Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

OKC Thunder: Top 10 moments of 2009-2010 season

By Stephen Dolan

LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 22: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 111-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 22: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 111-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Rise together

Thunder U, tied for the six-seed in the mighty Western Conference, possessors of 50 victories, were rewarded as little as possible for their conquest. Their opponent would be the juggernaut Los Angeles Lakers, who had been to the Finals the previous two seasons (winning the last one) and – spoiler alert – would go on to win that year’s Finals.

This was not the Lakers that we’ve grown to love and laugh at, this was Goliath, and Goliath had home-court advantage.

The baby Thunder managed to keep the first two games in LA close, losing games one and two by eight and three points, respectively. Nevertheless, they still came back to OKC sporting two black eyes and zero wins.

There was not much hope, considering the Thunder had, unusually for a young team, been only slightly better at home during the regular season than on the road.

Goliath came rumbling down the plains, and the Thunder loaded a big rock into their sling.

Here’s the full highlight, but for full nostalgia, you need only watch these three plays:

Loud City

That’s Russ, with a jab to the pride of Lamar Odom. Then it’s Harden with a body blow that sent the champs staggering. KD, seeing them on their heels, delivered the knockout blow that tossed them reeling to the hard wood.

Listen to the crowd. Let it wash over you in waves that feed more and more tingling waves. Is there anything like Loud City when it loses itself in pure basketball ecstasy? Can you feel the hum rising when two big plays are about to lead to a third and the lungs are swollen to bursting? We’ve heard it so many times that it’s familiar now.

This was the night Loud City was born.

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