland (Friday), at Sacramento (Saturday), at L.A. Clippers (Monday), vs. San Antonio (Wednesday).
Denver’s remaining schedule: vs. L.A. Lakers (tonight), vs. San Antonio (Saturday), vs. Memphis (Monday), at Phoenix (Tuesday).
Phoenix’s remaining schedule: at Oklahoma City (Friday), vs. Houston (Sunday), vs. Denver (Tuesday) at Utah (Wednesday).

Jazz in fifth: The Utah Jazz sit alone in fifth place, but at 51-28, they’re just a half game behind the Mavericks, Suns and Nuggets. The Jazz hold the head-to-head tiebreakers against Dallas (2-1) and Phoenix (2-1), with a matchup against the Suns still to come. Denver has the tiebreaker with Utah, however, having won three of four meetings.
Utah’s remaining schedule: at New Orleans (Friday) and at Golden State (Tuesday) vs. Phoenix (Wednesday).

Another three-way tie: With 48-30 records, the Blazers, Spurs and Thunder are in a three-way tie for sixth place, and Portland holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both. The Blazers swept San Antonio 3-0, and they lead the Oklahoma City series 2-1 with Monday’s game at the Rose Garden still to come. San Antonio took three of four games from the Thunder this season and holds that tiebreaker.
Portland’s remaining schedule: vs. Dallas (Friday), at L.A. Lakers (Sunday), vs. Oklahoma City (Monday) and vs. Golden State (Wednesday).
San Antonio’s remaining schedule: vs. Memphis (Friday), at Denver (Saturday), vs. Minnesota (Monday), at Dallas (Wednesday).
Oklahoma City’s remaining schedule: vs. Phoenix (Friday), at Golden State (Sunday), at Portland (Monday), vs. Memphis (Wednesday).

More on the Blazers: With three of their final four games at home, the schedule favors Portland down the stretch. But even if the Blazers go 4-0 to close out the season, it’s unlikely they’ll finish any higher than sixth in the West. Monday night’s home game against Oklahoma City could be pivotal. A win would not only help Portland in the overall win-loss column, it would also give the Blazers the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Thunder. With a loss, the Blazers would split the season series at two games apiece, and they would then lose a potential tiebreaker with the Thunder based on division record. Oklahoma City will be playing the second game of a back-to-back (at Golden State on Sunday). The Thunder won the last meeting at the Rose Garden, on Feb. 9, but the Blazers were without Brandon Roy that night, plus that game came before their acquisition of center Marcus Camby.

Projections: Based on a schedule analysis, here’s how the Western Conference race might shake out, setting up a Blazers-Nuggets first-round series:
1. L.A. Lakers 59-23
2. Dallas 54-28
3. Denver 54-28
4. Utah 54-28
5. Phoenix 53-29
6. Portland 51-31
7. San Antonio 50-32
8. Oklahoma City 50-32

Note: In this scenario, Denver would win the Northwest Division over Utah based on a 3-1 edge in their regular season meetings. Dallas would edge Denver for the No. 2 seed based on a 2-1 head-to-head advantage. Denver would get the No. 3 seed and Utah the No. 4 seed. (Go to the bottom of this page for a full explanation of how ties are broken.)

Key dates
April 14: Regular season ends
April 17: NBA playoffs begin

Related posts:

1. Playoff Prediction
2. Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Preview
3. Thunder Forecast: February 8

Hell of a week for the young Thunder. Kevin Durant continues on his torrid scoring pace by passing Dale Ellis as the franchise scoring leader (in a season).

“It’s my teammates that make me better and allow me to get open,” Durant said. “Without them I couldn’t be doing this, but it’s a great honor to pass Dale Ellis.”

A big win over the Celtics on the road yielded the momentum needed to then get another big win over Dallas on the road, something that hadn’t happened in the past 13 tried.

Russell Westbrook broke his career high in assists with 16 against Minnesota on Sunday evening. And to think, all of the talking heads didn’t think that he was a real point guard. Now, all anyone can say is, “why can’t he hit 3s?” Just wait until next year. One project at a time right?

