The Source: Presti Quotables

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Back in the 90’s, magazines were all the rage for being in the know for whatever you were consuming. If you loved sports, there was a weekly dose of information called Sports Illustrated. If nature was your thing, National Geographic had you covered. World news…Time. Silly comics…MAD. If you were a music head, you were probably ordering a monthly subscription to Rolling Stones or Vibe. But you were a hip-hop head, your readable rotation probably involved magazines like Word Up!, XXL, and The Source. The latter of those had a section called Hip-Hop Quotables, where the magazine highlighted a specific verse or song that was lyrically chef’s kiss. If you were a rapper at that time, you wanted your verse to be featured on Hip-Hop Quotables.

If you’ve followed the Oklahoma City Thunder any in their 18 years of existence, you know that a Sam Presti press conference is usually good for several quotables. The man is well-versed in many forms of prose and can pull out a quote or lyric from the recesses of his mind. As the Thunder open up their championship-defending campaign, Presti once again blessed us with several quotables in preparation for the 2025-26 NBA season. Here are some from Thursday’s presser:

Shots fired at NBA commissioner Adam Silver for his comments regarding the cost associated with having multiple TV partners across multiple streaming services and his quip that content can be consumed for free on social media because basketball is a “highlight-based sport”. Presti, and in turn, the Thunder, have always prided themselves in being students of the game, and not just consumers of the moment. When you stack days and live a 0-0 mentality, highlights are just plays that happen in the moment.

Chess is often associated with intelligence and experience. How do you attack and then how do you counter. But, as Presti said, that’s assuming everyone is playing with the same players on the board. Chess would make sense if everyone had an MVP candidate on their team or a DPOY candidate that can step out and hit 3’s. But in reality, that isn’t the case. In poker, you are given a set of cards, and from there, you decide what to do. Six years ago, the Thunder saw the deck they had in hand, and decided to pivot (or fold) from that current state. And so began the rebuild. While it was uncomfortable (shitty hands) for a little, eventually the team came up aces with their young players and a championship was the end result. Presti knew when to hold them and when to fold them.

“My whole life is consistent.” Yep, checks out. Presti knows ball.

One of the staples of the Thunder ethos is “no agenda basketball”. Presti said that when describing Cason Wallace’s play when they drafted the guard in 2023. And he repeats that, in other words/phrases, of course, in describing Chet. What I love about “Presti-speak” is that he takes a phrase and then parses out synonyms that basically mean the same thing.

 

 

If you were looking for a theme for this year, it’s “turning the page”. Presti mentioned it  multiple times during the press conference and eludes to the fact that the Thunder can’t rest on the laurels of last season. Continuous improvement was also a theme Presti touched on multiple time during the presser.

Frickin’ bars, man. Stop guarding the past. Build towards the future. If this whole GM thing doesn’t work out for Presti, he’s got a helluva future as an inspirational speaker or life coach.

This is nothing new when it comes to Presti. In every preseason presser, he always stresses the goal is to put yourself in position to go after an opportunity if it presents itself. The Thunder have never been a “title or bust” team. It’s always been about setting yourself up to have the opportunity to compete for championships. To Presti, winning a championship does nothing to change that mindset.

 

These two quotes have to go together. With all the fear being stoked that the 2nd apron will eventually tear this team apart, the reality is that the Thunder are only just now in the beginning of their run, haven’t even dipped their toes into the luxury tax (and likely won’t this season), have their core signed for the next six seasons, and still have a treasure trove of assets. Not only that, but the ownership group has been saving money throughout the rebuild specifically for this moment and more money should be coming, in the form of possible expansion and the new arena. Oh, and the Thunder already have a championship in their coffers before they start getting financially penalized.

If your job has a mission statement, just keep repeating it if you are the boss.

And finally:

Keep smiling, champ. Keep smiling.

 

Jalen Williams sheds the wrist brace

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As shown on Jalen Williams’ Instagram page, the brace that once covered his right wrist is now no longer present. The surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament was performed on July 1st, 2025. At the time, the expected re-evaluation period for such a surgery was at least 12 weeks. As of today, we are at 11 weeks, post-surgery. At the time, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti stated that he expected Williams to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

Williams tore the ligament on April 9th, 2025, in a game against the Phoenix Suns. He went on to miss the last two games of the regular season, but played in all the postseason games, as the Thunder made their run to win the championship. As documented in Williams’ post-surgery vlog, he received lidocaine injections in his wrist before each game and before some practices. He also took multiple cortisone shots and developed injection-site callouses in his wrist. He said that during the playoff run, he had to relearn how to shoot, using more of a finger-tip guided shot, instead of his usual wrist-guided shot.

