There's Something Special Brewing in OKC

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1/3/2025

There's Something Special Brewing in Oklahoma City

And I am loving every second of it! It's the main reason I went against my basketball ho tendencies and remained loyal to OKC after my favorite player left. Sam Presti plus seemingly unlimited first and second round picks accumulated over the years equals fuuuuuuuck yeah

I see Presti's long game, so I've adapted his patience. But this group is progressing faster than I thought. I wonder if Presti's just as surprised as I am or if he knew

I have of course been following along all season as we have the second best record in the league (speaking of which, where the fuck did Cleveland come from? No one saw that shit coming. You know who else is surprisingly good? Houston. And while I'm at it, fuck you NBA for advertising your xmas 2024 games as the "best matchups", while the top three teams in the league were watching from home). Some key players have been missing from the opposing team's lineup during a lot of these games, so I'm trying to curtail my expectations despite us only having lost 5 games all season as of the time of this writing

But where I really saw that this team is special was actually last night, January 2, 2025. I don't miss too many OKC games, so I tuned in last night to the Clippers home channel at 5 pm (since I can't watch Lakers or Clippers games on league pass) to see them take on my squad in OKC. When the starting line-ups flashed on the screen, I noticed that Kawhi(et) Leonard was still out for the Clippers, AND James Harden was conspicuously missing as well. I thought to myself, "oh this should be an easy night for the fellas"

Let's pause here for a second. That "easy night" thought was extremely fucking dangerous as a fan of the Durant/Westbrook led Thunder. I swear that team was frustrating as shit. They were the kings of beating the first place team in the league one night, then losing to the last place team the next night. Because of this, I checked myself as soon as I thought this would be an easy game for this Thunder team. I remember that shit would get me in all kinds of trouble with the DurantBrook Thunder. So I dismissed that thought and went back to working since I was on the clock working overtime

I would periodically watch moments of the game between doing my work. One of the early times I glanced at the screen, we were down by 16. That prompted me to literally say out loud in my home "what the fuck, guys?". Then I thought they must have dismissed this game too when they saw who was (or should I say wasn't) suited up to play. Plus it was the day after bringing in the new year. "Still celebrating, huh guys?" was the next thing to come out of my mouth. Then I had to check myself again. Why am I expecting them to win every game? That's not realistic. And I already have plenty of experience with my squad losing to teams they ain't got no business losing to. Even though the Clippers star players aren't available, that's still an NBA squad. Anybody can be beat on any given night. And you know every team is going to bring their best against the Cavs and the Thunder all year for sure. So let me get back to doing my job while I let them do theirs

Next time I glanced up and watched, we had cut the lead to eight. But then someone on the Clippers scored a basket to push the lead up to double digits again. Each of the maybe next five times I looked up, the lead was around 8 - 10 for the Clippers. Then I saw it. I saw the Thunder turn up their defense, that remains the best in the 2024 - 2025 season so far (not my opinion, what the experts are saying on the pre-show and hoops programs, so you know those fine people know their job VERY well). By the time they went in to the locker rooms for halftime, the Clippers were only up four; 52-48

In the third quarter we would shut the Clippers the fuck down! It was clear as day to me that the defense was firing on all cylinders, and that was generating offense contributing to us going on something like a 16-2 run. Yes, the Clippers were depleted. But they were also still depleted when they built that 16 point lead. The Thunder could have tucked their tail between their legs and said we'll come out better next game. But the poise of the entire team, from Daigneault to SGA to the bench, was on full display for any of us watching the game. While I was still working, as we kicked ass in the second half I began watching more of the game, because this was a test, and I really wanted to see if we were just getting lucky or we are just really good. I was so pumped as a fan to discover that it's the latter! SGA has somehow managed to elevate his game even more from last year, as have J-Dubb and Dort (although Dort's is more on the defensive end, which has always been his specialty anyway). And it's easy to forget WE STILL DON'T HAVE CHET, who got hurt like the third or fourth game of the season. Isaiah Hartenstein has been a helluva pickup for us from the Knicks, especially in Chet's absence

