Congrats to Buddy "Buckets" for winning the 3 point contest last night. Wishing continued success for him and his career.

Omni has pretty much eliminated that sort of competition with their agreement with the city.

Yes, and put us where they have major control over what new hotels come to or near our convention center. We'd be lucky to see an NBA All Star weekend before 2040.

Omni has pretty much eliminated that sort of competition with their agreement with the city.
Not true. If there are developers who actually believe there is an economically attractive opportunity, they can build whatever they want. City can’t give incentives though. If there is all this opportunity that so many on this board believe, should be a no brainer, right.

Not true. If there are developers who actually believe there is an economically attractive opportunity, they can build whatever they want. City can’t give incentives though. If there is all this opportunity that so many on this board believe, should be a no brainer, right.

You would think.

Cox Convention Center, which is currently the city’s main convention center, may not be used as the main convention center one year after Omni opens. The agreement restricts redevelopment as a hotel. Omni would be offered first rights to develop a hotel on the site. Additionally, the agreement creates a “no-subsidy zone” that would restrict the city from offering subsidies for any future hotel development. First National Center, which is beginning renovations to make way for a hotel, apartments and retail/dining, was excluded from the zone.

According to this agreement; if Omni waves their rights; another hotel developer could build on the current Cox Convention Center site. It doesn't mention a subsidy; however if another developer came on board, would they want a subsidy...

You would think.

Cox Convention Center, which is currently the city’s main convention center, may not be used as the main convention center one year after Omni opens. The agreement restricts redevelopment as a hotel. Omni would be offered first rights to develop a hotel on the site. Additionally, the agreement creates a “no-subsidy zone” that would restrict the city from offering subsidies for any future hotel development. First National Center, which is beginning renovations to make way for a hotel, apartments and retail/dining, was excluded from the zone.

According to this agreement; if Omni waves their rights; another hotel developer could build on the current Cox Convention Center site. It doesn't mention a subsidy; however if another developer came on board, would they want a subsidy...
Right...like that’s the only site near the convention center. There is vacant land all around.

Right...like that’s the only site near the convention center. There is vacant land all around.

You're correct. One thing OKC doesn't lack is prime land in the core.

NBA Attendance Report - 2020

http://www.espn.com/nba/attendance

https://cdn.chatsports.com/cache/da/9a/da9a0df51883a196409bb136f87f7f16-original.jpg

Luguentz Dort, undrafted Free Agent after 2019 Draft

Kevin Durant among four Nets players to test positive for coronavirus:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28917855/four-nets-players-test-positive-coronavirus

Wish K. D. and all Covid-19 positive persons a speedy & healthy recovery.

If Orlando were to host the top 16 seeds in the league in an NBA playoff.

1 - 4
.815 Milwaukee Bucks 53 - 12
.778 Los Angeles Lakers 49 - 14
.719 Toronto Raptors 46 - 18
.688 Los Angeles Clippers 44 - 20

5 - 8
.672 Boston Celtics 43 - 21
.662 Denver Nuggets 43 - 22
.641 Utah Jazz 41 - 23
.631 Miami Heat 41 - 24

9 - 12
.625 Oklahoma City Thunder 40 - 24
.625 Houston Rockets 40 - 24
.600 Indiana Pacers 39 - 26
.600 Philadelphia 76ers 39 - 26

13 - 16
.597 Dallas Mavericks 40 - 27
.492 Memphis Grizzlies 32 - 33
.469 Brooklyn Nets 30 - 34
.462 Orlando Magic 30 - 35

1 vs 16 Bucks-Magic
2 vs 15 Lakers-Nets
3 vs 14 Raptors-Grizzlies
4 vs 13 Clippers-Mavericks
5 vs 12 Celtics-76ers
6 vs 11 Nuggets-Pacers
7 vs 10 Jazz-Rockets
8 vs 9 Heat-Thunder

I 100% support this group play proposal for this season and future seasons: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/26/21270365/nba-restart-world-cup

I love it. I hope this is the format that they go with.

I also love it.

I 100% support this group play proposal for this season and future seasons: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/26/21270365/nba-restart-world-cup

Are you fan of World Cup soccer?

