Durant Fined 25k

On Thursday night the Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant made a great dunk and his celebration was to pretend to slice his throat. It was called a 'menacing gesture' and he was fined 25k for this simple act of celebration. I think that he should not have been fined 25k for something as small as that, but it wasn't just that.

Durant made the dunk after Russell Westbrook made a block on Stephen Curry and Durant corralled the ball and took it to the other end of the floor for a monsterous dunk. He then made a slice motion across his neck and then crossed his hands in prayer. The thing that really set off the media and the fans was what he said.

"Kill 'em and pray for 'em after the game," Durant said.

That is what I call unacceptable, if he had just kept it at that simple gesture he probably wouldn't have been fined, but the words are what set people off.

By David B.

Ibaka Fined 25K

The Oklahoma City Thunder's, Serge Ibaka, has surprisingly not been suspended after hitting Blake Griffin in the groin area. Griffin was so surprised he said this.

"From what I heard, I guess he's saying he was just trying to get his hand away from mine," Griffin said. "I actually didn't have his hand. He had my arm, so I don't know how it's going to be interpreted. It is surprising , but it is a big game tonight and I don't think they want one of their .. I really don't know. It's a big game.


I personally think that Griffin is correct and that Ibaka should be suspended. Even though he was fined 25 thousand dollars, but Ibaka should pay that and miss at least 3 games. Behavior like this is happening too often and it has to be put to a stop.

Do you think he should be suspended. My answer is clearly stated and I want to know yours, post in the comments!

By David B.

James Harden

  Many people have heard of James Harden, and seen his beard.  The common saying is "Fear the beard."  When Harden was traded from the Thunder to the Rockets, everyone thought it was a mistake.  The Rockets had also brought in Jeremy Lin from the New York Knicks.  Oklahoma City received Kevin Martin, a player who has improved his game greatly.  Most people thought Jeremy Lin would steal the spotlight in Houston, and Harden would be scoring when Lin was resting.  It has tuned out to be the complete opposite; James Harden is scoring many points and Jeremy Lin has been the side show.  I think James Harden is much better basketball player and leader.  My reasoning is that James Harden was around star players who found many paths to the basket.  Jeremy Lin only had the spotlight on him when star players for the Knicks were injured.  Also, Harden has been able to stay healthy and uninjured, keeping his confidence up.  However, Jeremy Lin banged up his knee last year and was out for the rest of the season.  A player usually can't scare an opposing player while sitting down on the bench.  James Harden scores consistently and doesn't show off very often; he barely ever shows off.  Jeremy Lin doesn't have consistent numbers in the points category.  He only averages 12.7 points per game.  I think James Harden is a better player for the Rockets.  He can score, dribble, and get the rest of the team involved when he is in a shooting slump.  Jeremy Lin is a better facilitator, because he uses his speed to get to the basket and dishes the ball off.  I think James Harden should receive more credit.  Soon, when the season is ending it's near, I think James Harden should be included in the MVP Award race.

By Ameen I.

Fishing For Fisher

  Derek Fisher.  He has been on the Los Angeles Lakers, winning championships with Kobe Bryant.  After being on Oklahoma City Thunder last year and losing to the Miami Heat, Derek Fisher left to go to the Dallas Mavericks.  After suffering a knee injury this year, Fisher asked for the Mavericks to release him around Christmas time because he wanted to spend more time with his family.  Now, he participated in the Thunder's practice on Tuesday.  Head coach, Scott Brook, has not clarified if Fisher will play Wednesday night.  He will not retire quite yet, and this is his last chance.  If Derek Fisher doesn't play well or prove his point that he still has basketball left in him, this will most likely be his last season.  Maybe Fisher can win a championship in his last season, like Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, sending him happily into retirement.

By Ameen I.

Power Rankings

It is time for the weekly NBA Power Rankings. As Usual I will show you what ESPN thinks and I will show you my opinion.

ESPN

1. San Antonio Spurs          ~ 45-13
2. Miami Heat                     ~ 40-14
3. Oklahoma City Thunder ~ 41-15
4. Indiana Pacers                 ~ 35-21
5. Los Angeles Clippers     ~ 40-18

Front Row Report  (David B.)

