OKC Thunder returning to National TV, Blue take Mexico City, and more

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The Oklahoma City Thunder will return to National Television on Tuesday night against the Miami Heat in this edition of the weekly notebook, the OKC Thunder have not been in the National spotlight since the NBA Bubble. After a two-year hiatus, the Thunder make their return to the biggest stage the NBA has to offer mid-week games, TNT.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will play his first game on National TV as the guy, this version of himself. Youngsters Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams will get their first taste of a big platform as two guys who have shown they care about moments like this. The Thunder are also playing as a play-in caliber team.

The OKC Thunder return to the National spotlight with a game on TNT against the Miami Heat, the OKC Blue head to Mexico City, and predict the week ahead

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, returning to National TV is a big deal. It is a statement that this rebuild is heading in the right direction. Even without Chet Holmgren, the OKC Thunder are far closer to the NBA Play-In tournament than the top of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

This is old hat for Miami and most NBA organizations which is why I believe the Oklahoma City Thunder can pull off the upset and just bring more juice than a depleted Heat team without Bam, Tyler Herro, and Kyle Lowry.

The OKC Blue traveled down to Mexico City this past week, I asked Blue head coach Kameron Woods have feasible that is logistically to place an NBA team there via expansion. He said he does not have a “good scope” on that front but mentioned it was a good experience for the team.

This week, the Oklahoma City Thunder will go on a difficult East Coast swing starting in Miami, before heading North to take on the 76ers in Philly, the Bulls in Chicago on a road/road back-to-back, and end their trip in Brooklyn against the Nets who will be without Kevin Durant.

Record prediction for the week: 2-2