OKC Thunder Finished (3-0) During The NBA Restart Scrimmages

OKC Thunder Finished (3-0) During The NBA Restart Scrimmages

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by | Jul 29, 2020 | Featured

The Oklahoma City Thunder came to Orlando with one thing on their minds and that’s to compete for the NBA Championship. During the scrimmages, we had a chance to see what the team had to offer. Everyone on the Thunder roster came into this restart healthy including Andre Roberson who’s comeback has been extremely impressive. The Thunder season came to a halt on March 11th in OKC against the Utah Jazz but Bazley and Diallo were still nursing injuries. This restart gave OKC a chance to come back healthy and it’s given everyone a chance to see how scary this team can be healthy.

 

The OKC Thunder started their restart with a win against the Boston Celtics (98-84) but the biggest takeaways from that game were the comeback of Andre Roberson and the play from a healthy Steven Adams. Andre Roberson was able to play in his first game in 909 days and boy did he look amazing. Roberson was nervous and had jitters as you could see once he entered the game but then he was able to settle in. Once Andre was able to get in the flow of the game you saw glimpses of what OKC was missing without Roberson on the court. He came in got a quick put-back layup and then knocked down a corner 3 pointer. It looks like Andre put in some work on the corner 3 pointers while being gone and it definitely showed. On the defensive end, he was always in the right place at the right time and didn’t look like he missed a step. Andre Roberson had a chase-down block that looked like vintage Andre and you can tell that he’s the defensive anchor that OKC needs because he can defend multiple positions. Steven Adams looks lean and mean just like his beef that he talks about in his commercials. Adams was able to set the tone for the Thunder just like he did before the NBA restart for the Thunder. In this game against Boston Adams looked unstoppable as the Celtics had no one that could defend him once he got great position in the paint. The Celtics had Kanter and Theis on him but that didn’t work as Adams finished the game with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Steven Adams looks healthy and has been able to move a lot better on his legs after the 4-month hiatus. The Thunder used the emotional boost from Andre Roberson and the monstrous play from Steven Adams to propel them to victory.

 

 

 

In the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, we learned that OKC still can come back from any deficit. The OKC Thunder beat the 76ers (102-97) as they came back after trailing by 24 points. This game showcased some of the things that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander worked on during the hiatus. Shai finished with 16 points and 5 assists on the night but showed that he’s improved his 3 point shooting and attacking the rim while taking contact now. It’s Shai’s second year but you can’t tell the way that his game has matured over the 4 months. This game showed how far the 2nd unit has come. Darius Bazley came into the game he had a different level of confidence and energy that was contagious as he started scoring and giving the team complete effort. Darius Bazley finished with 13 points on the night. It didn’t matter if it was hustle plays or just getting his teammates involved Bazley started the comeback and OKC started to take notice that they can win. Luguentz Dort was another player that has played with confidence and he was showing that he belongs in this league on a daily. Dort has been able to knock down the 3 point shot and he’s been defending at a high level as well. The second unit was able to make some big shots and they continued to limit the 76ers second unit as they kept chipping away for the win. Andre Roberson played a huge role in this game down the stretch as his defense and his OFFENSE were on full display. With Andre Roberson coming back and this being his second game in a couple of days he didn’t look to have rust or show any lingering injury concerns. In the biggest moment in the game, Andre Roberson hit a 3 pointer in the corner right in front of the 76ers trash-talking bench and turned around to let them know he heard them. A couple of moments later he hit another 3 pointer to give OKC a comfortable lead heading to the win. After the 3 pointers, you can see his confidence go through the roof and his teammates showed how much they missed his by their emotions on the bench. If Andre Roberson is playing like this throughout the playoffs the OKC Thunder will be a tough out for any team especially with them being healthy now.

