CMan's NBA Playoff First Round Matchups and Predictions

It's Playoff time again in the NBA! Welcome to the longest and most drawn out playoff format in professional sports. But, it's why they play the regular season.

I am going to do a quick breakdown of the first round match ups with predictions. Buster and I will be going head to head throughout the playoffs. May the best (or luckiest) man win.

To keep you interested, I am going to start in the East. This should force you to read all match ups until I get to the one everybody is waiting for, The Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here we go;

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE:

#1 Miami (66-16)  vs #8 Milwaukee (34-44)

 To begin with, any team that can't play .500 basketball during the regular season shouldn't qualify for the playoffs. But, we don't make the rules and they do need 8 teams to be fair. On the other hand, if the Heat were given a bye in this round, the results would be the same. The Bucks are a scrappy team but the Heat will want to take advantage of extra rest by sending the Bucks fishing early. Miami wins in a sweep, 4-0.

#2 New York (54-28) vs #7 Boston (41-40)

The Celtics have an emotional edge in this first round match up. The Boston marathon bombings are fresh in the minds of every American and the loss of Rajon Rondo for the season spurred Boston to pretty decent play in his absence. However, the emotion of recent events will probably only last until the tip-off of game 3 in The Garden, and maybe not even then if the Celtics limp in 0-2. Carmelo Anthony proved in the last half of the season that he can do what he wants if he puts his mind to it. The supporting staff led by Tyson Chandler will have winning on their mind and nothing else. I think emotion will give Boston at least 1 win in the series, maybe 2. The Garden remains one of the toughest home court advantages in the East and the Celtics still have Pierce and Garnett. But, it won't be enough to win the series. Knicks win 4-2.

#3 Indiana (49-32) vs  #6 Atlanta (44-38)

The Pacers are the best bet to unseat the Heat in the East this year. The Pacers won 2 of 3 from Miami this season and played them well. But,  they have to get past the Hawks first. The Atlanta Hawks, much like their NFL counterpart the Falcons, seem to play well in the regular season but falter in the playoffs. The Pacers pose a real threat. They are a complete team with out a real stand out superstar. They play solid team defense and score enough to win more often than lose. They are a tough match up for anyone. The Pacers have their eyes on a trip to Miami in the conference finals and they will see this series as warm up. I'll give the Hawks a game at home but I see the Pacers winning easy in the series. Pacers win 4-1.

#4 Brooklyn (49-33) vs #5 Chicago (45-37)

This series is a tough one to call. The Nets have been up and down this year and the Bulls have been dealt some bad breaks. The Bull's have proven that they can win in the playoffs with out Rose and win big. They went in to the playoffs last year as the team no one wanted to play, they come in this year the same way. I'm not sold on the Nets yet and won't be till they win a series. The Bulls have history and tradition, the Net's have a new name and address. I'm going to call this a back and forth series coming down to a 7th and deciding game. If the Bulls can get it to a game 7,  I say they take the series. Chicago, in a tough series, 4-3.


THE WESTERN CONFERENCE:


#1 Oklahoma City (60-22) vs #8 Houston (45-37)

I'll try not to be a homer here. When you look at this match up from a purely statistical standpoint, it's pretty darn even. Heck,  the Rockets even top the Thunder in several statistical categories. I covered most of Oklahoma City's weaknesses in my previous blog. They seem to have corrected most of them in the last two weeks of the season. This is the first round of the playoffs - statistics are thrown out the window, at least for the first couple of games. The Thunder tasted both sweet success and bitter defeat last year and they want redemption. They are a better team than the Rockets and when they play to their potential, they don't often get beat. They also have recent, valuable playoff experience that the Rockets lack. I'll give the Rockets a home win, just for the Harden factor, but the Thunder win the rest. OKC  wins 4-1.

#2 San Antonio (58-24) vs #7 LA Lakers (45-37)

Once the Spurs realized that the Thunder would likely take the top seed, they promptly secured the #2 seed by losing a couple of their last games. Kobe Bryant predicted that the Lakers would reach the playoffs, and they did, but they will have to go forward with out him. the Lakers did win their last game against the Rockets,  assuring that they wouldn't have to face their nemesis in Oklahoma City. LA has no desire to play the Thunder in a series. They won't fare much better with the Spurs. Popovich doesn't lose many series, especially in the first round. The Lakers can play well without Kobe, but not against quality competition, and not for a 7 game series. Will the Lakers win a game? Maybe. Will they challenge for the series? No. Spurs win, 4-1.

