NBA Lockout - We miss Thunder

We miss Thunder.

Not the thunder and rain...actually, that too.

But more than that, everyone misses watching their favorite team play basketball. Everyone misses getting ready before a game as if you're going to play yourself, then facing other anti-sports people who don't understand your love for this game.

After that comes arguing with friends over questionable fouls, roaring and cheering for the team you love and sometimes, just sometimes, getting mad when the team is loosing but then regret it and declare your eternal love for them once they score a few three-pointers that lead to victory.

But most of all, us, the OKC Thunder fans, miss watching our favorite players as they create magic in the court. We miss getting ready before a game, as if we're going to play ourselves then facing other anti-sports people who don't understand our love for this game.

After that comes arguing with friends over questionable fouls, roaring and cheering for OKC, and sometimes, just sometimes, getting mad when the Thunder is loosing but then quickly regret it and declare our eternal love for them, once Durant scores a few three-pointers, Westbrook a few dunks and Ibaka blocks the other team from grabbing the victory from OKC Thunder's hands.

All overseas fans, we miss staying late, becoming night-owls just to watch and feel at the same time what everyone is feeling when OKC either wins or loses.

Hopefully things will sort out soon, but in the meantime, you can occupy yourself with EuroBasket Lithuania 2011 where a lot of NBA players are present, fighting for their beloved country.

Until the time comes to do all of the above mentioned,

Thunderup!!!

Thunder stops Denver Nuggets' tempo, 101-94

Denver stumbled over Thunder on their way to adding one more victory to their six winning streak. But for OKC, only 12 minutes were required in order to let the Nuggets know who will win the game. During those minutes, Thunder took the lead by 27-16.

"That was big, especially after losing two in a row. We were more putting an emphasis on losing two in a row, trying to end that, than trying to clinch the division." - said humble Durant.

KD led the team with 32 points and nine rebounds. Westbrook contributed with 18, while Harden as usual, coming off the bench, added 13.
Ibaka and Perkins did a good job at grabbing rebounds - 14 and 11, respectively.

The forth quarter gave the Nuggets some hope when they scored five points which helped them take the lead, 72-69. Oklahoma City answered back with a 16-0 run, emphasized by Durant's slam on a pass from Maynor.

Throughout 1:45 minutes that were left, Denver tried tempestuously, but failed to catch the Thunder.

This game marked the first time OKC won against this team in seven straight games at the Pepsi Center.

Only five games remain until the end of the regular season. Thunder now, meets up with L.A. Clippers on Wednesday night.

Until then, and until the playoffs,

THUNDERUP!!!

Thunder stops Suns from shining, 116-98

On Wednesday night at the US Airways Center, Thunder played yet another phenomenal game. OKC added a third victory on their last two games - this time Phoenix Suns was their "victim" (116-98).

Looking back at his last appearances, it's no surprise to know that Harden, coming off the bench, scored high 22 points.

In his three previous games against the Suns, Durant had averaged 23.3 points. This time he scored 22 but only as a result of Grant Hill's noteworthy ability to guard him.

Serge Ibaka had 15 while Westbrook contributed with 16 points and eight assists.
A low number of points is not an indication of a job not done well enough - it's completely the opposite; Westbrook showed to everyone that he plays for the name in front on the jersey, not the one on the back.

Coach Scott Brooks had nothing but words of praise for him. -"Russell was really good tonight. He's had better stats in the past but he really controlled the game. He was active on the ball and I thought his command of the game put us in a position to win tonight."

With only eight games left in the season, Thunder meets with Portland Blazers on Friday night. Let's hope this game will be one of those games where the Thunder does what it does best - bring bad weather to other teams.

THUNDERUP!!!

Thunder plays quality music to Jazz II, 94-106

All-Stars Durant and Westbrook, combined together stupendous 60 points which gave the Thunder a bounce-back win against Utah Jazz on Wednesday night (94-106).

To this victory, except Westbrook's 31 and Durant's 29 points, the ones that contributed were also Serge Ibaka and Nazr Muhammed.

