Author: Mike

Perhaps, the last minute and a half of this game tells us all we need to know. The Thunder hung around and closed to within 102-98 with more than a puncher’s chance of winning their most important game of the season. But then in a matter of seconds the Thunder did what they do best and became their own worst enemy while finding a way to lose to the Trailblazers by a 108-100 count.

There were three straight Thunder turnovers during this lapse, but the one which really hurt was Jerami Grant’s off target pocket pass. This was followed by Paul George taking a horrific foul on Damian Lillard who wasn’t even in shooting range and was having a tough 5-18 shooting night. Thing is though, Lillard shoots 90% from the line and made both free throws–and in those two back to back plays the Thunder allowed a four point swing and in essence the game was over.

Portland now moves into third place in the West, while the still underachieving Thunder drop back to seventh place with the Houston Rockets on deck with Chris Paul playing this time against the Thunder on Tuesday night.

Brian Davis had the gall to mention Andre Roberson’s absence in the last minute of this game and I couldn’t even curse at the flat screen. It was that lame. Andre Roberson’s absence was no big deal in this game as Lillard didn’t hurt OKC, neither really did Shabazz Napier, and truth be known CJ McCollum only went 2-8 from beyond the arc. As a whole the Blazers shot 44% from the field and went 11-33 shooting threes. These are both winning numbers from OKC’s standpoint if you’re game planning on how to beat the Blazers, but you have to be smart offensively and the Thunder were not a smart offensive team, not even close.

I hate to keep banging this drum, but I wonder what Billy Donovan says to his team at times. Carmelo Anthony didn’t play in this game needing rest in the season’s most important game, but Pat Patterson did a good job and scored 12 points. I actually like Patterson starting by the way in that he’s a better defender than Carmelo. Why Carmelo isn’t the sixth man on this team paired with Raymond Felton is beyond me. But it is what it is. I wonder if Billy Donovan has even ever broached this subject with Anthony or if he’s allowed that latitude by Sam Presti. Are NBA coaches allowed to do this sort of thing?

I just don’t get it with Billy Donovan and Sam Presti. I don’t. In reality I see no coaching upgrade from Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan. If anything what I’ve seen is a regression in the team in that say what you want it was very seldom if ever you questioned the Thunder’s heart with Scott Brooks. Now, you might have cursed hero ball and shot selection when Durant and Westbrook forgot about their teammates, but you very seldom questioned the effort.

But tell me what the Thunder are now? On a night when Steven Adams only got nine shot attempts, Russell Westbrook was going 12-31 on a night when you knew his tank was going to be running low after the game in Phoenix. Hero ball solo?

Are you kidding me? Does this Thunder team watch film? Do they discuss the game the afternoon before the game? This just boggles my mind in that you have all these paid coaches and it appears at times there’s no thought whatsoever put into what the Thunder are doing out there.

For instance in this game… I would have asked Ray Felton if he could go thirty minutes. I would have done the same with Josh Huestis. I’m not going to use Alex Abrines as a punching bag even though he didn’t make a shot with only one attempt in fourteen minutes. So tell me this, why the fuck as a coach would you allow Alex Abrines fourteen minutes with only one shot attempt? That makes no sense whatsoever. None. That’s like asking a power play specialist in hockey to not shoot the puck. Pure stupidity.

And then you decide to play Corey Brewer who hasn’t even practiced with the team to play twelve very forgettable minutes. I mean, he hit the side of the backboard on his first shot, didn’t score a point, and was -14 in twelve minutes.

Here’s a novel thought…maybe Carmelo Anthony could have played those twelve minutes.

I just don’t get it.

But, oh, BTW…Mikey Boynton did something yesterday which no other Big 12 coach had ever done before during the Bill Self era at Kansas, namely his team swept the Kansas Jayhawks for a 2-0 season sweep. Good for Mikey Boynton. Isn’t it amazing what can happen when a team buys into their coach?

Speaking of series sweeps, former OU forward Terry Stotts is 3-0 versus OKC’s Super Team so far this season and in third place in the West.

Again, full credit to Clay Bennett for staying silent as an owner thru this. I could never do what he’s done this season for sure. I could never sit in those courtside seats in that I would have already been removed by security several times for screaming at my own team.

James Harden, Chris Paul, the singing Trevor Ariza..and the league’s best record Rockets in town on Tuesday night.

Good luck with that, Thunder.

As stunning as this is to write I find myself writing it. If the Thunder win at Portland tonight they will be in third place in the West heading back to Oklahoma City after tonight’s game at Portland.

