Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC BBall

ALL
OUTSIDER

Who Will Top The East This Season?

By Eric Sandi | January 5, 2009 | Cavalier Attitude

The race is on for the best record in the Eastern Conference, and subsequent home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. Right now it is a three team race between the Boston Celtics (29-6), the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-6), and the Orlando Magic (26-8). I would like to take a moment to mention to the fans of these teams that losing is inevitable in the NBA. Even the finest teams in NBA history lost occasionally. I make this obvious overstatement because every fan of the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Orlando Magic will be taking each loss for the remainder of this season as if they just belly-caught a cannonball shot at close range and were blown into a vat of used razor blades. Yesterday, all three of these powerhouse teams lost to teams that, on paper at least, they should have beaten; as Boston lost to the...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Anderson Varejao, Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Daniel Gibson, Danny Ferry, Darnell Jackson, Delonte West, Doc Rivers, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, J.J. Hickson, Jameer Nelson, James Posey, Joe Smith, John Hollinger, Keith Bogans, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Brown, Mo Williams, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Paul Pierce, Portland Trail Blazers, Rajon Rondo, Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, San Antonio Spurs, Sasha Pavlovic, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Allen, Utah Jazz, Wally Szczerbiak, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

New Year's Resolutions -- 2009 Edition

By Zach Harper | January 2, 2009 | Talk Hoops

Posted by Brandon GallawaSince last year's resolution article was such a hit and countless people have been clamoring for another edition, I decided to do some research on what NBA players, coaches and teams will be trying to accomplish in the New Year. Here are the NBA's 2009 resolutions: Dwight Howard - Learn a post move. At some point it has to happen, right? Kyle Lowry - Be seen in the same room as MA$E. Until this happens I won't be convinced they aren't the same person. Ricky Rubio - Roll the dice and declare for the draft. Sure he could end up in Minnesota, OKC or Sacramento, but he also has a chance to land in a large market like Washington, LA or Golden State. As Zach's favorite movie Summer Catch would say "If you want big rewards, you gotta take big risks." Jose Calderon - Pull a Tanya...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Andray Blatche, Andre Iguodala, Baron Davis, Brian Scalabrine, Brook Lopez, Chauncey Billups, China, Chris Mullin, Danny Granger, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Elton Brand, Gilbert Arenas, Glenn Taylor, Greg Oden, Jason Thompson, Jeff Green, Joe Alexander, Joe Dumars, Jose Calderon, Josh Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Martin, Kevin McHale, Kobe Bryant, Kyle Lowry, Larry Brown, Lawrence Frank, LeBron James, Luol Deng, Michael Beasley, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Woodson, Nate Robinson, NBA, O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul Pierce, Ricky Rubio, Robin Lopez, Sasha Vujacic, Stephon Marbury, Tim Duncan, Toronto Raptors, Tracy McGrady, Utah Jazz

With Houston Coming, Dikembe is As Good As Gone

By Celticsfanatic | December 28, 2008 | Celtics 17

Joakim Noah against Ben Wallace - watkinscbw

Ever since the Houston Rockets made a trade involving Steve Francis going to Memphis for a second round draft pick, and trade rumors flying around involving Charlie Villanueva leaving Milwaukee, and the Rockets shipping out Carl Landry, there have been strong rumors about Dikembe Mutombo coming to Houston. A few weeks before that, it was rumored that he might come to Boston. After Dikembe, our options are P.J. Brown and Stephon Marbury. They don't exactly jump out at me like Antonio McDyess or Dikembe did. Could we make a trade? Might we sign a player that will jump out and surprise us? Will he be enough for Boston, and Boston fans? Its time to bring out the option table again.Free AgentsP.J. Brown - Brown, who played for the Celtics last year, retired after he finally won a championship with Boston, but now might be coming back to the Celtics to...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets, Joakim Noah, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, P.J. Brown, Stephon Marbury

Highlights From Pistons vs. Thunder

By Chris Thompson | December 27, 2008 | Behind the Name

Click on the Picture below to view highlights from last nights game, Pistons vs. Thunder. Be sure to check out my blog site at: http://hardcoredetroitfan.wordpress.com/...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder

Fantasy Player: Allen Iverson

By Chris Thompson | December 27, 2008 | Behind the Name

Well I do have to say that this game was supposed to be a blow out by the way that the records showed it, but obviously that was not the case in the 90-88 victory. Oklahoma City Thunder are now 3-27, on pace for one of the worst NBA records of all time, and the Pistons, now 16-11, are still struggling to find their nitch in the league. Allen Iverson had a scary moment there in Tuesdays game against Chicago where he went out with a strained groin, and many wondered if he would be patched up and ready to go by the time OKC rolled into town on Friday. Well he was and played 39 of the 48 minutes. How well did he do? Well his groin stayed in tack and he scored 22 points on 9-17 shooting, including the eventual game winner with .2 seconds left on the game clock. He made all 4 of his free throws and without those the Pistons would have been downed by yet another sub .500 team. Assist wise he was on the low end of the spectrum with only 3 on the night. Thankfully though it did not play a major roll in the outcome of the game. Another sketchy win for the Pistons but overall they seem to be getting their act together and are beginning to transform into a serious playoff conteder in the East. Be sure to check out my blog site at: http://hardcoredetroitfan.wordpress.com/...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Allen Iverson, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder

