OKC - 2011/12 - Thunder Three-peat

[Phil89]

30/1/11
Thunder sign Martin on short term deal


Oklahoma City have announced that they've signed veteran forward Kenyon Martin to a 1 year deal, worth $2.22m.
The 33 year old was released by Denver at the end of last season when his contract expired.
He will most likely be playing a backup role at the Thunder behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka.

[Phil89]

31/1/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [35-7] vs Miami Heat [15-27]

Oden and Westbrook record double-doubles in come from behind win



OKC - 18 22 38 31 109
MIA - 33 18 19 23 93

Player of the Game: Russell Westbrook

Top Scorers
Dwyane Wade - 23
Kevin Durant - 22
Michael Beasley - 21
Brandon Roy - 20
Mario Chalmers - 17
Jermaine O'Neal - 15
LaMarcus Aldridge - 14
Russell Westbrook - 12
Kenyon Martin - 12
Greg Oden - 10
Jeff Green - 10

Assists
Russell Westbrook - 15
Mario Chalmers - 5
Udonis Haslem - 4
Rafer Alston - 3
Brandon Roy - 3

Rebounds
Jermaine O'Neal - 17
Greg Oden - 11
Roy Hibbert - 9
LaMarcus Aldridge - 8
Michael Beasley - 8
Dwyane Wade - 5

Video Highlights
You couldn't wish for a better start.


Harden hands it off to Durant and he finishes with style.


Michael Beasley with poor awareness as Oden strips the ball and slams it home.


JJ Redick shows great skill in sinking an off balance buzzer beater to end the third.

[Phil89]

1/2/11

Conference Standings

Eastern Conference
1. ORL | 31-16 | N/A | .660 | = | [11-5]
2. DET | 27-19 | 3.5 | .587 | +4 | [10-5]
3. CLE | 26-18 | 3.5 | .591 | -1 | [7-7]
4. CHI | 25-18 | 4.0 | .581 | +1 | [9-5]
5. TOR | 24-20 | 5.5 | .545 | -1 | [6-7]
6. BOS | 24-21 | 6.0 | .533 | +1 | [7-6]
7. IND | 22-19 | 6.0 | .537 | -4 | [7-7]
8. WAS | 23-23 | 7.5 | .500 | +1 | [7-7]
----------------------------------------------
9. ATL | 21-22 | 8.0 | .488 | +1 | [7-7]
10. CHA | 21-22 | 8.0 | .488 | -2 | [6-7]
11. NYK | 21-25 | 9.5 | .457 | +2 | [9-6]
12. NJN | 19-27 | 11.5 | .413 | = | [6-8]
13. PHI | 18-26 | 11.5 | .409 | +2 | [8-7]
14. MIL | 17-28 | 13.0 | .378 | = | [6-10]
15. MIA | 15-28 | 14.0 | .349 | -4 | [3-10]


Western Conference
1. OKC | 36-7 | N/A | .837 | = | [12-2]
2. PHX | 29-17 | 8.5 | .630 | = | [8-7]
3. LAL | 29-18 | 9.0 | .617 | +2 | [10-4]
4. HOU | 26-18 | 10.5 | .591 | +6 | [11-2]
5. UTA | 24-19 | 12.0 | .558 | -1 | [8-7]
6. DEN | 25-19 | 11.5 | .568 | = | [7-6]
7. DAL | 23-18 | 12.0 | .561 | -4 | [4-9]
8. SAS | 24-21 | 13.0 | .533 | -1 | [6-8]
----------------------------------------------
9. NOH | 20-24 | 16.5 | .455 | -1 | [5-10]
10. GSW | 21-25 | 16.5 | .457 | -1 | [5-9]
11. MEM | 17-27 | 19.5 | .386 | +2 | [7-8]
12. LAC | 17-27 | 19.5 | .386 | = | [5-8]
13. MIN | 14-30 | 22.5 | .318 | -2 | [2-11]
14. SAC | 14-30 | 22.5 | .318 | = | [7-7]
15. POR | 13-34 | 25.0 | .277 | = | [6-9]


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

League Leaders

Points Per Game
1. Dwyane Wade - MIA - 25.5
2. LeBron James - CLE - 25.3
3. Kevin Durant - OKC - 25.1
4. Deron Williams - UTA - 24.6
5. Danny Granger - IND - 23.1

Rebounds Per Game
1. Dwight Howard - ORL - 11.9
2. Al Jefferson - MIN - 10.9
3. LaMarcus Aldridge - OKC - 10.6
3. Yao Ming - HOU - 10.6
3. Greg Oden - OKC - 10.6

