OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[Jake]

I remember a few years ago when Kobe Bryant was shooting free throws at the Staples Center and the crowd was chanting "MVP!" He had like 23 points on 30% shooting.

[Laramie]

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

How did this guy slip through the radar of so many NBA teams in the 2009 NBA draft?

He was the 7th draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft selected by the Golden State Warriors. The same year the Thunder selected James Harden; Timberwolves chose Ricky Rubio and the Clippers picked OU's Blake Griffin as the No. 1 pick in the overall draft.

Stephen Curry Stats, Video, Bio, Profile | NBA.com
Stephen Curry


James Harden



Ricky Rubio

Minnesota had a chance to draft Rubio along with Curry; instead they went with Johnny Flynn, he was the sixth draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

[OKCisOK4me]

I don't think he "slipped" through. It's the lottery and Golden State is probably glad that no other team grabbed him beforehand. With regard to going 7th, I'm surprised he didn't go earlier. Even I remember how far he took Davidson in the NCAA tourney! He's the purest 3pt shooter I've seen since Reggie Miller (who was the 11th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft).

[Easy180]

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

How did this guy slip through the radar of so many NBA teams in the 2009 NBA draft?

He was the 7th draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft selected by the Golden State Warriors. The same year the Thunder selected James Harden; Timberwolves chose Ricky Rubio and the Clippers picked OU's Blake Griffin as the No. 1 pick in the overall draft.

Stephen Curry Stats, Video, Bio, Profile | NBA.com
Stephen Curry


James Harden



Ricky Rubio

Minnesota had a chance to draft Rubio along with Curry; instead they went with Johnny Flynn, he was the sixth draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

Thought some were worried he wouldn't be able to play defense with his build but I could be wrong

[dankrutka]

Yeah. There were some legitimate concerns with Steph coming out of college - his build was the key one. I liked him as a prospect, but the draft is not a science. Every team misses on some picks, some players develop unpredictably once they're in the league, and sometimes all the teams miss on the same player. Steph wasn't really overlooked - he still went top 10. The only pick that you could make a case was unreasonable at the time was the Flynn pick in my opinion.

Everyone is wrong sometimes about draft picks. I studied up on the last draft quite a bit and my only request before the draft was that the Thunder NOT take Steven Adams. I was convinced he didn't have the skill set to succeed. I was obviously dead wrong. Lol.

[Bellaboo]

Yeah. There were some legitimate concerns with Steph coming out of college - his build was the key one. I liked him as a prospect, but the draft is not a science. Every team misses on some picks, some players develop unpredictably once they're in the league, and sometimes all the teams miss on the same player. Steph wasn't really overlooked - he still went top 10. The only pick that you could make a case was unreasonable at the time was the Flynn pick in my opinion.

Everyone is wrong sometimes about draft picks. I studied up on the last draft quite a bit and my only request before the draft was that the Thunder NOT take Steven Adams. I was convinced he didn't have the skill set to succeed. I was obviously dead wrong. Lol.

In your defense, us outsiders looking in don't have the opportunity to see the work ethic during their pre draft training sessions with the individual teams. I remember that when Westbrook was drafted, they explained that he showed up an hour early and stayed late during his team workouts. I think that shows the mental desire required to develop is prominant.

[Laramie]

Yeah. There were some legitimate concerns with Steph coming out of college - his build was the key one. I liked him as a prospect, but the draft is not a science. Every team misses on some picks, some players develop unpredictably once they're in the league, and sometimes all the teams miss on the same player. Steph wasn't really overlooked - he still went top 10. The only pick that you could make a case was unreasonable at the time was the Flynn pick in my opinion.

Everyone is wrong sometimes about draft picks. I studied up on the last draft quite a bit and my only request before the draft was that the Thunder NOT take Steven Adams. I was convinced he didn't have the skill set to succeed. I was obviously dead wrong. Lol.

Agree,

This was about the same reason Portland chose Greg Oden over Kevin Durant who was acquired by Seattle. More about something that had nothing to do with his shooting skill set. They (T-Blazers) were concerned about the fact that Durant wasn't able to bench press 185 lbs., at the pre-draft camp in June 2007. Kevin Durant showed them that it wasn't about how much you could bench press; but the art of putting that pill though the hoop.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Anonymous.]

7:00 tip against Portland tonight.

We lost to them New Years Eve.

Portland lost last night to the Rockets after digging themselves in a hole first half and they almost came back in the 4th. Should be tired.

Good opportunity for OKC to work on the seeding race tonight.

[dankrutka]

In your defense, us outsiders looking in don't have the opportunity to see the work ethic during their pre draft training sessions with the individual teams. I remember that when Westbrook was drafted, they explained that he showed up an hour early and stayed late during his team workouts. I think that shows the mental desire required to develop is prominant.

Actually, both Adams and Westbrooks' work ethics and determination were well reported leading up to the draft. I had heard Adams was a hard worker. I just didn't think he had the skill set to succeed. There are a lot of tough-minded, dedicated players who don't make it in the NBA.

