OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[ljbab728]

It was certainly nice of Indiana to beat the Heat tonight to force a game seven. At least the Heat won't get as much rest as they hoped for before the finals.

[Snowman]

It was certainly nice of Indiana to beat the Heat tonight to force a game seven. At least the Heat won't get as much rest as they hoped for before the finals.

Is Miami just conceding game six that was to be played on Friday.

[ljbab728]

Is Miami just conceding game six that was to be played on Friday.

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. If Miami had won tonight that series would have been over and Miami could have rested for a week until the finals start.

[dankrutka]

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. If Miami had won tonight that series would have been over and Miami could have rested for a week until the finals start.

The Pacers forced a game 6, not a game 7.

[ljbab728]

The Pacers forced a game 6, not a game 7.

I totally understand that and it has no bearing on what I said. My post was referring to the fact that if the Pacers had won tonight Miami would get more rest before the finals. It was a tongue in check reference to the fact that I still think Miami will win but it will take them a little longer. (hence the smiley face)

[OKCisOK4me]

I went out on a limb and picked the Pacers to beat Miami so I was happy with last night's outcome.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

[dankrutka]

Good Zach Lowe article on the Thunder "choosing" Ibaka over Harden: Ibaka?s Return Fuels More ?What If? Questions About James Harden «

I've been saying basically the same thing since the trade. We could have kept both. I think we'd be the heavy title favorites, instead of one of many contenders, if we had... But anyway, that's probably a better discussion for the offseason. Enormous game tonight.

[Just the facts]

When SA's bench came in and caught the Thunder coming off that huge roll, cutting the lead to 12, the guy sitting next to me pointed out it would be a great time for Popovich to put his starters back in. Think there's a decent case to be made it would have been worth a try - a rested SA bench might have come in and really pushed the issue down the stretch. Thankful he didn't

Personally I think Popovich screwed that up. With 5 minutes to go he should have put the starters back in. OKC was out of gas and we would have had to play our second string against their first string for 5 hard minutes. When OKC built the big league and SA put in all the reserves the announcers asked, where is the SA scoring going to come from, and then SA went on to outscore OKC by about 15 over the next few minutes.

[Urbanized]

Good Zach Lowe article on the Thunder "choosing" Ibaka over Harden: Ibaka?s Return Fuels More ?What If? Questions About James Harden «

I've been saying basically the same thing since the trade. We could have kept both. I think we'd be the heavy title favorites, instead of one of many contenders, if we had... But anyway, that's probably a better discussion for the offseason. Enormous game tonight.

Great article. It's mind-blowing how fast the cap is escalating, but hindsight is 20/20. He makes great points about 4 stars and a bare cupboard vs. 3 stars and a roster full of promise.

[dankrutka]

Great article. It's mind-blowing how fast the cap is escalating, but hindsight is 20/20. He makes great points about 4 stars and a bare cupboard vs. 3 stars and a roster full of promise.

Yep. There's no definitive answer. I take the 4 stars and little financial flexibility over 3 stars with flexibility because I think veterans who are chasing titles (see Ray Allen) would play for the Thunder particularly if we had ANOTHER star. Anyway, that's just my guess.

My hope for next season is that we can get a veteran like Paul Pierce to play for the minimum in the hopes of getting a title. He'd basically replace Caron Butler, we could promise him a nice role, and he'd be reunited with Perk.

[Stan Silliman]

Yep. There's no definitive answer. I take the 4 stars and little financial flexibility over 3 stars with flexibility because I think veterans who are chasing titles (see Ray Allen) would play for the Thunder particularly if we had ANOTHER star. Anyway, that's just my guess.

My hope for next season is that we can get a veteran like Paul Pierce to play for the minimum in the hopes of getting a title. He'd basically replace Caron Butler, we could promise him a nice role, and he'd be reunited with Perk.

In college, did Paul Pierce ever play with Nick Collison, or did their times at Kansas not coincide?

[dankrutka]

In college, did Paul Pierce ever play with Nick Collison, or did their times at Kansas not coincide?

Pierce left KU in 1998, Collison arrived in 1999. So, there was one season between their KU careers.

[Prunepicker]

I watched an entire Thunder game last month with some friends.

Since then I've subscribed to MLB.tv. I don't believe I'll ever watch
another basketball game.

[Urbanized]

Congrats! Does that mean you'll stop posting in basketball threads too?

[jn1780]

I watched an entire Thunder game last month with some friends.

Since then I've subscribed to MLB.tv. I don't believe I'll ever watch
another basketball game.

That's cool. Basketball can be too exciting to some people. :P

[Anonymous.]

Couldn't get it done last night. Team looked awful on defense. Bench stayed in OKC.

Hopefully we can at least win tomorrow and take a shot that the Spurs don't shoot complete fire in game 7.

[OKCisOK4me]

Do or die tomorrow night.

Don't forget that the game tips at 7:30pm!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

[Laramie]

The Spurs were hitting on all cylinders last night; especially from the three-point line. They were home, the Spurs took care of business. We've got to do the same come Saturday.

San Antonio was 13 of 26 (50%) on three point shots:

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs - Box Score - May 29, 2014 - ESPN

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

[OKCJapan]

I hope for a miracle Game 7 like Dallas pulled off at San Antonio in 2006. With that being said. I watched the post game interviews of the Heat. Every question posed seemed to puff them up for getting to the finals 4 straight years. I was hoping that one person would have had some guts to ask them a question related to their easy road to the finals. Spolstra even said after the Charlotte Series that our team needs to be challenged or hit a little bit. While I did not watch every game. but from the highlights, The Heat were not challenged, except for a couple of games from David West. Vogal said that the reason why got beat 3 series in a row is because they are Playing Jordan and the Bulls of the modern era. He further said that they are not able to play up to the Heat's level yet. I would say the most likely reason is because the EC does not have enough quality talent to match. And it will continue to be so as long as the 3 stay in Miami, or CP3, Griffin and Howard, etc. get tired of being eliminated every year in the playoffs and want an easier rode to get a shot at the finals.

So, As much as I hope the Thunder can win a game 7, If they cannot, then as much as I am on the opposite side against the Spurs. I will root for them against the Heat.

[Klop]

I'm sure this has probably already been discussed, but it sure would be nice to see James Harden starting tonight for the Thunder. Makes ya wonder.

[Just the facts]

The Harden led Rockets folded their tents in round 1.

Anyhow, that was some crappy basketball in the second half and OT for the Thunder. KD seems to have regressed about 2 years in the last month.

[Jake]

Spurs deserved to win this game and win the series.

Can't get mad. They had the better team.

[Just the facts]

Spurs deserved to win this game and win the series.

Can't get mad. They had the better team.

The thing that is so frustrating is that the thunder players just kept making bad decisions, poor ball handling, and really bad shot selection. None of those had anything to do with the Spurs. What the Spurs did do was make OKC pay for those mistakes.

[SOONER8693]

Thunder will never win a championship with a 2 man team. And coaching, good grief. At crunch time Duncan is eating Ibaka alive and Perkins sits.

[Just the facts]

I think we saw our last game with Brooks.