To be fair, they barely made it to NYC (and were quite late in doing so), could not practice, much less leave their hotel rooms, and were without Adams.

Third best record in the league, and second best since mid December. All on a 1st year head coach and wildly different lineup. Keep it in perspective. Outside of this game they were gelling quite nicely. I'd consider them elite.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. If you're elite, you don't lose to that team. You just don't. Understand where you're coming from, but in this circumstance, those notions just sound like really bad excuses. And it's not like this is the first time we've had to explain away stupefying performances against grossly inferior teams.

Like I said, I don't see GSW or the Spurs phoning games in like that.

Just my opinion.

I don't understand this team's penchant for just taking a night off.

I don't see GSW taking nights off.

I don't see the Spurs taking nights off.

But this Thunder team, good grief...you lose to a .250 Nets team?

You want to be elite, but you're not elite when you do crap like this.
I do. Warriors lost to Denver a week ago and the Pistons a few days before.
Pop is known for sitting his starters for rest. That's literally taking a night off.

It's an 82 game season, these things happen. Lose to the Knicks and there's more cause for concern.

You can have that opinion but facts say its wrong.

I don't see the Spurs taking nights off.

Hmmmm... I seem to remember a big brouhaha back in 2012 when Pop rested his starters against Lebron and Miami.

San Antonio Spurs sit 4 of top 5 scorers vs. Miami Heat (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8692304/san-antonio-spurs-sit-4-top-5-scorers-vs-miami-heat)

And here against the Warriors.

Spurs' Gregg Popovich decides to rest stars for nationally televised game vs. Warriors | SI.com (http://www.si.com/nba/point-forward/2013/12/19/gregg-popovich-rests-stars-tnt-spurs-warriors)

Our top story tonight:


The sky is falling!

In other news, one of our best defenders, Andre Roberson, is probably out until after the All Star break with a sprained knee (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14645959/oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-andre-roberson-3-weeks-sprained-knee), but this one-game-out-of-82 aberration of a loss to a horrible team is a much more pressing concern right now.

I don't understand this team's penchant for just taking a night off.

I don't see GSW taking nights off.

I don't see the Spurs taking nights off.

But this Thunder team, good grief...you lose to a .250 Nets team?

You want to be elite, but you're not elite when you do crap like this.

FYI: Brook Lopez missed a lay up to beat Golden State earlier this season.

GSW lost to MIL and nearly lost to BRK, in addition to the Denver loss.

Whether you take it as a positive or negative, Duncan's absence from tonights game will have an affect on the game.

Spurs lost to WAS, NOLA, and HOU.

I do agree that OKC has a habit of dropping unusual games. As if they're sleeping on bad teams.

GSW lost to MIL and nearly lost to BRK, in addition to the Denver loss.

Whether you take it as a positive or negative, Duncan's absence from tonights game will have an affect on the game.

Spurs lost to WAS, NOLA, and HOU.

I do agree that OKC has a habit of dropping unusual games. As if they're sleeping on bad teams.

Watching GS v SA and the absolute truth is that the Thunder can not beat either of those teams in a series. They are too skilled, too deep, too disciplined too well coached, too unselfish for the Thunder to win. Time to accept the reality that the Thunder once had a window to a championship, but that window has closed.Oh and another one of our former players is contributing big time. Livingston.

Watching GS v SA and the absolute truth is that the Thunder can not beat either of those teams in a series. They are too skilled, too deep, too disciplined too well coached, too unselfish for the Thunder to win. Time to accept the reality that the Thunder once had a window to a championship, but that window has closed.Oh and another one of our former players is contributing big time. Livingston.

What about the Spurs being down by 30 points in the third quarter led you to the conclusion that OKC "can not beat" them?

The Warriors might legitimately be the greatest team of all time. There's no shame if OKC (the 3rd best team) can't beat them. They've absolutely destroyed the 2nd and 4th best teams in the NBA in the last week. It's not going to be surprising if they do manhandle OKC. But I'll sure as hell be there to cheer OKC on.

