OKC Ruins Paul George’s Return Beating The LA Clippers (118-112)

OKC Ruins Paul George’s Return Beating The LA Clippers (118-112)

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by | Dec 23, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Paul George was coming back to Oklahoma City to play the team that he left this offseason via trade. It was never but love for Paul George when he hit the court in Oklahoma City. A lot of the media were wondering how Paul George would be received by the OKC fans. Well, tonight in the return of Paul George the fans were cheering him and the OKC Thunder even had a little tribute clip played for PG-13 as well. The OKC Thunder were a true class act and the fans followed that until the game started so they can cheer the home team. The Thunder came out slow in this game against the Clippers as they were able to dominate in the paint very early. The play of Harrell and Zubac was making it tough on the Thunder int he interior. On the night Harrell had 18 points and was able to be very physical in the paint. The Clippers made it an added effort to set the tone early and it was working. Paul George was able to get his game going in that first half and this is something that the Thunder are used to seeing from the past. Paul had his whole package on display as he was hitting 3 pointers, driving to the lane, and he was able to create space with his smooth crossover/jumper. The Thunder had Terrance Ferguson on Paul George all night and he was able to make it tough on PG-13 on some shots. Ferguson was able to slow down Paul George in the 2nd half and it won’t come up on the stat sheet but he was able to make him work for everything. Paul George was able to score at will in the 1st half and the 2nd half he didn’t get the chance to get open looks. While Paul George wasn’t able to execute to the level he wanted too in that 2nd half he had back up. Since the Clippers were without Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard they had Lou Williams starting. Lou Williams was able to carry the LA Clippers in scoring as he’s been the microwave on the offensive end for them. Lou Williams finished with 22 points on the night but his crafty offense and smooth jumper weren’t enough to pull this one out for the Clippers. The Clippers had 5 scorers in double figures but they weren’t enough to get the job done tonight as the Thunder were able to come back from an 18 point lead.

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game with comebacks of 26, 24, and now 18 points. This Thunder team is very scrappy and they have a lot of talent that people sleep on. The Thunder team has been able to make the opposing teams pay and it starts with the play of their three guards. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, and Dennis Schröder. Tonight was the night that Shai wanted to let his former team and teammates know that they shouldn’t have got rid of him. Tonight Shai was able to score with his scoop and also he had his fadeaway jumper working. When Shai plays with this type of confidence on any given night I feel like he makes it tough on any defense. Tonight Shai was able to match his career-high in points with 32 again after posting that against the Suns. The second-year player is quickly emerging as a star in this league and a player that teams will have to gameplan for now. The way that Shai has played on both ends of the floor including tonight against the Clippers has been special. Shai has made some big plays on the defensive end that has led to his offense and creating others. The confidence that he’s playing with right now has been spilling over and you can tell he’s been in a zone. Shai had a three-pointer that he hit right in front of the Clippers bench and he made sure they knew he made it. When Shai plays with his type of style and confidence like calling for the ball because he knows that he has the matchup he’s a problem. The length from Shai was able to make it tough for Paul George and others to defend him on the night. Another player that was able to make things possible for the Thunder to get this victory was Dennis Schröder. When Dennis comes into the game he gives this team a big jolt in energy on both sides of the floor. The way that Dennis plays the game is very slithery and his first step is extremely quick. Dennis is showing everyone what he’s able to do with the minutes and opportunity and he’s been the main source of offense for the Thunder this year. Schröder was in the zone tonight and the Clippers had no answer for him from the inside and outside. When Dennis gets into a zone where the 3 pointers and midrange are working it’s tough to stop this team. The Thunder are now above .500 on the season as they’re 15-14 after beating the Clippers tonight.

The Thunder will look to get to 16 wins on Thursday as they have the Memphis Grizzlies and Morant coming back into town.

Dec 23, 2019 No Comments
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Career High 32 PTS Help OKC Beat Phoenix (126-108)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Career High 32 PTS Help OKC Beat Phoenix (126-108)

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by | Dec 21, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder has been labeled the “Comeback Kids” after the last couple of games. Tonight against the Phoenix Suns they made sure there wasn’t going to be a comeback needed. From the opening tipoff, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was attacking the rim with aggression. It was one of those nights that you could tell you were about to see something special. Shai was able to get the offense started as he was creating his jumper and was very crafty at the rim. The Thunder plays with a different type of swagger when Shai gets his offense going from the start of the game. The Phoenix Suns tried putting Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio on Shai throughout the night and it didn’t matter. Shai was 13/18 from the field on the evening and put this team on his back for a career-high 32 points. When Shai plays with this type of aggressiveness it opens up the floor for his teammates as well. The fact that Shai can beat you inside and outside has opposing teams confused on how to guard the second-year guard. The Suns had no answer for the Thunder tonight as OKC had 6 players in double figures. Shai has emerged as a player that teams have to gameplan for and just as much as the Suns tried he had an answer. Shai has patented his scoop layups and they have been something that teams can’t defend at all. The play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the Thunder in cruise control as they were able to throttle the Suns.

