The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking for an identity and maybe some national recognition. One does not get much NBA national recognition playing basketball in a city not known for basketball. If you ply your trade in one of the traditional cities like Boston or L.A. then the lights are already on you, but if you dribble orange balls for Oklahoma City, you can remain unknown.

Kevin Durant is making sure that the Thunder find their places in the annals of the NBA and its great games, although it still is not like Boston vs. Orlando or L.A. vs. San Antonio, it was a great start.

Oklahoma City 108 Milwaukee Bucks 90

The Bucks came in with a winning record and an awesome rookie in Brandon Jennings, but it was Durant that stole the show.

It’s precisely what happened Friday, as the Thunder led by as many as 24 points and never trailed by more than six. The Thunder outplayed a Milwaukee team that came in with a surprising 8-5 record but was just 2-4 on the road.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with a game-high 33 points to go with 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Thabo Sefolosha recorded his second double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

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The big key for the Thunder is on the defensive end and they showed that in beating the Bucks.

Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, who entered the night as the league’s 10th-leading scorer at 23.4 points per game, was held to 12 points and three assists. The 10th overall pick and frontrunner for Rookie of the Year had just two points and three assists in 19 first-half minutes.

Kevin Durant an MVP contender

Kevin Durant is having a MVP type season, although he most likely will not win the award, which is usually reserved for more veteran players playing on teams headed for the Conference finals at least. Still, Kevin is in the Race as they call it at NBA.com.

10. Kevin Durant, Thunder (9-7)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
15 38.6 27.1 6.8 3.1 1.5 0.8 .450 .250 .855
Last Week: N/A | Drafted:
The newcomer to The Race, though it is our suspicion that he will have a regular appearance among these candidates in the coming years. The thing that stands out about him is he has incredible length but gets his shot off so quickly coming off screens that defenders have a hard time getting a hand up. Once he adds strength and experience, he’ll be very difficult to stop. Plus, he has his team a third of the way to last season’s victory total of 23, which should not be overlooked.

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Image: Zuma Press

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Now somewhere down the line your intrepid author must have missed something. Let’s see, what could it have been? Oh, that is right, shouldn’t your Team USA basketball team be loaded with Superstars? Now who would those be? Perhaps you could start with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and from there move on to Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard. Yeah, that would be an excellent way to begin the roster of future Olympians.

Is this someone coming out of the stands to join Team USA or Kevin Durant?

So here is the roster and those names don’t seem to be on it.

Now we do have a collection of future potential maybe if all things work out and things go the right way possible stars, maybe even a superstar or two of the future, but what happened to those other guys?

Well, at least, Kevin Durant is listed on the roster and appears to be taking over the team.

“Jerry (Colangelo) had the idea to do this, and we all felt it would be good, but I think it was great,” said Mike Krzyzewski, who was named Tuesday head coach of the USA Men’s National Team program for 2009-2012. “Jerry just got through talking to them, and I said a few words and you could feel the sense of pride from all the guys. We had four really good days here, all these guys have built up USA equity, let’s put it that way.”

Durant, who shot a 9-of-9 from the free throw line, also recorded eight rebounds and four assists, while Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets / Stanford) added 18 points on a 7-of-8 shooting performance from the field, and Kyle Korver (Utah Jazz / Creighton), Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers / Georgia Tech) and Anthony Randolph (Golden State Warriors / LSU) also helped USA Blue with 12 points each.

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Now you did notice those stars in the making like Thaddeus Young and Kyle Korver, didn’t you? What about Brook Lopez? Still doesn’t get you going? Me neither. Maybe the roster will change before the Olympics, who knows.

Image: Zuma Press

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Just how many old guys can the Celtics stock up on? Let’s see they have Grandpa Kevin Garnett, age 33 with 14 years in the league. Then there is Grandpa Paul Pierce, age 32 with 11 years in the league. Then there is Grandpa Ray Allen, whom they shopped around this winter, but nobody wanted a 3 point shooter that used a walker, soon to be age 34 with 13 years in the league. (Stats from NBA.com)

Now they reach for the geritol and sign Rasheed ‘Technical waiting to happen’ Wallace, age 35 in September with 14 years in the league.

Sure the Celtics won a title two years ago, because for some unknown reason nobody got injured. Last year was more reality than fantasy as Kevin Garnett was injured.