Anybody want to take any bets on whether or not it'll be worse? I think we wouldn't lose by 30

Oklahoma City 128 - New York Knicks 122 - OT

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New York Knicks - Box Score - January 26, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828566)

Going to be at the game Friday against the Rockets. Only been able to go to five games this year.

This one is going to be in the box..... My friends are too nice.

Hmmmm... I seem to remember a big brouhaha back in 2012 when Pop rested his starters against Lebron and Miami.

San Antonio Spurs sit 4 of top 5 scorers vs. Miami Heat (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8692304/san-antonio-spurs-sit-4-top-5-scorers-vs-miami-heat)

And here against the Warriors.

Spurs' Gregg Popovich decides to rest stars for nationally televised game vs. Warriors | SI.com (http://www.si.com/nba/point-forward/2013/12/19/gregg-popovich-rests-stars-tnt-spurs-warriors)

There's a monumental difference between a coach making a conscious decision to sit starters versus your *starters* and *bench* just decide to go win "on form." Those are entirely different kinds of "nights off." The Thunder, for whatever reason, check out mentally some games before they ever hit the floor. Heck, they should have lost last night.

Our top story tonight:



In other news, one of our best defenders, Andre Roberson, is probably out until after the All Star break with a sprained knee (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14645959/oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-andre-roberson-3-weeks-sprained-knee), but this one-game-out-of-82 aberration of a loss to a horrible team is a much more pressing concern right now.

It wouldn't be a big deal if it really were an aberration. We just gave up 100+ to an offense that hadn't averaged, what, 90 a game?And didn't have Anthony...

I do. Warriors lost to Denver a week ago and the Pistons a few days before.
Pop is known for sitting his starters for rest. That's literally taking a night off.

It's an 82 game season, these things happen. Lose to the Knicks and there's more cause for concern.

You can have that opinion but facts say its wrong.

And if Afflalo doesn't get what was for him an unlucky rim-out last night, that's exactly what happens.

Like I said before, there's a huge difference between a coach making a conscious decision to rest starters versus your starters (and bench) just selectively choosing not to show up against supposedly grossly overmatched teams. That's the kind of "night off" I'm talking about. I honestly didn't think I'd need to make that distinction.

Right or wrong, this Thunder team has a *horrendous* attitude about playing defense, and right now is all about racking up wins against lesser teams. It's a good team, to be sure, very good, but winning a 7-game series against either GSW or SAS? c'mon. Heck, the expectations for this team are epitomized in the poll at the top - are the Thunder going to win it all? The choices were "yes" and "xxxx yes" - but does anyone really think that can happen right now? Yeah, saying that makes me a bad guy or whatever, but I'm not the one losing to the Nets because of the cold or the snow or the wind or the evil spirits or whatever the reason-du-jour is for putting out crappy effort against a crappy team.

Look, I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, it's just frustrating to see this team just have to continually put out excuses for not comfortably beating teams they should be beating. The, ah, "explanations" sound like they come from the Thunder broadcast team.

And if Afflalo doesn't get what was for him an unlucky rim-out last night, that's exactly what happens.

Like I said before, there's a huge difference between a coach making a conscious decision to rest starters versus your starters (and bench) just selectively choosing not to show up against supposedly grossly overmatched teams. That's the kind of "night off" I'm talking about. I honestly didn't think I'd need to make that distinction.

Right or wrong, this Thunder team has a *horrendous* attitude about playing defense, and right now is all about racking up wins against lesser teams. It's a good team, to be sure, very good, but winning a 7-game series against either GSW or SAS? c'mon. Heck, the expectations for this team are epitomized in the poll at the top - are the Thunder going to win it all? The choices were "yes" and "xxxx yes" - but does anyone really think that can happen right now? Yeah, saying that makes me a bad guy or whatever, but I'm not the one losing to the Nets because of the cold or the snow or the wind or the evil spirits or whatever the reason-du-jour is for putting out crappy effort against a crappy team.

Look, I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, it's just frustrating to see this team just have to continually put out excuses for not comfortably beating teams they should be beating. The, ah, "explanations" sound like they come from the Thunder broadcast team.

Not really, Afflalo couldn't throw it in the ocean last night...shot about 20 % for the game.