Assists Per Game
1. Rajon Rondo - BOS - 9.1
2. Jameer Nelson - ORL - 8.4
3. Chauncey Billups - DEN - 7.8
3. Steve Nash - PHX - 7.8
5. Rodney Stuckey - DET - 7.4

Steals Per Game
1. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 3.3
2. Rajon Rondo - BOS - 2.0
3. Michael Redd - MIL - 1.8
4. Kirk Hinrich - CHI - 1.7
4. Brandon Roy - OKC - 1.7

Blocks Per Game
1. Yao Ming - HOU - 2.7
1. Tyson Chandler - CHA - 2.7
1. LaMarcus Aldridge - OKC - 2.7
4. Emeka Okafor - NOH - 2.6
5. Dwight Howard - ORL - 2.2
5. Brook Lopez - NJN - 2.2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Awards

Players of the Month
East
Rashard Lewis - ORL
21.6 PPG - 5.4 RPG - 2.1 APG - 0.8 BPG - 1.3 SPG

West
Kevin Durant - OKC
28.6 PPG - 3.5 RPG - 2.6 APG - 1.1 BPG - 0.6 SPG

Rookies of the Month
Rasheed Duffy - MIL
9.3 PPG - 7.3 RPG - 0.5 APG - 0.7 BPG - 0.4 SPG

West
Alan Edwards - MIN
14.3 PPG - 8.5 RPG - 0.8 APG - 1.1 BPG - 0.5 SPG


MVP Candidates
Kevin Durant - 25.1 PPG - 4.1 RPG - 2.2 APG - 1.0 BPG - 1.3 SPG
LeBron James - 25.3 PPG - 5.5 RPG - 1.9 APG - 1.8 BPG - 1.4 SPG
LaMarcus Aldridge - 16.8 PPG - 10.6 RPG - 2.7 APG - 2.7 BPG - 0.6 SPG
Brandon Roy - 23.0 PPG - 4.1 RPG - 2.8 APG - 0.9 BPG - 1.7 SPG
Kobe Bryant - 21.3 PPG - 3.3 RPG - 3.7 APG - 1.2 BPG - 1.5 SPG

[Andrew]

You're comfortably atop the league, good to see you've still got three MVP candidates. Nice pickup in Martin, weird that he didn't latch on anywhere else but their loss is your gain.

[Phil89]

2/2/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [36-7] vs Golden State Warriors [21-25]

Thunder dominate Warriors in second half to record easy win



OKC - 28 20 21 31 100
GSW - 25 27 10 15 77

Player of the Game: Greg Oden

Top Scorers
Stephen Curry - 26
Brandon Roy - 23
Kevin Durant - 21
LaMarcus Aldridge - 14
Monta Ellis - 14
Russell Westbrook - 12
Corey Maggette - 12
Greg Oden - 10

Assists
Russell Westbrook - 7
Greg Oden - 3
Corey Maggette - 3

Rebounds
Andris Biedrins - 11
Ronny Turiaf - 9
Greg Oden - 8
LaMarcus Aldridge - 7
Roy Hibbert - 5

Video Highlights
Roy goes baseline and shows his athleticism.


Roy beats the half time buzzer.

[Andrew]

Nice block by Oden. Great second half.

[Phil89]

Double header in LA against the Lakers coming up. Let's see how my new guys match up against their big men.

[Andrew]

Hoping to see a monster game from Oden.

[Phil89]

3/2/11

1st vs 3rd as the Thunder travel to LA for double header



In what is sure to be an amazing weekend of basketball, the defending Champion Thunder take on the Lakers in 2 games at Staples Center.
This is the first time these two teams have met since the Thunder knocked the Lakers out 4-1 in the Conference Finals last season.
Oklahoma City then went on to win the Championship over the Celtics. No doubt the Lakers will be looking to regain their title this season.
Kobe and his star-studded team still very much have their Championship winning window open and will be looking to assert themselves.

However, this Oklahoma City team is quite different to the one that swept the Lakers aside in the Finals 7 months ago.
They've managed to add All-Star guard Brandon Roy and forward LaMarcus Aldridge during the off-season through free agency.
Also, likely with the Lakers big men in mind, they've acquired centers Greg Oden and Roy Hibbert through trades.
Just this week they signed veteran forward Kenyon Martin to a 1 year deal.

So far this season this young Thunder team has overcome many challengers and is comfortably leading the Western Conference.
They've won in Boston, Utah, Dallas, Orlando, Cleveland and Miami. Also, home wins against the Spurs, Jazz, Celtics and Mavs.

They managed a club record 20 game winning streak earlier in the season that was only ended after an overtime win by the Wizards.
Currently they are on an 8 game unbeaten run and are the only team to have a single figure number in the loss column.