#3 Denver (57-25) vs #6 Golden State (47-35)

This should be a lopsided series in favor of the Nuggets. George Karl knows playoff basketball and Denver plays tough all the time. The loss of Gallinari will be tough to overcome in a 7 game series but Denver should find a way. Golden State is a good team but they don't have the year in year out playoff experience that the Nuggets do. The Warriors will compete but, in the end, the the Nuggets should win the series pretty easily. In fact, Denver in a sweep, 4-0.

#4 LA Clippers (56-26) vs #5 Memphis (56-26)

This series matches two teams that couldn't be any different. The high flying Clippers against the stingy, defensive minded Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are the team that no one wants to play in the West. They are playoff hardened and hungry. The Clippers are coming off a record season for the historically worst team in the West. They do have the best all round point guard in Chris Paul and the ever improving Blake Griffin. The Grizzlies counter with attitude and a simple lack of fear for any opponent. If the Clippers play fast, team ball and Paul controls the environment,  they will win. However, I think this comes down to a game 7 in the City of Angels. Clippers win, in a tough series, 4-3.

There you have it. If you were looking for a stat filled blog with statistical reasons for winners and losers, I apologize but that blog would have been long and boring. Hey, It's the first round. We will get a little deeper in to the numbers in the latter rounds, when they really matter.

I still believe the Oklahoma City Thunder will get through the West and claim their second consecutive Western Conference Championship. I'm not so sure about the Heat. They can't be near as hungry as they were last year. Although, they have proven that they can turn their game on and off at will. The Pacers and Knicks will have something to say about it before the dust settles. If I am wrong, get ready for a rematch of last years NBA finals.

For Buster.

Buster's NBA Playoff First Round Matchups and Predictions

We have made it through all 82 games of the regular season, and it is finally time for the payoff. There is nothing more exciting to watch in the sports world than the NBA Playoffs, unless of course, your team didn’t make it.(Sorry once again Bobcat fans)

Here is a quick breakdown of the first round match ups with predictions. My buddy CGilmartin and I will be going head to head throughout the entire playoffs. The winner of each round will be announced on our Twitter page.


Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami (66-16) vs. #8 Milwaukee (34-44)
Anyone who says that the Eastern Conference is better than the West should just take a look at this matchup to realize that they are wrong. When the eighth seed in your bracket has lost ten more games than they have won, something is seriously wrong. Miami will have no problem winning this series, but will give up one game in Milwaukee. It is bound to happen, its Miami, they always give up one! Miami wins 4-1.

#2 New York (54-28) vs. #7 Boston (41-40)
Wow, so much to say about this one and the city of Boston. Such a tragedy where it is very difficult to find any good out of what happened. The entire city will want to show to the world that they are going to overcome this. There isn't a better chance than to make a run in the playoffs. However, without the leader in assist in the NBA, Rajon Rondo, it will be difficult for this team to find that offensive spark they once had. Carmelo Anthony is showing no signs of slowing down his offensive pace and will run right through Boston. I hate to say it, but New York wins in a sweep 4-0.

#3 Indiana (49-32) vs. #6 Atlanta (44-38)
The Pacers are the team that I predicted to be in the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the beginning of the season. Despite the adversity and injuries this team had to overcome, I am going to stay with that prediction. Josh Smith and Al Horford will give Indiana all they want on the boards and through scoring, but Paul George and Roy Hibbert won't be having any of that as they defeat Atlanta in six games. Indiana wins 4-2.

#4 Brooklyn (49-33) vs. #5 Chicago (45-37)
This series has the potential to be one of the sloppiest series of the entire first round. Chicago has proven to be a team who can win without D Rose, and will have to continue to do so in order to win. Because there is no sign of his return anytime soon. Keep an eye out for Nate Robinson to continue his hot steak off the bench. He will give Chicago that spark they need to make it through this series. Brooklyn will look for their big man Brook Lopez to lead them with his 19.4 points per game. Joakim Noah is listed as doubtful for the first game of this series, however, this will not be enough for Brooklyn to make it through this one. Chicago wins 4-2.

Western Conference:

#1 Oklahoma City (60-22) vs. #8 Houston (45-37)
Isn't it crazy that here we are one year from last year playing against once our very own, James Harden? If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that we would be playing Houston in the first round against James Harden, I would have said you're crazy! I am not a big believer in "Linsanity" but I do think that Harden and Lin are good enough to steal one from the Thunder in Houston. This should be a very easy series for the Thunder to manage, they win 4-1.

#2 San Antonio (58-24) vs. #7 LA Lakers (45-37)
The Lakers had one of the worst starts to a season in a long time. Bringing in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash should have solved all of their problems from last year right? Well it obviously didn't as this team had to win their final games to qualify for the playoffs. The tragic loss of Kobe Bryant due to his torn Achilles, kill all chances of the Lakers even winning a game this year in the playoffs. I wish for a speedy recovery for Kobe Bean, because he will be needed, next season. San Antonio wins in an easy sweep 4-0.

