Midwest Sports Fan Blog

The Miami Heat may seem to have the Thunders’ number on the court with six straight victories, but count Las Vegas among those not ready to give up on the Thunders’ chances to beat the defending champions. The Thunder opened the year at odds of 5/1 to win the championship and are currently listed at 13/4, making them the second choice at the bookies to win it all. The San Antonio Spurs continue to get no respect despite having the league’s best record. The Spurs opened the year at 10/1 odds and are now currently the 6/1 third choice. All signs point to the Midwest duo of the Thunder and Spurs as the main obstacle to the Heat’s quest for a repeat. The veteran Spurs have tired out in the playoffs the past few seasons, but with a home record of 20-10 and a closing window of opportunity, the Spurs should not be forgotten. Also worth noting is the Heat’s very average road record of 13-11 on the road. If the Spurs are able to maintain the league’s best record and get by the youthful Thunder, the Heat should be leery. That is a big ‘if’, because though the Spurs match up well with the Heat, they might have trouble keeping up with the Thunder. The Midwest’s most exciting team is the Thunder, but the Spurs might be the best bet to beat the Heat if they are able to get by the Thunder.

Betting on the NBA playoffs seems even more complicated these days and if you can’t quite get your head round it then it may be a good choice to hold your horses and wait until you have a more comprehensive grasp of the betting game before placing your money on the table. If you’re really up for winning a bit of cash now however then maybe you should go for an alternative. This is easily found nowadays thanks to the recent growth in the online gambling industry. Online casinos offer free games that are valuable alternatives for those interested in practicing their gambling strategies before risking money on the slots or on the big game. One could not be blamed for playing games such as slot themed basketball game Dennis Rodman’s “The Worm” during your favorite teams off day. Have fun playing Mobile Casino Canada’s slot games online instead of betting on the NBA Finals. If you’d rather stick with the more skill-based games, which are usually card games such as Poker or blackjack then they are all available but remember not to get carried away and always gamble responsibly. But if sports betting really is your thing, the Spurs and the Thunder should be considered two substantial treats to the Heat and playing either one, especially the Spurs with the value they have, is advised.

A day after the NBA Finals Seattle can finally be happy that the Thunder aren’t theirs.  While this series brought together two of the leagues most exciting teams, Lebron and the Heat made no mistake in quieting down the young guns, and the rest of the band wagon jumping fans of the Thunder (not that the Heat fans are much better).  But today begins the first day of thinking towards the next season. While the Thunder are boasting a roaster that will surely make a run towards the title not only next year, but for years to come, they are still left to wonder where are the explosive power that we saw against teams like the Lakers and Spurs went?  OKC made getting to the NBA finals look like reading a picture book, but after the first game win at home, seemed to just implode.  While some of their stars were able to produce high numbers, the big three (Durant, Westbrook, and Harden) all seemed to be on different pages.  For a team that showed that experience in big playoff games wasn’t necessary, they came up well beyond short in attempts to bring OKC a trophy.  This off season, everyone including Lebron, should be worried about next year, because for the first time in his short career, Kevin Durant as something to motivate him and push him to that next level.  Before this playoff, Durant really hasn’t had that feeling of loss to push his game, much like Lebron has had for the last 9 years or so.  But now that he has been on that center carpet, only to have the Heat take the trophy away like it had a “free” sign next to it, people need to expect and elevation in Durant’s game for next season.  Which is especially worrisome seeing as he has been the leagues leading scorer for three straight seasons, but scoring wins games in the regular season, while passion wins games in the post season. Durant has shown in the past how well he is at rising to the occasion, and after a poor performance in this years NBA Finals, is sure to spend this off season getting his game to all new heights.

Back when the Thunder were 3-29 last season, the notion of the playoffs coming to Oklahoma City any time soon was unimaginable.

But it was that same miserable stretch that made general manager Sam Presti confident that coach Scott Brooks was the right man to lead his team into the future.

