The Oklahoma City Thunder's chances of getting an NBA title this year were already slim considering that they had traded James Harden away shortly before the season began. Now their chances have basically been reduced to none.
Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will have surgery on his right knee to repair cartilage. Westbrook will be out indefinitely as a result of the injury. He had injured his knee in game 2 of the Thunder's series against the Rockets.
A huge blow to the Thunder's chances as their star point guard is likely out for the remainder of the postseason though his teammates hope he can return. This clearly shifts power in the western conference, likely in the favor of the San Antonio Spurs. Though perhaps to a lesser affect, it also affects the NBA Finals and makes it easier for the Miami Heat to repeat as champions knowing that one of their potential Finals opponents has been weakened so much that they might not even get there.
Unless there is another team in the west that can challenge the Spurs, the Finals picture seems to coming in San Antonio vs. Miami.
P.S. Now my little interest in the NBA postseason is gone till the Finals.
Showing posts with label Thunder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thunder. Show all posts
Friday, April 26, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
See Kobe: Sharing is Good
A slightly new approach have given the Lakers new life
The new strategy seems to be one that hasn't been done before on the team: Kobe passing the ball. Over the last three games, Kobe Bryant has scored just 49 points but has 39 assists. This last game, Kobe had 14 points and 11 assists as the Lakers beat the Hornets 111-106. These last three games have been wins for the Lakers in which the 2nd one was a win against the OKC Thunder by 9. Lakers have a 3 game winning streak but are still 5 games under .500 at 20-25.
It loos like Kobe being "Team Friendly" is best for the team right now. Before this winning streak, Kobe was attempting over 20 shots a game for four games in a row and they lost all four. Kobe gets a bunch of assists and doesn't shoot more than 15 shots a game and they win three in a row. Now this might not get the Lakers in title discussion again but it certainly does get them back in the postseason talk.
P.S. Congrats Kobe on finally PASSING the ball.
The new strategy seems to be one that hasn't been done before on the team: Kobe passing the ball. Over the last three games, Kobe Bryant has scored just 49 points but has 39 assists. This last game, Kobe had 14 points and 11 assists as the Lakers beat the Hornets 111-106. These last three games have been wins for the Lakers in which the 2nd one was a win against the OKC Thunder by 9. Lakers have a 3 game winning streak but are still 5 games under .500 at 20-25.
It loos like Kobe being "Team Friendly" is best for the team right now. Before this winning streak, Kobe was attempting over 20 shots a game for four games in a row and they lost all four. Kobe gets a bunch of assists and doesn't shoot more than 15 shots a game and they win three in a row. Now this might not get the Lakers in title discussion again but it certainly does get them back in the postseason talk.
P.S. Congrats Kobe on finally PASSING the ball.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
2012-13 NBA Season Preview: Lakers vs. Heat in Finals
That's pretty much it.
There were quite a few moves this off season which included Jeremy Lin going to the Rockets, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash going to the Lakers, and the Nets moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn after realizing that the smell couldn't be helped with Febreeze. Howard and Nash to LA are definitely the biggest among them shifting the power quite a bit in the Western Conference. It realistically gives the Lakers a fair chance of getting back to the finals but nothing is guarenteed as the Thunder are still a good team, even without James Harden. Sure, the Lakers lost their first game of the year to the 'Dirkless' Dallas Mavericks but it will take any team some time to get adjusted with their players. The time to panic is later.
The Eastern Conference still has the Miami Heat as the favorite and perhaps much more so now that Ray Allen has taken his talents to South Beach from Boston. The Celtics are still a playoff team (for what it's worth) but they are no longer contenders with the Heat for a spot in the NBA Finals. Heck, I thought they weren't Finals contenders last year.
Quite frankly no team in the East hold a candle to the Miami Heat. The Sixers improve with Andrew Bynum but they aren't ready for the challenge. The Nets will just be happy getting into the postseason in order to sway some fans. The Knicks aren't contentious either and will just be happy to win another playoff game. Lastly, the Bulls only have Derrick Rose on a team that can't win a playoff series without him. The Eastern Conference is a joke and the NBA should just hand the title to the Miami Heat now. Fans of any other Eastern Conference team shouldn't even go to a single game this season just to show their displeasure with how blatantly one sided their conference is.