Tuesday, March 6, 2010, 8:00 PM CT @ Utah Jazz (50-27) FSOK

I still believe that Utah offers the best matchup in the playoffs for the Thunder, but the best seed is still what we’re shooting for. Utah is very talented inside, with Boozer and Millsap working the post. Boozer has certainly had some solid outings against the Thunder, but Millsap has had a relatively quiet season. This game is so important, but I could say that about pretty much any game left on the schedule. Kyle Korver is a very underrated player. He may be the best shooter in the league. Jerry Sloan likes his ability to stretch the floor, which is very important for a post-oriented team. The slashing Ronnie Brewer did not fit the offensive goals of the team, which is why he was passed on to another team. I trust Westbrook’s defense on an opposing point guard any day, but aside from Chris Paul, Deron Williams is the best in the league. He is a very similar player to Westbrook though. I enjoy watching RW go up against elite PGs. I think that it gives us a glimpse of his progress and potential.

Wednesday, March 7, 2010, 7:00 PM CT vs. Denver Nuggets (50-27) FSOK

The Nuggets have had some struggles without Kenyon Martin. He’s missed the last 16 games, and they’ve gone 10-6. In a tight playoff race, that number won’t cut it. You can place blame on Martin just as much as you can on George Karl. Well, I guess you can’t blame a guy for getting cancer, but more so you can gauge his value to the Nuggets. Karl is the emotional leader on a team that isn’t short on emotion. From JR Smith, to Chris Anderson, to Kenyon Martin, this team lives off of momentum. They haven’t had it lately. Martin isn’t going to return to practice until Tuesday, so that Thunder need not worry today. Chauncey Billups is the perfect complement to the bucket-minded Carmelo Anthony. Much like Russell Westbrook, Billups can be the scorer one night and become the distributer the next night. Nene Hilario will be a load inside for Krstic, Collison, Green, and Ibaka. He is a fantastic post defender as well.

Friday, April 9, 2010, 7:00 PM CT vs. Phoenix Suns (50-27) FSOK

The Suns may be an aging group at this point, but they can still get up and down the court. Ever since the non-trade of Amare Stoudamire, the Suns have been on a tear. For this reason, the lack of distraction, I feel like the Suns will be one of the teams to acquire home court advantage in the first round. Coach Alvin Gentry has done a good job of limiting the minutes of his older stars (read: Steve Nash and Grant Hill) so that they will be fresh enough to run the break in the playoffs. Amare absolutely kills the Thunder. He ate Jeff Green for dinner the last time these two teams met. I believe that the development of Serge Ibaka’s post defense will be a huge help in a game like this. His athleticism and shot-blocking ability could trouble Stoudamire’s post game, which consists almost entirely of out-quicking his opponent.

Sunday, April 11, 2010, 8:00 PM CT @ Golden State Warriors (23-53) FSOK

Steph Curry has been playing out of his mind in February and March. Averaging over 20 points and 7 assists during that time, Curry has more than justified his draft position. He has improved so much that even some Thunder fans have had second thoughts about the selection of James Harden with the 3^rd overall selection. Though Curry has some very impressive numbers, he would not be putting up those same numbers in any other system. The defensive intensity of OKC will thwart the spirit of the Warriors. Don Nelson and his crew have no qualms with jacking bad shots and letting the opposing team score at will. The only problem with the Warriors, is that if they are hitting shots at a good rate, they can beat anyone. I know that you can say that about virtually any NBA team, but the Warriors can really shoot.

Prediction (2-2)

This is yet another huge weak for the Thunder’s playoff seeding future. I think that OKC should beat Utah in a close game. Jerry Sloan has a style that won’t kill anyone, but can stay with virtually any team (we’ll let that Laker murdering go for now). The Thunder needs to get a least one win out of the next three big Western Conference games. I think that they definitely will do that, but I believe that Denver will be the most difficult. Their combination of the inside-outside game paired with a super star is very tough to stop. They are basically like a more mature version of the Thunder.

Related posts:

1. Thunder Forecast: March 1
2. Thunder Forecast: February 22
3. Thunder Forecast: January 25