And that game, the game that we were down by 16, we turned around and won by 18; 116-98. Oh yeah, and it was our 13th straight win (since the finals of the pussy cup or whatever it's called doesn't count for (Milwaukee) or against (OKC) either team's record). There is truly something special brewing in OKC

I'm not ready to claim we're going to win it all this year. That's a tall task, and the top two teams don't always even make it to the finals. Those playoffs are a different beast. We did get some good playoff experience last year though, so that could help us going into these next playoffs. And we were the #1 seed in the west last year, so that's that premium experience right there. I still don't think it's win or bust this year for the Thunder, as we're so young and still have quite a few picks we haven't even entertained yet. But I love the track that we're on. And if we do manage to win it all this year it won't be all that much of a surprise to me (yeah, this team is THAT good). I am absolutely happy with where we're headed, regardless of if we win it all this year or not

And I LOVE how the whole team always stands behind SGA when he's being interviewed after the game. You can tell they're just a close knit team and they're playing like it too. No matter what happens, your boy done quit his ho-ish ways and settled down with this sexy ass bitch in OKC. And she might even get the ring as early as this season

Speaking of SGA, whenever the NBA app I watch league pass games on shows me the schedule of games for the day on my phone, of course the Thunder are favorited so they're at the top of my list. On one side they'll have a pic of the other team's best player, and they always use a pic of SGA on the other side for the Thunder. SGA's pic makes me crack the fuck up every single time!! Why Shai look like his mama told him he better smile in his pic, and he decided he just wanted to be a dick? LMFAO!!!!!!

Dear god, I know we've had our disagreements mostly on account of you not existing and all, but I figure all these people like to use you as their permanent genie so I may as well give it a shot. Since you supposedly have all this power n shit, can you make it so that the Clippers and/or Lakers play the Thunder in the playoffs so I can go to a game? Oh and if you can "bless" me with about a bajillion dollars to be able to afford that ticket, go 'head on and ala kazam that shit for your former believer - as like a credit for all those wasted fucking years believing in you - one time would you. Amen

Go Thunder

Update, later tonight: Aiight so as you can see from SGA's hilarious 'fuck you mama' pic on the right above, we played the Knicks tonight, the fourth game of a tough five game home stretch, as well as the second night of a back-to-back. This one I was able to watch on league pass

We trailed most of the game by double digits. And the Knicks weren't missing any of their players, anybody of relevance at least. Initially, I made those same excuses. The Thunder had to exert a lot of energy last night to come back, so they could be tired. And again, they ain't gone win every game bro!!

But despite being down most of the game double digits, every time it seemed like the Knicks wanted to put the game away the Thunder turned up their defense again. Because I get off work an hour earlier today, I checked out of work around mid 3rd quarter. So I was able to watch the entire remainder of the game after that, and ONCE AGAIN, our defense shut it all the way the fuck down!

Final score: 117 - 107. Thunder win their 14th straight

Something special brewing indeed. I can't put my finger on it, but it feels quite different from years past as a Thunder fan. Could it be a glimmer of hope that we can win it all? If I were a betting man, I would say it appears that I've completely bought into our defense, which as real fans of the game know is how you win championships

April can't get here fast enough for me

Second update: 1/5/2025

First of all, lmao

I swear that shit will never get old to me. Anyway, as you can see, the defending champs were in town this Sunday Afternoon. With it being Sunday and all, I had no interruptions in watching this game in its entirety. And it's almost like I'm a broken record at this point

The Celtics weren't missing any of their players at all. Even Porzingis played! And we're still missing Chet

Most of the second quarter and some of the third quarter we trailed by double digits. I reminded myself of all the same shit; we're not going to win every game, the Celtics are missing nobody, blah blah blah. I wasn't even upset at us losing. Not that I knew we'd come back, but just not wanting to put that Laker fan ass level of pressure on my squad. We're allowed to have an off night. This Celtics team just won it all about six or seven months ago. We're playing well, though not particularly shooting well. We're just fine in the grand scheme of the entire season

