Thunder Back Up - A 2017 OKC Dynasty

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Oklahoma City Monthly Update: November 2019

November Record: 9-8
Season Record: 9-8

Oklahoma City Player Stats

SG Tony Wroten - 21.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.4 SPG
C William Cross* - 14.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.1 APG
PG Jeffrey Sessions* - 14.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.4 SPG
SF Ryan Stafford - 14.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.8 BPG
PF Serge Ibaka - 10.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.6 BPG
SG Lewis Brady - 10.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 BPG
C Rufus Hamilton - 6.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG
PF Ernest Knight - 5.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG
SF Ricky Lewis - 3.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG
PG Myron Murray - 3.1 PPG, 1.2 APG
SG Willie Moody* - 2.0 PPG, 1.0 APG
PF Glen Davis - 1.0 PPG

Western Conference Rookie of the Month: Russell Blackman MEM
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month: Jerome Sims ATL

Western Conference Player of the Month: Kevin Durant LAL
Eastern Conference Player of the Month: LeBron James MIA

Western Conference Playoff Picture

1. New Orleans Hornets (11-3)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (9-6)
3. Utah Jazz (10-7)
4. Houston Rockets (8-6)
5. Los Angeles Lakers (9-7)
6. Portland Trailblazers (9-7)
7. Dallas Mavericks (8-7)
8. Golden State Warriors (8-7)

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

1. Detroit Pistons (12-4)
2. Orlando Magic (9-5)
3. Chicago Bulls (9-5)
4. New York Knicks (10-6)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-7)
6. Philadelphia 76ers (9-7)
7. Brooklyn Nets (8-7)
8. Miami Heat (8-7)

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Matchup Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics

After getting off to a good start this year, the Thunder have lost six of their last ten, but still sit at two games over .500. Today, they'll take on a Celtics team with tons of talent that just can't seem to put it all together. Oklahoma City will be expected to win this one, but it won't be as easy as the records indicate.

Key Matchup: Serge Ibaka vs. Ahmad Harmon

Serge Ibaka is a defensive stalwart for Oklahoma City, and has been his entire career. As the years have passed, he's developed a pretty good offensive game too. While all the hype this year has gone to William Cross, Ibaka is still the Thunder's best post player. Today, he'll be guarding defending Rookie of the Year Ahmad Harmon. Harmon is a combo forward and athletic freak with the ability to score from everywhere.

Oklahoma City Thunder (11-9) Lineup

PG Jeffrey Sessions* (74)
SG Tony Wroten (82)
SF Ryan Stafford (87)
PF Serge Ibaka (86)
C William Cross* (76)

Boston Celtics (6-13) Lineup

PG Rajon Rondo (84)
SG Avery Bradley (80)
SF Chandler Parsons (81)
PF Ahmad Harmon (82)
C Noah Simmons (81)

[JazzMan]

Great stuff man! Can't believe the Celts have that bad of a record with that starting lineup

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Oklahoma City vs. Boston: Dominant Second Half Performance Leads Thunder to 113-96 Win

After both teams played the first half to a 50-50 draw, the Thunder came out as a different team and dominated the second half. Boston's disappointing season continues, and the young Thunder keep improving week to week.

Key Matchup Winner: Serge Ibaka

This was a matchup that was ugly all game long. Both Ibaka and Harmon fought hard and played with 100% effort all game, stifling each other on the offensive end. Harmon was able to pull down nine rebounds, but only managed eight points. Ibaka was slightly more effective on the offensive end, and his team won, so he gets the nod here.

Player of the Game: Tony Wroten OKC

19 points
8 rebounds
10 assists
1 steal
1 block

Oklahoma City (12-9) Stats

SG Lewis Brady - 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists
C William Cross - 22 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist
SF Ryan Stafford - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks

Boston (6-14) Stats

SG Avery Bradley - 25 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
C Noah Simmons - 23 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
SF Chandler Parsons - 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

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Report: Lewis Brady to Start Next Game for Oklahoma City

Rookie point guard Jeffrey Sessions is playing well to start his career, but has been inconsistent offensively, and is turning the ball over a little too often. Looking to remedy this, coach Scott Brooks announced today that veteran guard Lewis Brady will take Sessions's place in the starting five. Whether this is a permanent change or not remains to be seen, but if Sessions continues to progress throughout the year, it wouldn't surprise us to see him put back in the lineup before the season is over. The change will move breakout star Tony Wroten back to point guard, but Brady is capable of running the offense as well, so Wroten's scoring production shouldn't drop off.