I love it. I hope this is the format that they go with.

I don't like it at all. I don't like all teams playing in Orlando and I don't like the thunder playing the Heat.

The Thunder wouldn't play the Heat necessarily. The group stage would have 5 tiers with 4 potential opponents from each tier.

That would suck for season ticket holders.

The Thunder wouldn't play the Heat necessarily. The group stage would have 5 tiers with 4 potential opponents from each tier.

True, NBA is in the planning stages of deciding whether to finish out a partial NBA season and/or go directly into the playoffs. If they freeze the standing and go directing into the playoffs OKC-MIAMI will open in round one as the 8th & 9th seeds.

I don't like it at all. I don't like all teams playing in Orlando and I don't like the thunder playing the Heat.

I think you're talking about the 1-16 proposal which is not the one we were talking about. My post was about group stages.


Are you fan of World Cup soccer?

Yes, but I also think group stages are a great fit to replace the NBA's first round. The 1st round can be boring sometimes with a lot of blowouts. I think using the group stages to get to the second round would be better in every season. I'd love to see them try it. For this year, since the top teams are losing homecourt advantage, I think they should be able to choose their opponents. The selection show would be must-see TV. I think there would be a real March Madness vibe to it all.


That would suck for season ticket holders.

I don't think having games in home cities has been under any consideration at all and there certainly won't be "fans" allowed in any normal way.


True, NBA is in the planning stages of deciding whether to finish out a partial NBA season and/or go directly into the playoffs. If they freeze the standing and go directing into the playoffs OKC-MIAMI will open in round one as the 8th & 9th seeds.

This is only if they chose to seed 1-16, which is still unlikely but possible. It's at least as likely the NBA retains the East-West alignment in which the Thunder would play the Jazz in the 4-5 matchup. But they could play more regular season games and the Thunder could easily fall as low as the 7 seed.

For some reason, I’m just not interested in seeing this season be finished. Just doesn’t feel right to finish it. Not during a Pandemic.

I dunno, this team was so fun to watch develop. From a ragtag group of guys at the beginning of the season that looked like they were playing to see who was going to not be on the team the next day. These same guys gelled into a TEAM in every sense if the word that was on the court ready to take over the #4 seed in the standings when the news came of Gobert's positive test. Myself, I would like to see what these guys can do in the playoffs, with the right matchups they could make a deeper run than we have seen in a few years. Don't like our chances against the Heat, nor the Lakers or Buck's, but it would still be fun to watch a closure to this season that has been so fun to watch.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZdTmkYXsAAOBu3?format=jpg&name=large

Woj: NBA Board of Governors
Expected to Ratify Restart Plan at
Thursday Vote

https://img.bleacherreport.net/cms/media/image/51/cf/7a/96/201c/40a7/8240/27b9148c9043/crop_exact_full_image.jpeg?h=400&w=600&q=70&crop_x=center&crop_y=top


At least eight teams' seasons appear over, however, as Wojnarowski and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Zach Lowe reported the final figure is expected to be between 20 and 22.

Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/oklahoma-city-thunder

Small-market teams urging NBA to include entire league in restart:


Near the end of the NBA's board of governors call on Friday, Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett delivered an impassioned soliloquy on why the league and owners needed to consider the competitive and financial plights of smaller-market teams that could be left out of the season's summer resumption in Orlando, Florida -- and the potential symbolic power of all 30 teams gathering there to play as one united association.

ESPN NBA: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29251987/nba-small-market-teams-want-greater-consideration-nba-return

I don't think having games in home cities has been under any consideration at all and there certainly won't be "fans" allowed in any normal way.

I thought it was changing it up for future playoffs, not just the current season. I agree if its just for the current season that may be the only way forward, but if the playoff format changes permanently to a single neutral site the fans and season ticket holders will be the ones getting shafted.

I thought it was changing it up for future playoffs, not just the current season. I agree if its just for the current season that may be the only way forward, but if the playoff format changes permanently to a single neutral site the fans and season ticket holders will be the ones getting shafted.

No, the NBA is not considering a permanent neutral site at all. This is just a pandemic solution. That would cost them millions.

