Re: Thunder Beat Wolves 124-91 In Game 5, Advance To NBA Finals

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 with their 124-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points, while his co-stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams had 22 points and 19 points respectively.

The Thunder faced very little difficulties against the Wolves after being pushed to seven games in the second round by the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder were down by nine in the fourth quarter of a pivotal Game 5 against the Nuggets, but managed to complete a comeback victory.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[njknicks]

Hats off the Sam Presti -- best in the league.

* Identified 4 MVPS via draft / trade : Harden, Durant, Westbrook and now Shai
* Has probably the best / deepest collection of young talent in the entire league
* A horde of draft picks through 2030 ( 11 first round picks alone! )

OKC deserves to be in the Finals - the making of the next Dynasty ( GSW 2.0 )

The only challenge will be can they keep this core together for the foreseeable future.

[TheCage4]

This is the NBA's worst nightmare!

A team essentially devoid of star players (yes, SGA is an MVP, but he's not a "star" name), who built through the draft and key trades, in a small market, with a great coach and zero controversy, who play non-flashy disciplined basketball. Essentially, they are "boring" to a casual fan.

An OKC/IND Finals will be glorious for hardcore fans, but outside of those cities and key demographics, the ratings will not be what the league needs to satisfy their greedy pig mentality.

[CaHgO]

European style of basketball is taking over. And it's a good thing.

[Pickled Prunes]

This is the NBA's worst nightmare!

A team essentially devoid of star players (yes, SGA is an MVP, but he's not a "star" name), who built through the draft and key trades, in a small market, with a great coach and zero controversy, who play non-flashy disciplined basketball. Essentially, they are "boring" to a casual fan.

An OKC/IND Finals will be glorious for hardcore fans, but outside of those cities and key demographics, the ratings will not be what the league needs to satisfy their greedy pig mentality.

Huh? SGA is a household name; he has been for years. Jalen Williams made his first of many AS games this season; he's just 23 but is clearly a star. Chet will be a star for many years to come. Caruso is by far the most coveted 20 MPG player the league has ever known. If a fan doesn't know who these guys are than their opinion doesn't matter.

Believe it or not, parity is the best marketing tool for the NBA. If BOS and LAL are going to win half of the titles, then why does a fan in MIN, POR or NOP watch? A title in OKC or IND means a lot to everyone in a small market. It gives them hope. This season, a team that has never won will win it all. (I know the Sonics won, but OKC doesn't hang their banners and when the NBA expands the Sonics will reclaim their history.)

[TheCage4]

This is the NBA's worst nightmare!

A team essentially devoid of star players (yes, SGA is an MVP, but he's not a "star" name), who built through the draft and key trades, in a small market, with a great coach and zero controversy, who play non-flashy disciplined basketball. Essentially, they are "boring" to a casual fan.

An OKC/IND Finals will be glorious for hardcore fans, but outside of those cities and key demographics, the ratings will not be what the league needs to satisfy their greedy pig mentality.

Huh? SGA is a household name; he has been for years. Jalen Williams made his first of many AS games this season; he's just 23 but is clearly a star. Chet will be a star for many years to come. Caruso is by far the most coveted 20 MPG player the league has ever known. If a fan doesn't know who these guys are than their opinion doesn't matter.

Believe it or not, parity is the best marketing tool for the NBA. If BOS and LAL are going to win half of the titles, then why does a fan in MIN, POR or NOP watch? A title in OKC or IND means a lot to everyone in a small market. It gives them hope. This season, a team that has never won will win it all. (I know the Sonics won, but OKC doesn't hang their banners and when the NBA expands the Sonics will reclaim their history.)

Our definition of a "star" player is very different. I was brought up in a time where you were considered a star when they'd show your face anywhere in the world, and they'd know who it was regardless of that persons position in life. A true "star" transcends the sport they play. I highly doubt you get that with SGA & Co. right now. Maybe after they win a title, but not in the interim, and certainly not on the level of say MJ or LeBron.

Also, an LA/BOS Finals would generate more revenue than 2-3 NBA Finals with small market teams. While I agree parity is great, especially for true fans of the game, it matters little to nothing to the league, at least not in the abstract. They want big markets to win, and win, and win. You think baseball would want a St Louis/Tampa Bay World Series? No. They want the Dodgers and Yankees.

[Pickled Prunes]

This is the NBA's worst nightmare!

A team essentially devoid of star players (yes, SGA is an MVP, but he's not a "star" name), who built through the draft and key trades, in a small market, with a great coach and zero controversy, who play non-flashy disciplined basketball. Essentially, they are "boring" to a casual fan.

