You could see it through the preseason, but Wednesday might they made it official – the Thunder are back. Wolves general manager Milt Newton says the “WE” slogan was something he and Saunders planned to use as a mantra heading into the season. “I think the most important thing is those trash plays”, Kanter said. I don’t think the bottom half of the playoff teams will be as good as past years, and I’m putting my money on 47 Suns wins and probably the eighth seed with that. Was Oklahoma City the league’s next dynasty? It’s hard not to believe Golden State won’t have another outstanding season. It was especially telling in big moments, when Durant heaved an airball after tight defense by Leonard, and then hacked Leonard on the next possession for a three-point play. For the most part, it was an incredible display of NBA basketball, as two very good teams played exquisite basketball with very few lapses.
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The Lakers added elite defender Roy Hibbert to their squad over the summer and drafted D’Angelo Russell with the No 2 pick in the draft but it doesn’t seem like enough to make it through the gauntlet that is the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are looking to put an injury-riddled season behind them as they try to make it back to the elite of the league.
Coming in off the bench is a legitimate starter in David West, inked at a vet minimum $1 million contract. As a team, the Thunder out rebounded the Spurs 45-36. They have a tall hill to climb.
Gibberman: I have the Rockets, Clippers, Spurs in the next tier and in that order too.
“My team-mates trust me and I was struggling shooting the basketball, but they stuck with me”.
It was Thomas who provided the spark for Boston after missing his first five shots from the floor.
OKC traded Harden before his deal expired and that decision looks even worse three years later, with Harden fitting the description of a franchise player and OKC unable to find anyone that could be defined as a replacement.
“The experience he’s had at Florida and the success he’s had there will translate on the court here”, Huestis said.
The last time Durant played a complete game start to finish, nobody was stopping him, Leonard or anybody. He did. This game showcased the full Waiters spectrum, though it means something that both his coach and his superstar teammates trusted him to close this game out. This group, perhaps the most talented in the history of the organization, may only have one shot to get it right, and I’m not going to bet against it happening. They’re starting to make a positive impression on the coaching staff and the veterans. It’ll probably be later in the season if they do play at all.
PISTONS 92, JAZZ 87: In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Reggie Jackson put Detroit ahead on a driving layup with 17 seconds left, and the Pistons held on for their second consecutive victory to start the season. That left LeBron James to shoulder the burden left by their absence.
“There are definitely other teams to challenge them but barring any upsets to their health, the Cavs will be the team to come out on top on the East. But a month into the season there’s always a team or two that surprises you, either way, that rise above expectations or in other directions disappoint”.
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“He was great, aggressive all night”, said Durant.
