All posts by Alex Roig

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About Alex Roig

Never been a writer. Probably will never be a writer. But always a fan.

NTTB Rumblings – 20 March 2018

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img_4063Tim Cato (SB Nation) says the Thunder’s recent win streak is answering questions about them: “The schedule is still hard — their next nine games are all against teams in the playoff hunt, only for the final game of the year to come against the Memphis Grizzlies. Some games look easier now than on paper: the Boston Celtics are injury ravaged, and that’s Oklahoma City’s next opponent; Kawhi Leonard still might not be back for the San Antonio Spurs on March 29; who knows how hard the Golden State Warriors (April 3) and Houston Rockets (April 7) will be trying.”

Russell Westbrook was named Western Conference Player of the Week.

 

 

Mark Gilbert (WTLC) does not think he can count on Paul George: “Remember when the almighty Golden State Warriors played the Thunder on February 24th? I do. It was supposed to be a good night. I had wings. Lemon Pepper to be precise. I also had a celebratory margarita, because I was of the sentient that the Thunder were about to have a 3-0 season lead over the Warriors, and it was a night worth celebrating. And then came Paul George.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 20 March 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 19 March 2018

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img_4063Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the Thunder’s epic win in Toronto: “In a game like that, it’s always good to have the NBA’s most competitive, most relentless closer. Russell Westbrook took over down the stretch for the Thunder by scoring 17 of the team’s 19 points to close out the win, including a banked in jump shot from the left wing over Serge Ibaka with 11.7 seconds to go that made it a 4-point game. Prior to that, Westbrook continually attacked and got to his left hand, finishing with three layups going that direction in the final 3:18 of play after Toronto’s Kyle Lowry fouled out.”

Chris Thompson (Deadspin) on the impact Corey Brewer has had on the Thunder: “But this is as good a time as any to note that the Thunder are a truly fucking ridiculous 6-0 since they made Corey Brewer a starter. Corey Brewer. This was cute and funny when it was four straight, and three of the wins had come over Sacramento, Atlanta, and Phoenix, but it is no longer a laughing matter. Their last two wins have come over a desperate Clippers team and the NBA’s best home team. Again I want to stress that this was done while Corey Effing Brewerwas starting in their backcourt. He’s played more than 30 minutes in each of their last five games.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 19 March 2018 →

NTTB Podcast (Episode 29) – We’re Going Streaking!

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IMG_4109On Episode 29 of the NTTB podcast, we discuss the following topics:

  • Recapping the recent win streak (vs. Sacramento, @Atlanta, vs. Clippers, @Toronto)
  • Russell Westbrook triple doubling again
  • Corey Brewer’s impact
  • Terrance Ferguson’s minutes vs. the other options at back-up wing
  • What Melo likes about OKC
  • West Standings
  • Around the League

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!

Thunder @ Raptors preview (Game 72 of 82)

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  • When: Sunday, 18 March 2018 at 12:00 pm CST
  • Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
  • TV: FSOK
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
  • Line: Tor -6.0 | O/U – 217

Here we go. That stretch run we all pointed to after the All-Star break. Eleven of the final 12 games against opponents that are currently above .500. The Oklahoma City Thunder took care of business on Friday evening against the Los Angeles Clippers to begin that tough stretch. Now they start the real test.  Continue reading Thunder @ Raptors preview (Game 72 of 82) →

Weekend Programming: Corey Brewer, the scorer

Weekend Programming,

After averaging just 3.7 points per game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the season, everyone has been surprised by the scoring output of Corey Brewer since he was inserted into the Thunder’s starting line-up. In those five games, Brewer has been averaging 14.8 points on 52/50/95 shooting splits. And while Brewer may not be a consistently great scorer, he has had surprising outbursts. In one of those, Brewer became on of 135 players in league history to score 50 points or more in a game. Here are the highlights.

NTTB Podcast (Episode 28) – The Unsuccessful Successful Week

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IMG_4109On Episode 28 of the NTTB podcast, we discuss the following topics:

  • Week in Review – Wins vs. Magic, Mavericks, and Suns
  • This week in crappy officiating
  • Acquisition of Corey Brewer
  • JR Smith’s Campbell saga
  • Harden crosses Wesley Johnson
  • Western Conference craziness
  • NBA injury news
  • Black Panther names

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 under the NTTB Podcast. Make sure you leave us a 5-star review if you can. As always, Thunder Up!

Sales Rack Shopping: The Thunder and the buy-out market

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tony allen corey brewer

The Oklahoma City Thunder head into the March 1st buy-out deadline with an empty roster spot and several needs. Before we head any further into this article, there are a few things you might need to know about the buy-out market. First off, no team is acquiring a superstar via the buy-out market. In fact, it’s always questionable whether the player being obtained will even be that much of a difference maker. Buy-out signings are usually veterans the acquiring team hopes will make a small incremental difference in the positive direction for and during a playoff run.

For the Thunder, their recent buy-out signings over the past few seasons have been Norris Cole, Nazr Mohammed, Caron Butler, and Derek Fisher. These were veterans that weren’t necessarily useless, but also weren’t game changers moving forward. Fisher filled a role as a back-up point guard during the Finals run of 2012. Butler was important in the first round series against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2014, but his importance decreased with each successive series. Mohammed was more of a locker room/veteran presence during Durant’s final season in Oklahoma City. And last season, Cole was brought in be a better option at back-up point guard than Semaj Christon, but neither totally worked out.  Continue reading Sales Rack Shopping: The Thunder and the buy-out market →

NTTB Rumblings – 27 February 2018

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img_4063Royce Young (ESPN) on Paul George saying the Thunder’s Big 3 are officiated differently: “George was demonstrative talking with the officials a number of times after driving at the basket with contact and no call. Westbrook, George and Anthony combined for nine free throws, with Westbrook taking two and Anthony taking none.”

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) with a recap of the Magic game, where the bench came up big: “During pregame warmups, Russell Westbrook called over reserve forward Patrick Patterson and gave him a very straight forward message: “Shoot the ball”. It was as much an instillation of confidence as it was a directive. Turns out it was an effective message not just for the Thunder stretch forward, but the entire reserve unit.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 27 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 23 February 2018

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img_4063Tim Keown (ESPN) on the evolution of Carmelo Anthony’s game: “The world has moved on, and he’s trying to move with it. Lord knows he’s trying. But for 15 years, Carmelo Anthony has tied his worth to what he can create from this one spot. It has given him 10 All-Star appearances and a scoring title and a cosmopolitan lifestyle that comes with nearly $250 million in career earnings. He drinks only the best wine and smokes only the best cigars and is close enough with Barack Obama that the two of them are in the process of finalizing Anthony’s future role in the Obama Foundation. It has also created divisions on teams, serial conflicts with coaches and none of the postseason success that his talent seemed to portend when he left Syracuse in 2003 after one championship season.”

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) on last night’s last second win over the Kings: “I caught it clean enough,” Westbrook smirked. “I gotta find a way to get space, obviously with one second left and kind of run him off of Steven. Coach drew up a great play,” Westbrook added. “They thought I was going for a lob. I just read the defender and tried to pop back and get some space.” “Competitors are winners,” forward Paul George said of Westbrook. “That’s what it comes down to. Guys who are super competitive find a way to win.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 23 February 2018 →