Monthly Archives: April 2018

Grizzlies vs. Thunder preview (Game 82 of 82)

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grizzlies vsokc logo

  • When: Wednesday, 11 April 2018 at 7:00 pm CST
  • Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: FSOK
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: OKC -16.5 | O/U – 211.5

We’ve finally reached the end of the race. The Oklahoma City Thunder still have influence on where they finish, but outside of this game, it’s all dependent on a game that begins at 9:30 PM. As evident by the spread, the Thunder should win this game easily. The optimal word being should. As has been the norm this season, the Thunder have made it a habit of underperforming in games in which they are heavily favored.  Continue reading Grizzlies vs. Thunder preview (Game 82 of 82) →

NTTB Rumblings – 11 April 2018

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img_4063Jon Hamm (Bleacher Report) on the Thunder’s wild ride this season: “In true Thunder fashion, clinching the franchise’s eighth playoff berth since 2008 on Monday night came with requisite drama. Sewing up a playoff spot required OKC to battle back from an 18-point first-quarter deficit against the Miami Heat. It was par for the course for a Thunder squad that stumbled to an 8-12 start then spent the rest of the season playing catch up.”

Ben Mertens and Chris Grenham (WTLC) with a detailed breakdown of the Thunder’s playoff scenarios: “I said in previewing the final stretch of the season that OKC doesn’t deserve to be a playoff team if they can’t even beat a mediocre Grizzlies team with nothing to play for. That’s still true, even though OKC has locked up a spot. Beyond improving their seed, OKC needs to win this game just go into the playoffs with momentum, following the nice wins over Houston and Miami. A deep playoff run starts with taking care of this putrid Memphis team.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 11 April 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 10 April 2018

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img_4063We’re officially in the playoffs!!!! On to the second season.

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the win over the Miami Heat: “First it was a 12-0 deficit. Then 16-1 and finally 23-5. It was clear from the outset, the Thunder was going to have to earn its playoff berth. Despite missing its first 10 shots with 3 turnovers in the first seven minutes on Monday against the Miami Heat, the Thunder never relented, and scratched its way back into contention in the second quarter.”

Brett Dawson (NewsOK) on Carmelo Anthony making it back to the playoffs: “But the Thunder’s 115-93 win against the Heat Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena assured a postseason berth in his first season in Oklahoma City. For the first time since 2013, the future Hall of Famer is bound for playoff basketball.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 10 April 2018 →

Thunder @ Heat preview (Game 81 of 82)

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okc logo at heat-logo.jpg

  • When: Monday, 09 April 2018 at 6:30 pm CST
  • Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
  • TV: FSOK
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: OKC -3.5 | O/U – 212

There was a moment on Saturday in which it almost seemed like the future of the Oklahoma City Thunder teetered in the balance. With about 33 seconds left in the third quarter of the Thunder vs. Rockets game, Paul George turned the ball over. On the other end of the court, Chris Paul shot and made a three-pointer. At the same time, George did that thing where you try to over-correct a mistake made on one end of the floor only compound the situation. In his zealousness to make-up the mistake of the turnover, George was overly aggressive on the close out of Paul and fouled him as he made the three-pointer. Four-point play completed and the Thunder found themselves down by 6 in what had been a back and forth affair in the 3rd quarter. Continue reading Thunder @ Heat preview (Game 81 of 82) →

NTTB Rumblings – 09 April 2018

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img_4063Dave Zirin (The Nation) on Russell Westbrook standing with Oklahoma teachers: “These teachers also have an ally in the state’s most famous athlete, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. The reigning NBA MVP was asked for his opinion about the state-wide strike and he did not mince words, saying, “Education is very, very important to me. The teachers are standing up for something that obviously they believe in—that’s helping the kids get a better education—obviously them getting paid more. More funding for the schools is very, very important. I’m definitely all in for that because I believe education is key for a lot of things going on in society.”

Check out the new episode of the NTTB Podcast!

Tim McMahon (ESPN) on Russell Westbrook praising James Harden, but not making an MVP endorsement: “I’m not sure,” Westbrook said when asked if it was Harden’s turn to win MVP. “Obviously he’s having a good year, a great year. Their team has the best record in the NBA. I’m not sure.”

What to watch for in Monday’s slate of games.  Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 09 April 2018 →

NTTB Podcast (Episode 31) – Paul George and the Butterfly Effect

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IMG_4109On Episode 31 of the NTTB podcast, we discuss the following topics:

  • Week in Review – L vs. Golden State, W @ Houston
  • Instant Recap of the Rockets game
  • Paul George’s recent comments
  • Slumping Raymond Felton
  • Alex Abrines stepping up
  • Billy Donovan’s playoff rotation
  • Russell Westbrook and the media
  • Western Conference standings
  • NBA talk
  • Wrestlemania

Intro/Outro music provided by OSC Productions

Thank you for listening. We will be doing a podcast once a week. If you have any Thunder or NBA related questions, make sure you hit us up on Twitter (@alexroig_NTTB or @Montero_A13).

We are on ITunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Tune In under the NTTB Podcast. Make sure you leave us a 5-star review if you can. As always, Thunder Up!

NTTB Rumblings – 02 April 2018

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Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the Thunder’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans: “The Thunder had three previous cracks at this type of game – a scrap-and-claw battle between two Western Conference foes in practically must-win situations to secure playoff berths and positioning. Head Coach Billy Donovan and his squad made sure not to let this fourth one slip away, getting high quality shots on most possessions and making enough defensive stops to seal it. “At this point we gotta start shaping up and playing better towards this final stretch, and I thought we did that to close the game out,” said forward Paul George.”

Fred Katz (Norman Transcript) on Billy Donovan changing up the minutes rotations for some players: “George has routinely played the entire first and third quarters of games this season. It’s a preference of his, and he’s consistently talked both privately and publicly about how staying in for the first 12 minutes of halves helps him catch a rhythm. Lately, his rotations have bled into the beginning minutes of second and fourth quarters, as well. That’s 14 or 15 minutes to start an NBA game without taking a breather. Donovan, however, wanted to change it for Sunday’s eventual 109-104 win in New Orleans.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 02 April 2018 →

NTTB Podcast (Episode 30) – Letting It All Out

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IMG_4109On Episode 30 of the NTTB podcast, we discuss the following topics:

  • Weekly Recap: @San Antonio, vs. Denver, @New Orleans
  • Thunder Frustrations
  • Melo and Paul George inconsistencies
  • Steven Adams 2nd half disappearing acts
  • More minutes for Grant and Abrines
  • Who did Huestis piss off?
  • Honeymoon Corey Brewer was fun
  • Westbrook taking over in the 4th quarters
  • Billy Donovan
  • Terrance Ferguson
  • NBA News
  • Western Conference Standings
  • Preview of next week

Intro/Outro music provided by OSC Productions

Thank you for listening. We will be doing a podcast once a week. If you have any Thunder or NBA related questions, make sure you hit us up on Twitter (@alexroig_NTTB or @Montero_A13).

We are on ITunes and Google Play under the NTTB Podcast. Make sure you leave us a 5-star review if you can. As always, Thunder Up!