#3 Denver (57-25) vs. #6 Golden State (47-35)
Golden State is one of my favorite teams to watch in the NBA. The Warriors will give Memphis all they want in this one. Stephen Curry and David Lee will provide real problems for Denver. They combine for one of the best duo's in the league. The Nuggets will be led by Ty Lawson and the defense over Kenneth Faried. Denver will barely escape from this one, and win the series 4-2.

#4 LA Clippers (56-26) vs. #5 Memphis (56-26)
These teams having the same record had pretty much an identical season. Both teams looked like they could win the Conference at times, but also had times of being one of the worst teams. The high flying and explosive Clippers will be a great match up for the outstanding defense of Memphis. Memphis will give the Clips some struggles, but Blake Griffin and Chris Paul will take care of this one in six. The Clippers win 4-2.

There you have it, the very simple predictions of the first round. We will get more into detail as the playoffs continue. But right now this is all you get. I really do believe that the Thunder have what it takes to get back to the Finals again. Miami on the other hand, they will have to turn their game up to make it back. The Pacers WILL beat the Heat and make it to the NBA Finals. Make sure you subscribe to our blog for updates throughout the entire playoffs. You won't want to miss anything!

Thunder Update 8: The Season

We made it Thunder fans. We made it an entire season without the beard. Who would have thought? Not only did we make it through, but also we ended up better without him. The Thunder capture the first one seed in history, and the Rockets get the bottom of the barrel with the eighth seed. James Harden left a legacy here in Oklahoma City that will probably never be forgotten, but if you were to ask me who I wanted on the team I would say Kevin Martin every single time.

James Harden put up better numbers than Martin as the Thunder’s sixth man. In Harden’s last year as a Thunder he put up an outstanding 16.8 points per game. That is just 2.8 more points per game than Martin’s 14.0. However, Harden did average almost five more minutes per game than Martin. The reason why Martin is more valuable in my eyes is his unselfish play and his ability to make three’s at any part of the court at any time needed. Harden did have a few clutch moments, but shot an average of 39.0 percent from the three. Which is an outstanding average don’t get me wrong, it just doesn’t match up to Martin’s 43 percent. I honestly believe that if Martin got the minutes that Harden had we would put up better numbers. Martin averaged 31 minutes last year in Houston and put up 17.1 points per game. Both are great basketball players, but one represents what this team and city really is all about better than the other, and his name is Kevin Martin.

This season the Thunder finished the season with a record of 60-22. This is the first time the team has reached 60 wins since being here in Oklahoma City, and the first time in franchise history since 97. Having reached the NBA Playoffs three years in a row, improvement from the last three years seemed a bit unrealistic. But to say that this team just “improved” is an understatement. The Thunder took the number one seed in the Western Conference for the first time since they were the SuperSonics in 1994.

What is the difference between this year’s season, and the previous seasons in Oklahoma City? This year the expectations for greatness were higher than ever. That is the main difference from last year. In the past it has been to get a winning record, and then to make it to the playoffs. Or perhaps for the team to just “do good”. Now fans are wanting so much more (which they absolutely have the right to do so), they want an NBA Title. Even being the number three seed in last year’s playoffs, winning the title wasn’t even thought about until we barely escaped the Spurs. Falling just short of three more wins for the best record in franchise history, I guess you could say the team handled the pressure very well this season. All eyes will be on the Thunder and Miami to see if they will meet again in this year’s NBA Finals.

The Thunder really came together as a team this season. Last year it was all about the “big three” with Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. People have wondered who will step up into the spot of the Harden, but if you ask me, we are better without a “big three”. Russell Westbrook finished the season in seventh place for assist with 7.4 per game, which was also a career high. The “Honey Badger” also finished sixth in the league in scoring with 23.2 points per game. Kevin Durant continued to do what he does best this season, score! Durant gave up the scoring title this season to benefit his team. Durant still finished second in the league in scoring with 28.1 points per game. Durant finished behind Carmelo Anthony who played 14 less games than Durant and shot 55 more times. Serge Ibaka (AKA Air Congo) finished first in the league in blocked shots. Ibaka averaged 3.03 blocks per game, but also with an outstanding 13.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. One thing is for sure, when we are looking for the Thunder to make a push through the playoffs this year you can count on these guys to lead the team, with the help on the defensive side of the ball from Thabo Sefolosha, and help off the bench from Kevin Martin.