But then, they did it again. I saw them turn up their defense once again, and it resulted in something like an 18-4 run for us. In the fourth quarter we continued to keep our foot on their necks, while also managing to find a rhythm from outside. Final score: Thunder 105, Celtics 92. Extending the win streak to 15. Check out what Lu Dort said about Presti after the game

It's getting harder to curtail my expectations with each passing game with us being so white hot right now. The Clippers were missing vital players, but the Knicks and the Celtics weren't. But I still haven't forgotten. I haven't forgotten when my team broke my fucking heart back in 2016. I don't really wanna talk about it, but I was doing HoopLA back then. Big fans of the game already remember it very well, but if you don't for whatever reason, check it out here

So, with that still being fresh in my memory, I know better than to get my hopes up for us winning it all. But, and I can't stress this enough, I REALLY love where we're headed. And even if we don't win it this year, I know one thing, we will not be an easy out

But we haven't even gotten to the all-star break yet, so lemme back it all the way the fuck up and bring it back to today

Fortunately we get the next two days off. We're going to need it. Next game.....

at Cleveland on Wednesday. And that game will be televised on ESPN. See y'all there

Third Update: 1/9/2025 - The Day After

Welp, not exactly the outcome we hoped for but it was still a GREAT game for those of us who watched it. Not only was it #1 vs #1, there were 30 lead changes, neither team ever led by double digits, and both teams were coming into the game on a win streak (Cavs 10 games, OKC 15) for the first time in history. It did not disappoint!

Of course you always want to come out on top of these games, but I was glad my team rose to the occasion. In Cleveland. And still without Chet. No excuses though. Cleveland converted in the final two minutes of the game when they had to. Can't take anything away from them. Check out this article for some interesting numbers surrounding this game. I really do hope these two teams meet in the finals and everyone is healthy. That might be an epic fucking series

But we don't even have to wait that long for the sequel. These same two teams, ya know the teams that only play each other once a year at each other's home, play their season finale on Thursday, 1/16/2025 in OKC. And that game will be on TNT

Yep, see y'all there too

Hey Stephen A...Shut Up!!

I really don't like when people "who don't get it" feel it's okay to open their big fucking mouths about shit they don't get. I've been saying this since back when I was watching First Take, and Stephen A criticized Presti for not going after a big by the trade deadline. Last season when I was watching the show, I pointed out that we were the number 1 seed in the west despite not having a big. And this season, you have already read above how we're doing

So what does Stephen A have against Presti anyway? The headline of this particular read:

Stephen A. Smith Challenges Sam Presti, OKC Thunder, Claims 'Honeymoon' is Over

Smh so this guy still doesn't get it, but he feels the need to open his massive mouth about something he doesn't understand. When have you EVER put together an NBA team, Stephen A? What, in season mode on 2K? You know that doesn't count as a real championship, right? Yeah bro, even in super hard mode. Who the fuck died and made you the official voice of what OKC needs? Just shut up. From the article:

After having undergone one of the best rebuilds the NBA has seen in recent years, the Oklahoma City Thunder has rapidly ascended up the Western Conference. They have established themselves as a bonafide contender during the 2024-25 NBA season

Sam Presti tore it all down in Oklahoma City, hoping to elevate the teams to new heights. It feels safe to say that this is the closest the Thunder feels to an NBA championship since they had the trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook.

I would say we're closer now than we were then. And everybody watching the NBA can see that. Well, everybody except of course....

However, one NBA analyst believes that Presti should be under the microscope with the Thunder. That man is Stephen A. Smith.

"There is no question [Presti] is an elite executive. Nobody is advocating for him to be removed or anything like that. The guy is a phenomenal executive," Smith said. "But, damn, at some point in time, it ain't about you just competing, can you win the chip? Could you close the deal? I mean, think about it, Sam Presti has overseen the Oklahoma City Thunder for years."

The ESPN personality finished with the following eye-popping statement.