Unfortunately it is a fact of life for Hoop Stars in the NBA that age limits your jumping ability, your quickness, your hops (ability to jump fast), and leaves you more injury prone. Good Luck Boston on picking up an aging brooding Rasheed Wallace.

How will Rasheed Wallace get along in Boston?

Rasheed will always be remembered affectionately in Detroit for being a great teammate and delivering the 2004 title. Thank You, Rasheed.

And with Rasheed Wallace severing ties with the Pistons on Sunday by giving an oral commitment to sign with Eastern Conference rival Boston, the soul has left the building as well.
Multiple media outlets reported that Wallace, 35, agreed to the mid-level exception for $5.8 million per season, and it’s believed to be for two seasons.
source

Photo source Newscom

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Kevin Durant gives a thumbs up to the Thunder

Now can they bring the Thunder?

They even have team colors.

Team chairman Clay Bennett said the team colors will be blue, red and orange — blue to coincide with the main color of Oklahoma’s state flag and red and orange to reflect the colors of the sunset.

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Guess what? They have TV in Oklahoma City. Not much though.

Last season, the team had eight nationally televised games with Durant playing in his rookie campaign. However, after finishing a franchise-low 20-62 last season, it’s no surprise Oklahoma City isn’t playing many games in prime time this season.

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This team will rely heavily on youth including Kevin Durant. Here is a look at their draft picks.

DRAFT PICKS:

Russell Westbrook, G, 6-3, UCLA — Defensive-minded combo guard who the Sonics hope will develop into a defensive stopper.

Serge Ibaka, F, 6-10, Republic of Congo — Talented but unpolished front-court player who the team will keep in Europe and continue to develop. Pick acquired from Phoenix.

D.J. White, F, 6-9, Indiana — A good rebounder who can shoot and play with his back to the basket. Gives the Sonics another scoring option inside. Acquired from Detroit by the Sonics trading their 32nd and 46th picks.

Devon Hardin, C, 6-11, California — A long, athletic player who can block shots and potentially develop into a defensive presence inside for the Sonics.

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Kevin Durant skips for joy on learning his game is going to Oklahoma

Image details: Seattle SuperSonics v Denver Nuggets served by picapp.com

Maybe it was the okey dokey, but Seattle had to let them go.

The agreement ends a contentious relationship that culminated in a recent six-day federal trial over terms of the team’s KeyArena lease. The judge was scheduled to rule Wednesday afternoon.

The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay as much as $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the lease. The team’s name and colors will be staying in Seattle.

“We made it,” Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. “The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season.”

source

New owner wins over old owner.

It’s a victory for Bennett, who purchased the Sonics in 2006 from Starbucks Corp. Chairman Howard Schultz for $350 million, and will take the franchise to his hometown. Bennett faced harsh criticism in Seattle for his efforts in trying to build a new arena as a replacement for KeyArena, and the presumption he wanted to move the franchise all along.

Hey, the Seattle SuperSonics have stunk in recent history. Now they have a new city, new arena, new owner, and one of the best young players in Kevin Durant.

Let’s go Okie City Sonics!

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Carmelo Anthony with 2 of many. Make that many many.

Denver 168 Seattle 116

Yeah, that was the score with no overtimes.

Denver, a pretty much all offensive team anyway, put on a show against Seattle, a pretty much non-defensive team anyway.

The Nuggets had eight players score in double figures, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 26 and Allen Iverson’s 24. Martin had 23 points and Marcus Camby had a triple-double with 13 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists.
source

Denver had a 48 point first quarter.

They won the game by 52 points.

The Nuggets had 44 assists.

Get this, Halftime Score 84 to 58.

What an unreal game.

Now back to reality. Denver has to play Detroit. There will be no 168 points scored in that game.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you like the new all scoring NBA?

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Kobe is flat out a great scorer

The Bulls have got to be wondering what they were thinking.

Hold on to Luol Deng and pass on Kobe Bryant?

Luol Deng. Now how many votes for the All Star team did he get? Hmm, there was that one from his mother. And that one from his agent.

Oh well, Luol is going to be great, right? Right?

Kobe is great and has been since the day he stepped on the court.

GM Mitch Kupchak should get more credit for not pulling off any deals.

Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports has compiled some first half of the season awards with the MVP being one of them. Let’s look at Adrian’s awards choices and why he feels that way.

Your intrepid author’s comments will be in italics.

Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Sometimes, there are superstars due to win the Most Valuable Player Award. It is the year owed them. No one wants to hear this, but it’s true. Kevin Garnett has an MVP trophy. So does Dirk Nowitzki. Steve Nash has two. Once Shaquille O’Neal left, Bryant was considered an unworthy candidate because the Lakers were still losing. source

Adrian goes on to support his argument, by stating that LA winning in the West is far harder than Kevin Garnett winning in the East.

He also states that LeBron will win several MVP’s but this is just not the year for him to get support from his team.

It will be a great MVP race. Not like in past years where you arguable could have just handed the trophy to Shaq every year. In fact, it got to the point that someone had to get smoking hot to take the trophy away from Shaq.

For the first half of the season you have to go with Kobe.

Least Valuable Player: Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets

He has stopped going to the rim, stopped risking life and limb and declared his new four-year, $62 million contract fit for a suburban jump shooter.

Have never understood why Rod Thorn thought the Nets could win with a 6′ 4″ ball hog that played no D.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics

Adrian brings up what could have happened with a healthy Greg Oden.

Kevin Durant is instant star power in a franchise that is floundering. He will be a star for his entire career and hopefully will leave town to play for franchise intent on winning.

Oden has the power to bring back the true center into the NBA. But at this point, Greg is just potential and Kevin is doing it.

Rookie Bust: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

no one can live with the insubordination that he showed with assistant coach Ron Adams prior to getting a two-game suspension in mid-January. Maybe his chatter will be entertaining when he’s considered a good player, but until then, Noah needs to grow up.

Just be glad you are not a kid in an adult world where everything you do is told to the media and printed the next day or shown on the internet. Noah will make it in this league. He will mature as well.

Executive Disaster of the Year: Isiah Thomas, New York Knicks

This is a career achievement award for Thomas. Kevin McHale has been a different disaster, but he does have a blossoming young star in Al Jefferson, No. 1 picks and cap space on the way. Odds are, he’ll do nothing with it, but at least you know Thomas has no chance with the constitution of his team.

All the Isiah Thomas stuff just stuns me. As a long time Piston fan it is so hard to fathom.

Did Isiah ruffle feathers as a Piston? Absolutely.

Did Isiah turn people off, in spite of his cherub smile and youthful energy? Absolutely.

Did Isiah move beyond all that and get the job done? Absolutely, positively.

Try two rings as the team leader of a franchise that had no belief in itself for decades.

And, like now, Thomas told everyone that he would do it!

Let me leave you with this thought, no matter how ludicrous. What if the Knicks start to win?

Adrian gives us some other awards, so be sure to check them out!

NBA Basketball Fan Question What other MVP candidates are out there?

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Dwight Howard has tremendous upside

Normally the All Star game is not a big ticket with your intrepid author.

A game with little or no defense has a hard time holding my interest.

In fact, today’s basketball with all the rule changes towards offense has really bothered me in recent years.

But this year may be an exception. The league is just so filled with exceptional talent.

One starter in particular could become a dominant force in the NBA sooner than we think. That man would be Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

Hmm, may just have to tune in after all. Here are your vote getters.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the second returns of the 2008 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,186,690; LeBron James (Clev) 1,005,733; Chris Bosh (Tor) 313,983; Paul Pierce (Bos) 268,926; Yi Jianlian (Mil) 192,828; Caron Butler (Was) 150,042; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 121,991; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 120,783; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 116,168; Antawn Jamison (Was) 106,370.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 777,764; Jason Kidd (NJ) 559,333; Vince Carter (NJ) 468,051; Ray Allen (Bos) 464,810; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 422,463; Chauncey Billups (Det) 238,125; Michael Redd (Mil) 183,309; Richard Hamilton (Det) 121,663; Joe Johnson (Atl) 109,443; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 109,345.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 970,778; Shaquille O’Neal (Mia) 466,292; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 124,348; Ben Wallace (Chi) 114,245; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 100,622; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 89,900; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 55,217; Emeka Okafor (Cha) 51,490; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 43,036; Eddy Curry (NY) 37,252.

