Apr 2, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Alex Len (25) puts up a shot against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of the NIT Tournament Semi-Final at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

In case you missed last night’s draft lottery, the Raptors failed to gain a top three pick, meaning the Thunder gained the rights to the 12th pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

In so, it’s time to make some phone calls, do some scouting, and watch film of possible draft picks for Sam Presti.

In terms of who the Thunder are looking for, it’s pretty evident what the Thunder are missing. An inside scoring presence. Yes, Serge Ibaka continues to improve. Yes, Kendrick Perkins does a great job defending the post and being a leader.  No, the Thunder do not get enough production in the paint.

So, who will do that job for the Thunder? Let’s take a look at possible candidates for who Sam Presti will call on June 27^th to become the newest member to play for the blue and orange.

1. Gorgui Dieng, Louisville

Dieng is 23-years-old who had a few years of experience, and was a big part of the championship run for Louisville. Despite him only averaging 9.8 points a game, he grabbed 9.4 rebounds a game. Ibaka and Perkins had trouble finishing all year, and Dieng shot about 72% at the rim this season according to hoop-math.com, which is huge for the Thunder. If Dieng is the guy where Durant or Westbrook can get in the lane and drop it off to him, I’ll be happy to see the Louisville big man in a Thunder uniform.

2. Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga

Olynyk is a solid seven footer with a versatile game. Many scouts say he has the ball handling ability of a SF, and can shoot the ball very well. He averaged 18 points a game this year, to go along with shooting 63.1% from the field.

3. Alex Len, Maryland 

Len is also seven foot and weighs 225 pounds. Len had surgery to stabilize stress fracture in his ankle, and many question his ability to stay healthy. Len only averaged 11 points a game, but can really play around the rim.

4. Rudy Gobert, France

Don’t be surprised to see his named get called with the 12^th pick. At the combine, he reached a 7’8.5” wingspan and a 9’7” standing reach, which is incredible. There are question marks with him being 231 pounds. According to Draft Express, “He shot almost 80% from the field in Pro A, while showing impressive potential as a rebounder and shot blocker. The progress he’s made since last season is extremely promising, and he’s maturing at a terrific rate.” To me, this seems like a high risk, high reward type of situation.

5. Guards like Dennis Schroeder (Germany), CJ McCollum (Lehigh), and Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)

In 2011, the same scenario happened. We all thought Sam Presti would get a big man to complement Ibaka and Perkins, and Presti decided to go with Reggie Jackson (great idea). You never know what Presti has up his sleeve. The more reasonable pick if the Thunder were to get a guard, would be CJ McCollum. He went down with a season-ending injury early this year, but says he’s 100% healthy. McCollum averaged 23 points a game last year, and even though he played at Lehigh, he put up 26 points in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament against Kansas.

May 13, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) in game four of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis defeated Oklahoma 103-97 in overtime and lead the series 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

There are always positives to take out of a bad and negative situation. Oklahoma City beginning their off season a tad bit early was heartbreaking, and hard to take in.

But when you sit down and just think about how the playoff run helped the Thunder long-term. One thing comes to mind: Reggie Jackson.

Sam Presti always talk about the words growth, development, process, maturity and youth. And that is what Jackson has done. He was drafted in 2011 with the 24^th pick out of Boston College, and many questioned: Why another PG? What is Sam Presti doing?

But, in the end, it all worked out. Maynor went down with the ACL injury, and Jackson had to step up. He didn’t. Jackson turned the ball over too much, played at a bad pace, and just didn’t fit in with Harden and the second unit. The Thunder brought in Derek Fisher before the playoffs, and he produced. Jackson played in the summer league in Orlando with Mark Bryant, and just looked like a whole new PG. He looks mature on the floor, and basically ran that summer league team, and what do you know, this year the Thunder dealt Maynor at the deadline to Portland, Westbrook went down in the opening round of the playoffs, and it was Jackson’s opportunity again.

This time, the kid just took the opportunity to heart and didn’t look back.

During the season, he only averaged 5.3 points a game, in about 14 minutes of time on the floor a game. When he was given the chance to play big time minutes with Westbrook out, Jackson exploded on the scene.  14 points a game to go along with a solid five rebounds and a good four assists in 33.5 minutes a game. But, the stat that really jumps out at me is that he shot 47.9 percent in 11 games.

Jackson did all he could. Jackson showed all the things Presti talks about with his amazing growth. I would even but him in the contention as one of the best back-up point guards in the NBA right now along side Norris Cole, Andre Miller and Eric Bledsoe.

And for what’s next? Jackson seems excited. Real excited.

“I’m ready to flash forward to camp right now,” he said.

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after missing a shot against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

I couldn’t think of a good hook to this piece, and then Durant just took the words out of my mouth: “Sometimes you’ve got to ride out the storm to get to the sunshine,” Durant said. “We’ve got to continue to keep believing in each other and believe in this process and we’ll be alright.”

As soon as Westbrook went down, you knew it was coming. The “another finals run” thought was thrown away. Then it became a question of how long Oklahoma City will show heart and maintain that.  The Thunder scrapped their way to a 4-2 series win vs. Houston, and after Game 1 of the Memphis series, you still held that ounce of hope due to a guy named Kevin Durant. Then, it all perished.

In a blink of an eye, the Thunder lost four straight after going up 1-0. Not bad losses, but stressful and frustrating losses. Losses that will make you say “damn, if only…”. Games 2, 3, and 4 by three, by six, and last night by four.

Back-to-back years losing four straight to end the season. It hurts.  It hurts bad.

But, as we all know, and as Durant said, sometimes you got to just ride out the storm to get to the sunshine. And that’s what the Thunder will do. Take this series as a learning experience, and move on. Because that’s the only thing they can do.

In terms of the learning the experience aspect of things, the guy who profited the most out of the playoffs was Reggie Jackson.  Boy, does he have a ridiculous amount of upside and potential or what? The 2011 24^th overall pick for the Thunder out of Boston College did exactly what Scott Brooks needed him to do with Westbrook out.  Last night, he finished with 16 points, and was 7-15 from the field. Jackson hit clutch free throws down the stretch in both series. He showed his progression as a player. He matured greatly, and as Magic Johnson always says, “you can’t teach experience.”