The Lakers come into this game on a more modest, yet still impressive, 4 game winning streak.
On paper these teams are the two best matched in the league in nearly every position.

-----

Thunder superstar Kevin Durant gave his thoughts about the games in an interview with ESPN.

How do you feel about your team's chances this weekend against a strong Lakers team?
"It's going to be a real challenge. They've been the benchmark team for the last decade and are still one of the strongest teams in the league."
"We've been playing really well lately and we believe we can come away with a couple of good results."

Is playing the Lakers on their home court was a daunting prospect?
"Coming to Staples is always one of the highlights of our season. To play 2 game back-to-back here will be intense."
"It's always a great thrill to beat any of the top teams in their own arena."

Do you think we will get to see you match up on Kobe?
"Well, Brandon [Roy] has been excited all week in training. He's itching to face off against Kobe and I don't want to get in his way. (Smiles)"

Finally, what are your thoughts on your team winning back-to-back Championships?
"We can't really think about that now. We just have to take it one game at a time and keep playing our game and improving."

-----

Here's how the two teams line up:

Oklahoma City Thunder [37-7]
C - Greg Oden
PF - LaMarcus Aldridge
SF - Kevin Durant
SG - Brandon Roy
PG - Russell Westbrook

Los Angeles Lakers [29-18]
C - Andrew Bynum
PF - Pau Gasol
SF - Ron Artest
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Jordan Farmar

[Andrew]

Nice preview. I still like your chances, I reckon you'll be able to take advantage of Farmar with Westbrook.

[Phil89]

4/2/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [37-7] vs Los Angeles Lakers [29-18]

Thunder manage to hold off fast finishing Lakers



OKC - 35 13 24 25 97
LAL - 15 23 23 33 94

Player of the Game: Kevin Durant

Top Scorers
Kobe Bryant - 32
Brandon Roy - 28
Kevin Durant - 22
Pau Gasol - 21
Russell Westbrook - 19
LaMarcus Aldridge - 18
Ron Artest - 11
Andrew Bynum - 10
Jordan Farmar - 10

Assists
Jordan Farmar - 9
Kobe Bryant - 6
LaMarcus Aldridge - 6
Russell Westbrook - 6
Greg Oden - 4

Rebounds
Pau Gasol - 13
Andrew Bynum - 11
Greg Oden - 7
Kevin Durant - 7
Kobe Bryant - 7
Lamar Odom - 7
LaMarcus Aldridge - 6

Video Highlights
There was pressure on Kobe all night by the Thunder defense.


Roy moves past Bryant and dunks emphatically.


Roy confidence was high early as he takes a three.


-----

After the first quarter it was quite frustrating letting my lead slip.
Lakers actually lead on 2 occasions in the last 2 minutes, by a point.
Durant finished with 22 points, 2 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and 10 steals.
Took me ages to find a program just to join those Kobe clips together.

[Andrew]

Nice job, you hit them with a pretty balanced attack. Their bigs made it a rough night for you on the boards but seems only Gasol did much damage on offense.

[Phil89]

Yeah my big guys didn't have a good rebounding night. Usually I'm happy if Oden and Aldridge grab 20 rebounds between them.
I came so close to giving up a 20 point lead. Well actually I did, but I got it back right away.

[Phil89]

5/2/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [38-7] vs Los Angeles Lakers [29-19]

Roy and Bryant score 99 between them in classic encounter



OKC - 29 26 28 27 28 138
LAL - 23 26 32 29 18 128

Player of the Game: Kobe Bryant



Video Highlights
Roy gets around Kobe and dunks over Bynum.


Roy denies Farmar with a great block.


Harden plays tough defense on Kobe, Green finishes at the other end.

[Martti.]

I would have expected Durant to have a scoring duel with Kobe, but Roy did quite well.

[Phil89]

7/2/11

Thunder players selected for All-Star Weekend



Oklahoma City will be represented by 4 players during the All-Star Game in Los Angeles next week.
Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy were all selected in the Western All-Stars line-up.
This is the 2nd selection in a row for Durant, 2nd overall for Roy and 1st time for both Oden and Aldridge.
Russell Westbrook was unlucky that the depth of point guards out west is so high.
The Lakers, Cavaliers and Magic each have 2 players selected to play in the game.

