Cooled off by the Heat, Oklahoma City has reached the half-way point in the season. The Thunder's momentum is as high as it has been, and that makes it a good time to re-visit my hope list. Looking back on the first part, a lot has happened in the two months since its posting.
In honor of OKC's eight victories so far, here are my impressions on my initial list. Tomorrow I will be back with an updated look at the last half of the Thunder's inaugural season.
1. (# 2, # 4, # 6) -- The Big 3 are all young and all still learning the ropes on the fly. Durant has made the most progress since November, although Green and Westbrook aren't far behind.
2. (# 3, # 7, # 8) -- While the cap space and high draft pick are still in place, Smith's injuries have kept him from being on the trade radar. Something tells me he will still be moved by season's end.
3. (# 1, # 9) -- Miami's ten-point victory knocked the Thunder back a little, but Dwayne Wade proved that OKC has plenty of work to do on the defensive end. The home crowd has backed the team with the good and the bad moments, leading to a hopeful finish to year one.
4. (# 12, # 15) -- Still looking for a shooter, GM Presti leads the pack as being on top of his game with potential deals. A big man was brought in before the draft, and the club has benefitted with Krstic's presence inside. More trades may be on the horizon, but the future is bright in Oklahoma.
5. (# 17, # 19) -- Speaking of the Sooner state, Blake Griffin remains at the top of everyone's draft board, and he would look awfully good next to Durant and Co. But I am under the impression that the Thunder don't want to leave that open to chance.
6. (# 11) -- OKC needs a scoring guard and having three first-round draft picks may be the solution. If that isn't the case, trading for an established sharpshooter like Michael Redd might be just the answer.
7. (# 20) -- Collison's role isn't defined for the future, but he has been a big reason for the recent stretch of quality games. He can be effective as a starter or off the bench, something a young squad like the Thunder needs out of a veteran.
8. (# 21) -- No word yet on the potential mascot, but good news is on the way. Sources say Coach Brooks will be given the job full time at season's end, in my mind the correct move. He has gotten the team to play with energy again, and the results speak for themselves.
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