There are so many things I can say, but I just can’t spit it out. I guess the best way to explain the end to the Thunder season is what the Thunder organization emphasizes: Progress.

Scott Brooks said it well and it just goes to show you that this team’s head is held high: “You will see improvement within our group. Our guys really have improved, but they are not finished. We have a bright future.”

With a healthy Westbrook next year, and another off season for Perk and Ibaka, the Thunder are poised for another finals run next year. And, I can’t even tell you how excited I am for Westbrook to get that standing ovation in the season home opener. Until next year, its been a great and fun season. Keep your head help high, Thunder fans.

May 13, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) shoots the ball in game four of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-97, and lead in the series 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

It’s weird to think about it with all the expectation and promise the Thunder team had coming into the 2012-2013 season, but as hard as it is to say this: Oklahoma City’s back is against the wall, as they are one, yes one, game from being eliminated from the playoffs.

Writing that, I just got a tender, grazed, and sad feeling inside of me.

However, instead of worrying about what can happen with a Thunder loss tomorrow night, it’s time to look at what needs to happen in order for  the Thunder to win three straight games and make a remarkable comeback in which only  7 teams in the NBA have ever done.

A.      Make better coaching decisions

This fact just shakes me up every time I hear it: Kevin Martin logged only 26 minutes last night. Fisher logged only three less minutes, and Jackson logged the same minutes as KD last night. At times, Fisher was on the floor over Martin with less than five minutes to go. How? Why? I don’t understand how you’re second option scoring wise, isn’t on the floor when you need a bucket late in the game.

B.    Thabo Sefolosha

Look. It’s clear others need to step up and produce with Westbrook, and Sefolosha is obviously not a known scorer in this league. But, Ibaka went for 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting, Kevin Martin delivered with 18 points off the bench and Jackson had 15. Sefolosha missed out on the party going 1-4 from the field with only five points last night. Not to mention, he let Conley go for 24 points last night.

C.    Dumb Mistakes and Turnovers

15 turnovers for the Thunder last night and only 7 for the Grizzlies. Just not going to get it done. Fisher’s turnover late with 22.6 seconds to go was a killer, and the Thunder just couldn’t take care of the ball.

I’m not counting this Oklahoma City team out, but if they want to get back into this series, it’s going to take a lot. Hopefully the Thunder can win tomorrow night, and then all the pressure is on Memphis.

May 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) attempts a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) during the first half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the Thunder heart-breakingly lost Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals 99-93. With the series now being tied up at one, the Thunder will travel to Memphis for a critical Game 3 and 4. In terms of Game 2, there were a whole lot to take out of the loss:

Durant can’t carry the load

KD was terrific once again last night with 36 points, 11 rebounds and one assist shy of a triple double with nine. He did all he could. You could not have asked for a better performance from #35. But, when you look at the other eight guys in the rotation, they quite frankly just didn’t show up (besides Derek Fisher who had a big 19 points).

Kevin Martin: six points, 2-11 shooting.

Serge Ibaka: 11 points, on 5-12 shooting.

Thabo Sefolosha: 7 points.

Reggie Jackson: 10 points on 3-8 shooting.

That is just not going to get it done. Martin combined for 50 points in back-to-back games and Scott Brooks was counting on him for another big game. And that right there is a big problem without #0.

Turnovers and second shots

How about this stat via Royce Young of dailythunder.com? “In Game 1, the Thunder turned it over 10 times, and allowed four second chance points to the Grizzlies. In Game 2, the Thunder turned it over 21 times and allowed 23 second chance points. That’s your game in a nutshell.”

Perkins and Ibaka

The two guys who are most vital in this series are Ibaka and Perkins. It’s obvious. Yes, they do have a tough assignment having to guard Gasol and Randolph. But, something? Anything, guys? Ibaka was -6 and Perkins was -10 last night. They combined for 11 rebounds. Mike Conley had 10 rebounds himself. Not to mention, Gasol and Randolph combining for 39 points on 17-34 (50%) from the floor.

The positive is that this Oklahoma City team is great at bouncing back. As  Durant said, “We feel confident. We can’t put our heads down. We can’t be upset with ourselves because we lost. Memphis is a really good team. We’ve got to keep going forward. I think there are some things we can correct and get better at and we’ll be fine.”

24 hours have past since the Game 1, 93-91 victory, and yet….I’m still extremely emotional.

Martin’s spurt and production in the second and third quarter. Fisher’s timely threes. Durant’s go-ahead jumper with 11 seconds to go. Jackson’s cold-blooded free throws to seal the deal.

It all goes back to same point of emphasis about this Thunder team. They’re resilient. They’re tough. They’re experienced. And yeah, they still got #35.

But, is this game that vital and that important?

Yes. It was crucial.

Why? I’ll tell you.

Game 1 was a MUST win. If Oklahoma City lost in Game 1, they were in deep trouble. Not only in the aspect of losing and having to go and get one in Memphis, but in the aspect of mentally. Basketball is a pure mental game. If Oklahoma City lost Game 1, not only would the guys in the locker room lose hope, but so would the whole city of Oklahoma. “We can’t win without Westbrook.” “We can’t get by Memphis with no second option.” “Our playoff run is over.”

But, that’s not the case.

Kevin Martin chipped in a clutch performance with 25 points. Durant put matters into his own hands with 35 points on 13-26 shooting, 15 rebounds, six assists, and only three turnovers. And the Thunder snatched Game 1 after being down by nine for parts of the game.

There has got to be some belief and hope in that locker room. And why not? Why not have that arrogant and confident attitude about this emotional playoff run?

It’s amazing how quickly your perspective on the chances of another finals run can change. After Game 1 in Houston, it was through the roof. After Game 2, still high. Then the loss of Westbrook, it simmered down. After Game 3, it was still there. After Games 4 and 5, all of a sudden it disappeared. Loss of hope, faith, and confidence. And there here we are again, talking about how the Thunder can do it.

Can the momentum and energy be carried over to win three more games is the big question right now. Lets hope.

May 1, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) attempts a free throw after being fouled repeatedly by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Rockets defeated the Thunder 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

I needed a few hours to let my go of my anger and frustration before writing a piece on what is going on in Oklahoma City.