I think the Thunder are playing down to talent level competition, but it doesn't help when your best wing defender is out for 3 weeks.

https://vine.co/v/iiUqmb6dhzL

^some bad defense from last night

LIke everybody on here, I assume, I am a Thunder fan and try to watch every game and go to some. But, until this team learns/decides to play with max effort, intensity, and focus on both ends of the floor, most specifically the defensive end, I'm having a hard time getting really excited about them.

Everyone realizes that OKC was a top 10 defensive team -- top 3 over the last month -- before Roberson went down, right? The defense has been terrible the last four games, but the comments on here are way over the top. The NBA season is long and this road trip -- where the Thunder went 3-1 -- saw two starters miss time with injuries and serious travel delays. I want the Thunder to play better defense also, but saying they don't ever play defense is reactionary.

The sports media blog AwfulAnnouncing.com recently did a reader poll on each local broadcasting crew around the league. Davis and Cage ranked 29th out of 30. Ouch. Only the Rockets crew was ranked lower.

The NBA local TV announcer rankings (http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/the-nba-local-tv-announcer-rankings.html)

Over the last week, we polled the Awful Announcing readers on their opinions of each local broadcast team around the NBA. The polls were broken down by division to gain the perspective of both fans and rivals for each broadcast team.

The votes are in, and we weighted your grades on a four point scale for each broadcast crew and sorted them to determine who your favorite and least favorite broadcast teams were. Each “A” vote received 4 points, 3 points for a “B” vote, down to 0 points for an “F” vote. The total points scored were divided by the total number of votes to calculate what amounts to a GPA for each broadcast booth.

After everything was tabulated, the end results may end up surprising you, but we feel that they’re a pretty accurate ranking of the 30 broadcast crews in the league. Without any further ado, here we go.

~~~~~~~~

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – 1.56
-Brian Davis (play by play)
-Michael Cage (analyst)

Most popular grade: F (31.91% of voters)

Analysis: Nearly one-third of the voters flunked the Thunder because of the exhausting top-down organizational stance that, “It’s us against the world.” Watching Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant go to work shouldn’t be a chore, but every Thunder broadcast is filled with uncomfortable, defensive remarks against anybody not wearing Thunder colors.

(Rattlesnake jam joke goes here)

Oklahoma City Thunder 126 - Minnesota Timberwolves 123

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves - Box Score - January 27, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828575)

From Twitter ---> Stephen Curry on the Warriors playing Oklahoma City Thunder the day before the Super Bowl: "It'll be a good 48 hours - a win and a win."

I mean....he's probably not wrong...

The sports media blog AwfulAnnouncing.com recently did a reader poll on each local broadcasting crew around the league. Davis and Cage ranked 29th out of 30. Ouch. Only the Rockets crew was ranked lower.

The NBA local TV announcer rankings (http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/the-nba-local-tv-announcer-rankings.html)

Over the last week, we polled the Awful Announcing readers on their opinions of each local broadcast team around the NBA. The polls were broken down by division to gain the perspective of both fans and rivals for each broadcast team.

The votes are in, and we weighted your grades on a four point scale for each broadcast crew and sorted them to determine who your favorite and least favorite broadcast teams were. Each “A” vote received 4 points, 3 points for a “B” vote, down to 0 points for an “F” vote. The total points scored were divided by the total number of votes to calculate what amounts to a GPA for each broadcast booth.

After everything was tabulated, the end results may end up surprising you, but we feel that they’re a pretty accurate ranking of the 30 broadcast crews in the league. Without any further ado, here we go.

~~~~~~~~

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – 1.56
-Brian Davis (play by play)
-Michael Cage (analyst)

Most popular grade: F (31.91% of voters)

Analysis: Nearly one-third of the voters flunked the Thunder because of the exhausting top-down organizational stance that, “It’s us against the world.” Watching Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant go to work shouldn’t be a chore, but every Thunder broadcast is filled with uncomfortable, defensive remarks against anybody not wearing Thunder colors.

(Rattlesnake jam joke goes here)

I've heard a lot worse, go watch and listen to league pass. Sounds like a lot of butt hurt opposing fans out there, cause their teams may suck.