Ibaka's great performance was crowned with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Muhammed scored 10, respectively four.

Sefolosha's two steals and four assists, and Perkins' two blocks, increased Thunder's opportunity for the fifth time to hold opponents to less than 100 points.

OKC's and Jazz's game during the third quarter was crucial at determining the winner of the game. Tied at 61 with only four minutes left, the Thunder took a nine point lead into the fourth quarter.

As the end of the game was approaching, humble Durant hit two 3-pointers to boost the lead to 16 points. This high deficit made OKC comfortable enough to continue their path straight to victory.

"It's good to get a nice bounce-back win. They're a very physical team. We knew they would play with desperation and I thought we matched their physical play" - said coach Scott Brooks.

Brooks also said a few nice words about Mohammed's game - "Nazr did a good job of giving us a good spark when we needed it," he mentioned. "He is a very smart player and understands his role, what the team needs and when it needs it".

Thunder next game is against Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday.

Until then,

THUNDERUP!!!

Thunder's power weakens against Raptors, 95-93

OKC Thunder's château of six straight victories collapsed Sunday night by Toronto Raptors (95-93).

Coming off the bench, James Harden led the Thunder with 23 points, followed by Westbrook's contribution with 22 and Durant's assistance with 20.

Kendrick Perkins did a great job by grabbing 12 rebounds but failed at scoring two crucial free throws that would have given OKC the lead by five points during the last seconds of the game.

"Our defense was great tonight but we just couldn't make any shots at the end. It is what it is. We just gotta work on it and move on" - said humble Durant.

Toronto's forward Amir Johnson, decided the final result of the game when he scored with only 1.4 seconds left. However, Durant took the responsibility to change the final result. He shot at the buzzer but failed. Hopes fell and so did the Thunder.

Next up for OKC is the game against Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

Until then - don't forget,

chin up and

THUNDERUP!!!

OKC Thunder shows claws to Bobcats, 82-99

Thunder started the weekend on the right foot by winning their sixth game in a row against Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night (82-99).

Humble Durant left the game earlier due to a bruised left shoulder; an injury which is not believed to be serious.

Even though he was taken to the locker room, Durant still managed to lead the team by scoring 25 points.

Fresh from the bench, Harden scored 21 points while Westbrook contributed with 18. Serge Ibaka had wild numbers: 12 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

"Our offense was out of sync for some reason tonight but our defense was solid and we really picked it up defense in the fourth quarter"- said coach Scott Brooks.

Thunder's biggest lead of the night (94-79) was made the moment Westbrook stole an inbound pass that was finished with a dunk.

"Russell got himself going on the defensive end. He got the big steal and basket in front of their bench late in the game and I thought that was really big" - mentioned Brooks.

This victory increased Thunder's winning streak to a season best, six games. This game also marks the fourth straight game that OKC managed to hold opponents under 90 points.

Thunder is playing against Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Until then,

THUNDERUP!!!

Thunder turns off Miami's heat, 96-85

OKC's magical duo, Durant and Westbrook, displayed their superhuman abilities by combining 47 points to Wednesday night's victory against Miami Heat (96-85).

If you separate these two, they still remain strong individually. Humble Durant led OKC with 29 points, while Westbrook added 18. Double points weren't enough for Durant - he also grabbed seven rebounds and had six assists.

Wade and Bosh scored 21 points for the Heat meanwhile James added 19. Together, they combined to shoot 21 of 69, one of their worst outings of the season.

OKC's reserves scored 31 points altogether.

The Thunder held Miami Heat to 38.5% shooting from the field, as Durant beat LeBron James for the first time in seven attempts.

With a determined defense, especially in the third quarter, OKC took a 67-62 lead into the fourth quarter and never looked back again.

"This was a good win against a team on the road. I told the guys before the game, it's a big game but there are 82 of them. We can't treat this game any different than we did Washington last game or Charlotte coming up Friday night" - said coach Scott Brooks.

This game marks the fifth win in a row for Oklahoma City Thunder. Next up is the game against Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.

Until then,

THUNDERUP!!!