Here are the final standings through the entire season:
*4/18/13 Note Worthy: The Lakers and Rockets squeeze into the playoffs as the seven and eight seeds.
*Playoff qualifiers in bold

Eastern Conference Standings:

Atlantic:
New York(54-28)
Brooklyn(48-33)
Boston(41-40)
Philadelphia(34-48)
Toronto(34-48)

Central:
Indiana(49-32)
Chicago(43-27)
Milwaukee(37-43)
Detroit(28-52)
Cleveland(24-56)

Southeast:
Miami(64-16)
Atlanta(45-37)
Washington(29-53)
Charlotte(21-61)
Orlando(20-62)

Western Conference Standings:

Southwest:
San Antonio(58-24)
Memphis(54-26)
Houston(45-35)
Dallas(40-40)
New Orleans(27-54)

Northwest:
Oklahoma City(59-21)
Denver(56-26)
Utah(43-39)
Portland(33-39)
Minnesota(31-51)

Pacific:
LA Clippers(56-26)
Golden St.(47-35)
LA Lakers(45-37)
Sacramento(28-54)
Phoenix(25-57)

Thunder Update 7: Final Two Games

The Oklahoma City Thunder now has a one game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference. With a win over the Sacramento Kings tonight the Thunder will clinch the one seed for the first time since moving to Oklahoma City. Getting the one seed in the playoffs is a huge step forward for this organization. It shows that even as good as a season that we had last year, there is still much room for improvement. The Thunder are really coming along as a team and cleaning up the sloppy mistakes they were making a month ago. Oklahoma City has had a solid season of basketball, but they are peaking to their best ability right before playoff time. This is exactly what needs to happen in order for the Thunder to get another shot at the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

The Thunder’s last game was against Portland in Oregon. Oklahoma City won by a score of 106-90. The Thunder swept the season series winning all four games, and scoring over 100 points three of the four victories. Russell Westbrook played an outstanding game scoring 33 points, 17 of which came in the third quarter. Oklahoma City clinched their third straight division title after the game when the Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 108-105 in overtime. Durant recorded 16 points and 5 rebounds as he “joked” around through the majority of this game. Reggie Jackson was the second leading scorer on the night with 17 points. Jackson also had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

There are only two games remaining in the regular season, both are at home for the Thunder. As if it wasn’t important enough to finish out the season on a win streak, now the Thunder need a must win in order to clinch the one seed. The Thunder has played very well this season against the Kings as they lead the season series 2-0. The Kings are still in their normal state of being as they continue to struggle this season. Sacramento has a record of 28-52 and is currently on a two game losing streak. If the Thunder plays a decent game they will come out of this with a win and the number one seed in their pockets. Almost the same situation as the game against the Kings, the Thunder will play the Milwaukee Bucks at home on Wednesday night for the final game of the regular season. Neither of these teams matches up well against Oklahoma City. If the Thunder does not finish the season on a win streak, I think it is safe to say that it will be more than just a disappointment.

If you do not already know that Kevin Durant does not care about the scoring title at all, then I will go ahead and tell you now. Durant bluntly said in a press conference regarding Carmelo Anthony about the scoring title “he can have it!” Durant could care less about winning his fourth scoring title if it means that his team will be better as a direct result of it. Durant is currently in second place in scoring in the league with 28.1 points per game, just .6 behind the leader Carmelo Anthony. It is nearly impossible for Durant to win it at this point, even if he wanted to. Serge Ibaka is currently the leagues leader in blocked shots with 3.06 per game and will most likely stay that way through the remainder of the season. Russell Westbrook is tied for sixth in the league in assists with 7.5 per game. With the ability of Durant to score thirty points on any given night, with Ibaka to defend the paint better than anyone else, and Russell not only scoring but sharing the ball, there is no reason why the Thunder should not be able to make another run for the NBA Title.


Here are the current standings through 80 games:
*4/15/13 Note Worthy: Oklahoma City takes a one game lead over the Spurs for the best record in the West.
Eastern Conference Standings:

Atlantic:
New York(53-27)
Brooklyn(47-33)
Boston(41-39)
Philadelphia(33-47)
Toronto(32-48)

Central:
Indiana(49-31)
Chicago(43-27)
Milwaukee(37-43)
Detroit(28-52)
Cleveland(24-56)

Southeast:
Miami(64-16)
Atlanta(44-36)
Washington(29-51)
Orlando(20-60)
Charlotte(19-61)


Western Conference Standings:

Southwest:
San Antonio(58-22)
Memphis(54-26)
Houston(45-35)
Dallas(40-40)
New Orleans(27-54)

Northwest:
Oklahoma City(59-21)
Denver(55-25)
Utah(42-38)
Portland(33-37)
Minnesota(30-50)

Pacific:
LA Clippers(54-26)
Golden St.(45-35)
LA Lakers(44-37)
Sacramento(28-52)
Phoenix(24-56)

Sunday Biography: Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson (or as I like to call him “R Jack”) was born on April 16, 1990, in Pordenone, Italy. Reggie was the youngest of the three sons of Sharon and Saul Jackson. Despite being born in Northeast Italy, Reggie went to high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado at Palmer High School. Jackson lived in Italy, England, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida before settling in Colorado during his sixth grade year. Reggie Jackson currently plays point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson played through his junior year at the University of Boston College, before declaring for the NBA draft in 2011. He was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the draft.

