Well, that “must-win” went well.
Only 51 more “must-win’s” left on the season (35 + 16). The next one? Tonight in Portland.
Filed under: Game Recap, OKC Thunder
January 31, 2009 • 6:33 pm 0
Utah 110, Oklahoma City 90
January 30, 2009 • 6:27 pm 0
We’re In Trouble
You know you’re in trouble when a late December game against a 11-35 team (whether they are hot or not) is a ‘must-win game’. Of course, when you’re 25-21 (3rd in the Northwest, 9th in the West) a season after making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs (and returning 13 players), and majorly slumping (6 of the last 8 have been losses, including all of the last 4), must-wins start showing up fairly early.
Players will be out. At least 2 of them for the Jazz, and 1 for the Thunder. The Jazz still inexplicably have 15 guys on their roster (counting the ailing), meaning that there is no space to go sign a replacement for the stars that will be out for another month (at least).
Welcome To Loud City
Filed under: OKC Thunder, Pregame Thoughts
January 14, 2009 • 6:35 pm 0
Jazz Head To Oklahoma City
So, it’s an early start… games already underway.
- The Jazz are on a 4 game winning streak right now.
- CJ & ‘Sap are both out.
- The Jazz have lost 4 straight road games. OKC is 6-33 on the year.
- The Thunderworld
The Jazz are playing like crap right now (in the game). Just FYI.
Filed under: CJ Miles, OKC Thunder, Paul Millsap, Pregame Thoughts
January 7, 2009 • 4:12 pm 0
Minor Trades Made… None By Jazz
Update: Hassan Adams has a Shaun Livingston pulled on him, as he is released just hours after being traded for.
OKC trades a big man … to the Nuggets. The trade is as follows…
Nuggets get: Johan Petro, OKC’s 2nd round pick in 2009
Thunder get: Chucky Atkins, Denvers 1st round pick in 2009
Chucky Atkins. Seriously. It’s a salary dump for the Nuggets (like the Marcus Camby trade before the season and the Cheikh Samb trade a couple days ago… both to the Clippers, no less). The team had no need for Atkins, and decided they needed a young big-man that wasn’t Samb. Atkins is making $3.2 million this year, Johan Petro is at $1.9 million.
I guess my hopes that the Jazz would add a big man took a slight blow, as I had mentioned the Thunder bigs… but I doubt they’ll trade either Sene or Swift now. The Jazz could’ve potentially made a similar trade… Mo Almond & Flop have salaries that add up to $3.1 million, and both are expiring contracts, unlike Atkins. And it’s not like the Thunder needed a PG… they’re already lacking the minutes to keep Earl Watson & Russell Westbrook happy. And both guys have 2 years left on their contract… with Westbrook being on his rookie contract (in other words, and extension can be made). In comparison to Petro, Swift’s salary (if traded) is something like $4 million, while Sene’s is $2.2 million. All 3 are in their final year, and Swift would have to consent to any trade. Even then…
In an interesting move, the Grizzlies, already overstocked with PGs, traded for Shaun Livingston & cash considerations. In exchange for him, they gave the Heat a conditional 2012 2nd round pick. And then the Grizzlies promptly waived him. So let me get this straight… the Grizzlies waived Darius Miles to make room for Livingston, traded for Livingston… and then waived Livingston. What?
And finally, the Clippers made another minor trade… after the aforementioned Cheikh Samb & cash for a conditional 2015 2nd round pick (if it’s in the bottom 5 of the round)… trading a future conditional 2nd round pick to Toronto for Hassan Adams.
I wonder if the Jazz will make a trade to improve… they not only have the available players (previously mentioned here), but also a small trade exception from the Jason Hart trade ($484,000).
Filed under: CJ Miles, DEN Nuggets, Jarron Collins, Jason Hart, LA Clippers, MEM Grizzlies, MIA Heat, Morris Almond, OKC Thunder, TOR Raptors, trade