Can somebody tell me what the fuck Stephen A is woofin' 'bout? Let's break this stupid shit all the way down:

"There is no question [Presti] is an elite executive. Nobody is advocating for him to be removed or anything like that. The guy is a phenomenal executive," Smith said. Sooooo you do realize that everything you're about to say after this is completely fucking moot, right? In your critique, you actually referred to this man as elite and phenomenal. So you're basically saying he does his job, and he does it well, are you not? This reminds me of the time when the dude whose podcast network I started HoopLA on, left my new network at the time a one-star review (completely unforgivable to me btw, and I gave him ample opportunities to fess up to it before cutting communication for good, something he of course never did). In that review, he actually managed to compliment my network on its sound quality. Nigga did you really just pay me a compliment in a one-star review? Y'all are ridiculous. The craziest shit to me tho was that those MFs all SWORE I was the one with the problem. Fucking clowns "But, damn, at some point in time, it ain't about you just competing, can you win the chip? Could you close the deal? I mean, think about it, Sam Presti has overseen the Oklahoma City Thunder for years." Correct. Overseen! And yes it is about just competing from his perspective. His job is to put the best players and coaches on the floor that he can. But those players and coaches are the ones who have to win it

Smith continued: "You've had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, James Harden, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Victor Oladipo, I mean the list goes on and on. Now you've got my MVP with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who's a stud, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren." Right, so doesn't this all coincide with his elite and phenomenal work as the Thunder GM? You're basically listing his accomplishments as GM. We agree on this. But I don't think you realize that's what you're doing SAS. You're pointing out his accomplishments as a negative as to why they haven't won it all, despite the elite personnel he's always put on the floor. Your so-called negative is one of the many reasons I chose to remain a Thunder fan

"I'm just looking at them and I'm saying, 'At some point in time, is just accumulating a roster and being a perennial playoff challenger, is that all it is? Could you win one? That's what I'm going to say about Sam Presti...You've had enough of a honeymoon. I want a chip in Oklahoma City. When you gonna get one?” What in the entire fuck Stephen A? How the hell are you going to give this man every compliment in the book on his elite and phenomenal GM services, then turn around and blame him for why OKC has yet to win it all? Even Michael Jordan in his bitter ass hall of fame speech said, "don't try to put the organization above the players, because at the end of the day, we still gotta go out and perform". Stephen A is putting the onus on the one person who doesn't have any control of the game plan. His job is to put together the best talent OKC can muster up, and you even admitted several times he's done his job well. You know two names SAS never mentioned in any of this? Billy Donovan and Mark Daigneault. Or hell not even Scott Brooks. Not to say that any of them deserved any slander (well maybe Scott Brooks), but it would have made more sense than Stephen A attacking the fucking GM who, by his own admission, did his job and did it well

No, SAS, it' not win or bust for the Thunder this season, because YOU decided the honeymoon is over, whatever the fuck that means. I haven't seen Presti sitting back and chilling with his feet up on the desk, living the good life on honeymoon. The man has never stopped working on building this team, and that is one of the many reasons the Thunder are in the position they're in now. The sky is already the limit (or as MJ also famously said, the ceiling is the roof lmao) for us, and the fact that SAS can't see that is why we don't even need him speaking our team's name!

Now I don't even want the Thunder to win it all this year. Nah, let me stop lying. But that would be a damper on it if we won it this year, because SAS might try to take some of the credit. Choo mean YOU want a chip in Oklahoma City? We don't need you expecting shit from OKC, SAS. Worry about your habitual underachieving Knicks. Btw is the honeymoon over for their GM? I thought you wanted a chip in NY. Oh AND how many of these elite players that OKC has had over the years won a title somewhere else? Only two I can think of; Ibaka and Durant (Kendrick Perkins won one in Boston, but he was never considered elite). So it's not like all these dudes went somewhere else and began winning all willy nilly. Durant had to fucking cheat to get his rings

Just shut yo ass all the way up. And you don't even deserve the right to speak Presti's name. And what about the GM in NY? Take a look at this. The Knicks have only made the playoffs 8 times since 2000. And you don't even wanna go there with the last time the Knicks won it all

