OKC Thunder - Join Thunderous Intentions Live Blog 'The Return'
On the day the NBA posted schedules the OKC Thunder team and fan base circled this date. Hard to believe the powers that be made OKC Thunder fans wait seven months and a week for this night – but, it’s finally here.
Whether you are an OKC Thunder fan, a Golden State Warriors fan, or just an NBA fan you probably selected this date as the must watch game of the NBA season.
There are plenty of narratives to this occasion. At the forefront is how ‘Loud City’ will respond to the man who spent 8 professional season in a Thunder jersey. Will he be met by a chorus of boos? And how will OKC Thunder fans react throughout the game.
Many will be fixated on how Russell Westbrook will interact (or avoid) his former teammate, and whether he can inspire his youthful cohorts to exact revenge via victory.
How to join the live blog:
To honor this occasion, the team at Thunderous Intentions invites you to join us a half hour before tip. For those in the Eastern time zone – 8:00 PM Eastern, and 7:00 PM in the Central time zone. Simply move to the comments section at the bottom of this article and join us.
Members of the Thunderous Intentions team will be exchanging thoughts with the fan base pregame, during the game and post game. Let us know how you feel about Durant, the game and share your opinions or just enjoy the interaction. A game like this doesn’t happen often, so let’s take advantage of this rare occasion.
In preparation for the game:
Prior to the game the Thunderous Intentions team has pumped out some amazing articles covering the gamut of emotions and perspectives. Here’s a sampling for your reading pleasure:
Heather Koontz: Departure of Durant served to remind OKC of resiliency
“I said it in July, and I’ll say it again: Oklahomans don’t give up when things get tough. I’m a proud Okie. I’ve witnessed more tornadoes than I count, and personally sorted the rubble of strangers’ homes as they tried to salvage photos of loved ones. I’ve watched as this state’s only professional sports team became a pillar of strength in the community. And when you left, I watched as the fan base only got louder. We grew closer. We kept the faith. “
Jeremy Lambert: Kevin Durant Turning Boos into Cheers
“Durant is going to get booed as bad as an NBA player can get booed on Saturday. Anyone who thinks differently is foolish. It’s not just how he left, it’s who he left for and his comments (and lack of comments) after he left. Moreover, it’s how he acted in the first meeting between the two teams. It’s our love for Westbrook. It’s a combination of so many things that non-Thunder fans simply don’t understand because few fanbases have a connection to the team and players like Oklahoma City.”
Russell Westbrook describing he and Kevin Durant's relationship, saying both made decisions best for their future. pic.twitter.com/YWALDEG5Zy
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) February 11, 2017
Cole Hixon: Kevin Durant Returns – The Lingering Pain of his Departure
“When given the chance, he left. Durant said, his decision would be a basketball decision. This was true for him, it wasn’t for the rest of us. After eight seasons of calling Oklahoma City home and helping build a franchise that was a perennial contender, he left to play for the team that had just beat him. His leaving hurt, his leaving to that team made it worse.”
Tony Heim: Kevin Durant’s return is the last thing I want to watch
“Kevin Durant was more than a basketball player in so many ways. Then on July 4th, 2016 everything I ever believed came crashing down. Just like that I lost the last ounce of childhood innocence my 19-year old mind possessed. If Kevin Durant-the man who had a role in my email account, phone password, senior quote, basketball number, social media handles, clothes/shoes I wore-could break my soul like this anybody could.”
Sean Reece: Booing Kevin Durant is the wrong move for Thunder fans
“What we as fans can do is be thankful for his time that he spent here. He did so much to put this city on the map for sports and so much in the community, and he still does. Booing will change nothing. It won’t take back all the years he wheeled our team to wins. Won’t change all those years he helped the community. It won’t change anything. It will change how the NBA will view us. They will view us as petty and angry about the past and can’t put this behind us.”
As in-depth as Russell Westbrook has gone about his relationship with Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/7tehmfumwJ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 11, 2017
Here's Russell Westbrook on if it "hurts" no longer having a relationship with Kevin Durant: pic.twitter.com/G4dbCXx5Nc
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 11, 2017
Tamberlyn Richardson: Game Preview- OKC Thunder vs GSW, KD Returns
“It’s ironic to think back to the poster boy Kevin Durant was in his time spent with Oklahoma City. While LeBron James was being universally despised for his own “Decision” and Russell Westbrook was oft painted with all the blame for any Thunder shortcomings K.D. skated by as the NBA emblem of all that was good. Durant was the guy who signed his first long term contract without fanfare or cameras, kissed his mother every game and donated funds to local charities.”
Eric Snyder: The OKC Thunder Need to ‘Charles Oakley’ Kevin Durant
“When Eliot Ness needed advice on how to get Al Capone he got his answer from Jim Malone. Malone’s answer was simple, “He pulls a knife; you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital; you send one of his to the morgue!” If the OKC Thunder want their revenge on Kevin Durant and the Warriors they must translate that advice into basketball terms.”
Jeremy Lambert: Open Letter to Media: Don’t tell Thunder fans not to boo
“We’re booing the man who made the basketball decision to join the teams biggest rival and essentially end the NBA season in July. We’re booing the man who dedicated 100 words to how much he loved the city that he spent eight years in. Booing the man who has no regrets and no remorse for his decision. In fact, his actions seemed premeditated as he’s openly talked about rooting against the Warriors in Game 7 of the Finals so he could justify joining them. We’re booing a guy who aligned himself with our biggest rivals. Who aligned himself with Draymond Green, enemy #1 in OKC. We’re booing a guy who was popping off and trash talking the first time these two teams met in Oakland.”
Live Blog begins at 7PM Central, 8PM EST:
As we draw closer to tip off the TI team is preparing for the night. We’re anxious to hear your thoughts on Durant leaving and his early tenure in Golden State. Tell us your thoughts on Westbrook miraculously keeping OKC playoff seeded and his incredible historical triple-double average this season.
Give us your take on the situation – are you in the to boo or not to boo club? Share your favorite Durant, Westbrook or OKC Thunder memory. Or share your feelings about this evenings game. We’ll be here from 7:00 PM Central (8:00 PM Eastern) straight through the game and around for post game reactions.
Come one, come all – let’s immortalize this night and share the experience together!
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