The Thunder start training camp in a couple of weeks and play their first preseason game on October 5th, 2025 against the Charlotte Hornets. Their championship title defense begins on October 21st, 2025 against the Houston Rockets.

 

After the Storm: A Multiversal look at OKC and Hurricane Katrina

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If you know me, you know that I’m a sucker for a good comic book story. Whether it’s the MCU or the DCEU, a story where the hero (or villain) goes through an ethical journey is one that I will sit through while killing a bucket of buttery, salted popcorn. Lately, the MCU has explored the concept of the multiverse, where there is a boundless collection of infinite realities and timelines, each with its own unique variations of the universe. For example, in another universe, the Portland Trailblazers don’t draft Sam Bowie in 1984, and instead, draft a guard from the University of North Carolina by the name of Michael Jordan. Unfortunately, in that universe, Jordan tears his ACL midway through his rookie year and never develops into the Michael Jordan we know in our universe. In that universe, Nike never explodes into the company we know and the closest thing to Jordan as a brand is Jordache (if you know, it’s probably time to schedule a colonoscopy).

Back on our universe, on August 28th, 2005, a monstrous hurricane by the name of Katrina was releasing all it’s force on the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The power from the storm overwhelmed the levees, and NOLA, a city that was already located below sea level, was inundated in flood water from the failed infrastructure. The devastation wrecked everything in it’s path, whether it was living or non-living. Once the waters receded, the picture in front of everybody was bleak at best. Casualties from those who decided to ride out the storm. Homes, even those of the multistory variety, completely flooded to the roof. A population transplanted to other cities in the general vicinity. A city decimated to the studs.

Once the important stuff was noted, the things that make a city, a city, were next on the docket. New Orleans, known for the French Quarters, Mardi Gras, jazz, world-class cuisine, and a unique night life, was a city that was put on pause. Included in that was the city’s sports scene. The NFL season was about to begin and the New Orleans Saints needed to find a replacement home due to all the damage sustained by the Superdome. They would not be able to play in New Orleans that season and found refuge in San Antonio, Texas.

On the horizon, was the NBA season. The New Orleans Hornets also needed to find a new home, not just due to the damage to their home arena, but also due to the fact that, at that point, early in the city’s recovery, there was not enough population in the city to sustain a season of home basketball games. We all know the story…The NBA needed an arena (and a city) that was NBA-ready for an unknown amount of time. In walks Oklahoma City, with their small city sized population and an arena ready for a tenant. The rest is history. The Hornets played in OKC for two years. The city fell in love with their new team and lusted to have this feeling for the rest of time. The political, civil, and business machinations did their things over the next couple of years, and eventually, OKC ended up with a team of their own, albeit via Seattle.

The Thunder were born. We fell in love with young men by the names of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. We felt the pain of losing a championship and then the pain of watching “our guy” voluntarily leave to play for a rival. We were nursed back to the health by the King of the Prairie. We lived through our first real rebuild and then fell in love with another iteration of the team, which eventually netted us a championship. A sports story for the ages. From tragedy (the Murrah building bombing) to triumph (the championship parade), these bookends in this chapter of the city will be the anchor points that we point to when we talk about our story.

But what if…

Hurricane Katrina never happened?

When you talk about the multiverse, they always point to events that lead to where we currently are in time. They call these points in time “Nexus Events”. For Oklahoma City, their nexus events were the bombing and Hurricane Katrina. They shaped the city we know of today. They shaped the relationships we’ve built, the buildings we’ve constructed, the memories we’ve forged. It opens up a cornucopia of questions for how things change if Katrina never occurred.

Thousands of miles away, they shaped what happened in Seattle, WA. Imagine a world where you’ve only known Durant to play for the Seattle Supersonics. A world where Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp gave way to Kevin Durant and….Jerryd Bayless?

What about New Orleans itself? Do they continue to be at the bottom of the league for attendance? Or do they pull an OKC and fall totally heads over heels for those Chris Paul and David West teams. Or does the bad attendance continue and the forced hand eventually leads to the Hornets moving to, oh, I don’t know, somewhere like Oklahoma City?