An OKC/IND Finals will be glorious for hardcore fans, but outside of those cities and key demographics, the ratings will not be what the league needs to satisfy their greedy pig mentality.

Huh? SGA is a household name; he has been for years. Jalen Williams made his first of many AS games this season; he's just 23 but is clearly a star. Chet will be a star for many years to come. Caruso is by far the most coveted 20 MPG player the league has ever known. If a fan doesn't know who these guys are than their opinion doesn't matter.

Believe it or not, parity is the best marketing tool for the NBA. If BOS and LAL are going to win half of the titles, then why does a fan in MIN, POR or NOP watch? A title in OKC or IND means a lot to everyone in a small market. It gives them hope. This season, a team that has never won will win it all. (I know the Sonics won, but OKC doesn't hang their banners and when the NBA expands the Sonics will reclaim their history.)

Our definition of a "star" player is very different. I was brought up in a time where you were considered a star when they'd show your face anywhere in the world, and they'd know who it was regardless of that persons position in life. A true "star" transcends the sport they play. I highly doubt you get that with SGA & Co. right now. Maybe after they win a title, but not in the interim, and certainly not on the level of say MJ or LeBron.

Also, an LA/BOS Finals would generate more revenue than 2-3 NBA Finals with small market teams. While I agree parity is great, especially for true fans of the game, it matters little to nothing to the league, at least not in the abstract. They want big markets to win, and win, and win. You think baseball would want a St Louis/Tampa Bay World Series? No. They want the Dodgers and Yankees.

Maybe we do. We've been seeing SGA in a national underwear ad campaign all year. I have literally seen more of SGA than any other athlete, ever!

He also has a signature shoe... He's a superstar by any definition.[/quote]

[Pickled Prunes]

Ooops!

[Pickled Prunes]

Ooops again!

[Pickled Prunes]

This is the NBA's worst nightmare!

A team essentially devoid of star players (yes, SGA is an MVP, but he's not a "star" name), who built through the draft and key trades, in a small market, with a great coach and zero controversy, who play non-flashy disciplined basketball. Essentially, they are "boring" to a casual fan.

An OKC/IND Finals will be glorious for hardcore fans, but outside of those cities and key demographics, the ratings will not be what the league needs to satisfy their greedy pig mentality.

Huh? SGA is a household name; he has been for years. Jalen Williams made his first of many AS games this season; he's just 23 but is clearly a star. Chet will be a star for many years to come. Caruso is by far the most coveted 20 MPG player the league has ever known. If a fan doesn't know who these guys are than their opinion doesn't matter.

Believe it or not, parity is the best marketing tool for the NBA. If BOS and LAL are going to win half of the titles, then why does a fan in MIN, POR or NOP watch? A title in OKC or IND means a lot to everyone in a small market. It gives them hope. This season, a team that has never won will win it all. (I know the Sonics won, but OKC doesn't hang their banners and when the NBA expands the Sonics will reclaim their history.)

Our definition of a "star" player is very different. I was brought up in a time where you were considered a star when they'd show your face anywhere in the world, and they'd know who it was regardless of that persons position in life. A true "star" transcends the sport they play. I highly doubt you get that with SGA & Co. right now. Maybe after they win a title, but not in the interim, and certainly not on the level of say MJ or LeBron.

Also, an LA/BOS Finals would generate more revenue than 2-3 NBA Finals with small market teams. While I agree parity is great, especially for true fans of the game, it matters little to nothing to the league, at least not in the abstract. They want big markets to win, and win, and win. You think baseball would want a St Louis/Tampa Bay World Series? No. They want the Dodgers and Yankees.

Yes, a BOS/LAL Finals may produce more revenue on a game by game basis, but if fans in small markets lose hope of ever competing than fans stop attending regular season games and stop buying merch. The NBA as a whole becomes less relevant when only the most storied franchises are competitive.

And to be 100% on this, 15 years ago GSW and MIL were the dregs of the NBA. It only takes one player to change that.

[Luv those Knicks]

I think the Thunder are scary - good. I know people who were saying how good the wolves were and . . . ouch. That wasn't a close series. Denver has the best player in the league (don't care who won MVP) and they fought hard, and took it to 7 games, but OKC won.

Whoever wins, the Knicks or the Pacers, and Pacers have the 3-2 edge, I think it's the Thunder's year. And given how young they are and how many draft picks they have. They have some very good years ahead.