The biggest revelation during five preseason games is the Thunder should have decent depth... if the team ever gets healthy.
By Christmas I see the starting lineup as Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox.
The second five wouldn't be that bad a starting lineup which underscores how much depth the Thunder has. Using that lineup, veterans Desmond Mason, Joe Smith, Earl Watson and Damien Wilkins would be coming off the bench along with improved center Johan Petro.
The top 10 list doesn't include underachieving center Robert Swift who is always injured, rookie Kyle Weaver, a perimeter defensive specialist or D.J. White, a rookie who was supposed to possibly be a factor before jaw surgery sidelined him 4-6 months.
The Thunder didn't play well Saturday night. Giving up 70 points in the first half was a reminder of just how bad the defense was last season.
But overall the team has played OK. The 0-3 record is a little disappointing but nothing to panic over. The team hasn't played well but hasn't played horribly, either.
Keep in mind they only have a fraction of the offense because of playing three games in four nights. The true test will be the two road games next week after having a week off.
It will be fun for fans to watch game in Tulsa (Monday) and Oklahoma City (Tuesday) this week but the true test will be the final two preseason games next week..
The Thunder's debut should give fans optimism that this team will be much improved from last year's 20-62 finish in Seattle.
Russell Westbrook showed he has tremendous potential but must minimize his turnovers. But the biggest revelation is the Thunder has a legitimate 10 players.
With players like Desmond Mason, Damien Wilkins, Johan Petro, Joe Smith and Westbrook coming off the bench, this team has enough depth to survive injuries and provide different options each night.
The Thunder still lacks a legitimate starting center and the 3-point shooting will be a concern. But there were signs ni the opener that 30-plus wins isn't farfetched.
NBA commissioner David Stern answered only one question during Thursday's 40-minute national teleconference that was designed to address referees' possible involvement in illegal gambling activities.
The one question?
Are you concerned the economy could negatively affect attendance during the upcoming NBA season?
"We except to see some softness in the composition of our ticket make-up," Stern said. "We don't know that attendance will be down. Based on early results there will be a lower component of season tickets and a higher component of partial season tickets, groups and day of game. But clearly as business gets affected by the slow down, then spending will get affected both personally and by business.
"Sports can't, I don't believe, be apart from that reality. The only thing that probably will increase will be television viewing as a low-priced alternative to spending money going to the movies, going out to eat or going to an event... But our network arrangements are strong. Our team's local arrangements are strong in respects to TV and sponsorships."
Some fans like to accuse referees of having a bias against their team. Savvy sports fans realize it's usually sour grapes. Blaming a loss on an official/umpire/referee is a cop out.
On the other hand it's understandable why an NBA referee that has had heated exchanges with players over the years would have a hard time giving that player a call that could go either way. But that's what referees are supposed to do. The goal should be to officiate every game the same regardless of who is playing and what's happened in the past.
Possible referee bias, to me, was the most interesting revelation from Larry Pedowitz's 133-page report on what was supposed to an investigation into whether an NBA referee other Tim Donaghy was involved in illegal gambling activities.
I'm the last person to blame officials. I tell my 14-year-old son all the time excuses are for losers, winners make plays. I tell him to never blame a loss on an official, umpire or referee.
But the NBA hiring a statistical computer whiz to research referees' track records with specific teams AND commissioner David Stern hiring a 32-year Army veteran to oversee referees are signs some teams perceive there is a "referee bias" problem in the NBA.