 

 

 

 

The OKC Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the last scrimmage game getting them ready for Saturday against Utah. In this game, the Thunder were able to play Shai at the point guard position with Chris Paul sitting out. On the flip side of things, Portland didn’t play Damian Lilliard or CJ McCollum. OKC started off a little sloppy and stagnate but then OKC got the offense going in the right direction. Shai finished with 10 points and 7 assists on the night against Portland. It’s clear that Shai is ready for the regular-season games to get underway as he looks more explosive and his court awareness has definitely improved. The story of this game was the play of the Thunder bench as they finished with 85 points as a group and looked amazing. Yes, it’s a scrimmage game but this is still the NBA and the bench looked very comfortable throughout the scrimmage games. Tonight against the Trail Blazers they continued to look comfortable as Darius Bazley and Hamidou Diallo led the charge as they looked really good. Darius Bazley improved every game of the scrimmages as he put up 9, 13, and tonight 20 points. The growth and patience that Bazley has shown in his rookie season have been impressive and he’s been able to showcase it to us all. Bazley’s decision making and ability to put the ball on the floor instead of just shooting right away has been great to see. Bazley has looked amazing and you can tell he’s trying to play himself into a role in the regular season and playoff games. Hami had a great game tonight as well showing that he can score and finish when given the opportunity. It was a great game as Hami was defending at a high level and using that defense to create offense. Hami also was able to show his slashing ability and he was able to hit some shots. Overall this second unit for OKC looked really good and the candidate for 6th Man of the Year Dennis Schröder looked really good throughout as well. Dennis played a big part in each win and even if he wasn’t in the game he was cheering the loudest. Dennis has that smooth game that can’t be overlooked and you can tell he’s been in the gym the way his offense didn’t skip a beat.

 

 

 

 

This OKC team will be dangerous to play against and as they gear up to play the Utah Jazz on August 1st look for them to continue this hot streak. In the playoffs it’s all about chemistry and being hot at the right time and entering the bubble the OKC Thunder are 3-0. The Thunder will need to continue to listen to the game plan and coaching from Billy Donovan as they look for a long run into late September.

 

 

Video Credit: SEF-Oklahoma

Photo Credit: OKC Thunder

Jul 29, 2020 No Comments
The Year Of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander In Oklahoma City ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

The Year Of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander In Oklahoma City ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

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by | Jun 24, 2020 | Featured, NBA

As the NBA season aims to resume play in Orlando at Disney World. The OKC Thunder are in a prime position to make a serious playoff push this postseason. On the season before the coronavirus, OKC was 40-24 in the Western Conference. One reason for the OKC Thunder’s success this season was because of the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The second-year player came to OKC to get better and that’s exactly what he did this season for the Thunder. Shai has one of the smoothest games that you will see in the game and his layup package is extremely impressive.

 

It was obvious that the LA Clippers didn’t want to give Shai away last summer and the Thunder fans were able to see why. Numbers don’t lie and in the case of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, you can clearly see that over his two seasons. Last year on the Clippers, Shai averaged 10.8 ppg in 26 minutes per game. This season with the Thunder, Shai averaged 19 ppg in 36 minutes per game. It was clear that with opportunity and more playing time the sky’s the limit for Gilgeous-Alexander. He came to OKC on a mission to prove to everyone that he’s an elite guard in the NBA and did just that. Another part of the OKC situation that has helped Shai continue to grow within his game is the fact he has Chris Paul as a mentor. When you have one of the best point guards in NBA history showing you the ropes and constantly believing in your game you have unlimited confidence.

 

 

The OKC Thunder have been able to exceed all expectations from all of the NBA media and sports outlets. A lot of outlets wrote the Thunder off as soon as Russell Westbrook & Paul George left but they’ve surprised everyone and will enter the playoffs as a dark horse. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a 9 point jump in his point performance during his two-year span in the NBA. During the 2019-2020 campaign, Shai was able to get his career-high 32 points in back to back games against the Suns & Clippers. Shai was showing a lot of promise and glimpses of greatness and promise as the season continued to go on. The way that the Thunder team was built it benefits their three point guards, especially with the ball movement. Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schröder made it hard on any opposing team because you didn’t know who’s night it was to shine.