 

 

Another player that helped the Thunder get this victory was Danilo Gallinari as he finished with 22 points on the night. After the half, it seemed as though the in-game DJ kept playing the “Gallinari” theme music every couple of possessions. The 3rd quarter was owned by Gallinari as he came out the gate with 11 points. The Thunder in the past never had a clear cut sharpshooter outside of a star that you can depend on to knock down 3 pointers. This season Danilo Gallinari has been able to help the Thunder outshoot teams like they did the Suns tonight. The Phoenix Suns had no answer for the shooting of Gallinari and it seemed like the perimeter defense was nonexistent at times in this game. The NBA 6th Man of the Year award won’t be decided until June but it’s very clear to the Phoenix Suns and the NBA that Dennis Schröder is the front runner right now. Every time that Dennis Schröder comes into the game he’s been instant offense and tonight that was no different. Schröder finished the game with 24 points and was giving the Suns fits on the defensive side. This season and tonight Dennis has shown opposing defenses his whole bag of tricks from the floater to his flashy layups. The play of Dennis has helped this team to the 14-14 record that they have now. After tonights win the Thunder are finally at .500 on the season and will be looking to get above .500 against Paul George’s Clippers on Sunday.

 

 

The Phoenix Suns were flat out the gate in this game against OKC and it didn’t get better throughout the night. The Suns did get their star Devin Booker back from his forearm injury and it showed as he was a little rusty. On the night Devin Booker had 18 points as he usually gives the Thunder problems on the perimeter. Booker was one of the bright spots for the Suns who weren’t able to hit anything on second-chance opportunities on the night. The Suns have now lost 5 games in a row and tonight didn’t help with their morale at all. Ricky Rubio was also playing as good as he used too vs OKC when he was in Utah. Rubio finished with 24 points on the night to lead the Suns and it just wasn’t enough to get the job done against the Thunder tonight. The Suns had 5 players in double figures but it wasn’t enough to beat the OKC Thunder who have developed a nice home stretch.

 

 

Dec 21, 2019 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Dallas Mavericks Vs. Philadelphia 76ers

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Dallas Mavericks Vs. Philadelphia 76ers

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by | Dec 21, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Friday always calls for NBA action, and what better way to end the week with than an ESPN primetime doubleheader for all NBA fans to enjoy. The star power is slightly depleted but don’t sleep on tonight’s matchup between the Mavs and Sixers at 8 p.m., ET since these Mavericks are no easy out when they’re without their scoring maestro Luka Doncic who, before his injury was putting up some historically unprecedented numbers at the mere age of 21.

And that is no reason for the Mavericks to cry or lament over their string of recent unfortunate events not so ever in their favor. They’re an official 1-1 without Doncic, showing absolute moxie against two intimidating Eastern title contenders in the Bucks and Celtics consecutively.

While they were able to successfully keep a diminutive lead over the then-streaking Milwaukee Bucks who had, before Monday’s loss, won 18-straight games following a corner three buzzer-beater from Utah’s Bogdan Bogdanovic on November 8, Kristaps Porzingis and crew didn’t have enough in the tank to pry his Mavs over the visiting Boston Celtics. They gave everything they had but couldn’t survive the Kemba Walker-Jayson Tatum show in the second half as the rim looked as if there existed a titanium seal atop the rim.

Rick Carlisle’s offensive strategy gets even more tedious to mash together in the third game of Doncic’s absence, now that they’re up against the sixth-best defensive team in the NBA that is stifling and annoying on the perimeter, something that will be a thorn in the side of Carlisle’s Mavs all night considering that a majority of their offensive sets (and really, overall offensive effect) are all run through the perimeter. Other scorers like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson can certainly help to counter that, but it will be up to Kristaps Porzingis to weather the storm that is Joel Embiid since the two seven-footers will be matched up for about 95% of the game.