No, the NBA is not considering a permanent neutral site at all. This is just a pandemic solution. That would cost them millions.

Thanks I misunderstood. Seems fair.

There might be some possible tomfoolery in the last few games before playoff seeding is set. With no real advantage of being the home team at a neutral location one could see a team in the 4,5, losing a few games to fall to 6 to avoid playing the bucks in the 2nd round.
Happens in Olympic basketball and the World Cup

Looks like 22 teams are playing the next 8 regular seasons games (excluding eliminated teams) then a play-in for the 8-seed if games teams are within 4 games and then playoffs: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29260860/sources-nba-approve-plan-22-team-return-eight-regular-season-games

Here we go! OKC has some work to do to maintain their desirable playoff match-up.

Looks like 22 teams are playing the next 8 regular seasons games (excluding eliminated teams) then a play-in for the 8-seed if games teams are within 4 games and then playoffs: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29260860/sources-nba-approve-plan-22-team-return-eight-regular-season-games

Here we go! OKC has some work to do to maintain their desirable playoff match-up.

I can not complain about that! I am ready for NBA basketball to be back! Go Magic!

If the NBA goes with a plan of playing the next eight Disney/ESPN bound teams on your schedule - capping each team at 8 games - this is what the matchups for those 22 teams COULD look like:

https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1268293359849877514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1268293359849877514&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thunderfans.com%2Fvforum% 2Fshowthread.php%3F16628-NBA-to-bring-22-teams-to-Orlando

OKC: Utah, WAS, MEM, DEN, MIA, DEN, PHX, LAC


NBA Board of Governors approves 22-team restart of 2019-20 season
By Tim Reynolds | The Associated Press - Jun 4, 2020 2:58 PM ET

https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/bog-approves-22-team-season-restart?collection=news?s=20&utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200604-weeklyinsider.html

Thunder vs. Jazz - 2:30 p.m.,CT, Saturday, August 1, 2020 in Orlando. All Thunder games on Fox Sports Oklahoma


https://kslsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chris-Paul-Mike-Conley-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-Utah-Jazz-768x432.png



https://www.nba.com/thunder/video/okc-in-orl?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200626ThunderinOrlando&elqTrackId=2b23c60ae21d45bd8b57f8f711f5d5ad&elq=dd61fa29f451449987c52db249ed8c27&elqaid=5059&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=3060


https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ipcAAOxy4dNSqgc-/s-l400.jpg

Thunder vs. Jazz - 2:30 p.m.,CT, Saturday, August 1, 2020 in Orlando. All Thunder games on Fox Sports Oklahoma

https://kslsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chris-Paul-Mike-Conley-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-Utah-Jazz-768x432.png


https://www.nba.com/thunder/video/okc-in-orl?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200626ThunderinOrlando&elqTrackId=2b23c60ae21d45bd8b57f8f711f5d5ad&elq=dd61fa29f451449987c52db249ed8c27&elqaid=5059&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=3060


https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ipcAAOxy4dNSqgc-/s-l400.jpg


is this a replay of the Gobert Game?

Looking forward to them coming back to OKC and what will then be called Paycom Arena.

The Costco Bowl

Source: NBA, union agree to list of social messages that can be put on jerseys: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29405787/source-nba-union-agree-list-social-messages-put-jerseys

Source: NBA, union agree to list of social messages that can be put on jerseys: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29405787/source-nba-union-agree-list-social-messages-put-jerseys

I do not agree with it, it is unnecessary

I do not agree with it, it is unnecessary

Good bye NBA.

Good bye NBA.

yeah, i wasn't planning on watching anyway. but now i'm definitely not watching.

these guys seem to have forgotten Michael Jordan's most important lesson.

I think the NBA is going to do just fine. A few folks turning away because they're triggered is going to be more than offset by increased jersey purchases and viewership.

I think the NBA is going to do just fine. A few folks turning away because they're triggered is going to be more than offset by increased jersey purchases and viewership.

No doubt. The NBA is on the right side of history.

People don’t watch sports for SJW causes and politics. They watch sports for a relief of these things.. It is not going to be just a few folks that are turned away.