Just stop talking Stephen A. At least not about Presti and OKC. Worry about your underachieving ass squad

Last update or this might become a full season journal for the Thun---shit. That might not be a bad.....stay tuned. TBD

So this update comes on 1/17/2025, one day after we shocked the muthafucking world

I've been dealing with illness since Wednesday the 8th. That was the last time I was in the office for the morning, since they let us go at noon due to the LA fires (my sincerest condolences to anyone affected by that, that was and remains some very serious shit. although I'm far from proud of some my fellow Angelenos that took to fucking looting evacuated houses smh). Before I left work, I had gone across the street to get breakfast, and it didn't dawn on me to break my masks from out my drawer at home, because I didn't think the fires were close enough to downtown to feel the effects. But before I got across the street that shit hit me, and all I know, is the next seven days were complete fucking hell

So yesterday, 1/16, you know that was the date of the rematch with the Cavs. Oh, I know you know because you too would have received COUNTLESS pings to your phone by way of the NBA app, Bleacher Report AND ESPN about this highly anticipated rematch, after such an epic first bout

Yesterday was the first day in a week I didn't feel like shit all day. I was able to return to work with the assistance of daytime meds. At 4 pm on the muthafucking dot thank you very much, I tune in to the Inside the NBA crew. I think I forgot how funny that show is, because I admittedly don't tune in all the time. If there's a game on TNT at the same time the Thunder are playing on league pass for example, well, you already know!!

But in addition to the jokes, I got hit with a bombshell that I was not prepared for. Ernie mentions that Hartenstein won't play. Ohh shit. That's a problem. Jarrett Allen torched us last week to the tune of something like 24 points and 11 rebounds. And Hartenstein is already our backup center filling in for Chet. When Charles pointed out that we literally don't have anybody to matchup with Jarrett Allen, after he already called him one of the best bigs in the league, it was hard to argue with him

Ok. We've been through this a few times this week as noted on this very long ass multi updated post. Ain't gone win every......you know the drill. In my mind I chalked it up to a very strong possibility of an L

The game begins and first play of the game, our power forward acting center Jaylin Williams is called for a foul contesting the lob thrown to Jarrett. Oh, so y'all just gone call us some little bitty motherfuckers to our face huh? Ok. The Cavs inbound the ball on the sideline after the foul. On only their second play of the game, the Cavs got three offensive rebounds in a row. I reiterated in my home but out loud this time "yeah, this is gonna be a problem"

Because I still felt icky at times yesterday despite it being overall better, I had already planned on not watching the whole game (oh but YOU KNOW I was gone watch the replay today even though I would I have already known the outcome. Oh yeah, you can watch either the game recap or the full game in its entirety for all games all season long on LP; with Lakers and Clippers games not available on LP in Cali until three days after the live game). Right when I checked out of work and turned on the INBA crew, I took my nighttime meds

After the opening flubs (broken record alert but if you watch the games, you know what I'm talking about), the Thunder turned their defense up to another level I didn't even know they were capable of. By the time I got in my bed and turned the game on in my room, we were up like 15. I was like what the fuck!!! While we turned up our defense, we also seemed to can't miss on the other end of the floor. And SGA dropped 40 of them thangs on em. Unsurprisingly, I got a BR notification that SGA has moved himself to the top of the MVP candidate list. He's playing out of this world

Side note: I just tuned in to our game tonight in Dallas, and when I saw the pic of each team's best player, SGA's hilarious mug was replaced by J-Dubb. Uh ohhhh. What's going on here. I took to the interweb and found out he has a sprained wrist. Prolly from all them shots last night hahaha. But I truly hope it's nothing terri.....actually you know what, now that I think about it, putting his wrist in one of those wrist sleeves and telling the league he sprained it, is something the league can't prove otherwise to avoid saying you simply wanted to give him rrrrrrrest. That nigga is fine and I'm sure he'll be back soon. Besides, he's the MVP frontrunner so he knows he can only miss a certain number of games before he's no longer eligible for the award. (Update: lmfao that nigga returned to the starting line up the very next game. That has to be the fastest wrist sprain I've ever seen in all my years following the sport. He ain't have no wrist sprain, he had a rrrest sprain). And as was expected, the Mavs open the game on a 10 - 0 run. Buuuut at the point where I am in the game, about six minutes into the first quarter, we are now down 10 - 9 going on a 9 - 0 run of our own. When the fuck are you going to stop doubting your squad bro?