They’re well aware of each other’s dually-enriched acumen on both sides of the floor due to their knowledge of duking it out when KP was a Knick, so this marks the first time the two centers see each other with Porzingis playing in a different uniform and new system.

As it goes for the 20-9 Sixers, they’re 14-1 inside the Wells Fargo Center and had all the chances to make it 15-0 had it not been for some stops against the Miami Heat, and better shot selection from behind the arc from a currently underwhelming Al Horford in the games final minute after a missed pair of free throws.

Philly has lost two in a row but should fare well against the undersized Mavericks with a quartet of physical specimens, led by the expert-described “best center in the NBA” in Joel Embiid. 6’10 Ben Simmons is occasionally mocked and criticized for his limited offensive shot selection, but he is still averaging 14.4 points per game, 8.1 assists and 6.7 rebounds per contest, just a couple marks shy of the numbers that earned him Rookie of the Year honors in 2018.

As a team, their defense can be sticky, allowing the fifth-fewest points per game in the league. Also, and understandably, their rebounding is outstanding, grabbing nearly six more boards per game than their opponents.

The thing about these Mavericks though: through 28 games, they have a road record of 10 wins and two losses (thanks to Doncic tearing up a quarter of the league this year, of course) but historically stumble against the Sixers, as they haven’t gotten a positive result in the City of Brotherly Love dating back to last year, dropping their last three visits to Philadelphia.

Let’s see if that bad streak ends tonight under the bright lights of primetime.

Dec 21, 2019 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Houston Rockets Vs. Los Angeles Clippers

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Houston Rockets Vs. Los Angeles Clippers

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by | Dec 20, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The gift that just keeps on giving is TNT Thursday Night Basketball, as game two of this star-packed doubleheader features another blockbuster showdown featuring a team in Tinseltown in the Clippers defending their home court against the dangerous Houston Rockets at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

The 21-7 Clippers face these 18-9 Rockets for the third time this season, and now it looks as if they’ll have the perfect defensive gameplan to at least slow down offensive supernova James Harden, now that Harden has to worry about dueling against both superstars the Clippers picked up in this offseason.

You know the drill about these Clippers anyway. Now from adding Patrick Beverley, who is now 100 percent recovered from a concussion he suffered a week ago against Toronto, it’s the same lineup as follows, repackaged and all: two superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, three ex-Rockets in PatBev, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell, and three solid rotation players in Ivica Zubac, Mo Harkless and Landry Shamet.

As it goes for Houston, this is yet another opportunity to earn another win against the two-way juggernaut the Clippers are perceived to be. These two teams have split their two-game series apiece, though it looks like the Clips have the clear and conspicuous advantage on paper. This means not that the Rockets can expect this as a loss, though. Both games that the Clips and Rockets have played have been particularly close, and with James Harden standing in rarified air as a scorer with his 38.9 ppg. (only he and Wilt Chamberlain have touched the 40-point average mark in the entire history of this league), expect this one to probably be around the same speed.

It’ll be compelling to watch if the Clippers can limit Harden’s trips to the FT line, considering that Harden has averaged six free throws per game (surprising, isn’t it?) after averaging closer to 14 a game earlier this year. it’ll also be interesting to see if Russell Westbrook can have himself a get-back game against the Clippers (he’s averaging 22.8 ppg., off 42.6 percent shooting and 22.8 percent three-point shooting), considering that he had his worst game of the season against these Clippers. They’re better now that they have their two all-stars on the floor together, so the 2017 MVP certainly isn’t deserving of an easier challenge.

Tip-off is set to occur shortly after the conclusion of Lakers/Bucks on TNT.

Dec 20, 2019 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

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by | Dec 20, 2019 | Featured, NBA

“And now for the Main Event of the evening!”

Looks like there’s room for two magnanimous premieres for nationwide blockbusters on Thursday night. Star Wars is dropping in theaters, obviously, but before that, another long-awaited duel between two elite factions at the top of their game takes place tonight. The two best teams in the NBA compete for bragging rights on Thursday night as the 24-4 Los Angeles Lakers compete in their second-straight road game against an Eastern conference adversary, this time traveling a little up north to face that other 24-4 powerhouse in the Milwaukee Bucks live on TNT at 8 p.m. EST.

Barring a shocking home loss to a Mavericks team that was without, and will be without, their star player for what sounds like a period of multiple weeks on Monday night, the Bucks (more specifically Giannis Antetokounmpo) have looked the part of the most menacing team in the league. It’s apples to oranges when trying to find comparisons or superiorities with all the other teams in the East just a full month and some change into the 2019 campaign.