My emotions post-game were just as bad as most Thunder fans: Worried, frustrated, dismayed, and uptight. Are the Rockets going to comeback from a 3-0 hole and make history? Is Kevin Martin that bad? Is Perk any help? Can the Thunder get one stop after scoring? Should the Thunder fire Scott Brooks?

You know the deal.

But, then reality sets in. The Thunder are up 3-2 in the series. The Rockets still have to win at home, and then go back to Oklahoma City and win another one. No team in NBA history has ever came back from a 3-0 deficit.

But, what makes Thunder fans so worried and in panic mode is…

Oklahoma City’s lack of scoring without Westbrook

Just so we get this straight: Kevin Durant is only human. After all, he is having an outstanding series. Last night, Durant put up 36 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists. It’s the other guys who have to step up. Durant gets double teamed nearly every time he gets a touch. And when Kevin Martin goes  1-10, Sefolosha goes 3-8, Jackson goes 7-15, and Fisher goes 2-6, you’re not going to win. It’s just that simple.

Scott Brooks’ coaching decisions

I was going on a rant on twitter when the Thunder went into their “Hack-a-Asik” stage about how dumb it was.  Yes, I get it that Asik was a 56% free-throw shooter in the regular season. But last night, before the Thunder started the “Hack-a-Asik”, he was 5-7. Not only that, but the Thunder kept scoring and the crowd was getting into the game.  Oklahoma City cut the lead to six with four minutes to go, and at that point, as a coach, you just have to have confidence in your teams defense. But instead Asik was fouled two more times, and the lead was back to nine. The fouls on Asik changed the momentum. And it for sure changed the outcome of the game.

Getting stops defensively

It seemed as if after every Thunder basket, the Rockets came back and responded. Half of that goes to James Harden for being absolutely unguardable last night but the other half goes to Oklahoma City’s lack of focus on the defensive end. It’s a simple method in which if you can’t get stops, you don’t deserve to win.

Needless to say, the Thunder just need one more win and then they can forgot about Patrick Beverley and Francisco Garcia and move on.

Apr 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) drives the ball around Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) in the first quarter during game three in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Phew. Can I breathe now?

Wait. Give me a second.

Ok. I’m good now. Well, I’ll just give you a run down of how this game went real quick. The Thunder looked dominate in the first half leading by as much as 26, blew the lead, were down, and somehow came out on top to take a 3-0 series lead. And, yeah, Kevin Durant was something else. He finished with 41 points, and 14 rebounds. Someone said something about him stepping up without #0?..

The first half could not of gone any better for the Thunder. To open the game, the Thunder went down 7-1 in early going. However, after the slow start, the Thunder responded to take a lead 16-9 with 6:18 to go in the first as they went on 13-0 run. Durant’s slam over Asik was the talk of the first quarter. At the end of one, the Thunder led the Rockets, 39-19. Durant was the high scorer with 17.  Oklahoma opened the second quarter on fire as they led 46-22 with 9:36 to go in the quarter. At the time, Houston was shooting 1-11 from deep. The Rockets showed spurts of life with big production from Francisco Gracia. Houston went a 14-6 run to end the half, but the Thunder still had a demanding lead going into the locker room, 66-49. Durant had 27 points at the half.

In the third quarter, the Rockets rallied themselves right back into the game. The Thunder led by 17, 73-56 halfway through the quarter. However, the Rockets went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 13. Then, all things went South as the Rockets cut the lead to 9 with a Chandler Parsons three.  Francisco Garcia’s three made it an 11-0 run for the Rockets, but Durant’s three ending that run (his only points in the quarter). Heading into the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City led 80-76. In the fourth, the Rockets stayed in the game in the early going. The Thunder led by 2 with 7:49 to go in the game. The Rockets took a one point lead with 3:30 to go for the first time since the 9-6 lead in the first. Durant’s three with 20 or so seconds to go gave the Thunder the lead back by 1, and Derek Fischer’s two free throws gave the Thunder a three-point lead with 12.5 seconds to go. Harden responded with a quick two, but Reggie Jackson’s two free throws sealed the deal as the thunder survived, 104-101.

When Durant was asked what adjustments he had to make without Westbrook, he said, “Well, I gotta do whatever Coach needs me to do.”

Like I said, a win is a win, and the Thunder are up 3-0 in the series. See you Monday night for Game 4 as the Thunder try to bring out the broom and sweep the Rockets.

Apr 24, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) knocks the ball out of the hands of Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

If you haven’t heard about what occurred in Game 2 Wednesday night, I’ll just sum it up for you real quick: Houston battled and scrapped the whole game, but the Thunder seemed to open the game up early in the fourth quarter to a 15-point lead with 9:23 left in the game. But, midway through the fourth, the Rockets went on a 17-2 run and eventually took the lead. Ibaka’s midrange jumper, Sefolosha’s clutch three and two Kevin Durant free throws sealed the deal for the Thunder to win Game 2.

However, that being said, there is a whole lot to take out of what happened last night and what needs to change moving forward.

For one, Oklahoma City needs to find a way to find a solution to the other team “going small” issue. All props go to Rockets head coach Kevin McHale for scouting that, and figuring out that going small would frustrate the Thunder. Last year, in the NBA Finals the Heat really frustrated Oklahoma City with having Bosh at the five, and having Ibaka guard LeBron or Battier at times. Last night, McHale attempted to do the same exact thing. And to be honest, it worked.  There were points in last night’s game in which Scott Brooks had Ibaka guarding Harden, which didn’t work out because Harden just blew by Ibaka every time and made someone help which usually led to a kick out for an open three or a foul. Harden finished the night with 36 points and attempted 20 free throws.

Not so much of an adjustment, but more of a key is the play from Durant and Westbrook. Yes, they did both score 29 points last night. Yes, Durant and Westbrook went a combined 20-51 last night. Yes, do the math, that’s 40 percent. Not too shabby, huh?

But if you look at the actual play from Durant and Westbrook, it kind of makes you ponder for a second. Westbrook left the game early in the first because of quick two fouls. And, Durant didn’t score in the fourth quarter until there was 2:56 to play.  Not saying it’s not a good thing to get others involved, but, the Thunder got 17 of their 27 fourth quarter points from guys without a #0 or #35 on their back.  Its more of a “being too unselfish” kind of thing to me. Late in a playoff game, the ball needs to be in Durant or Westbrook’s hands. That’s just the nature of the game.

