Thunder team on the rise?
ESPN ranks the Thunder second as the NBA team most likely to have a dramatic upswing. Of 55 ESPN writers that voted in the poll, 11 selected Oklahoma City as ”Team Turnaround” this season.
ESPN wrote: “In Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, the Thunder have arguably the best young squad in the NBA. Buf it the Thunder are to be Team Turnaround, it begins and ends with Duran’ts continuing ascension to superstardom. If he makes the leap, the Thunder very well could jump up in the standings.
The Thunder won 23 games last season, only a three-game improvement from the team’s final season in Seattle. But following a disastrous 3-29 start Oklahoma City was 20-30 over its final 50 games, including two wins over the Spurs and other wins over playoff teams like Utah, Portland, Dallas, Chicago and Detroit.
The Washington Wizards (23 votes) were the overwhelming leader. Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers (8) were third. No other team received more than three votes.
Tulsa double-header
The Thunder has received some unfair backlash for scheduling a preseason game Oct. 14 at the BOK Center in Tulsa.
The problem is the same night the Thunder makes its only Tulsa appearance all season TU plays Boise State, at home in Skelly Stadium, in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.
No one is to blame. The Thunder locked in the BOK date way back around the holidays in December.
TU’s football program switched its home game but you can’t blame them. Anytime a non-BCS Conference school is offered a chance to play on national TV you take that in a heart beat.
TU announced in March it had four games on ESPN this season, including two Wednesday games. Tulsa also has games scheduled on Friday and Sunday nights. At the time, the public had no idea the Thunder already had that date locked in for a preseason NBA game at the BOK Center.
Both opponents offer something of interest. Boise State has made a name for itself, especially after the Broncos defeated OU in the Fiesa Bowl. The Thunder’s opponent — Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat — also is a good draw.
Oct. 14 will be a hot time in Tulsa. It’s a shame the two events aren’t on different nights. Having seen the track record for fans from the Sooner state, don’t be surprised if both events aren’t well attended. The only issue is some fans will have to make a tough choice.
New practice facility among elite
For some reason people are enamored with how much something costs. A few years from now you might hear about another NBA team building a $20 million to $25 million practice facility. Don’t put too much stock in the dollar figure. The Thunder’s new facility will stack up… for about half the price.
Similar to purchasing something on sale, the Thunder’s new $13 million practice facility, which broke ground on Thursday and is scheduled to be completed in 12 months, is the $20 million facility that’s been proposed for more than a year.
It’s simply a buyer’s market. Ask anyone who has purchased a new car or bought a home the past six months.
That’s why the Thunder’s new development center, which will rival any in the NBA, costs only $13 million.
Atlas Construction won the bid at just over $10 million. Early estimates were it would cost $15 million. It’s a similar story for the purchase of the land and the design costs. Bottom line is a $20 million project will cost only $13 million.
“We didn’t cut back on quality,” said City Manager Jim Couch. “With the economy the way it is we’ve had a down turn. It’s effecting our revenues but it also helps us with construction (costs).”
I am the latest to join the Twitter craze. I will be mainly be twittering on Thunder stories but my first assignment is covering the Dallas Cowboys first game in Jerry Jones $1.2 billion stadium Friday.
Any OU fans that are planning to attend the game are suggested to look me up in Arlington and give me their impressions of the new stadium.
My twitter address is:
mikebaldwin1022
Ranking the Thunder’s 41 home games
If you’re like my wife and son, one of those fans that can’t afford season tickets, you choose 6 or 7 games to attend each season.
I’ve ranked the 41 home games 1 through 41 with a comment on every game.
Most NBA games provide some entertainment vaule. The Pistons (No. 32), Rockets (No. 34, 35) and Indiana star Danny Granger (No. 37) are games ranked near the bottom of my list.
1-Cleveland (Dec. 13) LeBron and Shaq will form one of the most entertaining duos, on and off the court, the league has ever seen. They might even win an NBA title.
2-Boston (Dec. 4) The Celtics are always a big draw. They still have All Stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and might win another championship.
3-Lakers (Nov. 3). Kobe Bryant and the defending champs have added Ron Artest. Just a week into the season the Ford Center features a game that’s assured of being a sellout before the season starts.
4-Orlando (Nov. 8). Dwight Howard posted his first career triple double last season in the Ford Center. Months later the Magic clobbered LeBron and the Cavs to reach the NBA Finals.
5-LA Clippers (Nov. 15). Blake Griffin’s only appearance in his hometown arrives early in the season.