So many question. So many possibilities. But the tie that binds is still the same. There is no championship in Oklahoma City without the destruction from Hurricane Katrina. A tragedy that had major ramifications in the lives of many people. A lot can definitely change in 20 years.

Thunder @ Indiana Pacers Preview (Game 3 – NBA Finals)

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Where We Currently Stand

  • Game 1 – 111-110 Pacers – Indiana led for 0.3 seconds of the game. Thunder led throughout, but played “not to lose” late in the game which resulted in Indiana mounting a comeback and having the last meaningful possession of the game, which resulted in a go-ahead midrange jumper from Tyrese Haliburton. Series: 1-0 IND
  • Game 2 – 123-107 OKC – Thunder use a 19-2 run in the 2nd quarter to build up a 18-point halftime lead that Indiana could not overcome this time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was masterful in this game, putting together a 34 point, 8 assist, 5 rebound, 4 steal, and 1 block stat line. Series: Tied 1-1
  • Game 3 – June 11th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.
  • Gambler’s Corner
  • Line: OKC -5.5
  • O/U: 227.5

Game 3 Adjustments

1. More Aggressive Haliburton – Tyrese Haliburton is inherently an unselfish player. He would much rather prefer a democratic offensive system, instead of a totalitarian one where he’s the focal point. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t be that guy. In the fourth quarter of Game 2, Haliburton asserted himself a bit more and scored 12 of his 17 points on 5/6 shooting. Another surprising stat is that Haliburton hasn’t attempted a free throw in the Finals yet. While he’ll never be mistaken for a free throw merchant (3 attempts per game during the regular season), his lack of aggressiveness in the Finals has hurt the Pacers. I see that changing in Game 3.

2. Defending SGA – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points on 11-21 shooting and it didn’t even look like he was trying too hard. Whether it was splitting weak double teams or just going at his primary defender (usually his country-mates Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin), SGA was in an offensive zone that only great scorers get into. The Thunder scheme was to try to get SGA loose and moving downhill early in the set, sometimes up to 7 feet outside the 3-point line. If Indiana is going to try to play tighter and more physically on SGA, you could see a game where he becomes more of a distributor. But it could also backfire on Indiana and we could see SGA get to the free throw line at Dwayne Wade-levels in this game.

3. The Others – Whether it’s Indiana’s Others or Oklahoma City’s Others, the Others will decide who wins Game 3. Will we see a big Pascal Siakim game? Will Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren have a defining game in this series? Will Indiana’s shooting get hot playing in front of their home crowd? Can OKC’s bench travel with them to Gainbridge?

4. Game 3’s – This is going to be the immovable object versus the unstoppable force. Oklahoma City has lost their last two Game 3’s and was down by 29 points at one point in Game 3 against Memphis before coming back to win that game. Indiana has lost all three of their Game 3’s in these playoffs by an average of 14.7 points. Something’s got to give in this Game 3.

5. Dominant OKC – While the series is tied 1-1, Oklahoma City has clearly been the better team in this series. They’ve led for 94 of the 96 minutes so far and have been able to mount double-digit leads with ease throughout the series. Now to see if they can continue doing that on the road.

Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Series Preview – NBA Finals

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Schedule

  • Game 1 – June 5th, 2025 @ 7:30pm CST at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • Game 2 – June 8th, 2025 @ 7:00pm CST at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • Game 3 – June 11th, 2025 @ 7:30pm CST at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
  • Game 4 – June 13th, 2025 @ 7:30pm CST at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
  • *Game 5 – June 16th, 2025 @ 7:30pm CST at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
  • *Game 6 – June 19th, 2025 @ 7:30pm CST at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
  • *Game 7 – June 22nd, 2025 @ 7:00pm CST at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK* – * * – If necessary

Quick Stats (Playoffs)

  • Offensive Rating – IND: 117.7 (2nd) / OKC: 115.9 (3rd)
  • Defensive Rating – IND: 113.6 (9th) / OKC: 104.7 (1st)
  • Net Rating – IND: 4.1 (4th) / OKC: 11.2 (2nd)

The Set-Up

Let’s be honest: if you marked this Finals match-up down in October 2024, then your phone number probably either starts with a 405 area code or a 317 area code. I’m sure a lot of people will tell you that an NBA Finals without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, or Steph Curry will be bad for the league. I’m sure they’ll wax poetic about superteams and dynasties of yore. They may even try to convince that these Finals will be the least watched finals ever. But don’t listen to them.

