Tag Archives: Paul George

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 04 Oct 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , ,

img_4133-5

Danny Chau (The Ringer) looks at the Thunder’s best and worst-case scenarios in his preview: “What apprehension exists in Melo’s fit doesn’t exist for George, who has exhibited all of those qualities and abilities in his time with Indiana—he can create his own shot, spot-up, position himself off the ball, and defend just about every position. He is not only the perfect running mate for Westbrook—he’s just about the perfect running mate for any franchise player. The Thunder will go as far as their new Big Three takes them, and their talent alone suggests they could go deep.”

Tony Heim (Thunderous Intentions) with five take-aways from last night’s game: “Throw away the score when you break down this game. While Mike D’Antoni was focused on working Chris Paul with his main playing partners, Billy Donovan used the time to get Oklahoma City’s young prospects valuable playing time. Terrance Ferguson, Daniel Hamilton and Josh Huestis all got at least 14 minutes; they all looked pretty good too. More importantly, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George looked comfortable in Billy Donovan’s offense. There were obviously moments where players were late to screens and misreading teammates, but overall the ball movement on offense is already better.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 04 Oct 2017 →

Rockets beat the new look Thunder 104-97

Game Recaps, , , , , , , , , ,
Sue Ogrocki – AP Photo

BOX SCORE

Before we even go into specifics, there are three things you need to know about this game:

  1. It was the first preseason game for both teams.
  2. The Thunder were without Russell Westbrook, Patrick Patterson, and Alex Abrines.
  3. The Houston Rockets launched 55! three-pointers (Why?)

In essence, the Thunder treated this game like it was a preseason game. Work out little kinks here and there, let the starters get comfortable with each other for the first half, and find out what you have from the bench. Houston, on the other hand, almost treated this game like it was a regular season game. The eight players who will likely be prominently featured in Houston’s rotation all played over 20 minutes, with James Harden leading the way with 29 minutes.  Continue reading Rockets beat the new look Thunder 104-97 →

Rockets vs. Thunder Primer (Preseason Gm. 1)

Game Previews, , , , , ,

rockets logo VS. okc logo

  • When: Tuesday, 03 October 2017 at 7:00 pm CST
  • Where: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
  • TV: NBATV
  • Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))

They say every journey begins with one step. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, this game represent the first step in what they hope to be a season that stretches all the way into June. Many a team is crowned in the preseason, only to flame out when the real games begin. But sometimes, teams are forged and crystallized in the preseason to become what they were meant to become.

The Thunder bring, what is in essence, a brand new team into this season. Two of the starters have been replaced by All-Star level players. And much of the reserve unit has also been changed. While it may seem easy to take two role-playing starters and replace them with two All-Stars, a seamless transition doesn’t always happen. There is, as has been mentioned before, only one ball on the court.  Continue reading Rockets vs. Thunder Primer (Preseason Gm. 1) →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 03 Oct 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , , , , ,

img_4133-5

There is actually a Thunder game tonight. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

Paul George is now willing to seriously consider OKC during free agency next summer: “The source says George has been impressed by the culture of the Thunder and how meticulous general manager Sam Presti and the organization are in building the roster and the franchise. George was impressed that the front office “had the (guts),” in the source’s words, to put everything on the line in getting him, and followed it up by getting Anthony without giving up any of the team’s core group.”

David Aldridge (NBA.com) on Westbrook’s loyalty to Oklahoma City: “But then came Westbrook, last Friday, finally signing the $205 million extension that the Thunder had had on the table for weeks. The impact reverberated well beyond the 405. Westbrook didn’t, as everyone seemed to accept as a fait accompli the last year and a half, play out his contract after collecting an extra $28 million in extension money from OKC last season, and bolt to the Lakers, Tom Joad with a 401(K) and options, in the summer of 2018. The scuttlebutt was that Westbrook would go back to his hometown and be united with LeBron James and/or Carmelo Anthony and/or Idris Elba and/or Shonda Rimes.”

Ball Don’t Lie previews the Thunder.  Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 03 Oct 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 02 Oct 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , , ,

img_4133-5

Prayers out to all the victims and families involved in the senseless mass shooting in Las Vegas. When will it end?

Royce Young (ESPN) on Russell Westbrook talking about signing his 5-year extension: “My focus never shifted. I mean, obviously I didn’t talk to you guys, so you guys were kind of making up your own assumptions, but my focus never changed. For me, you know, taking my time, family is the most important thing to me, and that’s what I was focused on. When it’s time to focus on basketball I do that, and that’s it.”