6-Lakers (March 26) If you didn’t get to see Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Phil Jackson and the Lakers the first time you get a second chance.
7-Miami (Jan. 16) Dwyane Wade’s only visit to the Ford Center is always one of the top games on the schedule.
8-Dallas (Dec. 16) This the Thunder’s only game on national TV, a chance for the Ford Center crowd to get Mavs owner Mark Cuban riled up on ESPN.
9-Utah (Dec. 31). The traditional New Year’s Eve game featues a quality opponent and one of the league’s best point guards (Deron Williams).
10- San Antonio (Jan. 13) The Spurs are trying to make another title run, trading for Jefferson who joins Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
11-New Orleans (March 10) The Hornets will always have a soft spot in OKC fans’ hearts as long as Chris Paul is on the roster.
12-Denver (Jan. 29) Carmelo Anthony broke Thunder fans hearts twice last year with game-winning buzzer-beaters in the Ford Center.
13-Portland (Nov. 1) A young team with a bright future, led by All Star Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, took a giant step forward last season.
14-San Antonio (March 22). If you didn’t catch Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and the Spurs the first time around you get a second chance.
15-Chicago (Jan. 27) Reigning Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose matches up against 2008 ROY Kevin Durant.
16-Denver (April 7) If you missed Carmelo, Chauncey Billups and the Nuggets the first time around you get a second chance.
17-Dallas (Feb. 16) Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks play exactly two months apart in the Ford Center.
18-Sacramento (Oct. 28) This game normally would rank near the bottom but it’s the season opener.
19-New Orleans (Jan. 6) This is the first of two visits by Chris Paul and the Hornets but it’s the week of the national college football title game if there’s some local interest.
20-Portland (March 28) A second chance to see Roy, Aldridge, Oden and the up-and-coming Blazers if you missed them the first time.
21-Phoenix (Feb. 23) Any time you can see Steve Nash it’s always worth the price of admission even if Shaq is in Cleveland.
22-Utah (March 14) The Jazz remain one of the Western Conference’s top teams in case you missed them on New Year’s Eve.
23-Memphis (April 14) The Grizzlies only appearance isn’t listed this high because of the roster but because it’s the season finale.
24-Toronto (Feb. 28) This game drops towards the bottom of list if Chris Bosh is dealt a week or two earlier at the trading deadline.
25-Atlanta (Feb. 2) One of the Eastern Conference’s best young teams has some talent but lacks a marquee name.
26-New York (Jan. 11) The Knicks, under Mike D’Antoni, are fun to watch because of the D’Antoni’s fast-paced style.
27-Philalephia (Dec. 2) The Sixers are a viable Eastern Conference contender. This early in the season Elton Brand shouldn’t be injured.
28-Phoenix (April 9) A second opportunity to see Steve Nash if you missed him back in February.
29-Golden State (Jan. 31) The Warriors are always entertaining. They averaged 108.6 points and gave up 112.3 a game.
30-Washington (Nov. 20) With a healthy Gilbert Arenas, and some off-season additions, the Wizards should be back in the playoff hunt.
31-Charlotte (Dec. 26) A holiday treat that’s better than you think. The Bobcats are much improved under Larry Brown and former Hornet center Tyson Chandler is now on the roster.
32-Detroit (Dec. 18) The new-look Pistons aren’t the team they once were and don’t have the star appeal they once did.
33-Golden State (Dec. 7) The Warriors, as pointed out earlier , usually play games in which both teams score more than 100 points.
34-Houston (Nov. 29) The Rockets normally would rank much higher but Yao Ming probably is out for the season, Ron Artest is in LA and Tracy McGrady usually is injured.
35-Houston (March 24) See No. 34
36-Milwaukee (Nov. 27) The Bucks are a decent team and Michael Redd was on the Olympic team but there’s not much sizzle.
37-Indiana (Jan. 9) Danny Granger, who finished fifth in the league in scoring (25.8) one spot in front of Kevin Durant, is one of the league’s most underrated players.
38-Minnesota (Feb. 26) The Timberwolves have some decent young talent. They would move up this list several spots if Ricky Rubio is on the roster.
39-New Jersey (March 12) With Vince Carter now in Orlando, the Nets are about as blase as you can get.
40-Minnesota (April 4) See. 38. Moves up the list if Rubio is playing.
41-Sacramento (March 2) The Kings are the leading candidate to once again could finish with the worst record in the league.
