****Official 2012/2013 Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball Thread****

[BoulderSooner]

Well Dallas pretty much lost their playoff hopes last night. Lakers blew them out in LA.

So basically the Lakers and Jazz are tied for 8th seed right now.



This is setting the stage for several things:

Scenario 1: We beat Spurs Thursday night (great chance @ #1 seed)

We then play Lakers or Jazz.


Scenario 2: We lose to the Spurs Thursday or lose some of the easier games remaining on OKC schedule (Knicks and Pacers are statistical hardest opponents remaining)

We then most likely play Houston.


I think (no, I KNOW) we want the first scenario, Harden can take over games and the Rockets have shown strength versus the Spurs. So we have a good shot at having Spurs knocked out early, and if not - at least we don't have to deal with the Rockets.

I still go back to a fear in my head that if the Lakers make the 8 spot, whoever is #1 is going to be playing against some really bad officiating.

the thunder would beat the rockets in 4 or 5 games

[Bellaboo]

I think Fisher did make a difference last year and was happy to see him come back. That has since changed. I have to agree with everyone that he has brought nothing this year. Reggie needs to be on the floor those minutes.

About Maynor. I don't know if Brooks gave him enough time or not. I do know there are players in every pro sport that play really well for one team and then go to another and do nothing. And vice versa.

I think Fisher is just cheap insurance as a point guard in case (God Forbid) we lost Russell or Reggie....

[Teo9969]

Well Dallas pretty much lost their playoff hopes last night. Lakers blew them out in LA.

So basically the Lakers and Jazz are tied for 8th seed right now.



This is setting the stage for several things:

Scenario 1: We beat Spurs Thursday night (great chance @ #1 seed)

We then play Lakers or Jazz.


Scenario 2: We lose to the Spurs Thursday or lose some of the easier games remaining on OKC schedule (Knicks and Pacers are statistical hardest opponents remaining)

We then most likely play Houston.


I think (no, I KNOW) we want the first scenario, Harden can take over games and the Rockets have shown strength versus the Spurs. So we have a good shot at having Spurs knocked out early, and if not - at least we don't have to deal with the Rockets.

I still go back to a fear in my head that if the Lakers make the 8 spot, whoever is #1 is going to be playing against some really bad officiating.

Memphis is the only team that will knock out either the Spurs or the Thunder in the West...every other team will be disposed of in 6 games or less. Memphis being in the Spurs bracket is our only hope of not having to play San Antonio.

Houston would do well to keep one game with OKC to 2 scores or less. They MAY be able to beat the Spurs one time. Houston's goal should be to win at least 1 game at home...because that's probably their ceiling this post season.

The Lakers are old and can't play defense...I'd rather play LA than Utah here in 3 weeks.

[td25er]

I think Fisher is just cheap insurance as a point guard in case (God Forbid) we lost Russell or Reggie....

You're smoking something very potent if you think Brooks isn't going to play Fisher 15+ minutes in the playoffs. I'm fairly sure he'll get more minutes than Collison.

[Teo9969]

You're smoking something very potent if you think Brooks isn't going to play Fisher 15+ minutes in the playoffs. I'm fairly sure he'll get more minutes than Collison.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wait, that was a joke, right? You do realize that Fisher averages less minutes than Reggie Jackson, let alone Nick Collison, right?

[dankrutka]

You're smoking something very potent if you think Brooks isn't going to play Fisher 15+ minutes in the playoffs. I'm fairly sure he'll get more minutes than Collison.

I hope to god not. What a nightmare that would be, but I don't think it would happen. The team would be much better without every having given Brooks the Fisher option. Big screw up by Presti.

[dankrutka]

Memphis is the only team that will knock out either the Spurs or the Thunder in the West...every other team will be disposed of in 6 games or less. Memphis being in the Spurs bracket is our only hope of not having to play San Antonio.

Houston would do well to keep one game with OKC to 2 scores or less. They MAY be able to beat the Spurs one time. Houston's goal should be to win at least 1 game at home...because that's probably their ceiling this post season.

The Lakers are old and can't play defense...I'd rather play LA than Utah here in 3 weeks.

Thanks for enlightening us. Now I don't have to watch the first few rounds of the playoffs.

[Anonymous.]

Memphis is the only team that will knock out either the Spurs or the Thunder in the West...every other team will be disposed of in 6 games or less. Memphis being in the Spurs bracket is our only hope of not having to play San Antonio.

I would rather play San Antonio than Memphis in a WCF.

