Roaracle > Thunderdome :: Golden State Warriors 2007 NBA Playoffs vs Oklahoma City Thunder 2010 NBA Playoffs

by Poor Man's Commish on May 1, 2010 9:11 AM PDT in History

20100430_gsw-oracle-okc-ford-1200px_medium

From a franchise standpoint, the Oklahoma City Thunder are getting their due, despite getting eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers last night on a Pau Gasol tip-in with 0.5 seconds left. I'd even go so far as saying that OKC has got to be the shoo-in favorite to win the Western Conference next season, after this gutsy performance against a championship-ready roster like the Lakers.

They started calling the Ford Center the "Thunderdome" last week after they got really excited that it reached 109 decibels. Last night, ESPN posted the graphic showing Russell Westbrook's late-game clutch and-one resulted in a 112-decibel reading. Then columnist Arash Markazi tweeted that the Thunder fans were "easily the best fans in the NBA".

Wow, how quickly they forget May 3, 2007 at the Roaracle.

According to the someone's posting in the comments from the recap of May 3, 2007, KNBR said that the decibel meter that night reached 121, which I suppose would be difficult to fully confirm. The record is still Arco Arena's cowbell-induced 130.

That night at the Roaracle, it was most probably at least 112 decibels, if not 121.

Here's the graphic from last night's game showing you how deafening that is...

The difference is this. We at Oracle Arena actually averaged more per game this year than the Ford Center: 18,027 to 18,003, despite having the fourth-worst team in the league.

I'm sorry, but while the Thunder do have great fans, they are not "easily" the best in the NBA.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Well, way to point out that the Ford Center has a much smaller capacity than Oracle. Way to tell the full truth.

Stephen Curry is the future.
We need to save this planet. Go Green, recycle, ride public transportation, use cantines. Anything you can do!

by GovernorStephCurry on May 1, 2010 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

Having been to every game during We beleive

the Roaracle rocked liked no other. I do not remember our noise being created by thunder sticks and cowbells. Ours was from pure fandome! Not by some artificial noise makers.

Set a record by getting banned for the 8th time!
After rehab I saw the light and promise to be kinder and gentler!
Probation is a very slippery slope!

by StinkyFingers on May 1, 2010 9:20 AM PDT reply actions

I guess that Arash Markazi has a short memory or was just living in the moment, but yeah, Thunder fans are not the best in the NBA even though they are pretty good in their own right. When it comes to the playoffs, no building rocks like Oracle Arena and our loyalty can even be seen during the regular season based on attendance.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on May 1, 2010 9:23 AM PDT reply actions

That is so true

Every game I went to, this season specially when the Warrior is leading feels like the championship game are already in town.

Win Or Lose Warriors For Life.........

by mykelala01 on May 1, 2010 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think he was just living in the moment

Giving the Thunder fans at home something to feel good about. It was also nice of their crowd to give their team an ovation after the game was over.

But while the Thunder crowd was loud and good last night, I think our crowd cheers with an attitude and relentlessness that’s unmatched anywhere else, even when we’re losing. For god’s sake, we need to get back to the playoffs and show the rest of the league how we do it in Oakland.

by IQofaWarrior on May 1, 2010 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions

in their own right

Bob Fitzgerald has ruined this phrase for me.

by deff bridges on May 1, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The Thunder have good fans, but that place didn't even seem that close in terms of noise to Oracle. Bits and pieces of that serties reminded me of We Believe, but those playoffs in 07 were so exciting and super loud all throughout.

by duballers23 on May 1, 2010 9:40 AM PDT reply actions

This honestly is something I would have thought Dubs Hoops would post. No offense to Dubs or PMC, but this is an akward time to attack the generously active OKC fanbase. Are we better than them, as fans? Sure. Come playoff time, we probably are. But the regular season is a time when sorrow-filled Warrior fans fill the stands, watch the game, and leave being at or over the legal alchohol limit. Could the Thunder fans have been drunk? Sure. Would a college atmosphere been drunk? A substantial portion, yes.