While Oklahoma City struggled to the worst start in the NBA, Presti was impressed by the way Brooks stayed the course and never tried to force immediate changes in hopes of making the Thunder better. He now has taken the youngest roster in the league and turned the team into a 50-game winner and a playoff team just one season after the horrendous start.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

It would be nice if they could have closed out the final night of the regular season in finer style.

It would be nice if the Oklahoma City Thunder offered a little more of the way they were playing before and after the All-Star break than they managed down the regular season’s final stretch.

On the other hand, who thought they’d get here so fast? Who thought the Ford Center would be the site of meaningful April basketball?

Wednesday night it was Memphis visiting.

Click here to read the full article – By Clay Horning of The Norman Transcript

About the time the Milwaukee Bucks began making their move toward the playoffs, I saw Herb Kohl at an east-side diner. He was sitting at the counter with a stack of papers.

It being a weekend, I halfway wondered if the senator might be using his free time on the country’s business. When I went over to say hello, I noticed he had been studying box scores.

Never let it be said that Kohl and the team are ever really separated.

That’s always been the good thing and the bad thing about the senator during his 25-year ownership of the Bucks.

When things are going poorly, as they often have, he’s too involved, too meddlesome, even if it is his team, his money and he’s free to do with both as he pleases.

But when things are going as they are at the moment, the low-profile owner never gets credit.

Click here to read the full article – By MICHAEL HUNT of http://www.gazettextra.com

The Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly have found a winning formula — Kevin Durant and a lot of defense.

Durant matched his season high with 40 points and the Thunder defeated New Jersey 105-89 Monday night, sending the Nets to their 10th straight loss — their second double-digit losing streak of the season.

The key for the Thunder was the final 17 minutes when they limited New Jersey to 17 points, including 13 in the final quarter.

“I was so pleased with the how we played in the fourth quarter,” said Durant, who made 15 of 22 shots and excited the road crowd with a couple of big dunks. “No matter if I got 40 or not, we played so hard in the fourth and limited their touches, limited them to one shot and out and we got some easy baskets. That was a great effort in the fourth.”

The win was a season-high third straight for the Thunder (16-14).

“We have a long ways to go,” Durant said. “We still have a lot of slip-ups in games, but we are getting better. Hopefully, we peak at the right time.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Brandon Jennings knew it was a gamble. So far, all the odds have been in the rookie’s favor.


Jennings made a swipe and slam past two stunned Nets during a 15-0 run to start the second half, Andrew Bogut and Carlos Delfino each scored 21 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat winless New Jersey 99-85 on Wednesday night.

“He saw the whole thing develop,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “That was a big momentum break for us. It was a big steal and you got to see the little fella down there dunk the ball.”

Jennings, who jammed a finger and got kneed twice that left him limping in the fourth quarter, said he took a beating against the Nets. But his nifty steal between Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rafer Alston was the more demoralizing blow.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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Rookie James Harden scored six of his 11 points in overtime, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder salvage a 30-point outing by Kevin Durant and win their preseason home opener by beating the Phoenix Suns 110-105 on Monday night.


Amare Stoudemire scored 20 points for the Suns, who twice rallied from double-digit deficits — the second time with backups — and never led until overtime. Phoenix was up 103-100 before the Thunder closed the game on a 10-2 run. D.J. White put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 104-103 with a jumper with 2:55 left and Michael Harris followed with a three-point play.

Durant went 5 of 5 from 3-point range as the Thunder finished 9 of 17 from behind the arc.


Click here to read the full article – By MURRAY EVANS of dc50tv.com

Below are links to memorabilia available for Kevin Durant.

Carlos Delfino has played basketball in Italy, Russia and his native Argentina.

So it’s little wonder that the 27-year-old wing player is already quite wise in the ways of the game.

And Delfino has four years of National Basketball Association experience, too, including three seasons with a winning Detroit Pistons franchise that reached the NBA Finals in his first year and the Eastern Conference finals the next two years.

Now the 6-foot-6 forward will try to use his court savvy, perimeter shooting skill and passing ability to help the Milwaukee Bucks take a few positive steps in the Eastern Conference this season.


Click here to read the full article – By Charles F. Gardner of Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks Sports Memorabilia
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