Royce Young (ESPN) on what Westbrook’s signing means to Paul George: “We’ve been on an unbelievable start right now, and for him to be committed here, it says a lot,” George said. “Not only in us pairing together, but just knowing what type of dude Russ is and his values and his beliefs and him being committed to this organization says a lot. And I’m one person that’s enjoying it here, so I think when that time comes, the decision will be easier to make for myself.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 02 Oct 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 29 Sept 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , , , , ,

img_4133-5

Ian Begley (ESPN) says Carmelo Anthony was nearly a Rocket and also nearly a Cavalier: “Actually, it was funny because me and PG was supposed to be in Cleveland on draft night,” Anthony said. “We were communicating about that. The deal was actually done, and it got called off on draft night, so me and PG stayed connected throughout the course of the [offseason]. We never even talked about OKC, though.”

David Purdum (ESPN) on ESPN’s odds going up with the acquisition of Anthony: “After acquiring Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in an active offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s odd have moved from 60-1 to 16-1 to win the 2017-18 NBA championship at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. With George and Anthony joining reigning MVP Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, the Thunder have narrowed the gap with the other top tier of contenders in the Western Conference. The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are each listed at 15-1 to win the championship at the SuperBook.”

OKC will be Thunder Up Tulsa in preparation for their preseason game on October 3rd.  Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 29 Sept 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 28 Sept 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , ,

img_4133-5

I asked Carmelo Anthony a question on the lack of media coverage on Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria and this is his response (around 11:37 on the video). I urge my readers, whatever you can donate or give, please do. There 3.5 million AMERICANS that need your assistance on the island.

Vince Ellis (Detroit Free Press) on Reggie Jackson foreseeing the Paul George trade happening: “George and Jackson are good friends and share an agent in Aaron Mintz, who told both that the Thunder was a team to watch in the George sweepstakes. “We were actually on the video game when a few destinations popped up. I remember just joking with him, ‘There’s a sleeper in there,’ ” Jackson said. “Our agent kind of called it and he ended up there.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 28 Sept 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 27 Sept 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , , , , , ,

img_4133-5

Royce Young (ESPN) on Carmelo Anthony being okay with playing the power forward position: “No, he’s going to start the power forward spot for us,” Donovan said. “That’s what he’s going to do.” Anthony has played the majority of his career as a small forward, but with Paul George already slotted into that position, the 10-time All-Star said he’s ready and willing to slide down a position in the Thunder’s starting five.”

Gideon Lim (Thunderous Intentions) on the perfect playbook for Carmelo Anthony: “Ten years ago, the NBA saw its first inorganic coalition of superstars – the Boston Celtics’ Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and homeboy Paul Pierce. Under the guidance of Doc Rivers, the Celtics found a way to rack up wins while keeping their alpha-male small forward happy. Sound enticing? Billy Donovan has probably spent the last 48 hours devising a system where Carmelo Anthony can pummel opponents for points without killing ball movement.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 27 Sept 2017 →

“I’m coming!” – The two words that galvanized a franchise.

Offseason Beat, Random Thoughts, , , , , , , ,

westbrook durant

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” A simple exchange in what was basically a blowout in February, set the stage for what we’ve seen this offseason from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder could not do anything when Kevin Durant left them on July 4th, 2016. By the time he made his decision, most of the top notch free agents were already off the board. Instead, the Thunder strategized from that point forward and hoped opportunities would arise from a turbulent NBA landscape. And arise they did.

The summer of 2016 basically set the stage for what happened in Oklahoma City this offseason. When every team was infused with an extra 20 million, moves were made that were almost immediately regretted once the ink dried on those contracts. Finding an extra $20 million in your team’s salary cap is like finding $1000 in between your couch cushions. Some people will make wise decisions with that extra money. But others will treat it like house money and YOLO the hell out of it. Many teams made bad decisions that summer that eventually led to their salary caps being tied up for the next 2-4 seasons. Continue reading “I’m coming!” – The two words that galvanized a franchise. →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 26 Sept 2017

NTTB Rumblings, , , ,

img_4133-5

Royce Young (ESPN) on Russell Westbrook and Paul George being extremely important in Carmelo Anthony’s decision to join the Thunder: “News of the trade broke on Saturday. The deal became official Monday, with the Thunder sending Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott to the New York Knicks in return. Anthony spent 6½ seasons in New York. After then-team president Phil Jackson publicly announced in March his desire to trade the 10-time All-Star, the relationship with the front office deteriorated, culminating in Anthony’s trade.”

Sam Amick (USA Today) on Paul George’s feelings for the Thunder after making the Carmelo Anthony trade: “Just hours before on a sleepy Saturday morning, right about the time George and Olivia were working their way around the local lakes, the Thunder pulled off a blockbuster trade by landing 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony and surely upped their odds of retaining George and fellow co-star/Southern California native Russell Westbrook in the process. Yet in the George household, a three-story beauty where poles and tackle are strewn about the living room and his closest family and friends are visiting in the kitchen, George is too focused on fishing to worry about free agency just yet.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 26 Sept 2017 →