OKC Thunder Drop A Close One Against The Pistons In Statement Jersey Debut (99-98)

OKC Thunder Drop A Close One Against The Pistons In Statement Jersey Debut (99-98)

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by | Nov 25, 2017 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder were coming off their best performance of the year against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. They wanted to continue that momentum and make a statement on Friday against the Detroit Pistons. The Thunder organization announced that the Thunder will be debuting their new jerseys against Detroit. The “Statement” jersey that OKC wore was apart of the Nike Connect program that was incorporated this year once Nike took over the jersey licensing. The jersey lets you connect to the players iPod and music to see what he listens to before and after games via Nike App. The way the techonology is heading there is no telling what could be next for jerseys. What I can tell you is that the OKC “Statement” jersey is one of the best in the NBA that were debuted and the way the orange pops out it makes a bold statement.

The Thunder played a great game on both ends of the floor in the first half and looked to keep it rolling like they did against Golden State. The Pistons had other plans as tonight against OKC. Andre Drummond wasn’t able to get things going in that first half but came out in beast mode in the second half. Andre Drummond finished the game with 17 points and 14 rebounds on the night. The way that he played in the paint tonight against the Thunder bigs was very impressive. The thing that was impressive for the Pistons is the way they hung in the game and competed.

Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony were getting anything they wanted on the offensive end tonight. Carmelo was able to bully anyone that guarded him on the Pistons whether it be Tobias Harris or Avery Bradley. Melo was able to finish the game with 20 points and he was aggressive on the defensive boards and was defending at a high level. When Carmelo has the help like he does now in OKC he can take advanatage of playing defense and offense while taking breaks. When Melo was in NYC he had to carry the load majority of the time and the way that OKC is clicking on all cylinders now he doesn’t have too. The Thunder may have lost but Melo getting in a groove like he’s been on lately is a great sight to see.

The Pistons were able to get everyone involved in this game as they had 6 players in double figures. The bench kept them in the game and was able to score when the Thunder had some defensive breakdowns. Detroit made this a team effort as everyone stepped up but it also took for the Thunder to miss some big shots in order for them to succeed. Reggie Jackson had 12 points on the night but was able to get the ball to his teammates in the right spot and he picked his moments to be aggressive on offense. Reggie Jackson was a true vocal leader tonight and was able to make some tough plays down the stretch against the Thunder. He talked about his time in OKC and how it made him grow as a player and that showed out there on the court tonight.

Russell Westbrook has shown that he can lead this team as a vocal leader and also as the points/assists/rebound man if they need it. Westbrook has shown that whatever the Thunder need him to be on a nightly basis he will do it no matter what and that’s very clear. Russell Westbrook proved that tonight as he was able to punish the Pistons and get to the rim whenever he wanted too. When Westbrook had his moment to takeover he missed some shots that he usually makes in the clutch. The Pistons put Avery Bradley on him for that last stretch and made him for work the 3 pointers that he didn’t make at the end. Russ struggled from the 3 point line going 1-10 from long range but still had the trust from his teammates. Russell Westbroo finished with a triple double of 27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds. Paul George didn’t have the best night as he was getting bad calls against him and he wasn’t able to get back in the flow of the game. Paul George had 16 points and was able to defend and get in the passing lanes to help but it wasn’t enough to get the win tonight. PG was talking about defensive breakdowns and what they needed to do better in order to win tomorrow against the Mavs.

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nov 25, 2017 No Comments
NFL Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tennessee Titans

NFL Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tennessee Titans

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by | Nov 16, 2017 | Featured, NFL

Two contenders will put their four game winning streak on the line tonight in a primetime Thursday night game. The Tennessee Titans visit Heinz Field to face off against The Pittsburgh Steelers. The Titans (6-3) come in tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars atop the AFC North and look to take a one game lead in the division while, The Steelers (7-3) has a three game lead and look to take a four game commanding lead in the AFC North Division.

 

Injuries will be a big part of tonight’s game in this short week 11 matchup. Titans star quarterback Marcus Mariota is dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries, so look forward to Tennessee leaning heavily on the running game. Stud running-backs DeMarco Murray(433 yards, four TD’s)  and Derrick Henry(409 yards, three TD’s) will look to carry much of the load tonight while Mariota battles through these nagging injuries. For Pittsburgh, most of their injuries are on the defensive side. 2x time pro bowler Joe Haden will be out for tonight’s game and will be sidelined for 5 to 6 weeks.

 

Linebacker James Harrison and Safety Mike Mitchell will be questionable for tonight’s game.
Defending AFC North Champions Steelers are 2-1 at home this season, winning tonight will better their chances of winning consecutive division titles. On the other side The Tennessee Titans are 2-2 on the road this season, Titans are trying to snap a eight-season playoff drought.
Look for Ben Roethlisberger to bounce back from a tough outing against the Indianapolis Colts Ben played well enough in the 4th quarter to sneak by the Colts with a 20-17 win but struggled most of the game.