Every crop of superstars has to eventually meet it’s end. That LeBron and Curry have pushed their reigns out so far has been nothing short of impressive. Kudos to them for showing a new crop of stars how to take care of their bodies and push the bounds of longevity. But one era has to finish for another one to begin. And that is what these Finals may be representing. One, not necessarily built by superteams, but by team depth. One, not necessarily focused on the heliocentricity of one player, but on the ability to have five players on the court be 5-tool players. One, where the most important guy in the organization may not be the league MVP, but the league’s Executive of the Year.

Teams are being built differently now, and this may be the first view of how the NBA will look like under the new CBA. And there will be moans and groans about how great things were in the past. But, yet, somehow, someway, the league continues to grow. The social media hits continue to climb. The game crosses more and more boundaries as it continues to battle futbol (no, not football) as a truly global game. Soccer remains king throughout the world, but basketball continues to lie in wait as the prince that was promised. As the NBA landscape changes, these two teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, are the teams that will usher basketball into this new era. You may be watching the next great dynasty unfold before your eyes.

Regular Season Series

Game 1 – Dec. 26th, 2024 – Thunder win 120-114 in Indianapolis, IN – SGA scores a then career-high 45 points as Lu Dort and the Thunder defense holds Tyrese Haliburton to 4 points on 6 FG attempts. Isaiah Hartenstein pitched in with an 11 point, 13 rebound double-double and Jalen Williams added in 20 points.

Game 2 – Mar. 29th, 2024 – Thunder win 132-111 in Oklahoma City, OK – OKC outscores the Pacers by 20 points combined in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and uses that cushion to cruise to victory. SGA scores 33 points and get big time contributions from Luguentz Dort (22 points on 6/7 shooting from deep) and Isaiah Joe (19 points on 5/7 shooting from deep).

Three Big Things

1. Twins? – These two teams are definitely not identical twins. But they could be classified as fraternal twins with how similar they are. Here are just a few stats that show how similar these two teams are: After January 1st, 2025, the Pacers (33) and Thunder (41) had the most wins in the league during that time. They both have a 12-4 record in the playoffs heading into the Finals. They are No. 2 and 3 in points per game in the playoffs, being separated by only 0.3 of a point. They are No. 1 and 2 in pace in the playoffs. They are 1 and 2 in points off turnovers. They are No. 1 and 3 in fastbreak points. They both get back on defense, being No. 1 and 2 on both Opponent Points off Turnovers and Opponent Fastbreak Points. It’s scary how similar these teams are, statistically.

2. SGA – The biggest difference is that one team boasts the league MVP and the other doesn’t. SGA has been playing some of his best basketball these last few weeks. While he may have started off slow in the first few games of the playoffs, he has picked it up when it has mattered most, scoring 30 or more points in 11 of his last 14 games. Teams have used various schemes to try to stop SGA, but it has been all for naught. In the two regular season games this season, SGA has averaged 39 against Indiana.

3. Living in the Corner – Indiana’s offense in these playoffs has not just been predicated on Haliburton’s floor generalship, but also on the shooters making corner 3’s. Indiana has shot an amazing 46.9% on 9.2 attempts these playoffs. That is up from 40.6% during the regular season. A 16-game sample size is big enough to assume that it can continue for the Pacers in the finals. But if they revert back to their regular season norms, the Pacers could be in trouble.

Thunder @ Denver Nuggets Preview (Game 6 – 2nd Round)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (7-2) @ Denver Nuggets (6-6)
  • When: Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 7:30pm CST
  • Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
  • Series: OKC leads 3-2
  • TV: ESPN
  • Playoff Offensive Rating – DEN: 110.3 (9th) / OKC: 115.2 (5th)
  • Playoff Defensive Rating – DEN: 114.8 (10th) / OKC: 101.1 (1st)
  • Playoff Net Rating – DEN: -4.5 (11th) / OKC: 14.1 (1st)

The Set-Up

Rewind back to Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks last year. The Thunder were coming off a hard-fought, comeback victory in Game 4 on the road to tie that series at 2 games. The momentum was definitely in OKC’s favor. Heading back home for Game 5. This is what teams fight all regular season for: that home court advantage. And it started off good. OKC up 8-2 two minutes into that game. It quickly went downhill from there. Dallas was up by 12 entering the 4th quarter and went up by as much as 15 points. OKC fought back as best they could, cutting the deficit to 7, but ultimately couldn’t get over that hump as Dallas won the game 104-92.

