Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Playoff Live Blog, Analysis, Reaction
In case you missed it, check out the ending to Game 1 between the two Western Conference powerhouses known as the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While Game 1 ended in heroic fashion thanks to Kevin Durant’s foul-line jumper,—proving that he truly does have ice running through his veins—there’s no doubt that the Mavericks controlled the tempo, pace and flow of the game from the tip.
All we learned from Game 1 was that this first-round series has the potential to be one of the most highly contested and most competitive first-round series in recent memory.
Will Game 2 between the Mavericks and the Thunder be just as highly contested as the first, and will it come down to another clutch moment from the 2012 NBA scoring champion?
Stay right here at Bleacher Report as we move toward the 9:30 p.m. ET tipoff of this playoff series that has all the makings of an instant classic. I’ll be blogging live and reacting to every minute of Game 2 between the Mavs and the Thunder, and I sure hope you’ll join me.
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Live Blog, Analyis and Reaction
The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder are no strangers to each other when it comes to meeting in the NBA playoffs.
Last season, the Mavericks surprised the Thunder by dominating them in the Western Conference Finals in just five games, winning by an average of 6.5 points.
With that being said, the Mavericks’ title defense kicks off with a tough first-round matchup with a Thunder team that is more experienced, more offensively explosive and more disciplined on the defensive side of the ball.
Last season, the Mavericks won the regular season series against the Thunder, winning two out of their three meetings by an average of nine points per game. This year, on the other hand, the Thunder dominated the regular season series with the Mavericks, winning three out of the four meetings by an average of five points.
If history is any indicator of how this playoff series will go, the Thunder will make it out of this first-round series in five games, just like the Mavericks did last season.
Stay right here as the Mavericks look to begin their 2011 NBA title defense, facing off against the Thunder at 9:30 pm ET in Oklahoma City. I’ll have all the live-blogging, analysis and instant reaction that you can handle as the game gets underway.
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NBA Free Agency 2013: Oklahoma City Thunder Must Give James Harden Max Deal
James Harden won’t be eligible for free agency until after next season, but the Oklahoma City Thunder would be wise to lock him up with as much money as they can legally pay him.
That might be difficult to stomach with Kevin Durant scheduled to earn the league maximum over the next four seasons and Russell Westbrook recently signed to a similarly huge deal. Retaining Harden would likely require the Thunder to spend many millions in luxury taxes for the foreseeable future if GM Sam Presti hopes to have more than a three-man roster.
Things will get even pricier with Serge Ibaka’s payday coming in the not-too-distant future.
Still, this is a move the Thunder have to make.
If Harden proved anything with his 40-point outburst against the Phoenix Suns, it’s that he’s an essential part of the mix in Oklahoma City and a franchise player on any given night.
Harden is averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in just over 31 minutes a game this season. He’s a virtual lock for Sixth Man of the Year honors and a vital component to Oklahoma City’s winning formula.
Quite simply, the Thunder could remain perennial contenders with Harden, but they may not stand a chance without him.
His athleticism may not wow you, but that’s precisely what makes him such a smart long-term investment. This is a guy with the talent and IQ to needed to play well for years to come. He’s also tough, both physically and mentally—there’s a championship pedigree here that’s highly uncommon among 22-year-olds.
Harden can get into the paint thanks to long strides and footwork that would make Manu Ginobili proud, and he’s hitting 39 percent of the 4.7 three-pointers he attempts each game. With Durant and Westbrook, he gives the Thunder three dynamic scorers who can play on the perimeter or take the ball inside.
That’s a luxury to be sure, and Oklahoma City’s 46 wins have proven as much. With that kind of success, it’s the kind of luxury you don’t mind paying some taxes on.
Like any team with three well-paid superstars, the Thunder will need to rely on draft picks, mid-level exceptions and some creative management to maintain some semblance of depth.
Without Harden, though, depth may not do this team much good.
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Live Blog, Analysis and Reaction
We’ve got a great Western Conference matchup for you this afternoon, folks, as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Staples Center at 3:30 p.m. ET. Both teams are playing for a lot, and it should be a showdown for the ages.
The Lakers, in Kobe Bryant‘s second game back from a shin injury, are just a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers in the race for the Pacific Division crown and are looking to bounce back after getting blown out by the San Antonio Spurs, 121-97 on Friday night. More importantly, a win today could be proof that they can compete with the Thunder come playoff time.
You see, Oklahoma City sweeps the season series with a win today and inches closer to beating out the Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both healthy, today’s game is a great one just waiting to happen.
Be sure to tune in later as I’ll be providing tons of fun facts, analysis and reaction to everything. See you at 3:30, ladies and gentlemen!