Royce Young of ESPN reported Payne remains in the NBA concussion protocol and will not play against the Houston Rockets on Friday.

Cameron Payne Injury: Updates on Thunder Guard's Concussion and Return | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2583438-cameron-payne-injury-updates-on-thunder-guards-concussion-and-return)

I've heard a lot worse, go watch and listen to league pass. Sounds like a lot of butt hurt opposing fans out there, cause their teams may suck.

I'm curious as to who you find are worse? I thought OKC was bad too.

I like SA, NY, ATL, GSW, and CHA.

I'm curious as to who you find are worse? I thought OKC was bad too.

I like SA, NY, ATL, GSW, and CHA.

Try Utah and PHX. My son lives in PHX and this is his sentiment, since he has LP.

But I don't care for Cage that much, and Davis gets confused but he's entertaining. There are a few announcers that will lay blame with the refs like fans do, etc.

Like some I don't mind Davis, but Cage is a whole level of homerism. LIke the past few games he nonstop said what good defense they were playing at points, but disregarded they gave up over 60 points in the halves. That's why I watch national broadcasts if available. Non biased opinions and tell it how it is. That's why I wished they would have picked Desmond Mason.

I do have to give the Thunder broadcast some credit, they are starting to show more of the other teams replays when it is worthy. They used to never do that before.

Try Utah and PHX. My son lives in PHX and this is his sentiment, since he has LP.

But I don't care for Cage that much, and Davis gets confused but he's entertaining. There are a few announcers that will lay blame with the refs like fans do, etc.

Only problem with Cage; he has a tendency to wear certain phrases in the ground; like you know what I'm going to say--that's n-a-s-t-y, if me & you were playing, I'd... and caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

Davis sometimes get confused, especially on back-to-back nights; he'll slip occasionally, call the opposing team by the name of the team we played night before or he gives credit to the wrong player. Don't know if the NBA has cautioned Davis; he refuses to comment or disagree with the officiating.

Overall, I like their comical combination because is so unique--adds to the color of the game. They stay on top of the game's statistical aspects; good with recall situations about the first meeting with the opponents.

REPLACE 'EM, HELL NO!

I don't really have a problem with the crew but if I ever meet Brian Davis in person I'll have to smack him upside the back of the head for referring to Darrel Arthur as a former Missouri Tiger earlier this season.... That's a hanging offense in Jayhawk Nation!

I think all casters have some sort of catch phrase, Mark Jackson anybody? Granted, I like his phrases

I don't really have a problem with the crew but if I ever meet Brian Davis in person I'll have to smack him upside the back of the head for referring to Darrel Arthur as a former Missouri Tiger earlier this season.... That's a hanging offense in Jayhawk Nation!

Are Missouri and Kansas different schools?







*runs and hides*

I listen to a lot of games on league pass and I think the Thunder broadcasts are the worst personally. Maybe this is because I know more about the Thunder so it's easier to critique the homerism. But there's a reason people call the Davis and Cage the mouthpieces for the Thunder Ministry of Propaganda.

Are Missouri and Kansas different schools?

Why I oughta.....


*runs and hides*

Good thing you did or you'd get the same treatment as Brian Davis....... Let me just go ahead and add Musberger to the list for saying that Phog Allen Fieldhouse was in Manhattan too.

Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - Houston Rockets 108

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - January 29, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828588)

Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - Houston Rockets 108

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - January 29, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828588)

It was over as soon as Howard picked up his 2nd tech. foul. The Thunder did whatever the wanted to do around the basket after Howard was ejected. The Thunder could have won by a wide margin and scored many more points if they would have kept driving to the basket. BUT,WE all know,this team thinks they are a 3 point shooting team and that is usually their downfall. Durant did play some smothering defense on Hardin at times in the 2nd half. IMO it was some of his best defensive work of the season. Props to Durant.

Are Missouri and Kansas different schools?







*runs and hides*

You of all people would appreciate that rivalry; deeply woven with historical subtext. The rivalry began not long after the Civil War, which in its simplest form began over the soul and future of Kansas as either a free state or slave state. The whole area was ground zero; John Brown, Quantrill's Raiders, Jayhawkers, Border Ruffians, Bleeding Kansas, the burning of Lawrence...the whole history is still thickly intertwined in that rivalry. They hate each other in a way that even OU and Texas never will. Seriously...HATE.