Needless to say, it did work. Sefolosha and Ibaka came up BIG. The Thunder did win Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead, and yes, the M-V-P chants did come down when Durant was at the line with 11 seconds to go.

Houston played an excellent game without one of their better players in Lin (who is questionable for Game 3). You have to give them their credit. Game 3 will be played on Saturday night in Houston.

It’s time to recap the year with the top 10 moments of the 2012-2013 eccentric season for Oklahoma City.

10.

Whatever happened to stopping the ball in transition?

9.

You heard Brian Davis….” viewer discretion is advised”

8.

Its not that this dunk is so nice. It’s more my affection for Reggie Jackson.

7.

If there were a Lay-up contest instead of a Dunk contest, KD should enter.

6.

That’s when you know things are going your way. Big Perk!

5.

Oh Demar. Oh Demar. Not twice, my man.

4.

I just adored the post game; Is this reason why the Thunder lost this game?

3.

I know this happened the other week, but it has not gotten out of my head since it happened. It was one of those plays were kind of just say to yourself, “That is some dynamic duo.”

2.

It’s no 70 points which he needed last night, but this was just a memorable night. Not only a great performance, but a great game.

1.

This is how you score you’re 40^th point. But, was it better than when he posturized Brendan Haywood in the 2011 Western Conference Finals?

60-22 is a crazy good record. But, as we all know, this team will only be measured on what they do in the postseason. The bearded one and the Rockets come to town for Game 1 on Sunday night.

Nov 1, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) talks to forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half at the AT

In the game of basketball, confidence is a big difference maker, as it can make or break you. It’s hard not to relate it to the NCAA tournament with every year there being an unexpected Cinderella team. This year that team was Florida Golf Coast and Wichita State, as both teams played with loads and loads of confidence.

With the playoffs starting mid-to-late April, Thursday will be Oklahoma City’s last regular season chance at San Antonio. As known, the Thunder are 1-2 against the Spurs this year, with losses on March 11^th, and opening night on November 1^st. Oklahoma City’s only win against San Antonio came all the way back in December.

I know what some are thinking: Why this game? It’s just another regular season game….

This one is different. Thursday’s game has much more meaning then just another win or loss in Oklahoma City’s win/loss column.

If the Thunder lose Thursday’s game, all things go even more South.  With bad loses through the year like Friday’s loss in Minnesota, this young team will get not only critized and questioned badly, but their heads will drop and their confidence level with go South. Questions if letting James Harden walk from Oklahoma City was a horrible idea, or if Scott Brooks is a good coach or not will arise. Most importantly, everyone will hop onto the San Antonio bandwagon and forget who the 2012 Western Conference champs are.

However, on the retrospect, if Oklahoma City’s wins on Thursday night, this team’s confidence level will boast in a big way. Then, we can do this in Game 5 in San Antonio again, and we can start worrying about Miami.

At the moment, San Antonio is three games ahead of the Thunder in the Western Conference. To me, that means nada. Nothing. Because come playoff time, if both teams meet again in the Western Conference Finals, it’s about who’s hotter and who’s playing better basketball at the moment, not about who had the better record or who is the higher seed.

9:30 PM ET on TNT. I think you may want to tune in….

Jan 9, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) chases a ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham (33) during the second half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into tonight’s game, the Thunder have won three straight games including wins over the Trailblazers, Magic, and Wizards. Tonight, Oklahoma City will face another below .500 team in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

At 25-45, the Timberwolves are coming off a tough loss to the Lakers on Wednesday night, 120-117. With a hurt Kevin Love, this young team is still in a rebuilding mood and has no thoughts of the playoffs this year.  Currently, they allow 95.3 points per game(20^th in the league), which the Thunder will definitely take advantage of.

The last time these two teams met was on February 22^nd at home. Oklahoma won that game, 127-111, behind a great shooting performance from the Thunder.  Oklahoma City shot 57.8 percent from the floor, 9-for-14 from deep as Kevin Martin, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant combined for 83 points.

The key matchup tonight will be Russell Westbrook vs. Ricky Rubio. In Rubio’s last 10 games, he has averaged a solid 14 points a game and 7.8 assists. Westbrook will definitely have his hands full tonight.

Tonight’s game will have a 7 PM CT tip-off, and will be played in the Target Center.

Mar 20, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime with a score of 90-89. Mandatory Credit: Spruce DerdenUSA TODAY Sports

The word “panic” and the regular season don’t go well together in Oklahoma City. In the NBA, teams can get the 8^th seed for the playoffs; get hot during the playoffs, and the next thing you know, they are receiving their ring. Especially for the Thunder, this team will only be judged on what they do in the postseason.

However, lets panic and worry a little bit, because hey, there’s something to panic about. It seems as if this Oklahoma City team has no identity after all. Back to back losses, at home against a hot Nuggets team, and in Memphis. Neither of those teams are contenders in the first place. So, why? What’s going on? Is it time to panic?

             1.       Derek Fisher taking up quality minutes

Scott Brooks always talking about having a veteran in locker room with pure experience and leadership. But, does that untimely mean he has to get big time minutes? Think about this for a second: If Oklahoma City’s “identity” is to run and get out in transition, why have Fisher in the minutes? He is clearly being overmatched night in and night out. Plus, I would definitely rather  have Brewer, Lamb, or Liggins on the floor.

        2.  Poor Shooting

The Thunder is 11 for 64 from beyond the arc in their last few games. Specifically, they shot an atrocious 5-21 against Dallas, 4 of 25 in a loss to Denver, and 2 for 18 in a loss to Memphis last night.

        3.  Inconsistency

One possession you can say to yourself, “This team is unstoppable, and unguardable ” and then the next possession Westbrook will drive and take a low percentage shot or it will just become isolation basketball. That can’t happen.

Lets see what others are saying:

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on Oklahoma City’s lost to Memphis and recent woes: “Like I said, they almost did enough to win this game. But it’s not enough, and that’s now losses to Denver and Memphis inside of a week. They need better late-game execution and better consistency in their sets. They have some things to work on.”

Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: “This could totally be a reactionary question. I’m willing to admit that. But what is the Thunder’s identity? Does this team have one? We know it has two all-league players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and wins a lot of games. But what exactly is this team’s hallmark beyond that? Defense? We’ve seen enough this season to know that’s closer to a dream than a reality. Offense? Then why such struggles when it matters most? Teamwork? That’s laughable. Inside? Outside? What is it? I can’t really tell you at the moment. But, hey, all these regular season wins sure look nice.”

Aren’t the Thunder lucky they play a poor Magic team on Friday? Phew.

Recently, Magic Johnson sat down with Kevin Durant to discuss Durant’s childhood, and patterning his game.  Something that really gets me in this interview is to see how much respect Durant has for Magic. In the interview, Durant talks about a little bit of everything. From his childhood, to his idol as a basketball player growing up.

Magic inferred to Durant that he was a complete player already, and Durant, being as humble as he is, gave a great response: “I don’t think I’m complete just yet. I think that’s the best part about me. I can continue to keep getting better.”

The most interesting question Magic asked Durant in the chat was who KD patterns his game after. After Magic told Durant that some people say it’s the great George Gervin. Durant response saying, “Well, George Gervin is a little before my time.” Durant then said his idol growing up was the Celtic great, Larry Bird.

“How patient he was with the game. He wasn’t the most athletic guy in the league, but he made it work.”

He went on to say, “Larry Bird is just my type of player. A wing player that can shot the ball, can do it all, can dribble can pass can rebound can defend and just play with that edge every single night. Of course all of my friends gave me a little heat for wanting to be like Larry Bird, but, he’s one of the best players to every play the game. You got to give him his credit.”

Durant looking up to Larry Bird is a wise thing to do. They both exhibit that “edge” of competiveness and both have that long tall body to that with a great touch.

Magic joked around with Durant on his 12 technical fouls this year. His response was, “Man. I wish I knew,” he continued to say, “I get a little too emotional too riled up. Hopefully I stay under 16 by the end of the year.”

Mar. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) looks to pass the ball against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

With a few questions lingering around the Thunder organization and fans, questioning why the Thunder weren’t playing well, those remarks and questions were all answered this week. A four game win streak that included wins in Los Angeles beating a talented and deep Clipper team, at home to play the “revived” Lakers, and in the one the toughest environments to play in beating the Knicks.

Being that it’s only the regular season, you can’t take too much out of Oklahoma City’s recent success. But, you can pick apart the little details that will make this team unstoppable come playoff time.

The Thunder’s bench has been absolutely brilliant as of late. Scott Brooks has had a minor change to rotation, as Hasheem Thabeet has not been playing as much as of late, with zero minutes against the Knicks. Also, Derek Fisher has virtually became Oklahoma City’s seventh man, backing up Westbrook. A big thanks to Oklahoma City bench success has been Reggie Jackson. He looks as if he’s a seventh year veteran on the floor. Directing, playing with a whole lots of confidence, and being the player Presti saw in him. Jackson hit timely three’s in the Knicks game to help the Thunder hold off the Knicks.

Another big key as of late has been the production of Serge Ibaka. Minus the stupid play on Griffin late in Los Angeles, Ibaka has been playing really well. He went for 12 and nine against the Knicks, and had 16 points against Blake Griffin and the Clippers.

Finally, most of this credit has to go to Russell Westbrook. We’ve heard the Kobe Bryant comparison that ESPN.com did, and it looks as if that jump started him on this streak. Westbrook seems “guardable” beating his guy to the rim every possession. He put up 37 points and 10 rebounds against the Lakers, 29 against the Clippers, and a solid 21 points against New York.

Now, here comes the second tough stretch for Oklahoma City. Today against Boston at home, in San Antonio (big one) on Monday, and a tough Jazz team at home on Wednesday. If Miami streak can come to end, the NBA needs to then take a look at how well the guys in the blue and yellow has been playing. Look out!

Mar 3, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

With a stretch that includes trips to Denver to face the Nuggets, Los Angeles to play the Clippers, New York to take on the Knicks, and at home to take on the “revived” Lakers, Oklahoma City is 1-1 on the current trip. With a buzzer beating loss to the Nuggets on Friday night, the Thunder bounced back with a statement win on the road against the Clippers, 108-104.

All NBA teams hit a “bump in the road” and have their down moments in the year. It seems as if this team has been inconsistent as of late, but we all know, this team will be judged on what they do in the playoffs, not regular season. Talking about the postseason, this brings up a big topic moving forward come late April.

Currently at 43-16, Oklahoma City is 3 games out of first in the West behind the mighty Spurs. However, with Parker out with an injury for four weeks, it’s now time for the Thunder to press down on the pedal and make a run for the number one seed. But wait.. Let’s think about this for a second. Do the Thunder actually want the one seed? Theoretically, if the Lakers do make the playoffs, it looks as if they will be the 8^th seed. So, the question becomes: Do you want the one seed and play an extremely talented Laker team or be complacent with the 2^nd seed and play a team like Utah or Houston in the first round?

If you don’t want to look so far ahead, you might have to. The playoffs start in April, and March is the last full month of regular season basketball. The Thunder have 23 games remaining, 12 on the road and 11 at home. This 4-game current trip Oklahoma City is on, will show fans a lot about the identity of this team.

Feb 22, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) discusses a call with NBA official Nick Buchert in action against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

After losing three straight, the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back with a 16-point victory last night over Minnesota Timberwolves.  Last night’s win put Oklahoma City to the 40-win mark and ended a small skid. Now in second place in the Western Conference, the Thunder has a tough schedule coming up with a few marquee matchups that will have a major impact on this year’s season.

Sunday, February 24^th Home vs. Chicago: The Thunder beat the Bulls in Chicago earlier in the year, but now this Bull’s team is a lot of different. Chicago is playing really good basketball without their superstar, Derrick Rose.  The Bulls are coming off a blowout win against the Bobcats last night.

Friday, March 1^st @ Denver: The Nuggets have been struggling a bit as of late. Denver lost to a weak Washington team last night, and will play Charlotte, Portland, and the Lakers all before they face the Thunder.

