Monthly Archives: October 2018

Thunder At A Glance – 23 October 2018

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Dan Devine (The Ringer) on whether its time to panic in OKC: “The questions got louder after OKC got flambéd Sunday night, giving up 131 points at home to a perhaps fun but still likely quite bad Sacramento team. But while it’s not ideal to be allowing 110.5 points per 100 possessions to start the season—or allowing a dominant 37-point fourth quarter to the Clips on Friday—it’s not all that bad in the context of the NBA’s early-season offensive surge.“

Matt Burnham (Welcome To Loud City) on the Thunder’s sputtering start: “As humans, it is natural to react instinctively. Critical thinking is a skill. Evaluating the reality of a situation is a skill. We often find ourselves caught up in the moment and act as if a brief period of chaos is a representation of the entire picture. We like answers. We like jumping to conclusions. The puzzle is not put together yet and the idea of pieces laying around makes us tremble in anxiety.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 23 October 2018 →

Thunder At A Glance – 22 October 2018

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img_4063Sorry for the absence. Life happens sometimes and you have to take care of responsibilities.

Royce Young (ESPN) recaps the Thunder’s loss to the Kings: “Returning from mid-September knee surgery with no obvious signs of rust, Russell Westbrook’s season debut couldn’t have gone much better. Except for the losing part, which was striking not only in which team it happened against but also in how it happened.”

Noel Harris (Sac Bee) on Iman Shumpert’s journey to become the Thunder’s boogeyman last night: “Being able to play that preseason game, that was a different type of happiness for me after sitting out a year,” Shumpert said. “I joke around about it a lot, but I’m serious as a heart attack when I say it: I don’t wish that on anybody, not being able to play.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 22 October 2018 →

Kings vs. Thunder preview (Game 3 of 82)

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kings vs okc logo

  • When: Sunday, 21 October 2018 at 6:00 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 -10.0 | O/U: 217.5

One of the biggest issues last season for the Oklahoma City Thunder was not winning the games they were supposed to win. Last season, the Thunder were 26-14 against non-playoff opponents. That, by itself, isn’t terrible. It’s a .650 winning percentage, which is great in any league. But when combined with the Thunder’s record against playoff teams (22-20), that’s where the problem lies. Continue reading Kings vs. Thunder preview (Game 3 of 82) →

Thunder vs. Clippers preview (Game 2 of 82)

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okc logo at clippers

  • When: Friday, 19 October 2018 at 9:30 pm CST
  • Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • TV: FSOK
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: LAC -3.0 | O/U: 214

It almost seemed like moral victories were the worst type of losses last season. To have a team that was expected to make a ton of noise as constructed, only to be an inconsistent mess only solidified the point that moral victories were useless last season. None of the losses felt like victories, while a handful of the wins felt like losses. It was a frustrating season all around.  Continue reading Thunder vs. Clippers preview (Game 2 of 82) →

Thunder vs. Warriors preview (Game 1 of 82)

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okc logo at gsw

  • When: Tuesday, 16 October 2018 at 9:30 pm CST
  • Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
  • TV: TNT
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: GS -13.0 | O/U: 220.5

Even with the uncertainty surrounding Andre Roberson’s recovery from patella tendon surgery and Russell Westbrook’s recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery, there’s a sense of calm as the Oklahoma City Thunder embark on the 2018-19 season. Over the past three seasons, the beginning of the season has usually been accompanied with the unknown dread associated with the upcoming free agency decisions of key players on the team.  Continue reading Thunder vs. Warriors preview (Game 1 of 82) →

Thunder At A Glance – 16 October 2018

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img_4063It’s finally Game Day!!!!! The beginning of what should be a fun journey.

Weston Shepard (Daily Thunder) with 20 predictions for this season: “This seems like an obvious thing to say, but I’ve long felt wildly uncomfortable with the Thunder’s options at backup center. With Adams playing a very rough-and-tumble game, along with a history of nagging injuries that cost him a game or two here and there, having this security blanket behind him will prove to be invaluable. Noel’s stat line won’t shock anyone and he may very well have plenty of quiet nights, but he will anchor the second unit’s defense and likely step in and start a game or two. The difference between him and Dakari Johnson (who started six games last season) is substantial — something that will be very obvious when the time comes.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 16 October 2018 →

Thunder At A Glance – 15 October 2018

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img_4063Listen in to the latest episode of The Weekly on the Topic: Thunder podcast where we discuss the upcoming slate of games for the Thunder and preview the divisions.

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) with a practice report on the eve of the beginning of the regular season: “Terrance Ferguson completed the NBA’s concussion protocol and was back in practice on Sunday. Abdel Nader was also a full participant in practice after recovering from knee soreness. Russell Westbrook continues to do more and more in practice and is progressing well.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 15 October 2018 →

Thunder At A Glance – 12 October 2018

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img_4063Royce Young (ESPN) with the medical update on Russell Westbrook: “Russell Westbrook is “progressing” and getting nearer to a return, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Thursday, but has not been cleared for full-contact practice yet, leaving the All-Star point guard’s status for the season opener in question.”

BetSDI, a sports-betting website, has set the over/under total on Russell Westbrook triple-doubles this season at 22.5. Check more of the prop bets and where Thunder players land on those bets.  Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 12 October 2018 →

Thunder At A Glance – 11 October 2018

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img_4063Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) on the new menu items at the Chesapeake Energy Arena: “Well this year at Thunder games there will be more than enough delicious options to satiate that need, conveniently located around the arena. On Wednesday afternoon, the Thunder and its partners, Levy Restaurants and Savor Catering, showed off some delightful food items that will be for sale in the arena during the 2018-19 season, tapping into every price point, seat location and taste bud requirement. Both caterers take pride in sourcing locally, both throughout Oklahoma and other states within a 400-mile radius.”

The God of Thunder giveth: “The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Donte Grantham, guard Scotty Hopson and forward Dez Wells, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 11 October 2018 →

Thunder At A Glance – 10 October 2018

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img_4063A recap podcast of last night’s game hosted by myself and NTTB contributor Dylan Huntzinger.

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the wild game against the Milwaukee Bucks: “During the third, however, the Thunder did get a shot in the arm from rookie guard Hamidou Diallo, who made his first NBA-level start at shooting guard in place of the injured Andre Roberson and Terrance Ferguson. Diallo went 4-for-4 for nine points in the third quarter, part of a 19-point, five-rebound, four-assist effort on 8-of-16 shooting in 40 minutes of play, but Donovan is more pleased right now about the rookie’s grasp of the team’s defensive concepts, his motor and toughness than his scoring.” Continue reading Thunder At A Glance – 10 October 2018 →