Yes, I do appreciate the history of the rivalry. I actually used the rivalry as way to introduce Bleeding Kansas and the events of the Civil War. I was certainly kidding. It's sad that Missouri (and Nebraska/Colorado) aren't in the Big 12 any longer.

y'all goin to the GSW game this Saturday or selling tix to make some fun money?

y'all goin to the GSW game this Saturday or selling tix to make some fun money?

Since the game is in California, I don't have any tickets to sell.....

....the burning of Lawrence...the whole history is still thickly intertwined in that rivalry. They hate each other in a way that even OU and Texas never will. Seriously...HATE.

Yep... You summed it up perfectly and that is why even though they left the conference... Every KU fan to this day still loves to see misery brought upon Missouri.... They sucked so bad this year the SEC wouldn't even let them represent the conference in the Big XII/SEC Challenge! (Yes I know that wasn't the real reason but the Jayhawk in me wants it to be that way... HAHA)

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are pretty good at basketball

Oklahoma City Thunder 114 - Washington Wizards 98

Washington Wizards vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - February 01, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828612)

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are pretty good at basketball
Yes they are. And what is OKC going to do for a basketball team in 2 years if both of the guys are gone to LA or wherever?

Yes they are. And what is OKC going to do for a basketball team in 2 years if both of the guys are gone to LA or wherever?

I would guess OKC will just fold the organization.

Great article on where the Thunder stand by the best in the business -- Zach Lowe: The Thunder still have the youth and talent to take on the Western Conference elite (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14694045/the-thunder-youth-talent-take-western-conference-elite)

Yes they are. And what is OKC going to do for a basketball team in 2 years if both of the guys are gone to LA or wherever?

Better question, other than the market size why go to LA if winning is on their mind?

Interesting article on KD and his looming free agency. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--warriors-serious-threat-to-sign-kevin-durant-182559375.html

Thunder have more wins than any team in their last 10 at 9-1. GSW is 8-2.

Raptors should also be 9-1.

Wowza. What a win.

Yup, KD being KD again.;)

Indeed. I think I pulled something yelling at that last shot. Plus hexing that last wee bit the Wizards had.

Billy Donovan says they have been in the gym several times working on defense and to correct defensive problems. So far I'm not seeing much improvement. I hope it comes soon.

Billy Donovan says they have been in the gym several times working on defense and to correct defensive problems. So far I'm not seeing much improvement. I hope it comes soon.

Remember the score the last time OKC played ORL?

Oklahoma City Thunder 117 - Orlando Magic 114

Orlando Magic vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - February 03, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828627)

Remember the score the last time OKC played ORL?
Not of the top of my head, but giving up 114 is by no standard good defense.

Not of the top of my head, but giving up 114 is by no standard good defense.

139-136 in 2OT two nights after we beat the Spurs..... Beating them by 3 pts is becoming our trademark.

139-136 in 2OT two nights after we beat the Spurs..... Beating them by 3 pts is becoming our trademark.

Without the OT's they scored 117 on us. Accounting for the other team also improving, there was improvement in that they didn't score as much as they did last time.

OKC scored the same amount without the double OT

Not a win tonight for the Thunder but it certainly gives evidence that they can compete in a 7 game series. It was definitely a tale of two halves after giving up 73 points in the first half and 43 in the second half.


Oklahoma City Thunder 108 Golden State Warriors 116

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors - Box Score - February 06, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828656)

Not a win tonight for the Thunder but it certainly gives evidence that they can compete in a 7 game series. It was definitely a tale of two halves after giving up 73 points in the first half and 43 in the second half.


Oklahoma City Thunder 108 Golden State Warriors 116

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors - Box Score - February 06, 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400828656)

Disagree. OKC cannot and will not win the championship, primarily due to the overall ineffective play of the OKC bench. This 2d team will not provide the necessary support to a world class first team to win a NBA championship or even the Western Conference