2019-20 OKC Thunder

[Laramie]

.

"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

[Easy180]

Weird feeling going into October with zero interest out around the city for the upcoming Thunder season. Guess we were spoiled big time by the past decade but we get a big ole dose of more realistic small market ball this season.

[dankrutka]

Weird feeling going into October with zero interest out around the city for the upcoming Thunder season. Guess we were spoiled big time by the past decade but we get a big ole dose of more realistic small market ball this season.

In what way do you mean? I actually just drove up from Texas for my Thunder ticket draft. We’re all excited. Of course expectations are different and there will be less demand for tickets, but that happens with most markets. I don’t think most people in OKC have been to games in other NBA cities when the home team is bad... there are often thousands of empty seats. Sometimes 10,000 empty seats. I expect OKC to be fine.

[Easy180]

In what way do you mean? I actually just drove up from Texas for my Thunder ticket draft. We’re all excited. Of course expectations are different and there will be less demand for tickets, but that happens with most markets. I don’t think most people in OKC have been to games in other NBA cities when the home team is bad... there are often thousands of empty seats. Sometimes 10,000 empty seats. I expect OKC to be fine.

We like to think we are different than most cities but if I’m being realistic if we stink for a good stretch we will see lots of seats available or given away for free to create an illusion. We are in completely unknown territory now. I’m hopeful we will only be down a couple years, but we will have to hit home runs in the drafts again instead of via free agency or trade.

[Roger S]

Weird feeling going into October with zero interest out around the city for the upcoming Thunder season. Guess we were spoiled big time by the past decade but we get a big ole dose of more realistic small market ball this season.

Guess I'm in the minority.... I'm excited to see some actual team basketball played and not just a couple of superstars going down the court and jacking up contested jump shots.

[Thomas Vu]

Guess I'm in the minority.... I'm excited to see some actual team basketball played and not just a couple of superstars going down the court and jacking up contested jump shots.

That's a positive way to look at it.

[Roger S]

That's a positive way to look at it.

It helps that I'm a fan of the sport and the team... I'm not there to root for one or two players when it's a team sport.

[dcsooner]

It helps that I'm a fan of the sport and the team... I'm not there to root for one or two players when it's a team sport.

+1

[dankrutka]

It helps that I'm a fan of the sport and the team... I'm not there to root for one or two players when it's a team sport.

Right. I also hated Russell Westbrook for being an individual player who was not at all a member of a team*!

*Russell Westbrook led the NBA in assists last season. All assists were to, checks notes, other members of his... team.

[Jersey Boss]

Right. I also hated Russell Westbrook for being an individual player who was not at all a member of a team*!

*Russell Westbrook led the NBA in assists last season. All assists were to, checks notes, other members of his... team.

And it was the team or Adams who let RW snag all those rebounds on missed foul shots. So yeah, team* sport.

[dankrutka]

And it was the team or Adams who let RW snag all those rebounds on missed foul shots. So yeah, team* sport.

Yeah, the team strategy to instigate the break was awful.

I guess we’re seeing how fans really felt about Russ. Everyone seems pretty excited the most important player in Thunder history is gone. Cool cool.

[Thomas Vu]

Would you at least concede that outside the athleticism, the games were a bit hard to watch with lack of ball movement?

[Quicker]

Would you at least concede that outside the athleticism, the games were a bit hard to watch with lack of ball movement?

C’mon man, I always like your post’s but talk about the epitome of a spoiled fan... for a small-market team we are just coming out of a long period of a truly historic level of basketball with HOF players that we’ll be lucky to ever enjoy again... Have we won the ring? No, but if that’s your expectation level with any team, you are going to always be disappointed...

The foundation and reputation that has been set during the first decade of the Thunder brand is nothing less than amazing.

I have never been to a game, especially one of any significance that I would describe as hard to watch because of our style of play...

[dankrutka]

Would you at least concede that outside the athleticism, the games were a bit hard to watch with lack of ball movement?

No. I find Russ an entertaining player to watch every night. Everyone knows Russ is frustrating at times, but he's also exhilarating. I long ago learned to appreciate good Russ, bad Russ without reservations. I'll be watching Houston games this season to see how he does. There's no one way to play basketball. Aside from that, lumping in Paul George as a player just "jacking up shots" is comical. I couldn't have enjoyed watching PG play more. He's smooth offensive player who gives it his all on defense. I don't have to bash Russ and PG to enjoy the ways this team might be different. I can appreciate different styles of play. But more than anything, you won't find me taking shots at Russ for what he did on the court. OKC fans bare indebted to him for choosing to stay and playing one of the most memorable seasons in NBA history in 2016-2017. There's a big difference between some kind of thoughtful and nuanced critique of Russ' game and just taking shots at dudes.

[okatty]

I couldn't have asked more from a season ticket holder/entertainment standpoint than to get to watch Russ the last 11 years. In my view it was awesome.

In any event, did the Love's patch get even bigger? It looks like it covers about 25% of CP's jersey.

[Laramie]

2019-20 Thunder Media Day 'Behind the Scenes.'

[Laramie]

[Laramie]

Does the Oklahoma City Blue & the Oklahoma City Thunder have separate training facilities?

[Laramie]

Preseason: Mavericks @Thunder (Tulsa) Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401163133

[king183]

SGA looked really good, as did Adams. Ferguson and Diallo looked more confident and were all over the floor. Gallinari very smooth with his shoot, as expected.

Nader looked like the Nader of last season, despite the hype.

BUT it's one pre-season game. I'm excited to see how they evolve.

[dankrutka]

The most interesting part of the game for me was Darius Bazley's play. He is really smooth and showed better touch than in summer league. If he can develop a shot, he has some tools to be a really good player.

The big concern: Roberson. We were told he's a "full go" and now, after 1.5 years of not playing, they clearly still don't think he's ready. The contrast between what the team said and what's happened since are pretty concerning.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this group play. SGA looked like a stud. I think people are underplaying our defensive potential.

[chuck5815]

I know a lot of folks are still in the Westbrook camp, but I'm glad that we've moved on. The Harden - Westbrook reunion will likely prove to be disastrous.

Fergie looked more confident, and it was nice to see some threes go down again. Now we just need Paul to stay healthy so we can deal him to a contender at the trade deadline.

[dankrutka]

The Harden - Westbrook reunion will likely prove to be disastrous.

I'd love to know your definition of "disastrous." I expect them to be a top 3 seed and probably at least make the second round.

[chuck5815]

I'd love to know your definition of "disastrous." I expect them to be a top 3 seed and probably at least make the second round.

i’m just saying that Tilman is going to get a better performance out of The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company than he will from the Rockets this year.

Definitely wish we could get a few of those Locations in OKC! Honestly surprised that the Chisholm Creek Illuminati hasn’t managed to secure one.

[Bill Robertson]

I know a lot of folks are still in the Westbrook camp, but I'm glad that we've moved on. The Harden - Westbrook reunion will likely prove to be disastrous.

Fergie looked more confident, and it was nice to see some threes go down again. Now we just need Paul to stay healthy so we can deal him to a contender at the trade deadline.

I’m curious how much more teamwork there might be with Westbrook gone. There seemed to be quite a bit of standing around the court watching Westbrook play by some of the other players. Without him everyone might feel more inclined to play team basketball.