When you juxtapose that to this series, it was nearly identical. The Thunder won a hard-fought, comeback victory in Game 4 on the road to tie the series at 2 games apiece. Momentum firmly on OKC’s side. And the Thunder started Game 5 off like they were trying to replicate the buzzsaw performance that was Game 2. OKC was up 12-2 with 7:58 left in the first quarter when Denver took their first timeout of the game. And then the fun stopped. Nikola Jokic went into MVP form, Jamal Murray remembered that he usually performs well in the playoffs, and the Thunder’s shooting dried up. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Thunder found themselves down by 8 points. Denver tacked on one more point to the lead with 10 minutes left in the game.

And then it happened. The Thunder weren’t going to let the demons from last season haunt them. The Thunder found their will. And that will’s name was Lu Dort. Three straight threes from Dort brought the Thunder within two with 6 minutes left to play. That momentum shift affected the whole team, but probably, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the most. From that point, he was the Shai we’ve seen all season. The MVP. The defense locked in and the offense opened up. An Isaiah Hartenstein alley-oop dunk. A Chet Holmgren layup. A Jalen Williams 3. Some SGA middies. And SGA 3 (finally!). What was a 9-point deficit with 8:25 left in the game turned into a 7-point victory. This wasn’t going to be a repeat of last year. On to Game 6…with a 3-2 series lead.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -4.5
  • O/U: 216.5

Injury Report

OKC
Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)

DEN
DaRon Holmes – OUT (Achilles)
Hunter Tyson – OUT (ankle)

Three Big Things

1. Decisiveness on Offense – While we’ve seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be Superman this season, we’ve also seen his possible kryptonite in this series against the Nuggets. When Denver forces SGA to think, even if it’s just for a second, it throws off his rhythm just enough for them to send one or two extra defenders his way and either get the ball out of his hands or force him into a live grenade situation. SGA has been most successful when he’s allowed to make a quick decision and play his natural game. This usually occurs when he’s off-ball, receives the ball on the move, and is usually accompanied by a high screen from Isaiah Hartenstein that allows him that sliver of space he needs to do what he likes. We’ve seen this late in the game in Games 4 and 5. It’s a possibility that by that point in the game he’s figured out the defense. It’s also a possibility that by that point, Denver is too exhausted to keep up with him and he takes advantage of them being a step slower. Whatever it is, he needs to do is earlier and more consistently throughout the game.

2. Desperation Jokic – If you guys thought Nikola Jokic was insufferable in Game 5 with all the foul-baiting and what not, you haven’t seen nothing yet. Jokic is a shark and when Denver gets into the bonus, it’s like he smells blood. It’s what great scorers do. SGA has 43 free throws in this series and Jokic has 41. But Jokic’s style of play and position lend him to hunt and seek contact more than SGA. If you thought the arm-locking and flailing was bad in Game 5, prepare yourself.

3. Close It Out! – Don’t put yourself in a position for a winner take all game. Too many variables can occur in those games that can negate home court advantage. An ankle sprain here, foul trouble there. If you are in the driver’s seat, go ahead and close it out. Will it be easy? Of course not. But the alternative is even more nerve-wracking.

Cookies and Cream: How Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace are wrecking the playoffs

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We. Are. Back.

I know, last year we were here too, but it just feels different this year.

Yes, we were the 1-seed last year too. But this year we weren’t fighting until the literal final game of the season to try to secure it.

The arrival is here, and if the first 2 games of the Thunder’s round 1 series against the Grizzlies are any indication, it’s going to be here for quite some time.

It really feels like this could be our year.

And you just got to tip your cap to Sam Presti, man.

You have the front runner for the MVP.

You have 3rd year player who is an All-Star.

You have another 3rd year player who was playing like an All-Star.

You have one of (if not) the best perimeter defenders in basketball.

You have a behemoth in the paint to fix every weakness that doomed us the year prior, in addition to being a playmaking maestro.

