Thunder Rumblings

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.  — Last year, the Thunder took two steps back in games like this. On the road. Bait for a team’s home opener. After a blowout home win. It used to be the perfect storm. Friday night it was a piece of cake. For a moment, though, it appeared as though not much...

    After finally having a productive night picking NBA games let’s start Saturday with the Portland-Houston game since the Trail Blazers will be in the Ford Center Sunday night.      Portland 95, Houston 93: The Trail Blazers will either be 2-1 or 1-2 when...

   The Thunder’s schedule is difficut the next five games.    Three Ford Center opponents — Portland (Sunday), Lakers (Tuesday) and Orlando (Nov. 8) feature last year’s two NBA finalists and the 54-win Trail Blazers. The two road games — Detroit (tonight)...

       The Sporting News, always trying to be ahead of the curve, did a huge story in its NBA season preview issue breaking down a projected Cavaliers-Lakers matchup in the 2010 NBA Finals. They used four pages to comapre the two teams....

So what did we learn about this year’s Thunder squad after one game? If Wednesday night’s season opener taught us anything it was that this team can be pretty good when it plays hard for 48 minutes. The 102-89 win over Sacramento proved that the things the organization has preached since...

       Continuing an early-season trend of picking every NBA game, after showing improvement in my W-L record the second night, look for the Spurs to start the season 2-0.         Spurs 98, Bulls 93: After...

     When the NBA schedule came out nearly two months ago I wrote the Thunder’s scheudle is especially difficult the first two months, that if the Thunder could go 14-18 or 13-19 those first 32 games before the calendar flips to 2010, a young team might stay...

Chat with OKC Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry -DM-

   After going an unimpressive 2-2 on Opening Night, thanks to the Wizards and Celtics posting upsets, here are my predictions for tonight’s dozen games.     OKC 96, Sacramento 91: The Kings dominated the final preaseson game but the Thunder played with no emotion....

      It’s been a tough year for OU stars. First quarterback Sam Bradford, now news that Blake Griffin probably won’t make his NBA debut until after Thanksgiving because of a broken knee cap.       It’s bad timing for Thunder fans....

      It’s been a tough year for OU stars. First quarterback Sam Bradford, now news that Blake Griffin probably won’t make his NBA debut until after Thanksgiving because of a broken knee cap.       It’s bad timing for Thunder fans....

A rather entertaining and comical conversation took place on the set of Pardon the Interruption today between hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser and guest Bill Simmons of ESPN.com. The trio debated whether Kevin Durant could eventually have a better career than Cleveland Cavaliers star...

It’s been a long and hard road back to basketball for Etan Thomas, who underwent open heart surgery two years and two weeks ago. He missed the entire 2007-08 season following the operation. His 6-foot-10 inch, 260-pound frame lost 35 pounds during the recovery process. He struggled to put one...

    I can’t promise I’ll make good on the overall goal that seems a litle overwhelming but it was suggested at one of our staff meetings that I try picking the winner of every NBA game this season.     It could be humbling if my record turns out...

So I decided to watch a bit of preseason ball on ESPN last night — as if I haven’t had enough exhibition games for one beat reporter. And just as I turned to the broadcast I caught Jamal Mashburn saying during the pre-game show that the Thunder will make the playoffs as the eighth seed. And...

Don’t think this game didn’t matter. Not for a second. If for some reason you’re still under the impression that Thursday night’s 104-89 loss to the starless Kings was simply a throw-away game, the last of this exhibition season, carefully chew on Kevin Durant’s words. “It always...

The online gambling Web site Bodog.com has released a variety of odds for the 2009-10 NBA season. I’m not a betting man, but there is some very interesting material about the probability of how the Thunder and some of its players will do this season. Kevin Durant Over/Under: 27.5 PPG...

I’ve been MIA lately, I know. Had to focus my attention on this little nifty thing we do before every season called a special section. I got a little bogged down with that on top of the regular load. But it gives me great pleasure to say that weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and our...

      Thunder coach Scott Brooks is about as upbeat a coach as you will see. He’s constantly encouraging players and prefers to talk about a player’s strengths instead of their weaknesses.        That’s why Brooks’ late-practice,...