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Scoring Title Will Vault Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant into the MVP Award
What Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has been doing night in and night out during this shortened 2011-12 NBA season is remarkable.
Aside from Kobe Bryant and a few other players in the Association, no other player is as consistently on as Durant.
The light bulbs have yet to dim on this 24-year-old star out of Texas.
Nor do they look like they will.
For the first time in his brief five-year career, Durant is inside the argument of the league MVP award and this Sunday’s game against Los Angeles will vault him to the top of the list for the award under one stipulation.
Durant is just .1 points per game behind Bryant for the league’s scoring title, which means the lights will be even brighter at Staples when tip-off occurs.
Notching out Bryant in Hollywood this Sunday will get Durant that solid ground ahead of the current leader LeBron James in the race for MVP.
But let’s not forget that this could be Durant’s third scoring title. Third straight scoring title. In just his, let me remind you, fifth season.
There’s many bullet points that can help us determine why Durant will win the award over James.
First is the league scoring title, which has been awarded together with the MVP for stars like Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Bryant and more in the past.
It’s impressive to award the two together. It’s not often done.
Second is the stats factor.
James’ numbers are certainly nice, 27 ppg, 8 rpg and 6 apg while shooting 52 percent. But why is this season so special for James when he’s been doing this throughout his career?
And wasn’t it more impressive when he put up these stats in Cleveland with nobody around him?
Sasha Pavlovic, Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilguaskas are far less impressive than Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade.
The third point to make is the below 20 points a game number.
As mentioned before, the lights have yet to dim on Durant. In 63 games this season, Durant has been under the 20 points barometer just five times.
Which means, in 58 games, the Durantula has scored at least 20 points or more.
In 61 games this year for James, the Miami Heat star been under the 20 points mark scoring 13 times. 13!
What does that say about Durant? That he’s been more consistent.
And this is while doing it in a much deeper conference.
The Western Conference is head and heels better competition wise when compared to the Eastern Conference.
For arguments sake, let’s just say Sacramento is a much tougher out than Charlotte. Durant, when lined up against these West foes, cannot look across the court and see cupcakes, unlike James who can.
Durant is also averaging two extra rebounds per game more this season, at eight bounds a game. It’s the most he’s ever averaged in his career.
James is only shooting better than he’s ever done at 53 percent compared to Durant’s best 50 percent.
Another point to make is how far up the ladder Oklahoma City has climbed.
Last year, this same team was slotted in the fourth spot in the Western Conference during the playoffs.
This year, OKC has hovered around either first or second all year.
Miami, to most, has underachieved this entire season, winning the games they should have won but losing the games they shouldn’t have.
The ones like Milwaukee, Golden State and Indiana.
You can say what you want about Oklahoma City being 46-17, but that’s in a tough conference.
What if the Thunder are in the East? Would they be 55-8?
Durant is clearly the MVP because of his individual performance, team performance and current standing during this shortened season.
Sometimes the MVP award has to go around. James already has two, and why should Durant be snipped when he’s had a career year?
Don’t roll your eyes at the notion of Durant getting the MVP. While Vegas has seem to have locked this MVP award up to James, Durant is right there within every argument.
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L.A. Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Serge Ibaka Is Key To Thunder Victory
The Oklahoma City Thunder need a big performance from Serge Ibaka in Sunday’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ibaka is the most intimidating defender in the NBA today. He will be tested by one of the NBA’s emerging stars, Andrew Bynum. Bynum and Ibaka’s battle will determine the victor on Sunday.
This is how Ibaka can swing things in Oklahoma City’s favor, and give the Thunder the series sweep over the Lakers.
Shutdown Bynum on Offense
Ibaka must keep Bynum’s low-post game in check for the Thunder to come out victorious. Bynum averages nearly 19 points per game and has played excellent in the last five games.
Ibaka needs to use his length to pester Bynum’s shot. Bynum is bulkier than Ibaka, but Ibaka’s long arms will make up for any difference in strength.
Ibaka averages 3.6 blocked shots per game. Blocking a few shots on Sunday will frustrate Bynum and could draw Bynum’s nasty demeanor out of its shell.
Getting in Bynum’s head is huge. Without a focused Bynum, the Lakers become a one-man show. Kobe Bryant is the NBA’s leading scorer, but he will not beat the Thunder by himself.
Keep Bynum off the Glass
Bynum is a menace on the glass. He hauls down nearly 12 boards per game. Ibaka must counter that by boxing out and grabbing some rebounds of his own.
The Lakers rely heavily on Bynum’s ability to create second-chance opportunities and hold opponents to one shot on every trip down the floor.
If you take Bynum’s rebounding out of the Lakers equation, you diminish their effectiveness on both ends of the court.
