Category Archives: NTTB Rumblings

NTTB Rumblings – 09 February 2018

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img_4063Fred Katz (Norman Transcript) on the quietness of the trade deadline outside of Cleveland: “The Thunder, of course, were in that category: active in conversations without anything tangible to show for it. It’s a new normal for the NBA, where teams were weary about taking on longterm money and trading first-round draft picks inside a more fiscally conservative environment.”

Erik Horne (NewsOK) on why he thinks the trade deadline was so quiet: “Could a deal have been done? Yes. Would it have made the Thunder better? The team didn’t think so. The same could be said for the Spurs, Rockets, Celtics and Warriors. The Thunder wasn’t the only team among the contenders in their respective conferences who held off from making a roster-altering decision on Thursday.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 09 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 08 February 2018

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img_4063Sam Amick (USA Today) on Paul George’s upcoming free agency decision: “He’s well aware how his choice will affect the lives of others, from his actual family to this Thunder group that wants so badly for him to return alongside Russell Westbrook. So he picks his words wisely, even goes over old interviews to make sure he’s saying what he means and meaning what he says. Yet as the 3 pm EST trade deadline nears on Thursday, and with the Thunder (31-24) set to face the very Lakers team that is widely seen as the No. 1 threat for his services, there’s one thing that is helping him be more at ease: he’s not going anywhere just yet – if ever.”

Russell Westbrook and Paul George are here to take your basketball.

Paul George had a big fan at the Warriors’ game: Former Fresno State Bulldog Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders.  Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 08 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 02 February 2018

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img_4063Russell Westbrook had an incident with a fan after the Nuggets game: “You gotta be able to protect the players, man,” he said. “The fans are obviously there to enjoy the game, but they can’t come onto the floor. That’s totally unacceptable.”

Nick Gallo’s (OKCThunder.com) post-game recap: “After giving up 40, 32 and 32 points in the first three periods, the Thunder’s defense suddenly tightened up in the fourth quarter behind a grimy, scrappy effort by the second unit and scintillating performances by Paul George and Russell Westbrook down the stretch. With just 1.4 seconds left in regulation, the Thunder had allowed just 20 fourth quarter points.”

In addition to being in the All-Star Game, Paul George will also be in the 3-point shooting contest.  Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 02 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 01 February 2018

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img_4063Fred Katz (Norman Transcript) on this latest stretch of games for the Thunder which has been particularly grueling: “The Thunder are in the midst of a brutal portion of the schedule. They change time zones between five consecutive games — with four of those contests making up a couple of back-to-backs. It’s hectic enough that coach Billy Donovan has decided to forego a couple of morning shootarounds, doing so before Tuesday’s eventual loss at the Washington Wizards and and before Thursday’s game at the Denver Nuggets.”

Colin Ward-Henninger (CBS Sports) on the possible teams vying for Greg Monroe’s services: “Go ahead, try to name the Thunder’s backup center. Trick question … they don’t have one. Jermai Grant has been filling in at center for the second unit, but at 6-foot-8, 203 pounds, he’s not exactly an earth-mover out there. The lineup of Grant, Paul George, Alex Abrines, Raymond Felton and Patrick Patterson has a net rating of minus-33.6 in 85 minutes this season — not good.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 01 February 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 31 January 2018

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Bruce Jenkins (San Francisco Tribune) on the Thunder being a contender to dethrone the Warriors: “That was the goal in OKC, but it simply wasn’t working. Only when a clear decision was made — this is Westbrook’s team, and he will rule the offense — did this team elevate itself into relevance. “I think the fact that Russ is just playing, not trying to defer to anybody, just letting us play off him — we needed that,” George told reporters recently. “We need that Russ out there. Let the rest of us figure it out.”

A very informative article by Eric Pincus (Bleacher Report) on the Thunder’s future salary cap implications: “With George, along with Westbrook at $35.4 million, center Steven Adams at $24.2 million, Roberson at $10 million and Anthony at $27.9 million (with an early termination option), the Thunder could be looking at paying between $250 and $300 million for their roster. Should Anthony opt out, that would help solve the team’s budget crisis, but that doesn’t appear likely.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 31 January 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 30 January 2018

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img_4063Tamberlyn Richardson (Thunderous Intentions) on Joel Embiid’s maturation process (after posting a picture of him dunking on Westbrook post-loss): “His peers voted Kristaps Porzingis ahead of him to start in the All-Star Game, so either they feel the unicorn was more deserving, or they take issue with his trolling.  Both players are exceptional, but it’s doubtful a majority of GMs would pick Porzingis before Embiid, unless they think he’d be a better chemistry fit.”