Vote for the fourth Slam Dunk Contest participant

By Stu Holdren | December 25, 2008 | NBA Noise

Dwight Howard is back to defend his Slam Dunk Contest title, and he will be up against some familiar competition. Competing against Howard will be Memphis' Rudy Gay and New York's Nate Robinson. Because of Howard's height, he has had to rely on his creativity, while Robinson has the ability to wow the crowd with the huge hops necessary for a man of his stature to throw down. Gay is more of your prototypical acrobatic high flyer that we have come to expect in the Dunk Contest.What makes this year different is that the fans will have a say as to who the final participant in the contest should be. Among the contenders for the final spot include Milwaukee's Joe Alexander, Portland's Rudy Fernandez and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. Despite my homer tendencies, I'd honestly be surprised if Fernandez doesn't get the bid, he's just got too much flavor....

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Dwight Howard, Joe Alexander, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Nate Robinson, NBA, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Fernandez, Rudy Gay, Russell Westbrook

My NBA Christmas wishlist

By Stu Holdren | December 25, 2008 | NBA Noise

I've already torn through my litany of gifts (beard trimmers, underwear, power scissors, etc.) but being the greedy bastard I am, I want more. But as we all know, some of the best gifts are free. But if I'm getting free gifts (again, a greedy bastard), they better damn-well be NBA related. Here are some of the things I'm hoping for in the remainder of the season.Let Stephon Marbury play. His off-court antics are only good for a bit of coverage. Sure, it's entertaining, but it's getting to the point of not being applicable to NBA fans. If I could only cover one player on this blog, it would be Starbury - but if he's not on the court I'm left high and dry.Allow Greg Oden to learn how to not foul an exorbitant amount of times. Oden has shown he has the ability to positively affect the game when...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Dwight Howard, Greg Oden, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming

Joe Smith Back to Cleveland?

By Amar Panchmatia | December 23, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

The lack of depth and experience on the Cavs' front line was exposed when center Zydrunas Ilgauskas went down to injury for three games, a stretch that saw the team's 11-game winning streak come to an end.Help could be coming from a familiar source.Power forward Joe Smith was dealt away in August as part of the deal that brought Mo Williams to Cleveland, and based on the way Williams has fit right in and helped lift the Cavs to amongst the Association's elite, there are no regrets there. But while the Cavs are enjoying their best start in franchise history at 23-4 and have the second-best mark in the NBA, Smith is toiling around for the dregs of the league in Oklahoma City.Smith, who turned 33 in July, was a key cog off the Cavaliers' bench during the team's playoff run last spring. The former No. 1 overall pick out...

Read more | 16 Comments | Tags: Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Brian Windhorst, Chauncey Billups, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Darnell Jackson, Detroit Pistons, J.J. Hickson, Joe Smith, Mike Brown, Mo Williams, Nenad Krstic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

NBA Stock Market: Rondo Keeping Celtics on Record Pace

By Joe Boikess | December 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Rajon Rondo surveying the floor (Photo via culhanen/flickr.com)

Note: We at MVN Outsider have re-organized our posting schedule in an effort to make our sports coverage more well rounded and timely. For those of you expecting to see the NBA Power Rankings today, that post has been moved to Tuesdays. With these changes, get ready to see more fresh content every day on every major sport. Thanks, and enjoy!Rising:Boston Celtics - Honestly, this team has been on the rise this entire season, piling up wins at a rate that we haven't seen since the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. They now have won 18 in a row and have tied the league mark for the best start (26-2) for a team with two losses. Their recent success has been due in large part to the play of point guard Rajon Rondo. When the team needs him to score, he does it (as we saw on Sunday in the C's win...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Outsider, New York Knicks

How the West will be won

By Joe Boikess | October 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

With the NBA regular season set to tip off in less than a week, it's time to reveal my predictions for how the Western Conference will shape up. Last year the requirement was at least 50 wins for a team to make the playoffs in the ultra competitive West, and I believe this year will be no different. That's not to say that all the same teams will be there in the end, however...In addition to ranking the teams in the order that I believe they'll finish, I decided to also separate the teams into tiers based on their potential to win the West. Here goes...Tier 1: The Clear Favorites1. New Orleans Hornets (1st in Southwest) - I realize that preseason performances should only be taken with a grain of salt, but the Hornets are 6-0 so far, and they have allowed the third-fewest points of any team during the...Read more

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Outsider, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Western Conference

MVN: Most Valuable Network