Category Archives: Basketball

Nov 12 2012
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Basketball

A THUNDEROUS DECISION

With no other major league competitors in the state, the Oklahoma City Thunder quickly worked their way into the hearts of all Oklahoma residents upon their arrival in 2008. That much was expected. What wasn’t expected was how quickly they worked their way into hearts around the NATION. It was truly a sports fairy tale. Through great management, savvy drafting and unselfish play, the Thunder quickly went from the one of the worst team in the NBA (2008) to the NBA Finals (2011).

The team that made the finals last year was built around three core stars: 3-time defending scoring champion Kevin Durant, all-star point guard Russell Westbrook & sixth man of the year James Harden. All cam to the Thunder through the draft, and all were on team-friendly deals–for a while. With Durant & Westbrook already signed to long-term deals,  the Thunder quickly had to decide who was most important to their franchise going forward: Harden or defensive standout Serge Ibaka–who has been referred to as “the most important player in the NBA.”

The Thunder eventually decided that Ibaka’s defensive presence was (at least slightly) more difficult to replace than Harden’s offensive game, and decided to hold onto the big man and let one of their stars go. While it’s hard for fans in OKC to deal with, most people around the league still project them as contenders for an NBA title. That doesn’t make the trade any easier to swallow, though. But with big time sports come big time decisions, and Oklahoma City has finally been exposed tot he cruel nature of professional sports that it was so lucky to avoid for its first four years.

Oct 29 2012
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Basketball

The New King (and His Subjects)

It took nine years, but basketball fans finally got an answer last season to the question that’s been on the back of their minds for a decade. “What’s it going to be like if (or when) LeBron James finally puts all of the pieces together?” That answer? Scary. At least for everyone outside Miami.

After nine years, LeBron is finally making the transition from a great PLAYER to a great LEADER. On top of that, in 2012, he finally made significant (and deadly) changes to his offensive game. Seemingly out of nowhere, he has emerged as a mid-range master that at times — MOST of the time — is virtually unguardable. And while the number three point shots is down, the percentage is up. LeBron as MORE efficient as a scorer? Again: SCARY.

As a Thunder fan, all of this is even scarier with the events of last week that led to James Harden being shipped to Houston. The Thunder and Harden couldn’t come to terms on money — the difference was reportedly just over $1 million per year — and now “The Beard” is a Rocket. But at least he’s getting paid. The worst thing about all of this, though? When faced with similar choices, the enemies down in Miami gave up the bigger contracts for chances to win titles. And with this new LeBron running the show, who knows how many titles that might become.

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