 

Heading into Orlando we’ve seen a lot of footage from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander working on his game in the free time away from the OKC Thunder. One this that was noticeable is that he’s toned up and he’s polished up a lot of his moves getting ready for that championship run. Shai was known for having the biggest wingspan in his draft class and as he continues to get better in the NBA he will have to use that length to continue to execute at a high level. Shai has a smooth game and he’s shown different levels that he can reach within his game on a nightly basis. The confidence that he’s shown in his game over the year has been impressive as his jumper has improved just as much as his finishing at the rim. The Thunder have the face and future of this team as a baby in NBA years and OKC fans will have to get used to seeing what Shai has to add to his game. Look for Shai to continue his greatness on the court just as much as he does off the court with his game-day drip. Below are the Top 10 sneakers that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander graced the court with this season for the OKC Thunder.

 

 

Honorable Mentions

 

Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Big Stage” & Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Suns”

 

 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OKC Thunder

 

 

 

 

10. Nike Kobe AD Mid PE

 

9. Nike Kobe 9 Peach Jam

 

 

 

8. Jordan CP3.XII “Red” PE

 

 

 

 

7. Nike Kobe 6 “Lightbulb”

 

 

6. Nike Kobe 1 Protro “81 Pt Game”

 

 

5. Nike Kobe 8 GC “Venice Beach”

 

 

4. Nike Kobe 8+ All-Star Area 72

 

 

3. Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Wizenard” PE

 

 

2. Nike Kobe 5 Prelude “Finals MVP”

 

 

1. Nike Hyperdunk Marty McFly 2015

 

 

 

 

We Can’t Forget Some Of The Drip Shai Displayed This Season

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: CHRIS LANDSBERGER, Zach Beeker, Travis Singleton, LeagueFits

 

Jun 24, 2020 No Comments
LA Clippers Defeated The Oklahoma City Thunder (109-94)

LA Clippers Defeated The Oklahoma City Thunder (109-94)

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by | Mar 4, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game off the worst loss in the team’s history in Milwaukee. Tonight they faced the challenge of playing against the LA Clippers and the stacked lineup. It’s been rare to see Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the floor together this season and OKC got a full taste of that. This was one of those games from the Thunder where the offense wasn’t on track from the beginning. One thing about this OKC Thunder team is they pride themselves on defense and they let the defense turn into offense. Tonight the Thunder just didn’t have it and it showed. The Thunder were missing shots that usually fall for them against other opponents. Dennis Schröder was the leading scorer tonight with 24 points off the bench. Dennis was able to create his own shot and was beating the Clippers to the paint almost every time with his quick first step. Chris Paul didn’t have his usual night that we’ve been accustom too as the Clippers wanted to slow him down by putting Paul George on him defensively. The length of George and Leonard switching on CP3 did impact his game but he still finished with 7 assists on the night. The other player that struggled that hurt the OKC Thunder tonight was Danilo Gallinari as he shot 4-13 from the field. The Thunder struggled from the field with the Clippers length and depth all night. It was a tough outing from the Thunder on the offensive side as they only had 4 players in double figures. The Thunder were caught up playing catch up the whole time as they trailed by 21 points at one point in the game. OKC shot 42% from the field but needed to convert on more opportunities from inside the paint. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played well against his former team tonight adding 15 points as well. Once Shai develops that killer mentality and continues to put on the foot on the gas he will be a problem. Shai can take over a game at any point but he needs to be confident that he can do this on a nightly basis and it’s coming. This Thunder team is still in the mix and has a lot of promise. The loss tonight doesn’t define them as a team but this is a learning lesson especially for moving forward.

 

 

The LA Clippers came into OKC with a gameplan and they executed it with perfection. The combination of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is going to be a problem for anyone that has to play them. Both Paul and Kawhi finished with a combined 41 points as they willed the Clippers to victory with ease. The Clippers team is stacked from top to bottom with talent. The depth from the Clippers played a huge factor in this win over the Thunder because their second unit can actually be starters. The Clippers have Harrell and Williams on the team and both are in contention for the 6th man of the year award. The Clippers depth after George and Leonard come out the game was huge and the Thunder second unit wasn’t able to keep up. The Clippers played defense all night and their length made it tough on the Thunder. It seemed every time the Thunder was trying to get back in the game Leonard or George went on a mini-run by themselves to give the Clippers the edge. The balance that the Clippers play with and the coaching will make it tough for anyone in the playoffs. The Clippers were attacking the paint all night as they had 22-26 free throws which showed they were trying to pound the paint. Tonight the Clippers were the better team and played a complete game but the Thunder still has a lot to prove in the West. The addition of Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris was another huge part of this game because they were able to come in with offense to help that second unit. The Clippers were defending at a high level and made it tough on the Thunder throughout the night. The Thunder play in Detroit next as they try to get back in the winning column after tonight’s loss to the Clippers in OKC.

