Category Archives: NTTB Rumblings

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 →

NTTB Rumblings – 22 February 2018

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img_4063Brett Dawson (NewsOK) on Carmelo Anthony using the All-Star break to unwind and disconnect: “Anthony hadn’t had a chance to “decompress,” he said, since that whirlwind weekend in September. The All-Star break afforded him the opportunity. Oklahoma City hasn’t played a game since last Wednesday. “I haven’t really got a chance to sit down and kind of breathe a little bit and relax,” Anthony said. “Everything’s happened so fast. So this past week was very helpful for me.”

Berry Tramel (NewsOK) on scheduling and prime-time matchups ahead: “But as the NBA comes out of the all-star break Thursday for the mad dash to the April playoffs, time to salute not only the efforts at easing the physical demands of scheduling, but also the dramatic effects. In a Western Conference race in which the No. 3 team (San Antonio) and the No. 10 team (hard-charging Utah) are separated by only 4½ games, the teams jostling for playoff positioning play each other repeatedly over the next seven weeks.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 22 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 21 February 2018

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img_4063Erik Horne (NewsOK) on Russell Westbrook being the instigator to many of the Thunder’s rivalries: “Joel Embiid knows now. He probably doesn’t care, but as Westbrook said “Oklahoma City, two to zero.” Embiid was guilty of waving Steven Adams off the floor when the Thunder center fouled out during a triple-overtime thriller in December. Then in January, Embiid dunked and gave Westbrook a stare down as the MVP was sprawled out on the floor. Mistake. Westbrook is already one of the most intense competitors in the NBA.”

Brett Dawson (NewsOK) on the Thunder doing better in their local TV market this year compared to last year: “Oklahoma City’s local TV ratings are up 13 percent over a year ago, according to a report by Sports Business Journal. Thunder games on Fox Sports Oklahoma are averaging a 7.01 rating, third-highest for regional broadcasts in the NBA.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 21 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 20 February 2018

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img_4063The Oklahoma City Thunder look to make Jordan Rodriguez’s dream come true. We’re pulling for you Jordan.

Isaiah Freedman (Welcome To Loud City) makes a case for Steven Adams being one of the best big man in the league: “Often maligned by critics for averaging “only” 9 rebounds per game, 5.24 of those coming off the offensive glass, tops in the NBA and on pace to finish 3rd best all-time, Adams more than makes up for it by leading the league with more than 11 box outs per game.”

Des Bieler (Washington Post) looks back at the mending of fences that was this weekend for Westbrook and Kevin Durant: “Speaking at a media session ahead of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, for which he and Westbrook are teammates on a squad drafted by LeBron James, Durant told reporters, “I just got out of my own head, and got out of my own way, and stopped thinking it was even a thing.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 20 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 16 February 2018

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img_4063Kyle Wagner (FiveThirtyEight) on the effect Andre Roberson’s absence is having on the team: “But the Thunder have yet to capitalize on the additional space available with Roberson out. Westbrook has played well in some ways, creating at James Harden/Chris Paul levels on the pick and roll, and poorly in others, shooting just 43 percent from the field and 18 percent from the three in the games since Roberson’s injury. George has been hot from the three — he’s hit at least five 3-pointers in four consecutive games — and has averaged 29.6 points on a 62 effective field goal percentage through those 10 games. But Anthony has gone absolutely dormant, and both he and Westbrook missed two games to injury.”

Dan Woike (LA Times) on Russell Westbrook’s defining characteristics even being there in high school: “Arturo Jones, the current basketball coach at Leuzinger, helped out with the program while Westbrook was in school and said some of the things that stand out about him now were apparent then. “He was always a hard worker,” Jones said. “His trajectory always continued to grow.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 16 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 15 February 2018

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img_4063Heartfelt thoughts and condolences to the people of Parkland, Florida.

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the Thunder’s victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis: “It wasn’t just Anthony (19 points) and Westbrook (23 points, 15 assists, 13 rebounds) who saved the day for the Thunder. There were a variety of characters who made an impact. The most prominent was Paul George, who had an outrageously good first half where he scored 22 points on 8-for-9 shooting, including a 5-for-6 mark from the three-point line to extend his streak of games with 5-plus made threes to an NBA season-high-tying five games.”

If you’re into this kind of stuff, Colin Cowherd said some drivel about Russell Westbrook’s leadership: “Now, Russell Westbrook, you give him, not only new teammates, but excellent teammates. He still can’t figure it out. They add Carmelo, who’s going to be a Hall of Famer. They add Paul George, who’s an All-Star. And they’re one game worse than last year.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 15 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings (Valentine’s Day Edition) – 14 February 2018

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To all my readers: I thunderyou!

Royce Young (ESPN) on Cleveland’s new bunch getting the best of the Thunder this time: “It’s one of James’ many remarkable traits that a roster halfway turned over just a week ago can show up and play cohesively, moving the ball to open players and generating connected offense. James is so adaptable, and carries a gravity that forces teammates to fit, that the Cavs can remodel their team on the fly, whereas it took the Thunder three months and 30 games to start to figure it out.”

Heather Koontz (Thunderous Intentions) with some hilarious Thunder-related Valentine’s Day cards.  Continue reading NTTB Rumblings (Valentine’s Day Edition) – 14 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 13 February 2018

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img_4063Erik Horne (NewsOK) on the Thunder keeping Andre Roberson involved: “He’s been around in the background,” said Steven Adams, one of Roberson’s best friends on the team. “I know you guys don’t see him and stuff, but when we’re in, say the back of the stadium, he’s around all the time. It’s good, mate. He’s just doing his own thing, a little rehab. It’s a tough situation to be in, but he’s still keeping in happy spirits, good spirits.”

Brett Dawson (NewsOK) on the Thunder SG starter still being in flux: “I think that (fifth) spot, it could be different,” Donovan said. “I don’t want to say it’s going to be different night to night, but yeah, it could change in certain situations based on what’s best for our team.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 13 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 12 February 2018

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img_4063Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the Thunder’s mauling of the Grizzlies via the long ball: “George was the instigator on both ends for the Thunder, finding ways to not only generate clean looks and free throws for himself, but also to get others involved. It was clear that the day of practice on Saturday helped get George more acclimated to being the lead playmaker with this group. It’s something he’s done all of his career, but the chance to get some work in with his teammates helped the cohesion mightily. For the game, George racked up 33 points to go with 8 assists, while only turning it over 2 times.”

Fred Katz (Norman Transcript) on the Thunder looking better when they hit shots: “The Thunder had just fallen by 25 to a losing team on a night when they were missing Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, both of whom suffered ankle sprains during the squad’s previous game. OKC scored only 81 points in L.A. But it got its looks. It just didn’t make shots – for whatever the reason.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 12 February 2018 →