However, the numbers of decibels correlating to a good fanbase is really loses its justification with the Cowbell fanbase, as they have yet to fill the stands even with a budding star on their roster. While our attendance has been wavering the past three or four months, it’s only because we want Cohan to leave that badly.

In terms of who has the better fanbase, it’s probably us, or probably not. The fans in Oklahoma are no sore losers. Blake Griffin, Sam Bradford; they’re seen some great talent, great teams and great organizations and programs. They have the right to think their fanbase is better than ours.

by LarryLegendofOracle on May 1, 2010 9:43 AM PDT reply actions

the franchise just moved there so...

how can they be that great of fans, i mean its not like they have been supporting this team through the ups and downs, its kinda bandwagonish i think. i mean if the lakers moved to san francisco would we all suddenly be lakers fans? i think not….

by mekanikal on May 1, 2010 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

the franchise just moved there so...how can they be that great of fans,

Good point. Let’s ask Seattle what they think of the Thunder organization? and they stole our mascot along with the sonics so I’m not that pleased with them either. I was glad to see the tired old over the hill California Lakers end ScumBagBennet’s fun.
I wonder if they’ll follow the warriors lead and now trade the heart of their team for a rookie stickman after making the playoffs for the first time?

Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 1, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

the franchise just moved there so...

by mekanikal on May 1, 2010 9:49 AM PDT reply actions

I’m content in knowing that we both have great fans. At this level of fandom, what little differences don’t really matter anymore.

by madafromSF on May 1, 2010 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

I just think they should have stuck with the white shirts. The blue one’s weren’t as visible.

I give pressure the reach-around.

by bloodsweatndonuts on May 1, 2010 10:09 AM PDT reply actions

The blue shirts

made me think I was looking at a crowd full of empty seats.

"It's like Will Smith, remember the Fresh Prince? Get the ball don't let nobody else shoot? That's kinda what the offense can be sometimes, and they're just standing around waiting for Monta to make a play"
-MT2

by golden_solitude on May 1, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

You're really trying to 1-up the Oracle fans?

Really…? Why?

by caseycheesecake on May 1, 2010 11:30 AM PDT reply actions

what else is new? the warriors get the attention in the media deserving of a team that’s made the playoffs once in 15 years. i do, however, think they ripped off our “we believe” shirts super hard with their “rise together” shirts. more people should be pissed about that than a shout out from some espn goon.

bring back warriors roundtable! warriors weekly is a pretender to the throne of warriors themed TV shows!

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on May 1, 2010 11:57 AM PDT reply actions

WE ARE THE BEST FANS!!!

Attendance for this year proves it…

by Lew Ghost on May 1, 2010 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

umm….

According to ESPN, we averaged 89.4% of capacity; they averaged 93.5% of capacity. Just saying.

by boomtho on May 1, 2010 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

Playoffs 2011: Warriors vs Thunder

May the better fans will their team to victory!

Serving it up night in and night out -Steph "The Chef" Curry

by dont_stop_believin' on May 1, 2010 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

That would be a great series.

Warriors/Thunder
Warriors/Lakers
Warriors/Kings

Those would probably be some of the most entertaining series to watch as Warriors fans.

by Precise Films Productions on May 1, 2010 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions

We believe

Also didn’t use thunder sticks or w/e they are. Also we didn’t need an announcer helping us start chants!

You know I spit technique to the freshest freak
Gimme a call you will see results in just a week
With the soul of a LOST HAWK
Is there a heaven for a Rap Cat, let's talk

by LostHawkGSW on May 1, 2010 1:21 PM PDT reply actions

I always laugh

when other team’s announcers like the Heat and Cavs have to say the words to the start the chants.

by hellafornia on May 1, 2010 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

The Mavs do that too. The Cavs also have that robotic defense chant, which I’ve heard float around to a couple other teams. As a fan, why should I chant defense if it’s already coming through the loudspeakers???

by IQofaWarrior on May 1, 2010 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions