Orlando Summer League: Game 1 OKC

First off, we're going to need a name to call the new team, until the OKC Thunder is shoved down our unwilling throats. For now I'm going with the OKC _____ (pronounced OKC Blank in conversation with friends). I'm open to suggestions.

Note to Clay Bennet: the OKC Thunder is a terrible name. Don't do it. I don't have anything better, but if I was forced I would go with OKC Team Stealers, or OKC Hicks. Either is better than Thunder. In fact I should probably stop capatalizing it. OKC thunder. See? It even looks stupid in print.

So for the moment, we're going with the OKC Blank. The Blanks had their first summer league game in the Orlando Pro Summer League. For those that don't closely follow the NBA, each summer there are a few Summer leagues which teams can elect to play in. Usually there is one is Orlando, Salt Lake City and Vegas, as well as a few others. These are for teams to evaluate their draft picks and players trying to make the team as undrafted free agents. For instance, take a look at the OKC Blank's summer league roster:

22 Jeff Green F
3 D.J. White F
30 Justin Williams
2 Devin Green G
0 Russell Westbrook G
8 Ndudi Ebi
23 Ronell Taylor
44 Nick Lewis
12 Rhonald Dupree
5 Mykal Riley
11 Aaron Bruce
50 DeVon Hardin
42 Brian Randel

Not exactly the 1986 Boston Celtics. Heck, that's not even the 1973 Sixers (season record: 9-73). But they are the first team to represent OKC and OKC only as a pro franchise at the highest level (sort of). The standouts on the team are obviously 4th overall pick Russell Westbrook and last year's number 6 pick Jeff Green. The main idea is for the team to play their rookies and young players as much as possible and try to give them valuable experience as well as evaluate the lesser players who the franchise hasn't invested as much in yet. Hence, the large number of guys with little chance of making the team. Just a guess, but I don't think Aaron Bruce will be with the OKC Blank when the season kicks off this fall.

So how'd they do? The Blank lost their inagural summer league game 95-78 to the Indiana Pacers. Green and Westbrook led the way for the Blank with 21 and 18 points respectively. The difference is that Green had an ugly 6-16 night shooting, while Westbrook was a much more efficient 7-13 with 5 assists and only 1 turnover. Overall, it was an excellent debut, especially when compared to the 10 point, 5 turnover outing by 1st overall pick Derrick Rose in another summer league game. D.J. White had 8 points and 4 rebounds and 5 fouls (get ready to see that stat line ALOT this year) in 26 minutes of action.

Based off of tonight, I'm not expecting the Blank to be too impressive in Summer League action. With Durant sitting out these games, the team looks woefully outclassed, and were easily beated by a relatively unimpressive Indiana team that was playing without its too first round picks. Maybe we needed Serge Ibaka after all.

I have to say, that Jersey looks really beautiful on Westbrook though. Something about the lettering.

Go Blank!