| |
|
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:
Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card
By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column
, Sun, 05 Apr 2026Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion
By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026Rookie Kon Knueppel breaks Charlotte Hornets three points record
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026IBA extends its global reach through a strategic partnership with Nomad Fighting premiering at IBA Nomad 14
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026GM Laylo leads in Bundesliga 3 and in IIEE chess Olympiad season 8
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS TADURAN VS. PEREZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Apr 2026Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026Waiting to beat Floyd
By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 02 Apr 202620th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
