Two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the upstarts who gave the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers a serious run for their money in a first-round series that lasted six tough games. The Lakers emerged primarily on the strength of their veteran core and extensive postseason experience, while the Thunder went through growing pains that all young teams have. This time, the Thunder – two years wiser and perhaps still not at their ceiling – are the favorites, while
When Kobe Bryant high-fived Justin Timberlake after nailing a coffin-closing dagger of a 3-pointer in the final minute Saturday night, it was all but official. The Oklahoma City Thunder finally got their answer as to who they will face in the Western Conference semifinals: The Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams will face off on Monday night in the playoffs for the first time since the Thunder were knocked out of the first round in six games back in the 2009-2010 season,
Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden ran away with the Sixth Man Award, receiving all but four of the 119 first-place votes. In voting released Thursday by the NBA, Harden received 584 of a possible 595 points. He received 115 first-place votes, three second-place votes and inexplicably was left off one ballot. Points were on a 5-3-1 basis and sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada had ballots. Harden played 62 games and came off the bench in
“I’m retro,” the player formerly known as Ron Artest said last night in explaining his style of play. He also said he had not yet called James Harden to apologize for the elbow to the head that gave Harden a concussion, because he and Harden may yet meet again in the playoffs, and it would be a violation of competitors’ etiquette to pick up the phone right now. World Peace also declined to comment on the length of his suspension — seven
Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins need rest for his strained hip muscle and will get at least a few days. The Thunder announced Sunday night that Perkins underwent an MRI that confirmed a strained muscle in his right hip suffered in the first half of Saturday’s win at Dallas that eliminated the defending champions in four games. According to the team, Perkins’ return is based on his progress and recovery in the coming days, which feature plenty of days off for
Ryan Anderson is not the NBA’s Most Improved Player this season. Yes, the voting by a media panel says he is, and the Orlando Magic made a big to-do about their guy winning the award, even though he really didn’t improve and has stunk up the postseason joint something fierce over the last week. But Anderson should not have been voted Most Improved Player. Andrew Bynum should have. Or James Harden. Or Gerald Green, who wasn’t even in the NBA the last
We shall begin today the same way my wife’s elderly uncle begins his day when he opens the newspaper: By turning straight to the obituaries. The Knicks? Not dead. But barely on life support. The Mavs? At least most of them will have nice shiny rings when they get buried. Both were bad last night, and if you were looking to watch a compelling and entertaining basketball game you could have done better by going down to the local Y and sitting on
Many predictions were made going into these playoffs. Some people were apparently smoking crack and boldly predicted a series victory for the New York Knicks over the Miami Heat. Others One columnist who has had doubts about the Oklahoma City Thunder since early in the season predicted a victory for the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. What the postseason has proven so far in regards to these predictions is that they are nothing but a fancy term for “guessing.” The teams mentioned above are set to