OKC Loses to Heat in NBA Finals

It was a good run for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there can only be one NBA Champion.

It hurts. It stings. But the future is bright for this team.

I'm looking forward to the 2012-13 NBA season. Here's why:
- Eric Maynor will be back
- The team gets a full training camp to work out all the glaring weaknesses that were exposed against the Spurs and the Heat
- Scott Brooks (if resigned) can work on his sub patterns and adjustment approaches
- We have a first-rounder in what is projected as a deep draft, though we can't expect Jared Sullinger to fall to 28th now, can we? Quincy Miller sounds good, though
- I don't really know which position will be filled in the draft because we are two- or three-deep at every position already
- KD and Russell Westbrook, having gotten a taste of Finals action, will definitely be hungrier for it next season
- James Harden will work hard to make up for his disappearing act in the Finals and to prove that he deserves the sixth man of the year award
- Ibaka will gain more experience as he plays for Spain in the Olympics
- Perk will... I don't really know... maybe work on his scowling some more and let's just hope he gives up on demanding more minutes


Anyway, it is what it is. We lost our championship shot this year, but we'll be back next year. I still love you guys. Thunder Up!

Congrats to the Miami Heat, by the way.

First Post. Thunder Up!

You're probably thinking this is stupid.

One decides to make an fan blog dedicated to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a couple of hours before they face an elimination game against the suddenly well-liked (adjective used loosely here) Miami Heat. The Thunder are down, 1-3, on the road, against a team led by a surging LeBron James, who couldn't be defeated despite Russell Westbrook's best game so far (43 points, 20-of-32 shooting, 7-of-9 in the fourth quarter).

I guess this is my way of saying, no matter what happens tonight (or this June 22nd morning, PHL time), I'm in this for the long haul. I've committed myself to watching this team for over 3 years, and this is my way of consummating that commitment to the outside world.

I'm in it for the long haul, even though 2 or 3 years down the road, I know there will be an inevitable walkout of one or two of our free agents (Serge Ibaka or James Harden). Who knows if Scotty Brooks would still be the Thunder coach by then? Who knows if Westbrook won't get traded? It's all up in the air after next season. 

So far, I haven't even mentioned Kevin Durant yet, simply because he's the one that convinced me that this is a good team to root for when he unceremoniously signed his extension in contrast to LeBron's Decision. He's the one that gives me hope, now and for the future.

My focus, however, is on this game. Just an hour and a half to go before tipoff, I think. Whatever happens, happens. I'm still not ready to give up on our 2011-12 season just yet, not until there's absolutely 0 percent chance of us getting a win, whether it's for game 5 or the series.

Don't count us out yet. Thunder Up!