 

I expect Le’Veon Bell who has 1,091 yards from scrimmage (840 rushing, 251 receiving) to lead the NFL entering week 11, and Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown (60 receptions, 882 yards)  to continue their amazing play on the field tonight. The Titans will have to keep a eye out on rookie wide out JuJu Smith-Schuster who is making great improvements every week, he is becoming one of Ben Roethlisberger favorite targets.
The Steelers rank No. 10 in total offense and No. 18 in scoring with an average of 20.8 points per game. They meet a Titans team that ranks 17th in total defense and No. 23 with 23.7 points allowed per game.
On the opposite side of the ball, Tennessee’s offense is No. 19 with 328.7 yards a game.

 

They will face a Steelers unit that boasts the No. 2 total defense and scoring defense (16.4 points allowed per game).
Look for both defenses to try to make their mark on tonight’s game, and I expect both teams to play very well on a short week. I believe this football game will come down to the final possession of the game in this great AFC matchup.

 

The last meeting between these two teams was The Steelers came out victorious in a 27-24 win look for the score to be similar tonight.
Prediction: 24-20 Steelers

 

 

Written by Mike Jones

Nov 16, 2017 No Comments
Total Team Effort From The Oklahoma City Thunder As They Blow Out The Chicago Bulls (92-79)

Total Team Effort From The Oklahoma City Thunder As They Blow Out The Chicago Bulls (92-79)

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by | Nov 16, 2017 | Featured

The Oklahoma City Thunder were coming into tonight’s game on a two-game winning streak. OKC was missing Carmelo Anthony in the lineup last game and returned tonight. The last couple of games Paul George has been able to find his stroke and find his teammates. George didn’t have the monster game that he previously had in this one but was able to watch his whole team flourish. Russell Westbrook was able to get things going after a scoreless 1st quarter he followed that up with 17 points in the 2nd quarter. After Westbrook had that monster 2nd quarter the Big 3 were able to find that chemistry that everyone talks about and get others involved. The Bulls were just having a bad night from the field and weren’t able to get much going as they trailed by 15+ points the majority of the game. The crazy thing is the Thunder Big 3 had 34 points at halftime which was the same amount of points the Bulls had as a team.

The Thunder were playing amazing defense and they let the defense convert into the offense. Russell Westbrook had a couple of plays where he jumped into the passing lane and was able to get to the rim with aggression. When Westbrook has those monster dunks it gets the team and the crowd involved and that’s huge when it comes to game flow/momentum. Overall when you have the reigning MVP willing to pass and get everyone involved while he’s flourishing on his own it makes everything easier. Carmelo came back from his sore back and looked like “Hoodie Melo” throughout the game but still was trying to get back into the flow of the offense. Once Carmelo gets back to 100% it will be a sight to see with Russ & PG. The Thunder weren’t able to have their best shooting night and still were able to put the finishing touches on the Bulls pretty early in the 2nd half. Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and PG & Melo combined for 7-25 from the field for 31 points.

The Thunder bench has grown over the past couple of games and has been able to handle the lead when the starters get out. Jerami Grant has improved his game and has brought more to the game than his explosive dunks. Grant has been able to assert himself on the defensive end with his blocks, charges, and his rebounding he finished with 15 points. The second unit is still trying to find their niche but they have done an amazing job of playing together and looking for the best shot. The addition of Felton and Patterson with the second unit has given OKC some leadership when Abrines and others come in the game. This bench has been talked about but lately, they have proven that with time and practice they can manage a game and keep things together until the Big 3 get back into the game. The Thunder bench scored 31 tonight and this was a great game to see them gel together and find what’s working and what’s not working.

The Chicago Bulls weren’t able to get anything going on both ends of the floor tonight against OKC. Chicago did have Valentine and Markkanen step up tonight but their combined 29 points. Overall the Bulls don’t have a clear-cut person to go to for buckets and they need more guidance on the court. The Bulls lacked a veteran guy that plays a significant role that can actually score/defend when they need a basket before things get really bad.

The Thunder will faceoff against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in San Antonio and will look to continue this winning streak they’re on right now. They will be matching up against a Spurs team with Kawhi Leonard but Aldridge has been able to put them on his back so this should be a good game. The Thunder will be hoping that Steven Adams can come back next game in SA as they battle in Texas.

 

 

Photo Credit: Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

Nov 16, 2017 No Comments
OKC Thunder Beat The Mavs On Russell Westbrook’s 29th Birthday (112-99)

OKC Thunder Beat The Mavs On Russell Westbrook’s 29th Birthday (112-99)

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by | Nov 13, 2017 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder were coming into this game tonight without Steven Adams for a second game in a row. What the OKC Thunder and the fans didn’t know is that they would be without Carmelo Anthony who was nursing a sore back. With Melo sitting out tonight it was all up to Paul George and the birthday boy Russell Westbrook to carry the load against the Dallas Mavericks. Russell Westbrook celebrated his birthday by rocking his Air Jordan 10 “Why Not” PE that Jordan Brand made for him after winning the MVP.