Reggie Jackson played for coach Jim Grantz at Palmer. Reggie served as the team captain for his last two seasons at Palmer. During Jackson’s senior season he was named Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year honors, The Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado Player of the Year, The Gazette's Big Schools Player of the Year and the Denver Post's Class 5A Player of the Year. Jackson was selected to the All-City first team twice during his career at Palmer. Reggie led all Class 5A scorers with a 29.6-point average in the 2007-08 season. He averaged 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. Jackson led his team to a 24-3 record and the 5A Metro title in 2007-08 season. The Palmer Terrors advanced to the 5A state semifinals before getting knocked out of the tournament.


When Jackson joined Boston College for the 2008–09 season, there were already stars on the team such as Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders. During Jackson’s freshman season Boston College made it to the NCAA tournament with Reggie coming off the bench as an explosive point guard. In his sophomore year Jackson became the starting point guard with Tyrese Rice leaving for the NBA. With Jackson being the starter, the eagles were not able to make it back to the NCAA tournament again. Reggie Jackson led the eagles in scoring during his junior season with 18.2 points per game. Jackson was named to the All-ACC First team for the 2010–11 season. The Eagles made it to the NIT (National Invitational Tournament) that season.

Jackson spent a small part of his rookie season playing in Tulsa for the Thunder’s D-League team. Reggie Jackson played in 45 games his rookie season averaging 11.1 minutes per game. Jackson averaged 3.1 points per game, but only shot 32%. When Reggie shot from beyond the arc his average dropped to 21%.

Reggie Jackson has seen tremendous improvement from last season. Jackson is shooting 45.8% on 5.0 points per game. His free throw percentage has dropped 5.1% from last year, but he is shooting a decent 82.9% for his entire career. Jackson’s assist per game has improved a little from last season as he averages 1.8 assist per game. Reggie Jackson has been able to give the Thunder some solid minutes off the bench at the point guard position this season. When Westbrook gets in foul trouble or needs a breather he has proven to have the ability to keep the same pace as Russell. Jackson is not as fast as Westbrook (is anyone?) but he keeps the same style of play going when he comes into the game. Reggie Jackson has quickly become one of my favorite players on the roster. This young point guard has a bright future in the NBA, hopefully with the Thunder!

The Thunder are a great team.........of players.

During the Thunder/Pacers game the other night an interesting stat was flashed on the screen.The stat illustrated that the Thunder were the fourth worst team in the NBA at assist per field goal made at just over 56%. Oddly enough, the Thunders next opponent, the New York Knicks were the worst. The Spurs lead the NBA at just over 65%.  For the Record the Thunder's ratio in Sunday's loss to the Knicks was 51% to New York's 48%.

Anyone that knows me as a person and a coach will tell you that I am a team guy. If you follow my Thunder tweets,  I constantly mention the number, or lack of, helpers. I'm not just looking at the guards for helpers, they should come from everyone. The Knicks beat the Thunder Sunday, in part, by ball movement. They found the open shooter more often than not. Having said that, It would be unfair to not point out that while they found the open man, the shots didn't always fall. The Knicks put up 93 shots to the Thunder's 78. OKC was certainly more efficient. However, we do have some glaring weaknesses that are not shared by past NBA Champions or other championship contenders. Allow me to break them down.

Team ball....

This is a team sport and, as such, requires the participation of each man on the court. Otherwise, we should just throw Durant and Westbrook out there by themselves and call it a game. Any one up for a little 2 on 5? I didn't think so. To be fair, the Thunder do play a great game of team ball..most of the game. And, when they do, they are almost unbeatable. But, it is my contention, that Champions play team ball for an entire game. The Spurs do,  but their age is catching up to them. The Heat can turn it on and off like a light switch and they do, depending on their mood or opponent. in fact, our reserves often keep or increase a lead by playing really good team ball. A big reason the reserves play solid team ball is that Durant and Westbrook are on the bench and outside of Kevin Martin we don't have a real go to guy on the second or third team. To put it simply, they have to.

Extended isolation....

Our starters, on the other hand, seem to depend to much on isolation plays or taking quick jumpers. When it works its great. When is doesn't, the quick jumper leads to short possession's and almost always a defensive rebound, in part because the rest of our team hasn't had time to get back to the paint and block out. It also typically provides a fast break opportunity for the opponent. The isolation play allows the defense to stack on the player with the ball and freezes the rest of our players as they literally watch the isolation play unfold. This usually leads to a poor shot, a deflection or a steal. If the shot does hit the rim, our players, still frozen, are often not in position to fight for the rebound.

