Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) with a practice report on the eve of the beginning of the regular season: “Terrance Ferguson completed the NBA’s concussion protocol and was back in practice on Sunday. Abdel Nader was also a full participant in practice after recovering from knee soreness. Russell Westbrook continues to do more and more in practice and is progressing well.” Continue reading
Royce Young (ESPN) with the medical update on Russell Westbrook: “Russell Westbrook is “progressing” and getting nearer to a return, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Thursday, but has not been cleared for full-contact practice yet, leaving the All-Star point guard’s status for the season opener in question.”
BetSDI, a sports-betting website, has set the over/under total on Russell Westbrook triple-doubles this season at 22.5. Check more of the prop bets and where Thunder players land on those bets. Continue reading
Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) on the new menu items at the Chesapeake Energy Arena: “Well this year at Thunder games there will be more than enough delicious options to satiate that need, conveniently located around the arena. On Wednesday afternoon, the Thunder and its partners, Levy Restaurants and Savor Catering, showed off some delightful food items that will be for sale in the arena during the 2018-19 season, tapping into every price point, seat location and taste bud requirement. Both caterers take pride in sourcing locally, both throughout Oklahoma and other states within a 400-mile radius.”
The God of Thunder giveth: “The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Donte Grantham, guard Scotty Hopson and forward Dez Wells, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.” Continue reading
A recap podcast of last night’s game hosted by myself and NTTB contributor Dylan Huntzinger.
Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the wild game against the Milwaukee Bucks: “During the third, however, the Thunder did get a shot in the arm from rookie guard Hamidou Diallo, who made his first NBA-level start at shooting guard in place of the injured Andre Roberson and Terrance Ferguson. Diallo went 4-for-4 for nine points in the third quarter, part of a 19-point, five-rebound, four-assist effort on 8-of-16 shooting in 40 minutes of play, but Donovan is more pleased right now about the rookie’s grasp of the team’s defensive concepts, his motor and toughness than his scoring.” Continue reading
Chris Murch (OKC Thunder Wire) on Billy Donovan being a fan of the preseason schedule: “So what we can do is take these four games and then be able to use that week to really look and evaluate of things we have to continue to grow in and get better in, things we’re doing well, we want to continue doing.”
Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) with a preview of tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks: “That process has been going well, despite the fact that the Thunder has had more than its share of injuries during U.S. Cellular Training Camp. Two starters in Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson and Abdel Nader have missed every preseason game, Paul George missed one game due to a personal matter and Terrance Ferguson has had to leave early from two contests. Despite the adversity, the Thunder’s next-man-up mentality has served the group well, and the team has been able to press on in its growth as a unit.” Continue reading
Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) on the energy shown by the Thunder in their win against the Atlanta Hawks: “Rookie Hamidou Diallo again was impressive, utilizing his athleticism, tenacity and intelligence to make plays, garnering more minutes after starter Terrance Ferguson went down with concussion-like symptoms. Sure, as a 20-year old, Diallo will have moments like when he hesitated on a cut to the rim. But he made up for it by receiving the pass from a posted-up George and turning the corner quickly to attack the rim to draw a foul. Diallo was aggressive on the glass in keeping loose balls alive and finished both at the rim and at the charity stripe as he chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds.” Continue reading
Royce Young (ESPN) on the setback suffered by Andre Roberson in his recovery from a ruptured patella tendon: “After suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in January, Roberson was on track to return to the floor in November, but he needed an additional procedure because a suture was causing irritation that he couldn’t play through.”
Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) with reaction to the Thunder’s first preseason game: “It was a Thunder group featuring a 14-year veteran in reserve point guard Raymond Felton, forward Jerami Grant, backup center Nerlens Noel and then 20-year-old Terrance Ferguson and 19-year-old Hamidou Diallo. Clashing against the Pistons’ All-Star center Andre Drummond, a rising, physical forward in Stanley Johnson and few other veteran starters, the Thunder youngsters hung in there and made Wednesday’s preseason opener a high-intensity, competitive battle for all 48 minutes.” Continue reading
The Topic: Thunder crew recaps the Pistons game on their first recap podcast.
Erik Horne (NewsOK) with one of the major developments from the Thunder’s first preseason game: The Dennis Schröder/Steven Adams pick and roll: ““I spend time with him, mate,” Adams said of the chemistry between him and Schroder. “It’s more about finding out what you like, where you’re looking. Whenever you’re trying to figure out their body language in terms of them coming off screens, how they’re setting up, it helps on both sides. Especially with the passes, he will ask me what type of passes I like. It just comes down to that.” Continue reading
Guess what, Thunder fans???? It’s Game Day!!!!!
Chris Munch (OKC Thunder Wire) on what could have been if Carmelo Anthony would have stayed: “While this might be the politically correct way answer to the question, P.G.’s belief that Melo was a positive on their roster is an interesting thought given all the advanced analytics saying otherwise.”
Grant Afseth (OKC Thunder Wire) on the Thunder’s transition this preseason from Russell Westbrook to Dennis Schroder: “His ability just to read the different screens, and not just read them but set up his man, if that makes sense,” Adams said. “It’s a big difference that I notice in guards that know how to use pick-and-rolls.” Continue reading
Dan Favale and Adam Fromal (Bleacher Report) look at the top 15 point guards in the league: “But we’d be remiss to gloss over Westbrook’s most glaring wart. And it ain’t his defense. His effort waxes and wanes. Whatever. That happens to high-usage lifelines. His penchant for errant off-the-dribble jumpers is more damning.”
Grant Afseth (OKC Thunder Wire) looks at if Paul George can regain his mid-range efficiency: “Last season, George’s output on mid-range jumpers within the half-court dropped to only 0.65 points per possession. His efficiency ranked 14th in the league compared to the 15 players that logged at least 200 attempts. The main difference was that George went from shooting on average 2.6-of-5.5 (47.1 percent) on two-point pull-ups in 2016-17 to 1.3-of-3.6 (36.2 percent) last season.” Continue reading