Looking at the NBA year after year, it's too predictable for me. There are only three legitimate contenders for the NBA title: the Heat, Lakers, and Thunder (Dark horse HA HA HA). The other 27 teams have no chance. For a disclaimer warning: I also don't like Basketball that much, watching it (NBA Finals as well) or playing it. My point is still accurate.
Who is my pick for the NBA title of the Lakers and the Heat? The Heat. Enjoy wasting your time watching regular season games fools.
There were quite a few moves this off season which included Jeremy Lin going to the Rockets, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash going to the Lakers, and the Nets moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn after realizing that the smell couldn't be helped with Febreeze. Howard and Nash to LA are definitely the biggest among them shifting the power quite a bit in the Western Conference. It realistically gives the Lakers a fair chance of getting back to the finals but nothing is guarenteed as the Thunder are still a good team, even without James Harden. Sure, the Lakers lost their first game of the year to the 'Dirkless' Dallas Mavericks but it will take any team some time to get adjusted with their players. The time to panic is later.
The Eastern Conference still has the Miami Heat as the favorite and perhaps much more so now that Ray Allen has taken his talents to South Beach from Boston. The Celtics are still a playoff team (for what it's worth) but they are no longer contenders with the Heat for a spot in the NBA Finals. Heck, I thought they weren't Finals contenders last year.
Quite frankly no team in the East hold a candle to the Miami Heat. The Sixers improve with Andrew Bynum but they aren't ready for the challenge. The Nets will just be happy getting into the postseason in order to sway some fans. The Knicks aren't contentious either and will just be happy to win another playoff game. Lastly, the Bulls only have Derrick Rose on a team that can't win a playoff series without him. The Eastern Conference is a joke and the NBA should just hand the title to the Miami Heat now. Fans of any other Eastern Conference team shouldn't even go to a single game this season just to show their displeasure with how blatantly one sided their conference is.
Looking at the NBA year after year, it's too predictable for me. There are only three legitimate contenders for the NBA title: the Heat, Lakers, and Thunder (Dark horse HA HA HA). The other 27 teams have no chance. For a disclaimer warning: I also don't like Basketball that much, watching it (NBA Finals as well) or playing it. My point is still accurate.
Who is my pick for the NBA title of the Lakers and the Heat? The Heat. Enjoy wasting your time watching regular season games fools.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
NOW the Lakers are the Favorite in the West
As the meaningless NBA season starts sometime in the next few days (does it even matter?), a major trade has been executed among two western conference teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder send James Harden to the Houston Rockets as part of a multi-player trade. The Thunder get Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb along with 2 first round draft picks and a 2nd round draft pick. The Rockets get James Harden along with center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward. Harden and OKC had been negotiating a new long term deal to keep Harden but couldn't come to terms as Harden wanted a max contract. Harden will seemingly get that with the Rockets.
No more room in OKC long term meant that the team had to trade away a key component to their offense. Sure Harden wasn't the biggest star on the team but he sure seemed to be a difference maker with team averaging +9.1 with him on the court as opposed to +1.7 with him off of it. I'm sure the Sixth Man of the Year will do fine in Houston playing with Jeremy Lin but we will have to wait and see how this move will affect the Thunder going forward.
P.S. Someone wake me when the Conference Finals are here.... or when Hockey returns, whichever comes first.
P.P.S. Might go back to sleep if the NBA Conference Finals come first.... just saying.
The Oklahoma City Thunder send James Harden to the Houston Rockets as part of a multi-player trade. The Thunder get Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb along with 2 first round draft picks and a 2nd round draft pick. The Rockets get James Harden along with center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward. Harden and OKC had been negotiating a new long term deal to keep Harden but couldn't come to terms as Harden wanted a max contract. Harden will seemingly get that with the Rockets.
No more room in OKC long term meant that the team had to trade away a key component to their offense. Sure Harden wasn't the biggest star on the team but he sure seemed to be a difference maker with team averaging +9.1 with him on the court as opposed to +1.7 with him off of it. I'm sure the Sixth Man of the Year will do fine in Houston playing with Jeremy Lin but we will have to wait and see how this move will affect the Thunder going forward.