Panic Ball......

Our starters have a tendency to try and speed up the game when they are behind. It's as if they are attempting to take the lead in a series of quick possessions. They seem to forget that an NBA game is a long game and leads are built with a combination of sustained offensive efficiency and defensive stops. This behavior typically leads to quick, contested shots, sloppy passing and turnovers. Panic ball is easily recognizable. It is usually led by Westbrook and is followed by the, now famous, chorus of fans bemoaning the Westbrook groan that can be heard throughout the Thunder nation. The scene unfolds like this; Westbrook receives an outlet pass from a rebound and quickly races to his favorite spot at the top corner of the paint and releases a frantic jumper that, usually misses, and is quickly rebounded by the opponent. On occasion he will pass to a heavily guarded Durant, who either puts up a quick three or turns the ball over. in either case the success rate is probably less than 20% and leads to a Brooks timeout.

The Opponents offensive rebound...

Consider this interesting, but scary pair of stats. The Thunder are #2 in the league at denying opponents a defensive rebound, but are 28th in the league at preventing the opponents offensive rebound.  In most cases we are headed to our offensive end as the opponent shoots in anticipation of a fast break opportunity leaving our opponent by themselves to get the rebound and put back. Translation - Our guys grab our missed shots at a pretty high pace but they also allow the opponent to grab more of their misses. The result is that we are every bit as good on our offensive end as we are bad on our defensive end at getting and giving second chance shots. Unfortunately we are 28th in the league in second chance scoring.

The turnover...

The turnover is probably our biggest Achilles heel. Kevin Durant has increased his rebounding totals and assist numbers this year by  astonishing margins. he has also become a turnover machine as a result. As a team the Thunder rank 28th in turnovers (15.1 per game), 27th in assist to turnover ratio (1.385) and 25th in turnovers per possession (1 every 15.9). Most of our turns are the result of ill advised passes in to the paint. The others are mainly poor ball handling. Turnovers have plagued the Thunder from the beginning of their existence. Too many - too often.

Am I being to hard?......

Look, the Thunder are a championship caliber team. They have won consecutive division titles and are in position for a third. They have a conference championship and played for the NBA title. Fifty wins a season has become common for this team and they win in the toughest conference in the NBA. They have proven themselves to be solid contenders for an NBA title every year. However, the weaknesses in their game are real and not shared by the other top teams in the NBA.

The pass....

I've been a soccer coach for years and the first lesson I teach my teams is that the ball moves faster than a defender. Passing is the best offensive weapon you have and the better you are at passing, the more dangerous the weapon. You end up forcing the defense to chase the ball,  preventing them from solidifying a defensive position. And, it wears them out. The same philosophy applies to basketball. The Knicks proved that on our floor Sunday afternoon.The Spurs and Heat show us every time we play them. Efficient ball movement, coupled with timely and effective picks, opens passing lanes, driving lanes and leaves shooters with mostly uncontested shots.

Rebounding....

This is a no-brainer. Offensive rebounding extends the possession and enhance scoring chances. Most are simple put backs by the rebounder. Perimeter chances are enhanced by the fact that the defense is in the paint and not guarding the perimeter allowing for timely passes out for efficient jumpers. Defensive rebounding simply results in a stop. The more stops we get the better chance we have to win. We can start the fast break but our bigs need to stay back and protect our paint.

The good news...

When we play as a team we are really good. When we play as a team we can beat anyone, and usually do. Our team is still very young despite our success. A lot of our mistakes can be explained by youth and a growing mental toughness. Russell Westbrook is a great example a player whose growth in mental toughness has been experienced by every Thunder fan. Our coach is still young and growing in his profession. Scott Brooks and the team have progressed every year and I am confident that Sam Presti and Clay Bennett will continue to make more good decisions than bad ones. I know we, as fans, want it all now but we must remain patient. Consider that Michael Jordan played 6 years before winning his first championship. LeBron James waited 8 years and played for two teams before he won his first. Patience. Will we win the NBA championship this year? I don't know. But, I am confident that we are doing the little things required each and every day, in games and practice, that will eventually result in one or more Championship rings.

For Buster.