 

 

 

 

Mar 4, 2020 No Comments
OKC’s Thunderous Comeback Stuns The Sacramento Kings (112-108)

OKC’s Thunderous Comeback Stuns The Sacramento Kings (112-108)

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by | Feb 28, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder entered tonight trying to get their 5th win in a row. That task became a lot more reachable when the Kings ruled the talented young guard De’Aaron Fox out. The Kings were short-handed at the point guard position and played Cory Joesph tonight in Fox’s place. The new lineup definitely threw the Thunder off in the first half as the Kings were attacking the paint. The Kings are known for shooting a lot of 3 pointers per game and in the first half, they were successful in the paint. Harry Giles III was putting in some serious work and was giving the Kings a spark early. Harry Giles III was beasting in the paint as he was dunking and using his hook shot floater against Steven Adams. Harry finished with 19 points on the night and it made you think how explosive this team could of been with Fox healthy. The first half belonged to the Kings as they were up by 19 points on the Thunder. The Kings came out swinging and Harrison Barnes and Nemanja Bjelica combined for 39 points on the night but the majority of it was in the 1st half. The Thunder were getting caught on switches with Barnes and Bjelica and they took full advantage against the bigs on the perimeter. Another bright spot for the Sacramento Kings on the night was Buddy Hield who’s the hometown favorite because he went to OU. Buddy came into the game and hit 5-9 on 3 pointers to finish for 15 points. The Kings were in a battle down the stretch where they could have used more of Buddy. The timing of the plays down the stretch and the fact that there were no timeouts or dead ball whistles kept him out. Harrison Barnes was able to hit some big shots down the stretch but it was too late once the Thunder went on their 15-0 run on the way to the comeback. The Kings played an amazing game against the Thunder tonight they just need some more experience and they need to get everyone healthy. The Kings have a lot of promise moving forward as they have Marvin Bagley, Jabari Parker, and De’Aaron Fox who weren’t on the court tonight. The future is bright in Sacramento but tonight the Thunder got their 5th win in a row by attacking the paint and using the hot hands.

 

 

 

This OKC Thunder team has a lot of fight and that was on full display tonight against the Sacramento Kings. OKC always seems to take the toughest road to get a victory against teams they should beat. Tonight wasn’t any different as the Thunder were trailing by 19 points at one moment in the game. The Thunder were able to get into their offensive groove and it was led by Danilo Gallinari who finished the game with 24 points. It seemed like the Kings had no answer for Gallinari as he was scoring at will from the inside and outside. Gallinari used his length to get shots over the King’s defenders whenever he wanted too. When Gallinari sees the ball go in the basket once then he shoots thinking that it will continue to drop no matter what the shot attempt is. One thing that Gallinari has improved on this season has been the pump fake and driving to the rim. Players will always defend for the 3 point shot but Gallinari has added that drive to his game now and it’s working. As Gallinari was getting his game going that opened the door for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who finished with 20 points on the night. The confidence that Shai has played with lately has been amazing. Shai was attacking the paint and going at any King’s defender that was in his face. The growth in Shai’s game has been improving every game and he’s playing with two other guards that want to see him shine. Chris Paul and Dennis Schröder have been there helping Shai along the way while playing at a high level for themselves. Chris Paul had 17 points and Dennis Schröder finished with 13 points on the night. Chris was able to get his game going in the 4th quarter as he was able to hit a big-time 4 point play over Harry Giles III. Chris Paul has been the clutchest NBA player this season and he shows up in the big-time moments. This has been a season full of surprises and the Thunder has everyone watching them now. The OKC Thunder will be heading to Milwaukee to play against Giannis and the Bucks in a back to back as they try to get 6 games in a row tomorrow.