Ok back to last night's game. I turned the game off a couple of minutes before halftime and went to sleep. But y'all know that OTC nighttime shit can be great at getting you to sleep, but not always so much with keeping you asleep. So when I woke up about an hour later, you know the fuck the first thing I checked lol

Update: 3/2/2025

Soooo this is about six weeks after that last update, and as you can see, I never did finish it. The bottom line is though, we won that game lol. In addition to being busy at work, I've spent the last few weeks updating other parts of my site. With all of my interests on here, it would not be feasible for me to do a every game update for the Thunder regular season games. But now that the all-star game weekend is behind us, next up for NBA fans is the playoffs, that begin in about another month and a half. I will write an update for every Thunder 2025 playoff game

See y'all then

Go Thunder!

Update: 3/29/2025 - Watching OKC kick Indiana's ass :)

First of all, we are kicking some serious MF ass the association, I mean, am I right? Am I right? As a Thunder fan, I will be entering the 2025 Playoffs with more swag than I ever have as a Thunder fan before, equipped with my Thunder gear and a serious hope that we can get sixteen of em, one carefully fought battle at a time. I have never felt like we have a legitimate shot at winning it all as much as I do this year

But alas (nigga did I just say alas in 2025?), with about eight or nine games left in the season, the playoffs are still a little over a couple of weeks away

Other than us kickin' some NBA ass crack all up and down the nation and even once in Canada (although to be fair, everybody kicks ass in Toronto these days), there's not much going on with OKC. But there's a couple of things I wanted to put on here

You know how it is when your car starts making strange noises, but when you take it to a mechanic it suddenly doesn't wanna do it anymore? I decided to write about something that always happens, but I wanted to include photographic evidence. But of course, after I decided to post about it the culprit stopped doing it, preventing me from capturing photo evidence

Until today

We already know NBA players in Philly and NY got a hearing problem. It seems to me like our beloved Thunder coach needs some damn glasses, but he's probably too stubborn to go, insisting his eyes are 20/20. Have you ever seen the way he looks at the jumbotron? While I did technically capture him, this isn't one of his more egregious offenses. But when it comes to you, Mark Daigneault with all due respect sir, not needing glasses the photographic evidence determined that was a lie

As I said, this was a milder offense. I've seen this man squint so hard I've been yelling at him like he can hear me, "that has to be making it worse! I'ma need you to go to the oncologist sir!!" No wait, I don't think that's right. Well whatever, y'all know what I'm tryna say. You know I be hiiiigh

Then I wanted to leave you - for this update at least - with this article I read about OKC. I happen to agree with much of it, and it was nice to read a truly thought-out piece on my squad. It's not very long so I'll post it on here. It was written by someone named Chase Gemes (cool name btw):

OKC Thunder: Criticism is Synonymous with Success

Back-to-back seasons at the top of the Western Conference has fully positioned the Oklahoma City Thunder as one of the NBA's premier teams. Lol, uh, please Chase, by all means.....continue

Despite being one of the smallest markets in the league, the combination of the superstar talent of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a roster full of talented young pieces keeps Oklahoma City in the spotlight. Heading into this year's playoffs, it is the indisputable favorite to make it out of the West. Ok, that was a bit sneaky but I'm still with you Chase. I think at this point we have to be the indisputable favorite to not only make it out the west (mm hmm, I saw that sneaky shit), but to win the whole damn thing

With that, comes criticism. If anyone has scrolled through NBA social media over the last month, complaints of Gilgeous-Alexander's free-throw rate or questioning the Thunder's legitimacy after the rare losses it sustains have likely popped up. Arguably, it's been more popular to go against the favorite. While I agree that it is arguably more popular to go against the favorite, the part that I underlined is on some more sneaky shit. Since you don't know if it's popped up, perhaps this part should have been omitted. Sounds like you just trying to look for a way to sneak in your own thoughts