Sunday Biography: Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher was drafted in the 1996 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Fisher was selected just nine picks behind Kobe Bryant who was by far the more popular rookie that season. After winning three consecutive Championships with the Lakers from 2000-2002 Derek left to play for Golden State. After playing in Golden State for two years Fisher went to the Utah Jazz. After playing in Utah for one year Derek went back to the Lakers where he was reunited with Kobe Bryant. Derek Fisher played in Los Angeles until the 2012 season, when he then went to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After helping the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals he was let go as a free agent. Fisher then signed with the Dallas Mavericks where he played the first part of the 2012-2013 season. After the Thunder traded Eric Maynor moments before the 2013 trade deadline to Portland it opened a spot for a third point guard on the team. Sam Presti could think of no one better than veteran point guard Derek Fisher.

Derek Fisher was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on August 9, 1974. His mother, Annette Fisher, worked at a bank, and his father, John Fisher, was a retired military officer who worked as a post office administrator. Derek gives all the credit to his parents, especially his father, for the drive necessary to be successful in both basketball and in life. Fisher was first exposed to basketball at a young age by his older half-brother, Duane Washington. Duane played for his high school team while Derek sat court side watching because he was too young. His older brother made it all the way to the NBA before getting suspended for substance abuse. Derek Fisher made a vow at that moment to never use any type of drug.

Fisher did not disappoint as he followed in his brothers footsteps as a basketball star. Fisher went to Little Rock's Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, where he was known as the star point guard. He led his high school to a state championship, and was nominated as a McDonald's All-American. Derek was also an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) All-American where he also led his team to a National Championship. Fisher graduated from Parkview High School in 1992. Despite all the success Fisher had at the high school level, no major college offered him a scholarship. Fisher did get a full ride scholarship at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which wasn't too far from his home as a child. Fisher was one of the greatest basketball players to ever suit up for UALR, as he finished second in all time scoring at UALR. Derek Fisher recorded 1,393 points, 372 assists, and 189 steals. During Fisher's senior year he was awarded the Sun Belt Player of the Year award.

Being listed as one of the better point guards in the 1996 NBA draft, Fisher was selected as the 24th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was selected just nine picks after soon to be Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant. Later on that season the Lakers picked up the superstar center, Shaquille O'Neal. This would be the beginning of the team that would go on to win three straight Championships. Kobe Bryant and Shaq were the superstars of the team, but Fisher became known as the guy who would always knock down shots when needed. Fisher left the Lakers in 2004 and signed with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. His two seasons at Golden State proved to be somewhat of a let down as he was not able to stand out with out a superstar such as Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal. The team struggled for those two years, although Fisher averaged 13.3 points per game which was the highest of his career. In 2007 Fisher was sent to the Utah Jazz in a trade that sent Keith McLeod, Andre Owens, and Devin Brown to Golden State. During his one season in Utah he played in all 82 games, putting up an average of 10.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.01 steals while scoring in double figures 40 times. Also while in Utah Derek was voted in as the President of the National Basketball Players Association. Fisher would return the next year to the Lakers in 2008 where he won his fourth and fifth title.

After the waivers cleared at around 6 P.M. Fisher signed a contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the remaining of the 2011-2012 season. Fisher wore number 37, his age at the time, because his number 2 was taken by Thabo Sefolosha. Derek was a big part of the run to the Finals that the Thunder made, not only by his performance on the court, but mainly by his leadership and experience. After the conclusion of the 2012 season he was let go as a free agent where he signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Fisher played nine games before receiving an injury to his patellar tendon on his right knee. Two days later his request to be released was granted. On February 25, 2013, Fisher re-signed with Oklahoma City for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. After looking back at his career in the NBA Fisher decided to pursue an opportunity to win his sixth NBA Title. Perhaps this is the reason he chose to wear number 6 instead of the number 37 that he wore last year. Fisher did not contact the Dallas Mavericks before signing with the Thunder which greatly upset Dallas officials.

Despite your opinion on the ability of Fisher to still play the game, he is still going to go down as one of the greats. Although he has his slumps, he brings some valuable minutes and leadership to this Thunder team, but most importantly he brings not only playoff experience, but NBA Finals experience.

The Trade...

      It's been almost an entire season since the trade that sent Thunder fan favorite James Harden to the Houston Rockets for little known (in these parts) shooting guard/small forward Kevin Martin. Perhaps it's time to do a little evaluation.

We all know the story of "The Beard" James Harden. Selected third overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Thunder, Harden arrived in Oklahoma City and immediately impacted a team that won only 23 games the previous season. Harden helped the Thunder to a 50-32 season and a spot in the NBA playoffs. In his first year with the Thunder Harden played 76 games averaging 10 pts, 2 assist and 3 rebounds in about 23 minutes per game. This after spending two seasons at Arizona State where he averaged 19 pts, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assist while shooting 51% from the field. In OKC, though, he was playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Playing time would be hard to come by and breaking a starting five that featured defensive specialist Thabo Sefalosha at shooting guard wasn't going to happen. The rookie settled in to the second five and developed a quick two man game with thunder big man Nick Collison. Harden also developed a deadly ability to both drive the lane and hit the big three when needed. When he got the opportunity to play with Durant and Westbrook, he made the most of it and by his third year he was widely considered a player at the same level as the two all stars.