P.S. Someone wake me when the Conference Finals are here.... or when Hockey returns, whichever comes first.
P.P.S. Might go back to sleep if the NBA Conference Finals come first.... just saying.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Superman Staying in LA as part of Four Team Trade
The big story this NBA off season has been centered around Dwight Howard and where he was going to end up despite the fact he handicapped himself by signing a one year extension with the Magic. However, Dwight has managed to overcome that handicap.
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
ALL HAIL THE KING AND THE MIAMI HEAT!!!
9 years ago, LeBron James entered the NBA seemingly already a star. During his path to a title, he developed his skills, grew and matured, and lit up the league as a star. His team grew around him and made strides to try and get an NBA title. LeBron then saw he couldn't win in Cleveland, ditched them for Miami, and now, two years later, finally gets the crown he so desperately needed.
The NBA Finals up to this point were just taken over by the Heat. Games 2-4 were close but the Heat just kept the Thunder at bay and prevented them from making any good comeback. They did an even greater job tonight. It was basically the Heat's night from the start with the Thunder making a few comeback runs to get it close only to have the Heat pull away again. By the third quarter, the Thunder couldn't keep up anymore. The Heat pulled away in the third and never looked back. The Miami Heat win, 121-106, and win their 2nd NBA Title in franchise history. It was LeBron James... sorry, "King" James' first title and he was named NBA Finals MVP.
"It's about damn time" were the first words from King James about winning the title and it pretty much summed it up. 9 seasons in the NBA and finally he has a ring. James proved he was the MVP of the Finals in Game 5 with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. But he definitely had some help around him. Mike Miller tried to steal some of the spotlight shooting 7 for 8 from behind the arc. He had 23 total points. Dwanye Wade, who gets his 2nd ring, scored 20 points and 8 rebounds while Chris Bosh, the last of the Triple Heat, score 24 points and got 7 rebounds. While the King carried the Heat through much of this postseason, the team came together to shutdown OKC.
Don't feel bad, though, Thunder. Many of you guys are young and will have another bite at the apple someday. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are likely going to be able to lead this team back to the NBA Finals. Not sure whether or not James Harden will come back but he will have to do better for OKC if he does. The Thunder at least took another step closer to becoming a great team.
As for the Heat, their moment is now or at least one of their moments is now. I hope King James and the Heat will soak in the meaning of this title and truly appreciate it because everyone around them is expecting multiple titles. Ignore them all. People get lost when they look at the big picture. Just enjoy the nice brushstrokes that you all just made together.
The NBA Finals up to this point were just taken over by the Heat. Games 2-4 were close but the Heat just kept the Thunder at bay and prevented them from making any good comeback. They did an even greater job tonight. It was basically the Heat's night from the start with the Thunder making a few comeback runs to get it close only to have the Heat pull away again. By the third quarter, the Thunder couldn't keep up anymore. The Heat pulled away in the third and never looked back. The Miami Heat win, 121-106, and win their 2nd NBA Title in franchise history. It was LeBron James... sorry, "King" James' first title and he was named NBA Finals MVP.
"It's about damn time" were the first words from King James about winning the title and it pretty much summed it up. 9 seasons in the NBA and finally he has a ring. James proved he was the MVP of the Finals in Game 5 with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. But he definitely had some help around him. Mike Miller tried to steal some of the spotlight shooting 7 for 8 from behind the arc. He had 23 total points. Dwanye Wade, who gets his 2nd ring, scored 20 points and 8 rebounds while Chris Bosh, the last of the Triple Heat, score 24 points and got 7 rebounds. While the King carried the Heat through much of this postseason, the team came together to shutdown OKC.
Don't feel bad, though, Thunder. Many of you guys are young and will have another bite at the apple someday. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are likely going to be able to lead this team back to the NBA Finals. Not sure whether or not James Harden will come back but he will have to do better for OKC if he does. The Thunder at least took another step closer to becoming a great team.
As for the Heat, their moment is now or at least one of their moments is now. I hope King James and the Heat will soak in the meaning of this title and truly appreciate it because everyone around them is expecting multiple titles. Ignore them all. People get lost when they look at the big picture. Just enjoy the nice brushstrokes that you all just made together.
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