However, that's part of the newfound territory that Oklahoma City has walked into. Agreed, that's why I'm not mad at you for your sneaky shit. A few years wasn't nobody even pretending to say shit about OKC Thinking about some of the greatest teams in league history — the '90s Chicago Bulls and 2010s Golden State Warriors, for instance — each dealt with their own fair share of criticism leading up to their success. They did. And so did MJ individually despite him widely being considered the GOAT. That's why I can't disagree with your sentiment that the criticism comes with the territory. I respect not only the game but the history of the game. And if the great champions that came along prior to OKC (hopefully) reaching the mountaintop had to deal with criticism, I will gladly put my team in the same criticism conversation as those squads, especially if we win it all

The Thunder has yet to reach the mountaintop, but it certainly has a chance to when this season comes to a close. You bet cho mama's ass crack we do When you're the favorite, not only do many fans gravitate toward you, but many also go against you. Mmm I'm not sure I agree with that. Of course you always have your exceptions to everything, but generally speaking, I think when you're on the verge of winning your first one, the whole NBA fan base is with you. I think fans start to go against you after you've already won, and you win multiple rings. In the two examples you gave, the NBA fan base (except us Magic/Laker fans) were on board with MJ winning his first ring in '91. I would say the same thing about Steph's first one. But both of those guys won multiple rings and that's when you start to get hate in the NBA

The legitimacy of the free-throw criticisms that have soaked up much of the conversation surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP campaign can be countered all day, but they aren't going to stop coming when his popularity is at an all-time high. Agreed, even if you're the only one mentioning his so-called free throw criticisms LeBron James and Stephen Curry, for example, have dealt with that the majority of their careers.

But of course, both have established themselves as two of the best players to ever touch a basketball. Correct, but keep in mind they had to start somewhere

Great teams and great players fight through the negative, and render it as non-existent. Agreed 100% The outside noise should never be the focus, only the goal that the team is setting out. After just reaching the 60-win threshold, it seems that Oklahoma City has been able to do that so far. Yeah, during the regular season. If we get to the playoffs and choke, all of this becomes moot. But after the experience of the #1 seed in the west last season, I really don't think we will. This really may be our year

Keeping the noise out will be crucial in the playoffs, oh shit we are speaking the same language my friend especially with heightened viewership around the NBA. If one thing's for certain, the Thunder is on an entirely different level than just a year ago. Yep, from a year ago when we were already the number one seed out west. Ain't too many more levels to go : )

Update: 4/6/2025

Uh oh. I hope the guys are not getting tired at the worst possible time. Or worse, the words of Chase Gemes above coming true

On Friday, 4/4 we lost a pretty ugly one to Houston. Now, as of the time of this writing, we're getting our asses to us by the Lakers at home; 78 - 56 at the half

I read an article the other day where JJ Reddick was giving all kinds of props to OKC and Daigneault (didn't save the article). JJ confessed to watching a lot of OKC, noting the Thunder are really difficult to score on this year. It makes sense that he probably planned meticulously for this game, as the Lakers have much more of a need to win it. It ain't over yet, but whatever happens, the good thing is we play them again on Tuesday. I will bet my bottom dollar Daigneault and the guys will be more ready then

Actually lemme rephrase. They had BETSTA be ready! There's only like five games left of the regular season and the playoffs are here, my friends. As stated repeatedly, my squad is allowed to an off day or two in my book. There's not much for us to play for at this point for the rest of the regular season games, as our #1 seed is once again a lock. But it's not about that. It's about going into the playoffs with momentum, especially after getting bounced in round 2 last year. But I will say this, THANK YOU Mark Daigneault for not resting the guys despite these last few games being basically meaningless

BUT!!! If y'all win all these regular season games and don't win it all, OKC will be the 2015 - 2016 Warriors all over again