Then you have the deepest bench in basketball.

From the marksman’s ability of Isaiah Joe, the offensive versatility (and the saving of basketball) of Aaron Wiggins, the hustle and toughness from Kenrich Williams, the steady play from Jaylin Williams, all the way down to 2nd round rookie Ajay Mitchell being able to play in the playoffs in his first year and actually have success.

That’s all well and good, and a big reason why the Thunder are favored to finally bring home the title. That glorious Larry O’B. Mm mm mm.

But I want to highlight the pieces off the bench that I believe are the most critical to the Thunder achieving the goal, and are as equally responsible for the dominant play we have seen in games 1 and 2 as anyone else of the roster.

Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso.

We at the Topic: Thunder podcast started calling Cason Wallace “The Cookie Monster” early in the season, in reference to A: he always seemingly had his hand in the cookie jar. And B: he was one of the league leader in steals (steals = cookies for the uninitiated).

As the season went on, and we started getting healthier through a season of turmoil and adversity, Cason and Caruso got to play together more. Which was a pure joy for Thunder fans, and absolute nightmare fuel for opposing teams.

Thats when we took the name and morphed it into “Cookies and Cream”. The whole cookie thing is still relevant, but you got Cason doing these rim rattling dunks in transition (like one would dunk a cookie into milk… anyone???) and Caruso is picking peoples pockets, tipping passes, challenging the post, blocking shots, diving on the floor. And he’s an old(er) white guy, so of course he’s the cream. Cream of the crop when it comes to the games most disruptive defenders.

Now you know why we call them that, but what we saw last night was them in action like we haven’t seen before.

Entering the 4th, the duo had had a solid showing so far. Cason had 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist, while Caruso had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

The Grizzlies had just cut the lead to 11, and had a bit of momentum to try to trim away further.

Then Alex Caruso hit a 3.

A couple possessions later he forced a jump ball with Jaren Jackson Jr.

Immediately after, the Grizzlies get the jump ball, and Scottie Pippen Jr. is blocked by Cason.

On the other end of the floor, Cason blows by Zach Edey on a close out and finishes with a THUNDEROUS (see what I did there) flush.

A couple possessions later, Ja Morant drives to the right baseline to try to put up a shot over Isaiah Hartenstein, and ALEX CARUSO OUT OF NOWHERE comes to send his shot to the nether realm.

On the other end of the floor, Caruso crosses up JJJ, drives left shows the ball on a shot fake with his right hand, pivots and finishes the impressive floater.

A few possessions later, Caruso dives onto the floor to tip the ball out of Ja’s hand (MID CROSSOVER BY THE WAY?!?!) into Cason’s hands, who then outlets to Jalen Williams for the lay.

Alex Caruso checks out.

Thunder are now back up to a 20 point lead.

That’s just one example of the game wrecking abilities that Caso and AC have.

And as my oldest child who is now seemingly obsessed with the Mighty Ducks, it reminds me of another dynamic, game wrecking duo, that fed off the energy of the crowd.

Fulton Reed and Dean Portman.

Better known as the Bash Brothers.

When the Mighty Ducks were getting beat up, and run out of the rink, they looked to the Bash Brothers to tilt the game on its head. Their physicality and energy were contagious through the crowd and the rest of the Ducks, and it ended up being the spark that won them the game.

The Thunder haven’t yet needed Cason and Caruso in a win/lose playoff scenario, but the comparison is still on point.

When they come into the game, the defense steps up all across the floor.

In game 2 the tandem had a defensive rating of 88.2.

In game 1 they had a defensive rating of 65 (!!).

They just come in and do nothing but wreck the game, tear it to pieces. And whether it’s cutting into a lead or blowing it wide open, when they check in, they make things happen.

Call them Cookies and Cream, call them Allstate, call them Bash Brothers, I don’t care.

Whatever you call them, they are absolute game wreckers.

And they are going to be a huge reason the Oklahoma City Thunder will finally get that elusive Larry O’Brien trophy.

