11 months ago Movember 2023 ended and here we are again, ready to start Movember 2024.  We've written many posts in our 16 years of Movember action but for those who haven't seen the earlier years, we hand this over to Thunder coach James Smith.

"My goal is to raise awareness of mens' health.  I've lost friends and family to prostate cancer and suicide in recent years, so my motivation is personal.  From my first year in 2009, Movember has given me the opportunity to meet many people who have similarly felt the sting of cancer and suicide.  It's clear to me that life's tough but gents, we can get through it together.  Let's do it one mo time."

You can donate by clicking on the picture above.  Meanwhile, we promise to give you regular updates as the follicles grow.  Good times, good times.

Oh boy.  After a reporter wrote an article that mentioned his late brother and child, things got a bit crazy post-game when Embiid pushed the reporter.  You can read the rest in the papers but needless to say, it'll be interesting to see how the NBA handle this one.  Embiid is a bona fide star of the league but then again, so was Ja Morant.  After Pat Beverley was suspended for 4 games for kicking a reporter out of his post-game interview just because she didn't subscribe to his podcast, we're setting the over/under at 10 games.  A better outcome would be if the reporter and Embiid made peace but we can't see that happening.  Interesting times, interesting times.

And for the second time, we have the Thunder v Tsunami derby but this time, it's different.  As teammates become foes and foes become friends, friends become teammates and we go all around again.  Players on each side have played with each other and been coached by each other - it's like a genuine family squabble and for that reason, get there early to get a good seat.  This will be an absolute crackerjackmajetski.  With no further adieu, we present to you Gateway Thunder v Gateway Tsunami.

LAST FIVE GAMES HEAD-TO-HEAD
12/8/2024: Thunder 60 (Jon.Smith 22, D.Smith 17, Sleep 9) d Gateway Tsunami 37

OUR PREDICTION
Our bothan spies tell us the Thunder will be without at least 3 players and potentially 5, meaning it could be a challenge to field a full five players.  Yes folks, we could see the Thunder line up with 4 or bring in a Downpour player as they have a few times over the last year.  All this and they're up against a genuine serious opponent in the Tsunami who have been buoyed in recent weeks by the signing of arguably the league's best centre.  The competition is becoming like that with every team taking a leap forward in recent months.  Not the Thunder though, who sound like they're in a world of strife and may struggle to get out of this one alive.  Our tip?  Tsunami by 18 points.  We wish it weren't so but we've got a bad feeling about this one and to think, all this for a family squabble.  Anxious times, anxious times.