2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 767,722; Tim Duncan (SA) 722,059; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 686,853; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 281,299; Josh Howard (Dal) 251,756; Shawn Marion (Pho) 240,752; Shane Battier (Hou) 227,112; Luis Scola (Hou) 222,896; Kevin Durant (Sea) 191,542; Grant Hill (Pho) 152,898.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 941,716; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 663,141; Steve Nash (Pho) 526,493; Allen Iverson (Den) 514,291; Manu Ginobili (SA) 220,620; Jason Terry (Dal) 200,693; Baron Davis (GS) 194,048; Chris Paul (NO) 189,646; Tony Parker (SA) 183,173; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 178,152.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 813,305;Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 463,916; Erick Dampier (Dal) 171,386; Marcus Camby (Den) 161,807; Pau Gasol (Mem) 118,759; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 85,715; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 69,691; Tyson Chandler (NO) 69,083; Andris Biedrins (GS) 67,862; Chris Kaman (LAC) 66,315.  source

NBA Basketball Fan Question Did your favorite player make the cut?

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Can Kobe Bryant keep on smiling?

No Bynum, no problem.

Just let Kobe take over and take over he did.

Kobe put up 48 on the Seattle Supersonics and pulled the game out in OT.

Kevin Durant shot a horrible 6 for 26 for Seattle.

Final Score – Lakers 123 – Sonics 121

The Lakers were recently dealt a severe blow when young center Andrew Bynum, the player not named later in the Kobe to the Bulls non-trade, injured his knee.

The Lakers had to come right back and play on the road again the night after the injury.

And if there is any doubt about whether Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in the league, if not the best, then look no further than this game.

“This is a tough one,” a tired looking Bryant said. “Tonight was one of those nights where I kind of had to read the mood of the team. Us kind of being a little deflated with (Bynum) going down, being a back-to-back, coming in on the road, it was one of those things where I just kind of wanted to be a lot more assertive.”

How assertive? Bryant scored the final six points of overtime. He took 44 shots, just three off his career high of 47. source

The Lakers had learned before the game that Bynum’s injury was much worse than thought.

They learned center Andrew Bynum could be sidelined for more than eight weeks because he suffered a subluxation of the patella and a bone bruise of his left knee in Sunday night’s victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bynum was injured when he landed on teammate Lamar Odom’s left foot in the opening minutes of the third quarter. He left Staples Center wearing a soft knee brace and said he didn’t believe the injury was that serious. source

No one is expecting Kobe to put up 48 per night to keep the Lakers rolling, but it will be a test for the whole team to keep going until Andrew Bynum can return.

NBA Basketball Kobe Bryant factoid - It was Bryant’s 87th career 40-point game, one behind Elgin Baylor for third all-time in league history.

Those that know Kobe, know he is ready for the challenge. The real problem may be that his teammates are not.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Kobe tolerate his teammates if they begin to lose?

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Brandon Roy and Kevin Durant

Conventional wisdom, be as it may, does not always ring true.

Greg Oden is out with micro fracture surgery. Portland being a very young team and minus its big 7 footer should not be enjoying any success.

No, Portland should be looking forward to another high draft pick to complement Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Maybe even a top 5 pick that would cement Portland as the team of the future.

Well, funny thing, no Greg Oden, no high draft pick and still Portland is winning. The future is unfolding right now.

Portland just won their 11th game in a row. Just where is this headed?

The latest win came Tuesday night when Brandon Roy and Jarrett Jack each scored 17 points and Portland beat the Seattle SuperSonics 89-79.

The Blazers own the longest current winning streak in the NBA, and it’s their best run since they won 12 in a row during the 2001-02 season. source

Portland is now trying to steal the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association. Hey, they might win the division!

It is a close race right now with Denver and Utah.

Oddly, Seattle with Kevin Durant playing, and playing well enough to probably win Rookie of the Year is headed towards the high draft pick.

The NBA set up this game to showcase Kevin Durant vs. Greg Oden on Christmas day.

The Blazers all acknowledged this game was big. Not only was the streak on the line, but it was a nationally televised game on a holiday that has traditionally showcased stars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

“I remember as a kid watching Michael Jordan play on Christmas,” Przybilla said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don’t know that I’ll ever get that chance again in my career.”

Portland is now thinking playoffs and what a surprise that is to everyone.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Portland be able to keep it up?

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