By his third NBA season, Harden was averaging 17 pts, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assist and hitting 50% of his field goals and 40% from the three point line. He was also deadly at the line getting there often and hitting 85% of his free throws. He was the third leading scorer and the NBA's sixth man on a team that was approaching *50 wins for the third straight season, looking at its second consecutive division title, it's first conference championship and a trip to the NBA finals.

So what happened?

Hardens fourth season was the final season of his first contract. He would be a restricted free agent after the season. That means that he could entertain offers from other clubs but the Thunder would have the right to match the contract and keep him. Thunder GM Sam Presti has proven to be a savvy numbers guy and he knew that signing Harden would be difficult. Harden made little secret  that he believed he was good enough to start in the NBA and that he could be a top scorer. He was right. Anyone that knows the game could see it. Presti had already signed both Durant and Westbrook to long term "max" contracts and the fact was, there just wasn't enough cap space for a third. The only shot at keeping the roster together was to sign Harden to a long term contract for about $20 million shy of the max, and that would stretch the already thin Thunder resources. Presti was also keenly aware that there were several NBA teams that would extend Harden a max offer at the end of the season....and, he knew he couldn't match it.

So, the big question, was Harden in it for the money or, was playing for a championship contender worth a smaller paycheck. Many fans believed that Harden wanted to win and he knew he was on a team that could win a ring or two. The talking heads in sports radio and TV weren't so sure. This time they were right. Presti extended an offer for a four year contract extension worth an estimated $52- $55 million dollars, a lot of money in any sport. Harden turned it down illustrating that this was indeed a business and he believed he was worth more. Presti, faced with the real prospect of not only losing Harden at the end of the season, but getting zero value for a valued asset in the process, decided to trade the man many thought was the final piece of the Thunder's championship puzzle.

Presti brokered a trade between the Thunder and Houston Rockets that sent Harden and three Thunder reserves for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and some draft picks. Harden immediately signed a five year $80 million dollar contract and was introduced as the foundation of the Rockets rebuilding program. As a starter for the Rockets Harden has averaged 26.2 pts, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assist. His FG% has dropped to 45% and he is only hitting 37% from the three point line but he still gets to the FT line often and is still hitting 86% of his free throws.The bottom line is Harden lived up to the hype and is well worth the money.

Kevin Martin came to the Thunder having played seven NBA season with Sacramento and Houston, mostly as a starter and the teams go-to scorer. Kmart faced the same dilemma at OKC that Harden faced; no time in the starting line. Martin brought career averages of 18.4 pts, 2.1 assist and 3.5 rebounds. He shot 44% from the field and 38% from three and, he is always among the league leaders in FT% at 87% for his career. Not bad numbers and certainly comparable to Hardens.

This season KMart is averaging 28 minutes, 14.2 points, 1.4 assist and 2.3 rebounds. He is hitting 45% from the field, 42 % from three point range and a sizzling 89% from the line. Martin has had a mid season slump and does not drive to the basket as well as Harden. However, he has adapted well to his role off the bench and has started to show signs of a similar 2 man game with Nick Collison.

Kevin Martin is no James Harden... but who is?

KMart is a different player. He has that odd shooting motion that half the kids in Oklahoma City are attempting to replicate. He's been asked to come in and replace a beloved player and NBA all Star. A tall task to place on the shoulders of any professional athlete. Martin has done so with grace and professionalism that frankly we didn't often see with Harden. He has embraced the city and the team he now shares with all of us. Would the Thunder have repeated it's magical playoff run of 2011-12 with James Harden? Would we stand a better chance of winning the NBA Championship if Harden had stayed this year? (remember, Harden was a no show against Miami last year) The fact is, we will never know the answer to those questions and frankly, Sam Presti made the only decision he could have. It was the best decision for the Thunder organization long term.

Will Martin sign a new contact? I don't know. I do know this, he is playing for a legitimate contender for the first time in his career and, like all professional athletes, he wants a championship ring. My gut tells me that KMart will place winning over money.

Yes, It would have been nice to have James Harden in a Thunder uniform for one more year. But, it wasn't in the cards. It's no one's fault, least of all Kevin Martin, it's just business. I wish "The Beard" well. I know he will play in the league for a long time. More importantly, I welcome Kevin Martin to our family and I hope he sticks around as long as he wants to.

 

*(For the record, the 2011-12 team finished 47-19 in the strike shortened season but would have easily won 50 with an 82 game schedule)

For Buster.