A serviceable center could be emerging for the Thunder.
His name is Johan Petro, and the fourth-year prospect is proving to be an aggressive rebounder and a willing low-post defender.
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Petro put together his best game this preseason, scoring 12 points with a game-high 15 rebounds in Tuesday night’s 90-88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Petro also showed a Ford Center crowd of 16,410 his shooting touch, making six of nine shots in 34 minutes.
The Thunder, already undersized in the frontcourt with starters Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison, likely will enter the regular season with injuries to centers Robert Swift (hand) and Mo Sene (leg). Power forwards D.J. White (jaw) and Joe Smith (nose) are also injured, putting more of the onus on Petro to contribute solid defense and rebounding.
Petro averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 72 games last season.
Despite Petro’s efforts Tuesday, the Thunder fell to 1-4 in the preseason and now will have eight days off before ending the preseason schedule with a back-to-back set against Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 23 and 24.
Kevin Durant led six Thunder players in double-figure scoring with 18 points and seven rebounds. Earl Watson had 14 points,
Clippers second-year forward Al Thornton scored a game-high 23 points. Reserve guards Mike Taylor scored 14 and Ricky Davis had 13.
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t-dwag--the seattle now O.K. franchise is beat with bad decisions. from office personal, coaches, and players/contracts--they are old used and abused. Dont play seattle love any sane basketball person knows that.
and Rob...Your city did not turn NO into a playoff team. You basically had a hot playmate staying at your house for free and all you could do was watch. You did not turn her into a hot playmate. NO was on the rise before OK. They just needed paul, some other small pieces and time. As for pieces around KD..HE IS LEAVING AFTER THE 2010 SEASON!! KD is playing for a contract with a different team once his is up in OK.
Once again a lurid lecture from the Pungent Sound. Thanks, Jonathan, but you're forgetting that the same OKC formula that turned the Hornets into a playoff team will work for the Thunder. We're not going to be losing $20 million a year like in Seattle. We're going to have the money to sign free-agents to compliment KD. Ask George Shinn. It's also going to help that Socialismville will not be able to build a new arena within the period given by Mr. Bennett to fork over another $30 million for arena that time forgot.
gentleman gentleman gentlemen.....O.K. crew your like the son that protects his father ( Clay Bennett) and cant believe he would go next door and screw the neighbor b/c "daddy said he just needed a cup of sugar."--bennetts a businessman first and only when the money doesn't come in like he thinks it is he will cut bait.
as for your team hey congrats you got them. But you did not get much its like taking sloppy thirds from the whore on the corner. She might be wearing fresh panties, but its old and used up.
let me tell you what I mean. answer these Q's who is going to score-ok give you durant, then who....westbrook, watson, wilcox, none of those are dominant second scoring threats, P.J. and his "d" philosophy with who no pt guard d watson never been on and westbrook is a rookie. the post, come on now they have nobody petro?-dont bother, dont think swift or sene not even nba material..they have a new jersey but guys that team is used and not even much left to abuse
Sister team in baseball? I told you he wasn't from OKC. Everyone knows that OKC is the Rangers turf. Fake Philip is a moron....but since he brought it up, the Royals are light years ahead of the worst team in MLB, the gawd awful Mariners.
Can't wait for the oklahoma legislature to pass that law they're reviewing to make it legal to ride ATVs on the city and state highways. YEEEEHAAAW! Maw, we gonna ride to town on the 4 wheeler an catch us a NBA game, maybe we can hunt us down one a them there ThunderGirls to ride on the rack after the game while listening to AC/DC. LOLOLOLOL!!!! What a "world class city" we got going here. LOLOLOLOL!!!
SEATTLE -- An exclusive KIRO Team 7 Investigation discovers the state will send ballots to thousands of convicted felons in the next week, even though many can't legally vote.
Yea, fake Philip knows all about losers. UW is 0-5, WSU is 1-5, the sucky Seahawks are 1-4, the Mariners are the worst team in MBL, the Sonics bailed for greener pastures...
Rob - You'll see that I'm right.....I'll see you in 20 years outside the arena buying your overpriced tickets ....you'll be the one wearing the t-shirt that sez "You Gotta Believe"......I'll be the one laughing....LOL.
Rob's a sharp guy. He spotted Philip as being the Seattle fake that he is. Fake Philip has no place else to go because the boards in Seattle have all dried up. He's just a loser without a home or a team....and he has a sick obsession with Clay Bennetts "wet dreams".
I realize you claim to live in OKC, Philip, that's why I suggested we ship you to Suicideville, but your attitude about the Thunder embodies the Sonics fans who frequent this forum so I was simply using you as a metaphor to send a message to them and to expose your lack of NBA knowledge.