I don’t think LaLa Anthony will be signing a long-term contract in Oklahoma City.

Jamie Cooper (Dime Magazine) interviews Paul George on a wide variety of subjects: “But honestly, he doesn’t take anything. It’s a natural energy that he has. He’s just an energetic guy, from practices to playing games. I knew who he was as a competitor, but he wants to win at all costs, and he goes hard like that every day. So, it’s great to be alongside a guy like that.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 30 January 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 29 January 2018

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Kevin Pelton (ESPN) on how big the fallout could be from Andre Roberson’s injury: “A number of statistics point to Roberson’s value at the defensive end of the court. According to NBA Advanced Metrics, the Thunder have allowed 11.8 more points per 100 possessions this season with Roberson on the bench. And when Roberson missed 10 games earlier this season, mostly with tendinitis in the patellar tendon he injured Saturday, Oklahoma City’s defense wasn’t the same. The Thunder allowed opponents to score 2.8 percent more efficiently than their usual offensive rating in those 10 games, as compared to holding them 3.2 percent below their typical efficiency with Roberson.”

Des Bieler (Washington Post) with a recap of the Thunder/Wizards game: “Later in the game, OKC’s Paul George made a valiant attempt to exact revenge on Westbrook’s behalf — “I was trying to finish that one,” he said after the game — by throwing down a titanic jam. George failed, but he earned a trip to the free throw line and, one would imagine, his teammate’s gratitude.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 29 January 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 26 January 2018

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cropped-nowthatsthunderbasketball_sheriffbadge1.jpgRoyce Young (ESPN) on the slight that may have motivated Russell Westbrook in the Wizards game: “That’s cool, man, that’s good, man, they finally got the teams figured out,” he said. Then from his nearby locker, Carmelo Anthony yelled out, “Tell ’em how you really feel!” Westbrook smiled and laughed. “But I see I was the last pick on the list — I was just trying to figure out how …” Westbrook said, referring to a list tweeted out by James.”

Local innovators now have the opportunity to be sponsored by the Thunder for their start-ups: “The flagship program for the space is a partnership with StitchCrew, an Oklahoma City company that seeks to foster technology-driven entrepreneurs in getting their ideas off the ground and ready to be venture-backed. The company will host an accelerator batch at the Thunder Launchpad this spring, giving a class of startup founders in all industries the space, resources and mentors they need to introduce their ventures to investors.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 26 January 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 25 January 2018

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cropped-nowthatsthunderbasketball_sheriffbadge1.jpgRoyce Young (ESPN) on how Westbrook’s support of Paul George’s All-Star snub may be influencing future decisions: “We were actually joking before he went up there, and I’m like, ‘Nah, Russ, man, just let it go, let it go Russ. It is what it is, I wasn’t picked,’ and he was like, ‘Nah, man, P, that’s messed up. I’m gonna tell them something about that,'” George said.”

Nick Friedell (ESPN) on Westbrook throwing Damian Lillard a little All-Star shade: “I respect Russ a lot, so it was kind of disappointing to see him say that,” Lillard said prior to Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “Because he’s played against me, he’s played against our team, he knows what I’ve accomplished. Not just this year, but over my career. So it was a little bit disappointing, but I know that I earned my spot this year. And that’s pretty much what it is: I earned my spot.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 25 January 2018 →

NTTB Rumblings – 24 January 2018

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NowThatsThunderBasketball_SheriffBadge1Royce Young (ESPN) on Russell Westbrook’s reaction to Paul George being left off the All-Star team: “Guy leads the league in steals, competes every night, top two at his position. Don’t make any sense, regardless of anything else,” Westbrook, who was named to his seventh All-Star Game, said of George. “If you’re going by All-Stars, there are certain All-Stars in this league. Everybody’s not an All-Star. Just because you get voted in doesn’t mean you’re an All-Star. I just think it’s outrageous. But you know, it is what it is.”

Jimmy Do (OKCThunder.com) on several Thunder players participating in a wheelchair hoops event for the NBA’s Fit Week: “After skills drills and a nutrition lesson to rev up the athletes, Darden was ready to show her mettle on the hardwood. The pull of competition lit Darden like a caged animal waiting to be unleashed. “Being the only girl boosts me up because I’m going to show these boys up,” said Darden. Almost three years ago to the day, an early morning car accident in Woodward County sent Darden to the hospital with injuries that led her to be confined to a wheelchair.” Continue reading NTTB Rumblings – 24 January 2018 →