| |
|
NBA -- Cloudy with a chance of Thunder
By Artemio Mesiona PhilBoxing.com Tue, 23 Oct 2012

CHICAGO -- It's only the preseason and the Bulls without Derrick Rose tote a less than spectacular three wins and three losses in the ongoing NBA preseason schedule. But there is a buzz among basketball fans here in the Windy City, the kind of electricity that usually sizzles only during the playoffs.
So, what's all the hoopla?
It's the Thunder, who will visit the United Center Tuesday night to tussle with the Bulls. The Thunder, those boys from Oklahoma City increased their profile and legitimacy by tearing through the Western Conference last season before being stymied by LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.
The merry, young Thunder parades an impressive line-up spearheaded by 3-time All-Star Kevin Durant, a back-to-back scoring champion who is fast morphing into one of the NBA's most prolific figures. Alongside the 6-foot-9 Durant is sidekick Russell Westbrook, easily one of the league's top five point guards who averaged 23.6 points and 5.5 assists per game last season.
But the Thunder are deeper than a 1-2 punch. The team also boasts of 6-foot-10, 235-pound Serge Ibaka who left a stamp last season as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders. Ibaka, who recently inkied a four-year contract extension north of $50 million, is a terrific defender with a reliable jumpshot.
Rounding up OKC's core is James Harden, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
The Bulls, meanwhile, will be ready with Kirk Hinrich at point, Richard Hamilton at shooting guard, Joakim Noah at center, Carlos Boozer at power forward and Luol Deng at small forward. (Artemio Mesiona)
The author during a Bulls game.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Artemio Mesiona.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
GM Joey is aiming for a world title shot By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Oct 2025Patrick Bonifacio rules Directors Chess Cup By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Oct 2025World Boxing Announces Elite Division World Rankings , Sun, 19 Oct 2025BEN WHITTAKER PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS NEW MATCHROOM SIGNING MEETS GAVAZI – PLUS: VUONG vs GWYNNE II , Sun, 19 Oct 2025BIADO, YAPP, AND DUONG POWER TEAM ASIA TO THE BRINK OF GLORY , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Prado, Catubig dominate DTI Run By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025YORK HALL FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS: GEORGE LIDDARD MAKES HISTORY TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST EVER BRITISH MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Usyk in Bare Knuckle event? By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025IIEE Singapore tops National Chess Olympiad, Quezon City Simba's Tribe wins 2 matches in PCAP By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Liddard Destroys Conway to Claim British Middleweight Title, Becomes Youngest-Ever Champion By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Keiron Conway vs George Liddard: Unbeaten Prospect Faces Stiff Challenge By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Alicaba to fight for WBC Asian Continental super fly By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 18 Oct 2025DAY TWO: STARBOY MANAS STEALS THE SHOW AS TEAM ASIA EXTENDS PERFECT RUN , Sat, 18 Oct 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS INTRODUCES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT TONY COHEN , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Joseph Subia Signs with Wise Owl Boxing , Sat, 18 Oct 2025Sirimongkhol, Midgley Make Weight for WBF World Title in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025ICTSI South Pacific on Oct. 28-31 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART II) By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025California Commission Backs Dana White’s ‘American Boxing Revival’ and Expanded Muhammad Ali Act By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Oct 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50” , Fri, 17 Oct 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico , Fri, 17 Oct 2025Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot , Fri, 17 Oct 2025DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES , Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER , Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS , Thu, 16 Oct 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|