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

[Anonymous.]

I think you will change your mind in a series with the Nuggets...

[warreng88]

I think you will change your mind in a series with the Nuggets...

That's the problem: would you rather have a seven game series against the Nuggets or the Grizzlies/Clippers winner? I guess we have pretty much owned the Clippers (3-0), but have a losing record to the Grizzlies (1-2) and Denver (1-3) this season.

[Bellaboo]

That's the problem: would you rather have a seven game series against the Nuggets or the Grizzlies/Clippers winner? I guess we have pretty much owned the Clippers (3-0), but have a losing record to the Grizzlies (1-2) and Denver (1-3) this season.

But.... Denver lost Gallinaro for the season, he was their second leading scorer. That changes everything for them.

[Anonymous.]

The thing is... the Clippers know how to beat the Grizz. We will know better after Saturday (Clippers going to Memphis)

So history says we would play the Clips, and we own them now.



You are right about the Nugs losing Gallinari, except Gallinari is not that good vs OKC. Nuggets are full of weapons that are known as "Thunder killers". See below:

Brewer, Miller, Chandler, even Faried's passion to win is frightening to me.

Look what these players did to us in our matchups with the Nugs and then you will see why Gallinari missing does not have that much of an impact.

[Teo9969]

Except OKC never played Denver with any sort of defensive fire this year.

I see no reason to be scared of a perfectly healthy Denver, let alone one that has injury issues.

Literally every West team that is capable of pushing OKC to 6 or 7 games is currently in the top bracket.

[dankrutka]

I'm not saying a series with the Nuggets would be easy, but just easier than vs the Clips or Griz. And I wouldn't totally rely on the regular season to predict the playoffs. It's something to look at, but not rely on.

[SoonerBoy18]

Okay so why are we all scared of the post season all of a suden??? Where is the excitement going into the playoffs that was here last season?? And the season before that, etc? We all know Thunder turn it up in the playoffs. And btw, We NEVER Had it easy in playoffs.

[dankrutka]

First, who is scared? Just talking about preferable match ups. Second, the Thunder stumbled into the playoffs last year and a lot of people were worried. I think the Thunder can turn it up in the playoffs, but they're not head and shoulders above the field. Nothing is guaranteed. I'm ready for it to start.

[Mississippi Blues]

So the Thunder are tied for 1st place after San Antonio's 86-96 loss at Denver tonight.

[SoonerBoy18]

So the Thunder are tied for 1st place after San Antonio's 86-96 loss at Denver tonight.

Wouldn't it be so much more exciting to play the Lakers the 1st round and possibly the Clippers the second?

[Mississippi Blues]

Wouldn't it be so much more exciting to play the Lakers the 1st round and possibly the Clippers the second?

It looks like that will end up happening if all goes well. It would definitely be a lot more "exciting" to play those teams.

[adaniel]

Wouldn't it be so much more exciting to play the Lakers the 1st round and possibly the Clippers the second?

I would LOVE for OKC to destroy the Fakers and wipe that smug look off Dwight Howard's face. With that in mind, I don't think the Thunder are sweeping anyone this season, i.e. Dallas last year. The West has a lot of parity this season.

[Teo9969]

We've played the Lakers so much in the past 4 years. For OKC fans, I think a Houston matchup would be just as exciting because of the Harden factor. But at the end of the day, the Lakers are still the Lakers, and that matchup will garner lots of attention, and it would be better for the OKC brand in the long run. Same thing with the Clippers over Denver/Golden State.

Here's the order of potential playoff teams from most difficult to least difficult (for OKC) as I see it:

1. Spurs
2. Memphis
3. Clippers
4. Lakers
5. Jazz
6. Denver
7. Golden State
8. Houston

Sucks that all the preferred matchups are likely to end up in the lower bracket with SA if we hold #1 seed. Maybe Harden can do us a favor for walking out on us ;-) .

[betts]

Home court advantage is the carrot for the number one seed. And anyone (hopefully us) who makes it to the finals through that top half of the bracket is battle tested and should be confident. Personally, I think HCA is worth it.

[Anonymous.]

Teo your list like inversed from where I would place teams...

*most difficult for Thunder
Denver
Spurs
Memphis
Houston
Golden State
Clippers
Lakers
Jazz
*least difficult for Thunder


We WANT to be in the top bracket. HCA is a great thing to have, we pulled it off without it last year just barely.

We own both LA teams, the only thing that frightens me for an LAL first round, is the officiating.

[Bellaboo]

So the Thunder are tied for 1st place after San Antonio's 86-96 loss at Denver tonight.

If we tie the Spurs for first, we own the tie breaker so we will be the #1 seed, by virtue of conference wins as the tie breaker.

[SoonerBoy18]

Shaq "Can they (Thunder) beat Miami.. I dont know" Charles - "*Rolls Eyes* Well THEY CANT" Thats how we summarize our expectations this post season. Lol

[OKCDrummer77]

While Barkley was running OKC into the ground, I was playing "barfed" in Words With Friends. Seemed appropriate.

[dankrutka]

Charles thinks OKC is a "jump shooting team" despite the fact we got to the run more than Miami in the Finaks last year.

[SoonerQueen]

FINAL: Oklahoma City blows out Golden State 116-97. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 31, while Kevin Martin scored 23 points off the bench.

[OKCisOK4me]

I told my aunt before the 4th quarter started that we would end up scoring 116 points. She thought we'd score 125 or more. I revised due to her remark and posted 118 on Facebook. Damn here...but at the end she was like, "you were right".

[Anonymous.]

Another important night for Thunder.


We finish the back-to-back in Portland @ 9pm. (If we win, we clinch Division)

Golden State goes into LA to play the Lakers.

Spurs are hosting the Kings at home.

Jazz hosting Timberwolves.

[betts]

I'm definitely rooting for the Jazz. I think it would be a hoot if the Lakers missed the playoffs.

[OKCDrummer77]

I'm definitely rooting for the Jazz. I think it would be a hoot if the Lakers missed the playoffs.

I've been rooting for the Lakers to miss the Playoffs ever since Kobe guaranteed they would make it.

[skanaly]

...Give the lakers 8, and we'll take 1st. We are now number 1 in our conference, I think it'll stay that way. I have no worries about defeating any team in the west. The Spurs are a great team with great chemistry, but they don't have the endurance to win 3 away games in a row.
I believe we have the strength and game to take the west again. Now here where it gets into a debate...the OKC Thunder will not win the playoffs this year. Miami is in their prime and no one will stop them.
Don't forget to tune in tonight NBATV, Thunder vs. Blazers