The teams, subject to injuries, will be:
Western All-Stars - Eastern All-Stars
Yao Ming - C - Dwight Howard
LaMarcus Aldridge - PF - Chris Bosh
Kevin Durant - SF - LeBron James
Brandon Roy - SG - Dwyane Wade
Deron Williams - PG - Rajon Rondo

Substitutes
Greg Oden - 1 - Brook Lopez
Pau Gasol - 2 - Joakim Noah
Carmelo Anthony - 3 - Rashard Lewis
Kobe Bryant - 4 - Ben Gordon
Steve Nash - 5 - Devin Harris
Caron Butler - 6 - Danny Granger
Tony Parker - 7 - Gilbert Arenas


Some big names to miss out include:
Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrew Bogut,
Al Jefferson, Mo Williams,David West, Rudy Gay, Carlos Boozer, Tim Duncan and Paul Pierce.

[Andrew]

Wow, what an epic game and performance by Roy. Nice job by your bigs too, combining for 28 rebounds to counter the 29 from Gasol and Bynum.

Congrats on getting all your MVP candidates into the starting five in the West. Hope one of them can take home MVP honours for the game.

[Phil89]

I would have expected Durant to have a scoring duel with Kobe, but Roy did quite well.

Oh Durant and Kobe have had a few monster duels on this save game. Especially during the Conference Finals last season.

Wow, what an epic game and performance by Roy. Nice job by your bigs too, combining for 28 rebounds to counter the 29 from Gasol and Bynum.

They did much better in this game. It still felt like Gasol and Bynum were on top in rebounds though. Even if the box score says differently.
Luckily for me Gasol fouled out with 1:30 left in the fourth. It made a big difference during the overtime period.

Congrats on getting all your MVP candidates into the starting five in the West. Hope one of them can take home MVP honours for the game.

I'm not sure if I'll play the game or just let the CPU play for both teams. I don't really want to favour any of my players for MVP.
It might be fun to watch, seeing as there isn't any real games on at the moment.

[Phil89]

7/2/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [39-7] vs Phoenix Suns [29-18]

Thunder beat 2nd placed Suns to record 40th win of the season



OKC - 32 19 36 35 122
PHX - 29 21 30 31 111

Player of the Game: LaMarcus Aldridge

Top Scorers
Brandon Roy - 27
Steve Nash - 27
LaMarcus Aldridge - 26
Russell Westbrook - 23
Kevin Durant - 22
Amare Stoudemire - 22
Jason Richardson - 20
Grant Hill - 18
Greg Oden - 18
Robin Lopez - 14

Assists
Steve Nash - 14
Russell Westbrook - 9
Brandon Roy - 5
Jason Richardson - 5

Rebounds
Robin Lopez - 12
LaMarcus Aldridge - 10
Kevin Durant - 9
Greg Oden - 8
Amare Stoudemire - 6
Steve Nash - 6
Grant Hill - 5
Brandon Roy - 5

Video Highlights
Roy adjusts his shot to find Oden on the move.


With 2 seconds left Steve Nash sinks a full court shot.

-----

This game was awesome. There was never more than 4 points in it up until 3 minutes from the end.
Plus every player that started the game scored over 14 points.

[Andrew]

Sure sounds like another fun one, good to hear. Congrats on reaching the 40 win mark before the All-Star break, looks like you'll be able to take care of business against the Lakers or Suns if you lock horns in the Playoffs.

[Phil89]

The Suns game was the best contest of the season so far. But I'd say the Lakers games were the most exciting.

I've got to play Denver and Utah before the All-Star Weekend. Just noticed that the Nuggets have a 7 ft 6 regen player as starting center.
He's 15 cm taller than Oden. Plus they are also playing Nene at PF. So many big men in the West.

[Phil89]

8/2/11

Oklahoma City Thunder [40-7] vs Denver Nuggets [27-20]

Billups ends Thunder's winning streak at 11



OKC - 31 28 18 34 111
DEN - 34 30 30 32 126

Player of the Game: Chauncey Billups

Top Scorers
Kevin Durant - 40
Chauncey Billups - 33
Carmelo Anthony - 26
Nene - 22
Brandon Roy - 20
JR Smith - 15
Chris Andersen - 14
Jeff Green - 14
Russell Westbrook - 12
Randy Foye - 11

Assists
Chauncey Billups - 16
Carmelo Anthony - 6
Russell Westbrook - 6

Rebounds
Garry Haynes - 15
Nene - 9
LaMarcus Aldridge - 6
Roy Hibbert - 4
JR Smith - 4
Chris Andersen - 4

Video Highlights
Aldridge threads a pass through to Durant.


Jeff Green glides past the defenders and finishes nicely.

[Phil89]

Haynes is a monster. Look at the picture. Durant is 6 ft 9 and he looks tiny standing next to him.

[Andrew]

Damn, tough loss. What happened in the third quarter?

Garry Haynes makes everyone look tiny. Too bad the game gave him an inappropriate hairstyle.

[Phil89]

My big guys just couldn't grab a rebound. Plus Denver just wouldn't miss a shot.