The NBA team formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics, 5-4 in their last nine games, are officially on their first winning streak of the year after beating the Pistons last night at home They clobbered the Jazz the previous game, and have now won two straight. But the self-proclaimed "world's greatest female escape artist" featured in this ridiculously melodramatic video montage (and as halftime entertainment during the OKC-Detroit game) wasn't so lucky; she had to be rescued from the water chamber she'd inserted herself into at halftime. As well as the Thunder have been playing of late, that can't be a good omen.

Don't look now, but the team formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics is hitting its stride. I realize a strong argument can be made that any 7-33 team that hits such a stride is hitting a very short stride, but remember, just a month ago, pundits were talking about the Thunder not winning more than seven games all year. Since then, they've looked like a team that could go .500 two years from now, which would be right in line with Sam Presti's Trailblazer-esque rebuilding blueprint. But the Thunder hadn't clobbered a really good team until last night, when they notched a wire-to-wire, 21-point victory over the Jazz in Oklahoma City.

One thing that's obvious beyond obvious is that Presti is a savvy talent evaluator. All three of his first-round draft picks over the past two years -- Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook -- are starting and averaging over 14 points per game, and all three scored more than 20 against the Jazz. Durant has become a more efficient scorer, and his rebounding has improved markedly with a return to his natural small forward position. The versatile, ridiculously athletic Westbrook is a shoo-in for the all-rookie team, and was the Western Conference's rookie of the month in December. Meanwhile, Green is a rock-solid 16 and 6 guy, and Presti recently added a promising (if a little soft) young center, Nenad Krstic, to atone for the mistakes of seven-footers past which permeated the Rick Sund era. Hence, the Thunder are but a low-post beast and a sixth man (which could theoretically end up being Green, an SF/PF tweener if there ever was one) away from being able to play with just about anybody.

I really wanted to hate this team, and took great pleasure in their awful start. But now that they're starting to look like the well-conceived work in progress I thought they'd be, it's like trying to hate the prodigal son. He may have disappointed you, but he's still your son -- and blood runs mighty thick.

The basketball team formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics just sent Johan Petro and a second-round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets for veteran point guard Chucky Atkins and yet another first-round draft pick. Petro became expendable when the Supes signed former Net starter Nenad Krstic away from a pro team in Russia. Actually, Johan Petro's been expendable since the day he was drafted. Denver seems genuinely excited about this trade, too, which is fucking flabbergasting.

The team formerly known as the Supes has now won - stand back - twice in a week.

But even though the Thunder beat the Knicks 107-99 last night, they had to hang on at the end after running up a 23-point second-half lead.

By not blowing it all, said Kevin Durant (27 points), "We showed a lot of character."

The win gives Oklahoma City a 5-30 record. Last year, as the Sonics, the team was 9-24 around this time.

I missed this item in my holiday haze, but if you see born-again Queen Anne resident P.J. Carlesimo dancing on tables at the Paragon, don't act surprised.

Former Seattle SuperSonic and forever Buzzer Beater favorite Vlad Radmanovic--normally allergic to rebounding and any action in the paint--put up 16 points in 18 minutes against Portland last night. Scoring binges from Vlade are not unusual; what is unusual is seven trips to the foul line. He also pulled down a respectable four rebounds in his limited time on the floor. This from a guy who probably thinks The Key is a new nightclub. What gives, Vlad? This isn't a contract year.

This kid from OKC has a few words for Sonics fans. Note that Buzzer Beater commenter and Haymaker & Sally star Camp Jones is among the shit-talking responders:

For those of you who haven't been paying attention to the Oklahoma City's potentially historically awful season -- and we hope that's most of you -- Kevin Durant has quietly put together the best 10-game string of his career, averaging 27.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Thunder, who've gone 1-9 in that span. On the year, he's averaging 23.7 ppg and shooting a very respectable 47% from the field. I realize the Durantula had something of a head start here, but considering Greg Oden's uneven rookie campaign and the Trail Blazers' apparent need for another scorer in its starting five (not to mention their frontcourt depth -- Channing Frye could certainly be counted on to contribute more than, well, virtually nothing off the bench), do you think there's any buyer's remorse setting in 'round Rip City? It's a question that's certainly worth asking, and I think I know the answer.

Steve Kelley reports that famous former Sonics broadcaster Bob Blackburn is in the hospital after injuring his head in a fall earlier this week. I recall playing ball on my bedroom Nerf hoop and listening to him narrate X-Man dunks and Nate McMillan's record-setting game against the Clippers. And folks older than I likely remember hearing him call the Sonics' only championship. (Sound clip below.)

Buzzer Beater wishes you a swift recovery, Bob!

Signing yet another white seven-foot stiff to a multimillion-dollar contract is bound to solve all the worst team in basketball's problems.