People don’t watch sports for SJW causes and politics. They watch sports for a relief of these things.. It is not going to be just a few folks that are turned away.
I’m sure they’ll do fine without your *ahem* emtefury.

People don’t watch sports for SJW causes and politics. They watch sports for a relief of these things.. It is not going to be just a few folks that are turned away.

Sports are inherently political. When Kaepernick started all this back in 2016/2017, the NFL did just fine. The NBA will do the same.

Sports are inherently political. When Kaepernick started all this back in 2016/2017, the NFL did just fine. The NBA will do the same.

No doubt about that. When Kap did the protest against police brutality, pols quickly twisted it to claim it was a protest against the flag and by extension the military.

Right now there’s a great deal of social aggression/displeasure in our society. If NBA players wearing reasonable social statements on their jerseys defuses even a tiny bit if this during a very unique sprint to the Champions then go for it.

Sports are inherently political. When Kaepernick started all this back in 2016/2017, the NFL did just fine. The NBA will do the same.

Wrong.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theundefeated.com/features/nfl-viewership-down-and-study-suggests-its-over-protests/amp/

Ratings dropped in 2016. Last year the Super Bowl was lowest rated since 2009.
Your position does not hold up.

The NFL's Ratings Probably Will Continue To Decline
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanberr/2018/08/28/the-nfls-ratings-probably-will-continue-to-decline/#5ccebf716666

Black athletes have a long and consistent history of social justice activism through sports: https://theundefeated.com/features/athletes-and-activism-the-long-defiant-history-of-sports-protests/

This is nothing new. Of course, as with all social justice causes, all the opponents will claim they were for the cause 30 years down the line (see how Muhammad Ali was persecuted then and how he's beloved now as just one example)... most people forget how deeply hated (and how radical) Martin Luther King, Jr was by White America because he openly criticized White moderates for their indifference to injustice. A lot of people love their civil rights in the past, but the true measure of any person is what they do in times of crisis.

I thought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's op-ed in May captures this moment well: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-30/dont-understand-the-protests-what-youre-seeing-is-people-pushed-to-the-edge

Black. Lives. Matter. Thunder up!

They are painting black lives matter on the court and that is more than enough so that is why I thought having social messages on jerseys in unnecessary, that is just my opinion

They are painting black lives matter on the court and that is more than enough so that is why I thought having social messages on jerseys in unnecessary, that is just my opinion

A lot of players were considering skipping out on the bubble re-start to dedicate their time and energy to social justice work. This is very personal to so many players who have been recounting their own mistreatment by police in their lives and other failures. Both Sterling Brown and Thabo Sefolosha were victims of police violence in recent years while playing as wealthy men in the NBA. Think about it for a second that Thabo—a model citizen who was super involved in the OKC community—was physically beaten by a police officer recently. I'll live my entire life without a police officer ever threatening me because I'm White. This is very personal to players so it makes a lot of sense to me that they're making personal statements on their jerseys.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfVhkW6X0AE8t1e?format=jpg&name=large

.

Utah Jazz 125 @ Denver Nuggets 135 - OT

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236280

That was an incredible first game of the playoffs. While it's strange, I am pretty psyched to be able to watch playoff basketball in the middle of the day while I work.

Brooklyn Nets 110 @ Toronto Raptors 134

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236261

That was an incredible first game of the playoffs. While it's strange, I am pretty psyched to be able to watch playoff basketball in the middle of the day while I work.

Good deal, are students back in class or are you in prepping for students returning...

That was an incredible first game of the playoffs. While it's strange, I am pretty psyched to be able to watch playoff basketball in the middle of the day while I work.

Good deal, are students back in class or are you in prepping for students' return...

Philadelphia 76ers 101 @ Boston Celtics 109

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/game?gameId=401236268

Dallas Mavericks 110 @ Los Angeles Clippers 118

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236273

Orlando Magic 122 @ Milwaukee Bucks 110

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236254

Orlando Magic 122 @ Milwaukee Bucks 110

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236254
I would have laughed soooooo hard a few years ago if you had told my that the Magic would win an opening playoff game against a heavily favored team.