Paul George also wore a special pair of Nike PG1s that he labed “The Westbrook Party Joints” tonight.

Russell Westbrook and Paul George both went off on the Mavericks tonight and were able to get into a ryhtym for the second time in a row. Both PG-13 and the Brodie combined for 64 points tonight and took it to the Mavericks. This stretch of games have been really good for Paul George as he follows his 42 point performance with a 37 point performance. This is the Paul George that everyone envisioned touching down in OKC and now that Westbrook is learning his sweet spots the offense is flowing the way that it’s supposed too. Russell Westbrook was being his usual self and wasn’t let anything stop him from getting to the rim whenever he wanted. Westbrook had 9 points at the end of the half and ended the game with 27 points. Westbrook has used his leadership and his will to bring the Thunder team together and you can tell that the team is finding their niche right away. The bench has been able to step up as well and without Melo in the lineup Jerami Grant got the call to step up in place of the All Star. Grant had 10 points and 8 rebounds but had some thunderish dunks that has everyone wondering if he will be in the NBA Dunk Contest in February. Overall Grant has been able to step up his play and has shown that he can grow and be reliable in this system. Overall the Thunder played the way that everyone has expected them even if it was against the Mavericks. OKC has used these last couple of games to gel into what they need to be as a whole. The Defense was able to force a lot of turnovers and that turned into fast break points for the Thunder on numerous occations in the game.

The Mavericks have a special talent in Dennis Smith Jr as he poured in 15 points in his first career matchup against Russell Westbrook. Dennis Smith Jr is extremely talented and has shown that he has what it takes to get his team involved and also he’s showed that he can take over a game offensively. Most night Dennis Smith Jr is able to do as he pleases and get to the rim at any moment but the Thunder interior defense slowed that down tonight. Harrison Barnes played a great game tonight and was able to score when the Mavs needed a bucket but the offensive performance from OKC was too much to go back and forth with as they found themselves down by 21 really quick. The future for the Mavericks is very bright with Smith and Barnes running the show for the next couple of years. One thing that the Mavericks fans can bank on is that Dennis Smith Jr isn’t intimidated by Russell Westbrook and always looks forward to a matchup.

The Mavs took the loss and will look to bounce back in their next game. The Thunder will be playing against the Bulls as Cameron Payne makes his return back to OKC the team that drafted him.

 

Photo Credit: Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

Nov 13, 2017 No Comments
PGs 42 Point Night Helps OKC Snap Their 4 Game Skid Against The Clippers (120-111)

PGs 42 Point Night Helps OKC Snap Their 4 Game Skid Against The Clippers (120-111)

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by | Nov 11, 2017 | Featured, NBA

Coming into tonights game the Thunder needed a win in the worst way possible. The Thunder held a private players only meeting to work on things and try to gain that understanding/chemistry. The meeting defintely had to work because the Thunder came out looking like a team that  desperately needed a win and badly. OKC came out clicking on all cylinders and the Big 3 were able to be very aggressive on the perimeter with Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari out. Paul George was on another level tonight as he was able to get into ryhtym very early in the game and looked extremely comfotable. This is the Paul George that everyone had been waiting for in Oklahoma City. When Paul George is attacking and hitting his jumper the other team is defintely in trouble.

 

 

This is the first time all season the Thunder had a player reach 40 points or more and PG put the team on his back defensively and offensively. You can tell that PG was feeling it and all of the Big 3 know if one person is on fire to keep feeding him. This Thunder team has gone through some growing pains and they seemed to be patched up pretty quick against the Clippers. In order for this Thunder team to flourish the way everyone knows they can they will have to continue to play at this elite level on both ends. OKC’s Big 3 combined for 78 points on the night and they were able to get others involved off of their momentum.

 

 

Dakari Johnson started in place of Steven Adams and played one hell of a game. The rookie went up against DeAndre Jordan in his first career start and didn’t back down at all. Johnson had 9 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound in the win. It was good to see Dakari being aggressive and taking care of the paint on both ends. Late in the game Dakari hit a couple of clutch free throws and a dagger like jumper from Russell Westbrooks smooth pass. Overall the team was able to maintain the momentum in the game even when it felt like it was getting close in the late stages of the game.

 

OKC was able to contain everyone else on the Clippers and they forced Lou Williams to try and beat them. Lou had 35 points for the Clippers but no one else on their team was able to help or add in more than 20 points. The Thunder did a great job of defending Blake Griffin as they held him to 17 points and didn’t let him bully them in the paint. Carmelo Anthony was guarding Blake on the evening and was making everything tough for him. What did come easy was the Thunder knowing that Alex Abrines had his game rolling tonight as they fed him the ball in his spot as he added 14 points. If the Thunder bench can compete with other teams benches they should be in the driver seat for every single game that they play. The Big 3 can score and defend with the best of them and will try to keep that going as they have the Dallas Mavericks coming into town on Sunday.

Nov 11, 2017 No Comments