 

Feb 28, 2020 No Comments
Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate The San Antonio Spurs In Rout (131-103)

Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate The San Antonio Spurs In Rout (131-103)

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by | Feb 24, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder were coming into this game feeling good after their win against the Nuggets Friday. The Thunder didn’t miss a beat in this game as they came out on fire. This was the first time in OKC Thunder history that the team had 8 players in double figures in a single game. It’s safe to say that this Thunder team is stacked and they’re growing right before our eyes. Since the All-Star break, Steven Adams has been a complete beast and he continued that tonight against the Spurs. Adams was able to be a complete monster in the paint tonight as the Spurs Aldridge and Poeltl couldn’t do much to contain Big Kiwi. Steven Adams was able to get his flip shot going and he was catching alley-oops throughout the night. The way that Steven Adams has been playing sets the tone for what the OKC Thunder wants to do when it comes to attacking the paint. Adams finished the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds on the night. When Adams plays like this it gives the team another scorer that the opposing team needs to worry about. While Adams was scoring and rebounding like a monster he needed a break and when that happened Nerlens Noel filled right in perfectly. Nerlens chipped in with 10 points and had 5 blocks on the night. Anything that the Spurs tried to put up in the paint against the Thunder it seemed as though Noel wanted to block it. When both bigs Adams and Noel are dominating the paint like they did tonight it makes it tough on the other team and opens things up for the Thunder.

 

 

With so many players on the Thunder going off tonight it gave the guys like CP3 & Gallinari a chance to get some rest. Both combined for 24 points on the night and played only 25 minutes roughly. It was a breath of fresh air to see all the other Thunder players step up showing what this team is capable of offensively. One of the bright upcoming players for the Thunder balling as of late is Luguentz Dort. One of the things that have stood out about Dort’s game is the fact that he’s on a two-way contract playing with the utmost confidence. Everyone raves about his play on the court and you can see a lot of grit and grind. Dort was able to have his defense turn into offense tonight against the Spurs. Tonight he finished with 15 points on the night and was able to make some key plays that gave the Thunder some separation. When you play with that much confidence anything is possible and Dort has proven that he belongs in the NBA. The Thunder has a young core of players and it’s led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who can score on any possession with ease. Shai was able to score 22 points on the night and he was attacking the paint and beating the Spurs with his first step. The future is bright in OKC with Shai continuing to grow every time he steps on the court. The Spurs had no answer for the Thunder on both ends of the court and it was extremely noticeable. The Thunder has some young legs compared to the Spurs who have some older veterans that weren’t able to hang in transition. If OKC can continue to play at this pace and the way that they’ve come together with chemistry it will be tough for anyone to get them out. This team has shown a lot of growth and they believe in what Billy Donovan has been coaching and it showed tonight and this whole season.

 

 

The San Antonio Spurs had a rough tonight and it started with their leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge who finished with 8 points. Aldridge has always been a thorn in the side of the Thunder in his career but tonight was different. The combination of Adams and Noel made it a little tough on Aldridge but also he missed some shots that he usually hits to his credit. The Spurs just had a tough start to the game as Dejounte Murray got 2 fouls in the first 40 seconds of the game. Once the Spurs were without their leading playmaker who’s coming off of 2 back to back games with 20+ points that can throw a wrench into any situation. The Spurs didn’t really recover after losing Murray and they missed a lot of shots that they usually make against opposing teams. The Spurs depended on the 3 point line but it wasn’t nice to them at all knowing that they’re a mid-range shooting team. The Spurs shot 11-38 from the 3 point line tonight and it hurt their chances after trailing by as much as 28 points in the game. Rudy Gay was the leading scorer for the Spurs tonight with only 14 points.  It was clear the Thunder wanted to eliminate the Spurs’ main scorers and they wanted the other guys to step up which didn’t happen. DeMar DeRozan struggled tonight as well as shooting 4-12 from the field for only 11 points. This game wasn’t the best for the Spurs and they will look to bounce back from this while the Thunder will take this 3 game winning streak into Chicago.

 

Feb 24, 2020 No Comments