Ibaka averages nearly eight rebounds per game. He cannot carve out space like Bynum does down low, but he can use his lanky frame to jump over the Lakers center.
Provide an Offensive Boost
Ibaka averages nine points per game. He must contribute at least that much if the Thunder want to knock off the Lakers on Sunday.
Ibaka’s offensive repertoire is extremely raw. He does not have great touch, but his athleticism allows him to make up for whatever skill he lacks.
Bynum is an adequate shot-blocker and will turn Ibaka away on the low block. However, Ibaka runs the floor extremely well. His ability to beat Bynum down the floor for easy flushes will provide a boost to the high-scoring Thunder.
The Thunder know what they are going to get from Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook on the scoring sheet.
Ibaka’s added production would put them over the top.
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Live Blog, Analysis and Reaction
If the Los Angeles Clippers want to move up in the Western Conference playoff picture, they’ll have to start off by getting past the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
Lob City faces off against OKC, in a matchup that holds serious playoff implications for both teams.
The Thunder need to win to stay even with the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot in the Western Conference, and the Clippers need to win to maintain their two-game lead over the bottom half of the West.
To say that this matchup between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, and Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, is an important matchup is an absolute understatement, as both teams desperately need this win to fuel their end-of-the-year playoff push.
With a win against the Thunder tonight, the Clippers can win their regular season series with the Thunder, which would be an impressive accomplishment to say the least.
Thunder vs. Clippers. CP3 vs. Westbrook. Durantula vs. The Blake Show. Who you got?
The game tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, but stay tuned right here on Bleacher Report for all your live blogging needs, as we’ll be providing live reaction to every intense moment of this pivotal Western Conference showdown.
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Oklahoma City Thunder: Who Is the Most Important Player on Their Team?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have exceeded lofty expectations for the 2012 NBA season. The team has been dominant throughout the year.
Although the Thunder have recently run into a three-game losing streak, OKC seems ready for the playoffs and a shot at their first NBA Finals appearance since the move to Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is one of the few teams in the NBA fortunate to have a “Big Three.”
Their three stars consist of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Durant is the face of the organization. He has been billed as the NBA’s best all-around player alongside LeBron James.
Durant has been the NBA’s scoring champ the last two seasons and will likely finish second this season. He is a great scorer, improving on defense, and one of the most clutch players in the league. He’s the heart of the Thunder.
Harden provides a spark for his team that few others can create. He is electrifying off the pick, and has one of the sweetest three-point jumpers around. Harden is also the Thunder’s best playmaker and often runs the show to close out games.
Westbrook is the most controversial of the three players. He is the show-stopper. Westbrook does what no one else on his team does.
He can get to the rim at will and is by far the most electric player on the team. He is often criticized for his focus on scoring rather than assists, but is still having his best year since entering the NBA.
The Thunder are a deep team. They even embody the word team. Every player on their roster is valuable.
However, there is one player I believe to be of extreme importance.
That player is Westbrook. Durant is a better all-around player. Harden is consistent off the bench, but Westbrook holds the Thunder’s success in his hand.
If he is consistent in his play, the Thunder can beat any opponent they might face. If Westbrook struggles, OKC struggles.
When the Thunder have lost to teams like Miami and San Antonio, Westbrook has been awful.
The reason is Westbrook lifts the pressure off Durant when he plays well and puts it on the opposing team’s defense.
Durant is going to score, Harden is going to facilitate and Westbrook is going to have us wondering exactly what he’ll be doing.
The key is for him to be efficient, limit his turnovers and take the shots he’s consistent at.
Then, OKC can truly enjoy playoff success and win their first title.
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5 Changes the Miami Heat Need to Make to Take Down the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Miami Heat could be on course to make it to the NBA Finals for the second year running.
There is, of course, the small matter of a probable Eastern Conference Finals match-up with the Chicago Bulls, but with the Heat considered favorites to overcome Derrick Rose and the Bench Mob, the Heat have to also think about how they can beat the team that eventually comes out of the Western Conference.
The West this year has been chaotic. The fourth- and eighth-seeded teams are just four games apart.
However, at the top, there is a little more clarity. The Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 2.5-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs and look by far the best bet to make it to their first NBA Finals.
Their overwhelmingly athletic and fast approach to the game gives them the perfect combination of speed in attack and half-court offense.
Miami as comprised can beat the Thunder once or twice in a series, but right now, the Thunder are playing better than every team in the NBA. Beating them four times out of seven looks like a mighty proposition.
The Heat, however, are just a few changes away from finally being able to silence the critics and capture that all-important NBA Championship.
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Oklahoma City thunderous over the Bulls 92-78
The Oklahoma City Thunder made a strong case for being the best in the NBA with a 92-78 win Sunday vs. the Chicago Bulls.
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