And who knows, maybe we’ll celebrate with some Cookies and Cream.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Thunder preview (Game 2 – 1st round)

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  • Memphis Grizzlies (0-1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
  • When: Tuesday, 22 April 2025 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Series: OKC leads 1-0
  • TV: TNT/truTV/Max/FanDuelTV

The Set-Up

Utter dominance. This is what the Thunder did to Memphis in Game 1. In the first half, the Thunder scored as many points in the 2nd quarter as the Grizzlies did for the entire half. In the 2nd half, the Thunder scored as many points in the 3rd quarter as the Grizzlies did for the entire 2nd half. For the game, the Thunder had shooting splits of 50/35/93, while the Grizzlies managed a paltry 34/17/83. Memphis was the 2nd in total rebounds and 3rd in rebound% for the season. The Thunder outrebounded them by 11 in Game 1. The Thunder had 36 assists on 50 made baskets. The Grizzlies got turned over 24 times to the tune of 24 points off turnovers. They outscored Memphis 27-5 in fast-break points. It was a thrashing of monumental proportions. After the game, Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant had to reiterate, “We will never play that bad again.” Unfortunately for Morant, even if the Grizzlies get significantly better, it just may not be enough against the buzzsaw that is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Betting Info

Line: OKC -14.5
O/U: 228.5

Injury Report

OKC
Ousmane Dieng – OUT (calf)
Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)

MEM
Brandon Clarke – OUT (knee)
Zyon Pullin – OUT (knee)
Jaylen Wells – OUT (wrist)

Five Big Things

1. SGA – About the only thing the Thunder can improve upon in this game is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing better. He shot 4-13 overall and 1-7 from 3. While the Thunder didn’t necessarily need him to be the offensive engine that he is, if he plays a normal SGA game, it’ll open up the offense that much more. Which, for Memphis, has to be a terrifying thought.

2. Aaron Wiggins – If this is the Aaron Wiggins the Thunder are getting for the playoffs, start measuring the diameter of the Thunder players’ ring fingers. Wiggins didn’t even step foot on the court in the first 12 minutes of action. But as soon as he stepped on that court, a 3-pointer went in. After 21 minutes of action, he had registered 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on 53/57/100 shooting splits.

3. Depth – The depth of the Thunder really showed in Game 1. It was just wave after wave of rotational NBA talent. Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Jaylin Williams would all be starters on a number of NBA teams. In Game 1, it was Wiggins that got the bench player of the game award. In Game 2, it could be Joe shooting the grip off the ball. In Game 3, it could be Kenrich Williams coming in and hitting some key 3’s in a tight road game. This team has been built brick by brick for this moment.

4. Quicker Pick & Roll Action – For Memphis, about the only thing that I could see working for them is quicker PnR action for Ja Morant. The PnR in the middle of the floor worked a lot better for Memphis than the action on the wings. This may mean benching Zach Edey and starting Marvin Bagley, who’s a little quicker on his feet. Giving Ja a roll man that is a little quicker than Edey may play more into Morant’s preference of pace, especially against the Thunder’s defense.

5. Dub – One of the biggest questions for the Thunder heading into Game 1 was how would Jalen Williams open up these playoffs. The expectations being heaped upon this third year player have been astronomical, but Dub came out in Game 1 and completely dominated to the tune of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block. He was the head of the snake in the run during the first 8 minutes of the 2nd quarter that basically put the game to bed. If this is the confidence Dub will be playing with throughout these playoffs, watch out now!


Thunder @ Utah Jazz preview (Game 81 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (66-14) at Utah Jazz (17-63)
  • When: Friday, 11 April 2025 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Offensive Rating – UTA: 110.4 (24th) / OKC: 119.1 (3rd)
  • Defensive Rating – UTA: 119.2 (30th) / OKC: 106.7 (1st)
  • Net Rating – UTA: -8.8 (28th) / OKC: 12.4 (1st)

The Set-Up

The balance that is rest vs. rust. In their last game against the Phoenix Suns, the Thunder sat about half of their main rotation for rest. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren showed why they are future superstars in the league and handled the Suns pretty easily. Tonight, the Thunder are stretching even further into the “rest” pool, only playing about 30% of their main 10-11 man rotation. The ultimate goal is no injuries heading into the playoffs, but with the Thunder being the No. 1 seed and having about a week off between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs, you also don’t want rust to set in. It’s a puzzle, but it’s a good puzzle to have to solve.