[Mel]

That was pretty!

[zookeeper]

Those Durant 3's at the end amounted to a clinic. All net on all of them.

[OSUMom]

Uh.... who was that big guy in the #5 jersey there toward the end of the game?

[Bill Robertson]

The last 5 minutes of that game were the most fun I've had watching basketball in some time.

[Bellaboo]

Driving westbound on I-40 after the game last night, the electronic billboard by W&W Steel had - K E V I N 'MVP' D U R A N T displayed on it.

[Anonymous.]

I know the team is not very good without Russell.. But with the way they're playing right now, I think we could still be the best team out there when Durant is this deadly!

Such awesome games the last week.

On to another tough one tonight in San Antonio!

[Bill Robertson]

I know the team is not very good without Russell.. But with the way they're playing right now, I think we could still be the best team out there when Durant is this deadly!

Such awesome games the last week.

On to another tough one tonight in San Antonio!

True. I hope the fire that seems to be lit under the Thunder stays lit tonight.

[Just the facts]

I know the team is not very good without Russell.. But with the way they're playing right now, I think we could still be the best team out there when Durant is this deadly!

What? Even without Russell they are still very good. They are 9-5 since Russell went out and if they played at that percentage the whole season they would win 52 games. In the last 10 games OKC is 7-3. Only 5 teams have a better record over the last 10 games and they are all 8-2. OKC has also won 4 in a row. Only Indiana has a longer current streak, and it is 5 games.

[Head]

The last 5 minutes of that game were the most fun I've had watching basketball in some time.

My wife was already in bed reading, and thought I'd lost my mind! Jumping up and down, hollering "HELL YEAH!!!" I was scaring the dog and cats for the last 5 minutes of that game! Durant is a machine. Life is good.

[Laramie]

Watchout San Antonio!

Sheriff Durant & deputies cleaned a three sweep in the Alamo City.

Great win against the NBA's modern day league iconic champions; especially having to take on the two Western Conference leaders on back-to-back nights.


Oklahoma City Thunder are now leading the Western Conference.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Anonymous.]

What? Even without Russell they are still very good. They are 9-5 since Russell went out and if they played at that percentage the whole season they would win 52 games. In the last 10 games OKC is 7-3. Only 5 teams have a better record over the last 10 games and they are all 8-2. OKC has also won 4 in a row. Only Indiana has a longer current streak, and it is 5 games.

Yes, the team has found how to play at an elite level without Russell. It also helps that Durant is a robot right now.

Once Russ comes back, I fear no team across the league in a playoff series, barring good health.

[Just the facts]

Without RW - this team is really really good.
With RW - They are crazy scary good

[warreng88]

One thing that has been a little bit of a blessing in disguise is RW's injury. This has paved the way for RJ to get on average six more minutes per game. This also coincides with Lamb getting about five minutes more per game and PJ3 getting five more per game. This really gives our young guys a lot more playing time to get better at the game. Now, when RW comes back, we will have RW, Thabo, KD, Serge and Perk as our starting five with Reggie, Fisher, Lamb, PJ3, Collison and Adams coming off the bench. That is some really good bench play and that could take us a lot farther in the playoffs if guys are off.

[Laramie]

One thing that has been a little bit of a blessing in disguise is RW's injury. This has paved the way for RJ to get on average six more minutes per game. This also coincides with Lamb getting about five minutes more per game and PJ3 getting five more per game. This really gives our young guys a lot more playing time to get better at the game. Now, when RW comes back, we will have RW, Thabo, KD, Serge and Perk as our starting five with Reggie, Fisher, Lamb, PJ3, Collison and Adams coming off the bench. That is some really good bench play and that could take us a lot farther in the playoffs if guys are off.

The extra minutes has helped give these guys the experience going forward into the All Star break.

Efficiency. If a team is very efficient when they have the ball in their hands, they tend to win. High scoring teams and high % teams just are harder to beat.

Once Russ comes back, I don't expect our efficiency to go down. I think it will go up in fact. Assists will go up and if Durant keeps that touch, we could see more record games late in the season and the post-season could very likely be a once-in-a-generation event. Right now, theses guys are good. Really good. The only thing I want to see improved is ball movement and Russ brings that in spades. I'd also like to see Adams figure out how to do what he does without fouling out every game. In the post-season, you can bet no coach is going to pass up the opportunity to capitalize on that.

Agree!

Westbrook's return will allow Scott Brooks to get back with his regular rotation in which Reggie Jackson leads the second team. The combination of Westbrook & Durant will keep fresh legs on the court; this allows Brooks the flexibility to tweak the rotation. Durant and Jackson are playing 35-42 minutes per game which does affect their player efficiency.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Laramie]

NBA All Star game starters revealed:

Curry starts in first All-Star Game; LeBron top vote-getter | NBA.com

The east & west coast markets are always going to be in the spotlight.

Kevin Durant was second behind LaBron James in total votes casts.

Congratulations to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on their selections.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

Westbrook has not, and probably won't, make the team. The fans pick the starters and the coaches pick the reserves.