Plus, the Clippers have the Grizzlies' number. And they are almsot a guarantee first round match for both. The problem with that is, the Spurs have the Clipper's number. So the Spurs will walk through round 2 easy if MEM cannot beat LAC.


For these reasons and the fact tha OKC probably need HCA m ore this season than last, I say we want #1 undoubtedly.




And if you stop discussing other team's paths through the playoffs, you get to focus on just OKC... Which we have a stubborn coach who doesn't understand changing your rotation based upon the lineups on the floor. It is a sad state, and a wasted year if Brooks costs us this playoff season.

[Teo9969]

Thanks for enlightening us. Now I don't have to watch the first few rounds of the playoffs.

You're welcome.

[Anonymous.]

Tonight is the night.

8:30 on TNT, will be a late night for ticket holders as the game is starting late AND it is televised. [I have already decided that being tired @ work on Fridays is okay]

[Roger S]

Yeah, I'm already sleep deprived for the week and I'll be adding to the deficit this evening..... Hoping for a blow out so maybe I can leave the arena early. Probably not going to happen though.

[ljbab728]

If the Thunder just stays focused and takes care of business for their last few games they should finish with the number one seed in the West.

[Mississippi Blues]

The Thunder win 100-88. More impressive, Derek Fisher went 5-7 from money land (3-point range) and scored 17 points. Kevin Martin scored a wopping 2 (2!!!) points.

[SoonerBoy18]

The Thunder win 100-88. More impressive, Derek Fisher went 5-7 from money land (3-point range) and scored 17 points. Kevin Martin scored a wopping 2 (2!!!) points.

Hopefully Derek Fisher stays this hot, I still cant believe the Spurs biggest lead was only one.

[dankrutka]

Hopefully Derek Fisher stays this hot, I still cant believe the Spurs biggest lead was only one.

I'll end the suspense for you... He won't.

[Teo9969]

I'll end the suspense for you... He won't.

LOL!!! ...Truth

Didn't he have a game or two like this shortly before the playoffs started last year?

I'm still not convinced that he'll get much more than 5 to 10 minutes a game during the playoffs, and I lean toward the 5 (unless, of course, OKC is up huge in the 4th).

[OKCisOK4me]

The Thunder win 100-88. More impressive, Derek Fisher went 5-7 from money land (3-point range) and scored 17 points. Kevin Martin scored a wopping 2 (2!!!) points.

Spurs bring the best outta Fisher (.4 3-pointer when he was a Laker).

[OKCJapan]

The Thunder have four very tough road games left all against playoff teams battling for position. The Nuggets have only two. They are against Dallas and San Antonio. I see the Nuggets potentially winning both of those even with Gallinari going down because George Karl is a great coach. This means that the Thunder can only drop as many as 3 of their last 7 to stay in front of Denver and secure the 2nd spot. I think the Thunder could win all of their road games, however, they have to have good bench production and not fold at the end of tight games.

[SoonerBoy18]

As confident as I am, I personally believe we will lose ALL remaining road games, maybe we will get lucky @ Portland, but @Indiana, @Golden State, and @Utah... We can forget about being the #1 seed. =(

[Anonymous.]

Thunder could lose tonight, they played a very energetic game. However, I still think we are now definitely the #1 in the West from here.

Spurs are in trouble, Ginobli is hurt, Jackson is hurt, and Parker is hurt/sore. All of this just weeks away from playoffs is not a good sign for them. Add the fact that they have lost the last 3 or 4 games and are rather deflated.


If Martin starts showing up we can put together a nice momentum swing into the playoffs.




Side note on Fisher: Are you serious? He is known as a Spurs killer, but last night was just ridiculous. We will see how he does down the stretch here, but for now I am calling FLUKE!

He does zero things for 3 weeks and suddenly drops 19 on our biggest West rival at the moment.

[Teo9969]

As confident as I am, I personally believe we will lose ALL remaining road games, maybe we will get lucky @ Portland, but @Indiana, @Golden State, and @Utah... We can forget about being the #1 seed. =(

Well, we may possibly forget about being the #1 seed, but we can for sure forget about your prediction being correct.

[SoonerBoy18]

Well, we may possibly forget about being the #1 seed, but we can for sure forget about your prediction being correct.

Hahaha yeah, I didnt think We could pull it off like that against a team like the Pacers

[Teo9969]

Hahaha yeah, I didnt think We could pull it off like that against a team like the Pacers

Out of curiosity, why?

[Easy180]

Almost playoff time when the youngsters have an advantage over the old aching knees veterans

More worried about Memphis than anyone else

[Dustin]

nvm