This is the 4th and final meeting of the season between the Thunder and Jazz. The Thunder have won the previous 3 meetings, with two of those victories being by 27 points and the third one being by 9 points.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -9.5
  • O/U: 234.5

    Injury Report

    OKC
  • Alex Caruso – OUT (ankle)
  • Ousmane Dieng – OUT (calf)
  • Lu Dort – OUT (knee)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (shin)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (Achilles)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (back)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)
  • Cason Wallace – OUT (shoulder)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hip)

    UTA
  • Jordan Clarkson – OUT (foot – plantar fasciitis)
  • Isaiah Collier – Questionable (hamstring)
  • John Collins – OUT (ankle)
  • Elijah Harkless – OUT (groin)
  • Taylor Hendricks – OUT (leg)
  • Walker Kessler – OUT (concussion)
  • KJ Martin – OUT (illness)
  • Lauri Markkanen – OUT (knee)
  • Cody Williams – OUT (illness – mono)

Three Big Things

1. Ajay Mitchell’s return – After being out for three months, Ajay Mitchell returns back to the Thunder’s line-up in time for the playoffs. The turf toe and subsequent surgery caused Mitchell to miss 46 games in what was looking to be an All-Rookie campaign. The Thunder now have the final two games to see what Mitchell can provide out on the floor and game-plan to see if he will be in the rotation for the playoffs.

2. Perimeter Defense – The Thunder will arguably be without their top-7 defenders tonight. They may especially miss the perimeter defense of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace. Due to Utah’s rash of injuries, most of their offense is being run through their trio of young guards in Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, and Isaiah Collier. Do the Thunder have enough defense to make life difficult for those three players?

3. Jaylin Williams – triple double? – The last two times the Thunder have had a “tank war” game, Jaylin Williams has ended up with a triple double. The back-up big man known for his passing usually shines when the majority of the offense is run through him in these types of games. Should we just put another triple double in the column for J-Will?

Detroit Pistons vs. Thunder preview (Game 76 of 82)

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  • Detroit Pistons (42-33) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (63-12)
  • When: Wednesday, 02 April 2025 at 8:30pm CSTS
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Offensive Rating – DET: 114.6 (12th) / OKC: 119.2 (3rd)
  • Defensive Rating – DET: 112.0 (10th) / OKC: 106.0 (1st)
  • Net Rating – DET: 2.6 (11th) / OKC: 13.2 (1st)

The Set-Up
Greatness. It’s a combination of many variables that allows a team to be called great. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a previous iteration that many people considered great. The Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka teams may have been great, talent-wise, but did they lack that greatness mindset that other teams may have possessed. Think about the Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson Warriors. Great team, but a greatness mindset to match. The Jordan, Pippen, Rodman Bulls. Same thing. I think this is where we stand with this current iteration of the Thunder. A great team with a mindset to match.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between these two teams. The Thunder won the first meeting in Detroit, 113-107. It has been one of the more tighter games for the Thunder after the All-Star Break.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -13.5
  • O/U: 232.5
  • Injury Report

    OKC
  • Alex Caruso – Questionable (ankle)
  • Ousmane Dieng – OUT (calf)
  • Alex Ducas – OUT (quad)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (toe)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)
  • Aaron Wiggins – OUT (Achilles)

    DET
  • Cade Cunningham – OUT (calf)
  • Tobias Harris – Questionable (Achilles)
  • Ron Holland II – OUT (suspension)
  • Jaden Ivey – OUT (leg)
  • Marcus Sasser – OUT (suspension)
  • Isaiah Stewart – OUT (suspension)

Three Big Things

1. Take Care of Business – The Pistons are likely going to be missing key pieces of their rotation in this game. Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II are out after their suspensions from the fracas against the Timberwolves a couple of nights ago. Cade Cunningham is likely out due to a calf issue. If the Thunder play their game, this baby may be over by halftime.

2. Rebounding – Probably about the only statistic where the Pistons have a leg up on the Thunder is rebounding. But that’s with a full roster. With Cunningham and Stewart out, the responsibility of manning the boards may fall solely on Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who is coming back from injury. The Pistons may not have the personnel to exhibit dominance in this area tonight.

3. J-Dub, All-NBA? – With this game, Jalen Williams officially reaches 65 games played for the season. He’s already seen his first All-Star game appearance this season. Is he now in line for a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams? It’ll be close and he may literally be the first guy outside of the 15 players on the All-NBA teams. But his play on both ends of the floor may be the determining factor that gets him on one of the All-NBA teams. His versatility on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor may get him the nod over someone who may only play one end of the floor.