Sunday, March 3^rd @ LA Clippers: Oklahoma City is currently up 2-1 in the season series vs. the Clippers. The Thunder will look to gain more room in the Western Conference with a win in LA.

Tuesday, March 5^th Home vs. LA Lakers: Anytime you play the Lakers, it’s a big game. Obviously there is a lot of drama out in La La Land, but Oklahoma City just wants to take a win and keep the Lakers out of playoff contention.

Thursday, March 7^th @ New York:  This will be the first time the Thunder and Knicks meet this season. Durant loves playing in the worlds famous arena, as  he will look to shine on the big stage. The Knicks are currently 32-20 but allow 96.4 points a game which the Thunder will love to take advantage of.

The NBA really gave the Thunder a tough week in early march with four straight nationally televised games. This is where you can really find out a team’s identity.

Nov 2, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Eric Maynor and Thunder head coach Scott Brooks talk during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

With the trade dedline coming up Thursday at 3 PM EST, NBA fans have been on the ESPN trade machine all day trying to figure out ways to make their favorite team better and GM’s have been on the phone all day. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, there hasn’t been too much buzz, but we all know Sam Presti has something under his sleeve.

Here are some possible deals the Thunder could make before Thursday’s deadline:

According to Chris Broussard, ESPN.com, OKC is “aggressively” shopping PG Eric Maynor.

Well, its amazing how times change. Two years ago, we were sitting here talking about how Maynor is the best backup point guard in the league. Then, he goes down early last year with an ACL injury. After healing, comes back this year and disappoints and gets his spot taken by Reggie Jackson. And now, the Thunder are shopping him. Time to look at some possible ideas:

Maynor, Perkins, 1st round pick from OKC and 2nd round pick from Charlotte for Demare Carroll and Al Jefferson: Jefferson would give the Thunder more scoring and more quickness. However, losing Perkins would get rid of championship experience.

Maynor, Perry Jones III, and Daniel Orton to Utah for Derrick Favors and Kevin Murphy: With the Jazz needing a backup point guard and Maynor being in Utah before, this trade works. This would be a decent deal for Oklahoma City as the Thunder have been looking for an inside scoring presence for a while.

Rodger Sherman of SB Nation: “So who will move for Maynor? Berger mentioned the other team he’s played for in his NBA career, the Jazz, who are on the lookout for a backup point guard with Mo Williams still hurt and Jamaal Tinsley’s primary backup Earl Watson. Maynor would certainly be an improvement over Watson – and perhaps even Tinsley – but the Jazz might not have the pieces to land Maynor, for whom Broussard reports the asking price is high. Besides, Berger reports the Jazz’ front office is still torn up about whether to deal either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap.”

So, send over the trade ideas. I do think the Thunder will deal Maynor before Thursday’s deadline because to be honest, as of now, he is no help to this team. Sititng on the bench supporting his team is great but doesn’t necessarily help the Thunder win a ring.

Feb 8, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) attempts a shot against Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and Suns center Jermaine O

For a few minutes, it seemed like the Thunder would struggle beating a below par Phoenix Suns team. Then, the Thunder came out of the locker room to start the second half, and just went on a tear. Oklahoma City went on a 26-5 run, and scored 17 unanswered to stretch the game out. From there on, the Thunder never looked back.

Oklahoma City blew out the Phoenix Suns 127-96 tonight for their 3^rd straight win.

After one the Thunder led the Suns, 33-27. Kevin Durant had 12 points for the Thunder, and Goran Dragic had 16 points in the quarter for Phoenix. To open the game, Durant had two steals on two Phoenix possessions, one leading to a Westbrook slam and the other leading to KD creating for himself and hitting a three. The Suns got back into the game thanks to Dragic scoring at one point, 13 of the Suns 15 points.

In the second, the Thunder bench went cold. Scott Brooks had Jackson, Liggins, Martin, Collison, and Thabeet out there for a good five minutes and the Thunder couldn’t put the ball in the basket. The Suns took advantage and tied the game at 35. Heading into the locker room, the Thunder led the Suns 55-50 thanks to a 9-2 run by Oklahoma City to end the half. This might have been the worst quarter the Thunder has played all year. But, that would change.

Sefolosha’s threes to open the half gave the Thunder a 12 point lead, 67-55 in the early going. In this quarter Oklahoma City started to run away with the game, as Westbrook’s fast break jam gave the Thunder a 17-point lead. Serge Ibaka’s three made it a 22-point game as the Thunder scored 17 unanswered. At the end of three, the Thunder led the Suns 91-70.

In the fourth, the Thunder carried that momentum to end the game. The bench players played the whole quarter, as the bench was cleared.

The Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns, 127-96 tonight. Durant had 21 points, Sefolosha had 18, and Westbrook and Perkins both had 17 each. The Thunder will play the Suns again Sunday in Phoenix.

January 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Kevin Martin (23) shoots a basket against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks (20) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City has played nine of its last 10 away from Chesapeake Energy Arena, and went 7-3 in that long stretch.  The six-game road trip consisted of games in Golden State, Los Angeles twice (Lakers and Clippers), Sacramento, and Denver. The Thunder went 2-3 in those games with tough losses to the Lakers, Warriors, and Nuggets.

Now it’s time to step back and analyze the challenging week.

Breakout Player On Trip: For a little while, it was for sure DeAndre Liggins with his superb defense and hustle. However, the energy bunny died a little bit and Liggins started to blend in more and more each game. The player who had a “breakout week” had to be Kevin Martin. In the six-game trip, K Mart averaged 15.1 points on 51.6 percent shooting and shot 54.4 percent from deep. This week he started to be the catalyst and commander of the second unit.

Worst Performer: Not the worst performer, but Hasheem Thabeet just quite frankly didn’t play too well. On the road trip he played a total of 29 minutes with 16 of them coming in the blowout against the Kings. Thabeet obviously hasn’t been the guy Thunder fans have been dreaming over anymore.

What Fans Learned: Well, it’s pretty evident how vulnerable it is to play at home in Loud City. Oklahoma City is now 15-8 on the road this year which isn’t poor but isn’t spectacular. The Thunder will come back home to play Memphis tomorrow night.