Ummmm Rob.....I don't know how you got the idea that I live in Seattle....let's see...my name is Philip...I show OKC as my hometown...WOW...do you think I might live in OKC? You're obviously a genius so with deductive reasoning like yours....why should we doubt your abilities to understand the business of the NBA? I'm not mad at anyone...I couldn't care less what happened in Seattle. I'm simply analyzing this from a business standpoint. If you don't have the revenue.....you can't sign the players necessary to win. Could we possibly make the playoffs at some point in the future?....maybe....could we ever even win the Western Divsion....never. We don't and won't have the money to sign all the pieces to win. I'm sorry to burst your bubble Rob. It's okay...Clay loves people like you with no common business sense and a lemmingesque attitude that someday.....someyear....we're gonna do it....and I'm gonna keep buying tickets and jerseys cause I know it's going to happen.....LOL You sir are Clay Bennett's wet dream.
Philip, Philip, Philip, what are we going to do with your sour attitude? Maybe we could ship you to Seattle where you would feel right at home among the depressed sophisticates (wannabes). Fonda, Clay S., Rick, Krazy, Steve, TDawg, will you take Phil Scrooge off our hands? But anyway, Phillip, your statement that the Thunder is a "team that will never seriously compete due to revenue constraints and will always be a second tier team" reveals your misunderstanding of why your Sonics moved to OKC and the importance of this market to the NBA. The Sonics were losing over $20 million a year in Seattle. That's why your beleaguered Coffee Man sold you down the river. The Hornets were in a similiar financial and thus competetive situation when they temporarily relocated to OKC but George Shinn said that they profited over $800,000 more a game in OKC than in New Orleans. That allowed the Hornets to sign expensive free agents (Peja, for one) to compliment CP3. In their first year back home they made the playoffs. We can do the same for the Thunder! Phillip, go listen to your beloved Cobain and sulk. You're not going to rain on our parade!
Yea Philip, we have to have that attitude in Seattle too. UW is 0-5, WSU is 1-5, the sucky Seahawks are 1-4, the Mariners are the worst team in MBL, the Sonics bailed for greener pastures...
How very sad that some idiot from Seattle quotes attendance from 20 years ago as an example of how Seattle supported the Sonics. Thats just embarrassing.
Oh I ran into Petro at Quail Springs mall. That is one tall dude and very nice also. Its pretty cool seeing the players out in the community.. He says he loves it here.. He also has an accent, where is he from?
My kid's did'nt give a flip about who won the game!!! They had a blast!!!!!!!! I look forward to some good memories with them at the games. I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick-The 79-80 season the Sonics had a great product on the floor, unlike last year. People in Seattle support a good product, kind of makes good business sense doesn't it?
Tim - You are Clay Bennett's wet dream......oblivious to the fate of team that will never seriously compete due to revenue constraints and will always be a second tier team....yet....you will spend your kids college fund and your retirement money to watch other teams superstars.....GO Tim GO!
NBA in OKC: Thunder debut off to a slow start 10/15/2008 The night seemed stuck on boring. Were Hornet exhibitions like this?
No interesting timeout skits. No fire in the pregame introductions. No dancing girls....
OKC Thunder: Mason a life-long Poke 10/15/2008 Despite a 122-102 loss at Golden State late Saturday night, Thunder forward Desmond Mason was still able to smile that day.
What transpired earlier...
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and Rob...Your city did not turn NO into a playoff team. You basically had a hot playmate staying at your house for free and all you could do was watch. You did not turn her into a hot playmate. NO was on the rise before OK. They just needed paul, some other small pieces and time. As for pieces around KD..HE IS LEAVING AFTER THE 2010 SEASON!! KD is playing for a contract with a different team once his is up in OK.
as for your team hey congrats you got them. But you did not get much its like taking sloppy thirds from the whore on the corner. She might be wearing fresh panties, but its old and used up.
let me tell you what I mean. answer these Q's who is going to score-ok give you durant, then who....westbrook, watson, wilcox, none of those are dominant second scoring threats, P.J. and his "d" philosophy with who no pt guard d watson never been on and westbrook is a rookie. the post, come on now they have nobody petro?-dont bother, dont think swift or sene not even nba material..they have a new jersey but guys that team is used and not even much left to abuse
24,000 Felons Getting Ballots, Despite Eligibility Questions
Chris Halsne
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter
SEATTLE -- An exclusive KIRO Team 7 Investigation discovers the state will send ballots to thousands of convicted felons in the next week, even though many can't legally vote.
NOTHIN' SCREAMS LOSER LIKE WASHINGTON SPORTS!!!!
NOTHIN' SCREAMS LOSER LIKE WASHINGTON SPORTS!!!!