1. Miami Heat                     ~ 40-14
2. San Antonio Spurs          ~ 45-13
3. Oklahoma City Thunder ~ 41-15
4. Memphis Grizzlies         ~ 37-18
5. Los Angeles Clippers     ~ 40-18 

By  David B.

NBA Power Rankings

Here is ESPN Power Rankings compared to mine.

ESPN

1. San Antonio Spurs        ~ 42-12
2. Miami Heat                   ~ 36-14
3. Oklahoma City Thunder~ 39-14
4. Los Angeles Clippers    ~ 39-17
5. Denver Nuggets            ~ 33-21

Here is Front Row Report's (David B.)

1. Oklahoma City Thunder~ 39-14
2. San Antonio Spurs        ~ 42-12
3. Miami Heat                   ~ 36-14
4. Memphis Grizzlies         ~ 33-18
5. Los Angeles Clippers    ~ 39-17

By David B.

NBA Power Rankings

Below are the NBA Power Rankings in my opinion.

1. San Antonio Spurs       ~38-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder~35-12
3. Golden State Warriors   ~30-17
4. Los Angeles Clippers     ~34-14 
5. Miami Heat                   ~30-14

Next Monday these rankings will be out again. 

By David B.

Power Rankings

In the NBA there are multiple good teams. My list of the best ones are listed below.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder~34-11
2. Los Angeles Clippers~33-13
3. San Antonio Spurs~36~11
4. Miami Heat~28-13
5.  Golden State Warriors~26-17 

On next Monday these rankings will be out again. So tune in next week for the my Power Rankings! 

By David B.

Lakers Outlast Thunder

Today the amazing Oklahoma City Thunder were paying a visit to the struggling Los Angeles Lakers.  The Thunder couldn't hang in though, and the Lakers won this game 105-96.  This game sounds like it was dominated by the Lakers, but it was close; there was never a time in this game when there was more than a ten points lead for either team.  In the first quarter, the the Lakers outscored the Thunder 27-23.  In the second quarter the Thunder had a comeback, outscoring the Lakers 30-25.  The halftime score would be 53-52 with the Thunder on top.  In the third quarter the Lakers outscored the Thunder 23-22.  From the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game, the Lakers had positive energy, giving them the win.  In the fourth quarter the Lakers outscored the Thunder 30-21, showing off their ability to go through traffic and find a big man and score.  Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and he added 9 rebounds; one rebound shy of a triple-double.  Steve Nash and Pau Gasol had great games too, Nash and Gasol making important baskets in crucial moments.

Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder with 35 points.  Russell Westbrook led the team in rebounding and assists, with 17 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds.  Westbrook was also one board shy of a triple-double.  I now think that the Lakers will have a great rest of the season, because this game was a real momentum shifter.  I think the rest of the teams in the Western Conference should be scared, now that the Lakers have this confidence.  I also think that the Thunder will bounce off of this loss and still be the best in the West.  The OKC Thunder are now 34-11.  The Los Angeles Lakers are now 19-25.  This looked like one of the Lakers best games this season.  By Ameen I.

Thunder vs. Nuggets

Last night the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the Denver Nuggets.  In the first quarter both teams scored 25, and it was a very intense game.  However, in the second quarter the Nuggets barely outscored the Thunder 26-25.  The halftime score was 51-50 with the Denver Nuggets on top.  This game would not be boring at all; with these close scores people would not want to leave the television set.  In the third quarter the Nuggets outscored the Thunder 30-29.  This game was very high scoring too.  Finally, the Thunder outscored the Nuggets 30-28 sending the game into overtime.  In overtime however, the Denver Nuggets outscored the OKC Thunder 12-9.  The final score would be 121-118.  The OKC Thunder are now 32-9 and the Denver Nuggets are now 25-18.  As I predicted earlier, I knew this would be a close game with the Nuggets on top.  Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 37 points and 8 assists.  Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.  Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with rebounds and assists.  The Nuggets were led by Corey Brewer who had 26 points and 6 boards.  Ty Lawson had 11 points and led the Nuggets with 9 assists.  This was a very exciting game to watch.

By Ameen I.

