2015-16 OKC Thunder

[sooner88]

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."

[Jake]

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

[Bellaboo]

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

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.

[Laramie]

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

[Thomas Vu]

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.

[Bellaboo]

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.

[Richard at Remax]

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.

[Laramie]

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!

[Roger S]

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!

[Thomas Vu]

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

[dankrutka]

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*

[dankrutka]

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.

[Roger S]

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.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - Houston Rockets 108

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - January 29, 2016 - ESPN

[OKCRT]

Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - Houston Rockets 108

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - January 29, 2016 - ESPN

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.

[Urbanized]

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.

[dankrutka]

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.

[Bits_Of_Real_Panther]

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

[Bellaboo]

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.....

[Roger S]

....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)

[Anonymous.]

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are pretty good at basketball

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder 114 - Washington Wizards 98

Washington Wizards vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - February 01, 2016 - ESPN

[SOONER8693]

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?

[dankrutka]

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.

[dankrutka]

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