2019-20 OKC Thunder

[Anonymous.]

OKC is going to have some rough times ahead. We are not necessarily a hot spot for free agency.

We have an unprecedented warchest of first round picks lined up for the next half decade and more. If the LA Clippers fold within a season or two, some of those picks can be insanely valuable. Like drafting Bronny Jr valuable.


It is funny how Billy was forced Saturday to play our small ball lineup he should have been playing from the 2nd half of G1. Adam's injury could be a blessing in getting past this round.

I saw a video of Russ running and jumping, so if OKC pulls the series to 2-2 this afternoon, expect Russ in game 5.

[Laramie]

Houston Rockets 114 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 117

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236297

Series tied 2 - 2

[Laramie]

Injury Report: None

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rocket, 5:30 P.M., Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Game 5 - Walt Disney Resort, Orlando, FL, TV: TNT, Fox Oklahoma


Injury Report: Russell Westbrook, Day-To-Day

[Anonymous.]

That clutch lineup without Adams is really paying off. I wish Billy would run it more often. Dort bugging James even with 5 fouls was fantastic.

Russ was jarring with Dennis and Adams, expect to see him try and play G5. He will be angry and likely will be HOU's answer.

[Rover]

That clutch lineup without Adams is really paying off. I wish Billy would run it more often. Dort bugging James even with 5 fouls was fantastic.

Russ was jarring with Dennis and Adams, expect to see him try and play G5. He will be angry and likely will be HOU's answer.

I like it when Russ gets mad. That's when he does his dumb stuff.

[Laramie]

Competitive NBA small market cities

Utah Jazz & Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the NBA's smallest markets left in the 2020 NBA playoffs.



NBA Jazz relocated from New Orleans to SLC in 1978-79. SLC vs Denver...



NBA Supersonics relocated from Seattle to OKC in 2008-09. OKC vs Houston...

[Laramie]

Injury Report: None

OKC Thunder @ Houston Rockets, 5:30 P.M., Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Game 5 - Walt Disney Resort, Orlando, FL, TV: TNT, Fox Oklahoma


Injury Report: Russell Westbrook, Day-To-Day

The Oklahoma City Thunder will have an opportunity to take the lead in the series against the high flying trey shooting Houston Rockets in Game 5 in the Western Conference playoff quarter finals.

[Anonymous.]

Westbrook status has been upgraded to Questionable. He definitely playing tonight.


This is probably where we get our a$$es handed to us, but I want to be proven wrong. Give him hell, Adams.

[Jersey Boss]

Vegas has H Town favored by 3.5

[Laramie]

NBA Players ready to return to play... https://www.espn.com/nba/schedule

There are still no guarantees that NBA play will resume today. Many of the media outlets seem to think Saturday will be the more reasonable target date to resume. Will be of interest to see adjustments the NBA will make in the schedule or will they slide the games postponed into the same time slot.

[Laramie]

NBA, NBPA announce playoffs to resume Saturday, new initiatives: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...esume-saturday

[Bill Robertson]

Westbrook status has been upgraded to Questionable. He definitely playing tonight.


This is probably where we get our a$$es handed to us, but I want to be proven wrong. Give him hell, Adams.

Unfortunately this is what I see happening also. But hey, we made the playoffs when we could have been a basement dweller.

[dankrutka]

Y'all realize that the Rockets had Westbrook all season and finished with the exact same record as OKC? It's not like the Rockets were the #1 seed with him. I say the Thunder show up and play the games and see what happens...

[Bill Robertson]

Y'all realize that the Rockets had Westbrook all season and finished with the exact same record as OKC? It's not like the Rockets were the #1 seed with him. I say the Thunder show up and play the games and see what happens...

True also. But the playoffs are never like the regular season. However I hope your positive attitude rubs off long distance to Orlando!

[Anonymous.]

OKC won those games before the Rockets became these Rockets (no true center). I think our only chance was blown with Russ getting those extra rest days with the strike, although it did seem he was going to play Wednesday anyways.

But by now with all these rest days the momentum for OKC has been lost and we know how Billy is at adjusting (it took him Adams getting hurt to play Gallo with all the guards).

I would love to be wrong, but I don't see how anyone can guard Russ with Dort locking Harden. Adams is going to be put in spin cycles galore. If Adams is getting torched, then we need to go small and force turnovers by intercepting all the passing lanes with our pesky guard lineup.

[Laramie]

True, Russell will probably be ready; what remains to be seen is will he be in sync. It's going to take one game like it did Schroder for him to get coordinated in which the team has relied on Harden, who blew a fuse in games 3 & 4.

You know Russell is going to come out emotional and with a vengeance. Love the interaction between he and Adams, who can't wait to beat-down the mouthy Westbrook.

My only objection to one of my Thunder all-time favorites--Westbrook; when he was with the Thunder, he didn't want to listen to Coach Donovan, he wanted to just play and allow the game to play out.

[Laramie]

NBA Saturday & Sunday schedule: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/08/...d-nba-schedule

[dankrutka]

After watching Russ play poorly in the last three postseasons for OKC, I'm surprised people here think he's LeBron. Moreover, Houston was not some record setting team after trading Capella and going small. My strategy for Russ would be to sag off him, let him shoot, and try to keep him from getting to the rim. Russ can actually hurt Houston's spacing. I'm not saying Russ will necessarily hurt them, but there are downsides to Russ... the Thunder want to accentuate Russ' shortcomings (e.g., shooting, spacing, pride). Let's bring out the Russ that decided he was going to battle Ricky Rubio to the detriment of the team.

[Laramie]

After watching Russ play poorly in the last three postseasons for OKC, I'm surprised people here think he's LeBron. Moreover, Houston was not some record setting team after trading Capella and going small. My strategy for Russ would be to sag off him, let him shoot, and try to keep him from getting to the rim. Russ can actually hurt Houston's spacing. I'm not saying Russ will necessarily hurt them, but there are downsides to Russ... the Thunder want to accentuate Russ' shortcomings (e.g., shooting, spacing, pride). Let's bring out the Russ that decided he was going to battle Ricky Rubio to the detriment of the team.

Good strategy, Dan

[dcsooner]

Thanks OKC. You did a great job enabling Houston to beat you like a drum. Nobody gives away talent like the Thunder especially to a conference foe. Season over, embarrassing

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder 80 @ Houston Rockets 114

Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401236300

Houston lead series 3 - 2

[Jake]

I'm very excited for Dort's ability to help us lose games next year when we officially tank.

[PhiAlpha]

Thanks OKC. You did a great job enabling Houston to beat you like a drum. Nobody gives away talent like the Thunder especially to a conference foe. Season over, embarrassing

It was one game, eeyore

[sooner88]

I'm very excited for Dort's ability to help us lose games next year when we officially tank.

He's an undrafted rookie that has locked down the one of the most prolofic scorers in the NBA. Bad game for him, but he has exceeded everyone's expectations. And officially tank next season? You must not follow the NBA or Thunder. Our war chest of draft picks from the PG (and other) trades has set us up for immediate success. It's one game, get over it.

[sooner88]

I'm very excited for Dort's ability to help us lose games next year when we officially tank.

He's an undrafted rookie that has locked down one of the most prolofic scorers in the NBA. Bad game for him, but he has exceeded everyone's expectations. And officially tank next season? You must not follow the NBA or Thunder. Our war chest of draft picks from the PG (and other) trades has set us up for immediate success. It's one game, get over it.