The Greek Freek is the runaway MVP favorite and possible lock already in the month of December, posting up some astronomical numbers of 31.7 points a game, 12.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. We’ve never seen a player dominate at this magnitude and it’s almost an impending reality that the 2018-19 league MVP will finish this season averaging double-doubles while scoring 30 points (or more) a game, something seldom accomplished.

And of course, the best players make their teammates better in their quest to make the team the best in the land, and Antetokounmpo has accomplished that in multitudes. Milwaukee leads the league in scoring differential, is tied for first in total defensive rating and is second behind the Mavericks in overall offensive rating.

Who is second in those statistical rankings, you might ask? Look no further in the team that balls out in Tinseltown on a nightly basis. The Los Angeles Lakers may have lost their first game in over a month while undermanned without Anthony Davis (coincidentally, one night after the Bucks had their 18-game winning streak snapped) on Tuesday against the Pacers, but that hasn’t stopped this train from rolling all season.

The Lakers are tied for first with the Bucks in the overall team aspect of defensive rating, is only a spot behind the Lakers with the second-best winning/scoring margin in the NBA, and though they fall three spots lower than the Bucks in total offensive rating as a team, it’s yet to be determined just how tight the equally-gifted and dynamic frontcourts for both teams battle all night.

There really isn’t much else to be said about this one, except to just look at this matchup and enjoy the show. The two best teams in the league, and the two best players in the league in LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo face-off on primetime television for the world to see. What more could you ask for?

Dec 20, 2019 No Comments
Another Thunderous Comeback In OKC As The Thunder Beat Memphis (126-122)

Another Thunderous Comeback In OKC As The Thunder Beat Memphis (126-122)

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by | Dec 19, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The OKC Thunder came into this game against the Memphis Grizzlies fresh off their 26 point comeback victory over Chicago. The Thunder showed a lot of heart to come back from 26 points on Monday. Tonight they started off slow again as the Memphis Grizzlies were pretty much unstoppable in the first half. Ja Morant was dominate in his first game against the OKC Thunder in his career and looked explosive. Morant was able to get it done inside and outside the paint. One thing that Morant was able to do against the Thunder in that first half he created for his teammates. Ja Morant was being guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, Dennis Schröder all night. It was very impressive that Ja Morant was still able to finish with 22 points on the night. The problem with that is the fact that OKC was able to shut him down in the 4th quarter as they held him to 0 points. The Memphis Grizzlies were led by Brandon Clarke who had a career-high 27 points on the night. Clarke was all over the rebounds and was able to make the Thunder pay in the second-chance points. Brandon Clarke was able to use his power and finesse against the Thunder. The first half the Grizzlies were able to beat OKC in the fast break game and it really did show. The Thunder were giving up way too many points in the paint as Memphis had 74 points down low. Memphis showed a lot of fight tonight as they were able to make some tough shots throughout the night. The Thunder won this game with the adjustments they made on Ja Morant in that 4th quarter and their offense.

 

 

Dennis Schröder was able to lead the charge for the Thunder tonight. It seemed as though the Thunder fed off the energy from Dennis and they made sure to keep giving him the rock. Dennis was able to carry the Thunder tonight just like CP3 did the other night. The Thunder dug themselves in another deep hole trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 24 points at the start of the 3rd. This Thunder team must like adversity and being the comeback kids. This Thunder team scrapped and clawed themselves back into this game and showed that they can turn it on. Dennis led the way with 31 points off the bench as the Grizzlies had no answer for his first step to the basket. Dennis Schröder has been the ultimate leader and has let his offense do all the talking for him. The Grizzlies had no answer for Dennis and when his game got going that opened up things for his other teammates. Another player who was able to get his game back on track was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as he was attacking and was being aggressive in that 2nd half tonight. When Shai attacks like he did tonight this Thunder team can do no wrong because when he plays with that confidence the Thunder is scary. Shai was getting to the free-throw line and attacking as Dillion Brooks wasn’t able to stay in front of Shai. Shai and Chris Paul combined for 38 points on the night. Both of them with the addition of Dennis Schröder is not a sight that opposing defenses want to see and the Grizzlies learned that the hard way tonight when they lost their 24 point lead.

 

 

 

The OKC Thunder will be facing off against the Phoenix Suns on Friday as they look to get to .500 on the season. The Phoenix Suns will be waiting to see if Devin Booker will be joining them as they try to slow down the OKC Thunder on this home trip.

Dec 19, 2019 No Comments