Oklahoma City Thunder Rotation - December 8, 2019

(Position, Name, OVR, Minutes)

PG Tony Wroten 80 (34)
SG Lewis Brady 76 (30)
SF Ryan Stafford 87 (38)
PF Serge Ibaka 86 (36)
C William Cross* 76 (35)
6 Ernest Knight 77 (20)
7 Jeffrey Sessions 74 (20)
8 Rufus Hamilton 75 (14)
9 Ricky Lewis 73 (8)
10 Myron Murray 68 (5)
11 Glen Davis 67 (0)
12 Willie Moody* 64 (0)

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Report: William Cross Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December

When the Thunder moved up to the #3 spot in last year's lottery, their GM knew exactly who he wanted: William Cross. Cross is a giant in the post with power and finesse skills. He's got the potential to develop into one of the top big men in the league, and he's showing it off early. Cross averaged 14.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG for the month of December, earning him Rookie of the Month for the Western Conference.

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Oklahoma City Monthly Update: December 2019

November Record: 8-7
Season Record: 17-15

Oklahoma City Player Stats

PG Tony Wroten - 19.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG
C William Cross* - 14.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.1 APG
SG Lewis Brady - 14.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 BPG
SF Ryan Stafford - 14.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 2.1 BPG
PF Serge Ibaka - 12.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.7 BPG
PG Jeffrey Sessions* - 11.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 4.3 APG
C Rufus Hamilton - 5.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG
PF Ernest Knight - 5.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG
SF Ricky Lewis - 3.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG
PG Myron Murray - 2.7 PPG
SG Willie Moody* - 1.0 PPG
PF Glen Davis - 1.0 PPG

Western Conference Rookie of the Month: William Cross OKC
Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month: Jerome Sims ATL

Western Conference Player of the Month: Andre Stafford LAC
Eastern Conference Player of the Month: Derrick Rose CHI

Western Conference Playoff Picture

1. Portland Trailblazers (22-11)
2. New Orleans Hornets (19-11)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (20-12)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (21-13)
5. Houston Rockets (19-14)
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-15)
7. Utah Jazz (17-15)
8. Phoenix Suns (18-17)

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

1. Chicago Bulls (23-9)
2. Detroit Pistons (23-12)
3. Orlando Magic (18-13)
4. Philadelphia 76ers (18-15)
5. Miami Heat (17-15)
6. Brooklyn Nets (17-16)
7. New York Knicks (18-17)
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-18)

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Matchup Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Atlanta Hawks

Oklahoma City has been up and down all year, but they manage to keep staying slightly above .500 and in the playoff hunt. Tonight they'll face an underachieving Hawks team that has tons of talent, but can't put it together. One thing to watch this game will be Jerome Sims (Atlanta) and William Cross (OKC), the #1 and #3 picks, respectively, in this past year's draft.

Key Matchup: Serge Ibaka vs. Blake Griffin

For tonight's key matchup, we'll see two power forwards with almost exact opposite games. Blake Griffin is an explosive player who leaps above people to score, but lacks on the defensive end. Serge Ibaka is explosive defensively, sending shots away on a regular basis. He relies on offensive rebounding and fundamentals to score.

Oklahoma City Thunder (20-17) Lineup

PG Tony Wroten (80)
SG Lewis Brady (76)
SF Ryan Stafford (87)
PF Serge Ibaka (86)
C William Cross* (76)

Atlanta Hawks (14-20) Lineup

PG Chris Paul (91)
SG Jerome Sims (78)
SF Malik Francis (72)
PF Blake Griffin (88)
C Al Horford (76)