                                                                                                                                                                       

Thunder vs. Nuggets

Tonight the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to visit the Denver Nuggets.  The Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony a few years ago sending him to New York, and becoming a New York Knick.  Their coach though, George Carl, has stayed in Denver and has stayed and encourages his players.  Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder are led by Kevin Durant, who averages 29.3 points a game and 7.5 boards per game.  Russell Westbrook averages 22.7 points per game, 8.3 assists a game, and 5.3 rebounds a game.  Their big guy, Serge Ibaka, averages 13.9 points a game, 8.4 rebounds per game, and 2.8 rejections a game.  On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets have the veteran Andre Iguodala.  Andre averages 13.3 points a game, 4.5 assists per game, and 5.5 boards a game.  Kenneth Faried averages12.2 points a game and 9.9 rebounds per game.  Finally, Ty Lawson averages 14.5 points a game and 6.8 dishes per game.  I predict that the Nuggets will win, but it will be a very close game throughout.

    By Ameen I.  

                                                                                                                                                                    

Thunder Struck

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the Dallas Mavericks.  The Thunder got off to a quick start outscoring the Mavericks 30-22.  This game was intense with the experienced players making difficult shots, Kevin Durant and Vince Carter.  Vince Carter used to be on the New Jersey Nets but couldn't win a championship.  Kevin Durant has experience from when he was in the Olympics this summer.  The second quarter was much tighter though.  The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 24-23.  The halftime score was 53-46 with the OKC Thunder on top.  Kevin Durant was scoring, Russell Westbrook was assisting, and Serge Ibaka was rebounding.  In the third quarter the Thunder outscored the Dallas Mavericks 28-26.  In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks had a huge surge and outscored the OKC Thunder 33-24, sending the game into overtime.  Finally, the Thunder outscored the Mavericks 12-9 in the five minute overtime.  The final score was 117-114 with the Thunder on top.  Kevin Durant led the Thunder with a career-high, 52 points.  Kevin was 21-of-21 from the free-throw line.  Russell Westbrook added 31 points and six assists in an effort to beat the Mavericks.  Serge Ibaka led the Thunder with 14 boards.  Meanwhile, Vince Carter led the Mavericks with 29 points.  Elton Brand led the Mavericks with 13 rebounds and O.J. Mayo led the Mavericks with seven assists.  Surprisingly, Dirk Nowitzki wasn't  leading the Dallas Mavericks in any of these three categories.The Oklahoma City Thunder are now 32-8, with the best record in the NBA.  The Dallas Mavericks are 17-24, and aren't having the season they imagined.  By Ameen I.

Thunder vs. Mavericks

The Oklahoma City Thunder are going to play the Dallas Mavericks in the  city of Dallas.  The Thunder are led by Kevin Durant who has 28.7 points a game, 4.2 assists per game, and 7.4 rebounds per a game.  This summer Kevin Durant played in the Olympics with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler.  Yesterday the Knicks were playing in the same stadium as they did in the Olympics in London.  Anyways, point-guard Russell Westbrook averages 22.4 points a game, 8.3 dishes a game, and even 5.3 rebounds a game.  Westbrook is very fast and can lead the Thunder in the fast break and lob it up to Kevin Durant.  The big guy, Serge Ibaka, averages 14 points a game, 8.3 boards a game, and 2.9 blocks a game.  Ibaka was on the Spain basketball team during the Olympics and lost to Kevin Durant and the U.S.A. Men's Olympic team in the gold medal match.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are led by 14 year veteran, Dirk Nowitzki.  Dirk averages 13.7 points a game and 5.2 rebounds a game.  Nowitzki and the Mavericks have gone down ever since winning the championship a couple of years ago against the Miami Heat.  The Mavericks also have O.J. Mayo who has a resounding 18.3 points a game and 4 assists per game.  O.J. Mayo is also a great leader for the Dallas Mavericks.  Another veteran, Shawn Marion, averages 10.4 points per a game and a resounding 8.2 boards a game.  This season has been disappointing for the Mavericks with a 17-23 record.  If the Mavericks play at this rate, I doubt that they will make the playoffs this year.  By Ameen I.

Lakers-Thunder

The Lakers have lead one of their worst seasons ever. On top of that they expected to be the beset team with the addition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Then they turned towards the other direction and this game is another example of how bad their season has been going. By David B. ESPN.com