January 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) turns the ball over against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World Peace (15) and center Dwight Howard (12) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Well. It definitely hurts to lose a big game, on a big stage, against your rival Los Angeles Lakers. I guess you could say the Lakers caught the Thunder on a “bad night” and the Thunder got the Lakers on a “good night.” Russell Westbrook was 6-22 from the field, and Kobe Bryant just had an MVP type game with 21 points and 14 assists.

The Thunder fell to 34-11 on the year with a 105-96 loss to the Lakers.

The first consisted of poor shooting with six ties, and five lead changes. At the end of one, the Thunder trailed the Lakers, 27-23. Serge Ibaka had six points and Kevin Martin gave the Thunder a boost with four points only four minutes. The Lakers ended the quarter on a 6-0 run and shot 45% from the field in the quarter.

To open up the second, Scott Brooks had Liggins, Jackson, Martin, Collison, and Thabett on the floor. Oklahoma City cut the lead to 4 with 8:42 to go in the second with a Durant and-1. The Thunder re-took the lead with 7:11 to go with a Durant floater to go up 38-36. The Thunder carried that momentum to go on a 7-0 run late in the quarter. At half, the Thunder led the Lakers 53-52 behind Kevin Durant’s 18 points.

In the third, the Thunder had trouble defending Bryant and Early Clark. Kevin Durant lifted Oklahoma City offensively with big baskets. At the end of the quarter, the Thunder and the Lakers were tied at 75.

In the fourth, it was just the Mamba show. Bryant blew by Sefolosha on most possessions and either finished himself or found somebody cutting to the basket. Oklahoma City couldn’t seem to get stops nor put the ball in the basket.

However, it’s only one game and like I said before, Oklahoma City didn’t play well and quite frankly the Lakers played really well. Plain and simple.

The Thunder will look to bounce back against Memphis at home on Thursday.

Nov 11, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Alonzo Gee (33) attempts a shot while being guarded by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Martin (23) and Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

When you look at the success the Thunder have had over the past two or three years, it is evident that it has been led by the dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. For the past few years, James Harden was the “third option” and the go to guy when Durant and Westbrook weren’t playing well. Harden did it in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, and in the first round against the Mavs last year.

In the 2012-13 season, things are different. At 33-9 and at the top of the Western Conference, things are different for the better. Serge Ibaka is having career high numbers averaging 14 and eight, and Kevin Martin has came in from Houston and has done everything the Thunder wanted him to do off the bench averaging 15 points a game.

With the loss of Harden, this Oklahoma City team success comes down to the production of play from Ibaka and Martin.

Every NBA team has an inside scoring presence that clogs the paints for their given team. In Miami, that guy is Chris Bosh, In Boston its KG, for the Clippers its Blake Griffen and in La La town its Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. The Thunder have been looking for that guy since becoming the “Oklahoma City Thunder”. Can that guy be Ibaka? Early on in the season, it has been.

Oklahoma City leads the league in scoring with 106.1 points a game, and a majority of that goes to Durant, Westbrook, and Martin. If Martin can come off the bench and give the Thunder 15 or so a game the Thunder are dangerous. When opposing teams come up with schemes to defend Westbrook and Durant, they may forget about number 23.

Anyways, just listen to the buzz about this team as of late:

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com gives OKC an A+ midseason grade: “They’re great. They’re the best team in the league this season, hands down. Beard, no beard, Harden, no Harden, they’re terrific. On the road, at home, on a boat, with a goat, in a box, with a fox, it doesn’t matter. This team is a lightning storm (complete with thunder, get it!) wrapped in a gigantic lazer gun.”

J.A. Adande of ESPN.com names KD his first half MVP: “At the same time, Durant is doing more than ever before to get his teammates involved. He’s averaging a career-high 4.2 assists per game. More than that, he has taken on a greater responsibility for infusing this team with his will. LeBron hasn’t had to deal with the major personnel change the Thunder made by trading James Harden. The vibe feels different in the Thunder locker room, as if there’s a missing Musketeer. But Durant hasn’t let that derail this team. Finally, never forget that the MVP is a media-voted award, and it’s subject to storyline as much as stats. Another MVP award for LeBron would be his fourth in five seasons. The media crave fresh stories. Lucky for them, Durant has given them every reason to write a new one.”

Jan 13, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers small forward Nicolas Batum (88) posts up against Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard DeAndre Liggins (25) at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Ligginsanity

We always talk about it as sports fans. The moment when a “no name” guy gets a slight and minor opportunity and takes full advantage of it. So many cases of this have been going on with Jeremy Lin in New York last year, Colin Kaepernick right now for the 49ers, so on and so forth. You don’t hear about it because it’s not a worldwide topic in a big market, but DeAndre Liggins has made a name for himself this week.

What Liggins does for this Oklahoma City team is obviously contagious. With Thabo Sefolosha out yesterday with a neck injury, Liggins got the start and did his job. He defends, rebounds, takes open shots when he gets them, and most of all brings that gritty, hard nosed effort to the floor. His stat line last night was awesome with 11 points and nine rebounds, one shy of a double-double. Here’s another big stat: Wes Matthews was  2-8 from the field with Liggins on him.

In the NBA, you need that guy who brings energy every night and when his time is called can come in and produce. Last year for the Thunder that was Royal Ivey, who is no longer with the team. He didn’t play much at all but when guys were out for a night, he came in and hit some pretty big shots.

However, let’s not get carried away here. Liggins has done a terrific job, but at the end of the day, when all are healthy it’s hard to fit him into the rotation. Scott Brooks obviously knows Liggins deserves to be on the floor but then yet again Sefolosha has a similar game in being a terrific defender too.

Now, it will be intriguing to see what’s in store for Liggins whose confidence should be heavy.  We will see the scenario tonight against the Suns.

Dec. 25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

When you think about an all-star, you think about a guy who is a top scorer for their perspective team and a guy who can really “take over a game.”

If you look at Thunder forward, Serge Ibaka’s improvement over the past few years, it is remarkable. Since coming into the league in 2009, Ibaka has improved his scoring, rebounding, and block numbers. His scoring averages have jumped up by 8, his rebounding by 3.1, and his blocks by 1.7 a game.

This year, Ibaka has averaged 14.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and three blocks a game. But, the question now becomes: Are those “all-star numbers”?

Well, unfortunately, you have to look at what other power forwards are out there that could virtually take Ibaka’s vote and spot. In the West, those guys are Kevin Love, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, David Lee, and Lamarcus Aldridge.

Talk about competition.

Just with that point alone, you can make a case why he shouldn’t be an All-Star. But, the main reason is that Ibaka isn’t and all-star caliber player yet. At the end of the day, Ibaka doesn’t have the ability to “take over a game” when the Thunder need him to. It is very rare to see a third or fourth option to make an all-star game, and it will be extremely shocking to see Ibaka wearing Red and Black in Houston.

Wanna talk about someone who should be the Most-Improved player in the NBA? Serge Ibaka for ya, folks.

May 5, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts at the end of the game against Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) during game four of the 2012 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight, the Thunder will look to bounce back from a tough loss to the Miami Heat on Christmas Day and get a win against a decent Dallas Mavericks team on their home court. The Thunder have lost two straight, and don’t want to fall behind the Clippers in the standing with a loss.

The Mavericks are not so hot themselves, losing three straight despite the return of star forward Dirk Nowitzki. Leading the Mavs this year has been O.J Mayo averaging 19.3 points per game and making himself a liable candidate for most improved player.

This will be the first time the two teams meet since the Thunder swept the Mavs in the first round of the playoffs last year.

The two teams started a minor rivalry when the Mavs beat the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals two years ago, and then went on to beat the Heat in the Finals.

Oklahoma City could use a nice bounce back win on National TV against a decent Dallas opponent. The Mavs may not be .500 at a 12-16 record, but they do have some talent across the board.

Can the Thunder use their home crowd and get back on track with a win tonight against the Mavs?

Find out on TNT at 8 PM EST.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

This morning it sunk into my head that this was just another regular season game in December. From the looks of it, you would have probably thought it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. However, this is just another loss, another learning lesson and another chance to grow from.

There was so much drama and commotion in last night’s game that was hard to keep up with between the Thunder’s rotation, and the refs, but there were a few things to take out of last night’s thriller:

1. Its official that the back-up point guard spot is up for grabs

Last night, Eric Maynor didn’t see the floor and Reggie Jackson stole his minutes. Not only did Jackson steal his minutes but he also produced at a high level with his big And-1 and three in the second quarter. Made decisions have to be made moving forward.

2. Scott Brooks has to change his rotation late

There was zero reason for Kendrick Perkins to be in the game late. Zero. At worst, Brooks should have went offense/defense with Sefolosha and Perkins. It’s a pretty easy concept looking from the outside in: If the Heat go small with LeBron at the four, so should the Thunder.

3. Some things from the Finals last year haven’t changed

Same problems, different game. Nothing has changed. LeBron still gets every call he wants. The Thunder fall into a hole early in the game. Late in games, the Thunder can’t convert on opportunities. These are some things that have to change if the Thunder want to get over hump and beat the Heat in the Finals.

As said before, it’s just one game. However, that was a tough loss to inhale.  Time to move on and get ready for Dallas Thursday.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

If you think this is just an ordinary regular season game, you’re wrong.

This is the game every Thunder fan, player and coach has been waiting for. Revenge at last.

The last time the Thunder and the Heat met, LeBron was on the podium celebrating with his teammates after getting his first ring, in a 4-1 series win.  Today will be the first time the two teams will meet after the NBA Finals and the Thunder have a big chip on their shoulder.

Are the two teams the same? No, but they are very similar.

The Heat added Ray Allen to the mix, and the Thunder theoretically exchanged James Harden for Kevin Martin. Both teams lead their perspective conference, but the Thunder hold the best record in the NBA currently at 21-5.

Here are the top 5 things to look at heading into this highly anticipated Christmas Day Game:

 1.How the Thunder handle coming back to the arena they lost in

After being defeated in the American Airlines Arena in Game 5, how will the Thunder put that behind them and handle the atmosphere and play with a chip on their shoulder?

 2. The adjustment of having to stop Ray Allen

In Game 5, Mike Miller killed the Thunder with 23 points. If the Thunder have trouble with Mike Miller, Scott Brooks better come up with a way to stop Ray Allen

 3.The Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James matchup

Always a joy to watch. Last year’s MVP against this year’s hopeful MVP.  In history, James has won 7 of the 9 matchups but that could change today

4.Runs

Today’s game will be a game of runs. How will the Thunder handle tough situations in a tough environment and atmosphere?

5. If Russell Westbrook can be Russell Westbrook

As we all know, Russell Westbrook killed the Heat last year in the NBA Finals as he had 43 points in Game 4. If Westbrook can put up big numbers again today, the Heat are in big trouble.

Merry Christmas to all those celebrating. Sit back and enjoy the game.

Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It’s pretty obvious at this point. Kevin Martin has not been a good replacement for James Harden, but a brilliant one. Arguments are being made that the Thunder are better with Martin in Oklahoma City than with James Harden. Either way, bringing in Martin to virtually replace Harden was a genius idea by GM Sam Presti, as Martin has basically established himself as a legit Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

It’s pretty amazing to see how well Martin has blended in with the Thunder core in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook virtually on the go due to the fact that the trade happened after training camp. The way Martin stretches the floor for this team is so valuable, making this Oklahoma City team so much harder to beat.

Martin is averaging 15.7 points per game heading into the matchup with the Miami Heat on Christmas Day. The stat that stands out to me is that he is shooting .458 percent from three and his field goal percentage is .469.

And, yesterday, Martin told HoopsWorld that he wants to stay with the Thunder for longer than just this year.

It’s not like Martin was going to say no, however, and that’s always a good sign.

“Oh yeah,” Martin said when asked if wants to stay in Oklahoma City long-term. “I get that question a lot since it’s a contract year. There are going to be teams interested over the summer, but I’m so happy right now and being with these guys has given me an extra pep in my step. It’s just fun being here. It’s a great organization and great guys. I’m happy right now.”

But Thunder fans have already been around this situation with players saying they want to sign long-term and will take less money to win. (Cough, Cough) James Harden (Cough, Cough).