The basketball gods are smiling upon the Thunder. Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs is done for the season. Jimmy Butler of the T Wolves is on the shelf with a knee injury. DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans is done for the season. The basketball gods have parted the waters for the Thunder to get the No. 3 seed in the West if only the Thunder can muster enough grit to walk through the parted waters.

Is this game at Portland tonight the biggest game of the season so far? Bigger than any of the three games against Golden State and the Christmas night game against Houston?

Well…I think it is for an obvious reason. That reason being the Thunder would be in third place in the West and suddenly showing some semblance of a reason why they could possibly get home court in the first round of the playoffs.

Portland is a four point favorite tonight and riding high with Lillard, McCollum, and Shabazz Napier. The Blazers bring into tonight’s game a three headed monster of guard play and electric three point shooting which doesn’t bode well for the Thunder on paper. This is a game where Andre Roberson would be more than handy. I have no idea if Corey Brewer is playing tonight, but this is a game where if he could go 10-12 minutes it wouldn’t hurt.

Both Westbrook and Paul George played heavy minutes last night. They had to and you know what I applaud Billy Donovan for putting away his Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood philosophy of minutes. Sometimes you just gotta go win a game and last night was one of those times. But if you look at the rest of the Thunder minutes—the rest of the team should be okay. Nobody off the bench played heavy minutes. In fact, Ray Felton played only nine minutes and he’s going to have to play some minutes tonight to help get Russell Westbrook through this game. And if you look at last night’s box you’ll notice Abrines didn’t play his customary 20 minutes of Billy D love. Only ten minutes. Thank you, Billy Donovan. It’s a lovely day in the neighborhood. Carmelo played 31 minutes though, Billy D might want to circle that though.

I love Shabazz Napier from that UConn national championship team and he’s one of my keys tonight. It’s hard to shut down Lillard and McCollum, but if you can limit offensive damage from the rest of the Blazers the Thunder could win this game.

A lot of small lineups tonight. Billy Donovan is going to have roll some shit and coach on the fly like a hockey coach tonight. The Thunder can’t stand around on defense or they’ll get torched from beyond the arc, but by the same token if OKC bears down they should be able to get to the rim against these Blazers.

The Thunder to win this game have to show us some toughness which at times hasn’t been there this season. This is a game where if the Thunder want to change the perceived culture of their season on the second night of a road back to back this is the time to do it. This would be that time. A time to make up for the softness in Oakland last Saturday evening.

On Nov. 5th these two teams played in Portland with the Blazers winning 103-99. Suffice it to say–OKC is going to need to score the ball tonight.

Your first thought is to take the Blazers and give the four. But I’m going too take the Thunder and the four points and hope for a special performance from Paul George, Carmelo, or Steven Adams tonight. One of these three guys needs to be special tonight.

I’m taking the Thunder and the four.

If you point yard then go yard, that’s the just way it fucking is. Granted, in gambling parlance this was a push and you pay your bookie or the house the juice, but for me this was a monumental moral victory for the Thunder to win by eight over the hapless Suns on the road.

When Carmelo hit those two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to get the spread to ‘eight’ it was like when Perk rammed home that dunk against the Spurs in Game 6 to propel the Thunder into the NBA Finals.

It was just so emotional for me to have this one shining moment of godliness from the heavens shine down and allow me this moment of redemption amid all the dysfunction of this basketball season.

Russell Westbrook was the star, but that OKC bench was fabulous late in the third period when in reality they set the stage for Westbrook and the starters to close the deal. Westbrook had 43 points and hit a huge three point dagger when it mattered most, but it was that Thunder bench which gave the Thunder some hope.

Ray Felton, Jerami Grant, Josh Huestis, Pat Patterson, Terrance Ferguson, and even little furry frilly Alex Abrines were all instrumental in the win…especially Abrines, who came up with a flurry of defensive plays which brought me off my couch screaming…”Is that really Alex Abrines?” And, the basketball heavens screamed back, “Yes, Mike…it is!”

It is not an exaggeration for me to say this was a religious experience for me tonight.

I can’t go really much further with this recap. I’m emotionally spent.

The Thunder are now 37-27 and play a red hot Portland team tomorrow night in Portland. But for now, I’m just savoring this, the thought anything is possible on any given night with this vexing Thunder team.

I need a drink and a song.

LET’S GO THUNDER!

This is too obvious. This is a Vegas sucker trap. Common sense would tell you this Thunder piece of junk couldn’t beat the Bad News Bears on the road by eight points. But lest we forget that OKC blowout win by twenty points at Golden State on Feb. 6th. Reason, intelligence, and common sense cannot in any way steer you on how to bet Thunder games this season. So, like George, what could it possibly hurt to do the exact polar opposite when it comes to this Thunder team?

So then, how simple could it be? Take the Thunder as a road eight point favorite over the feeble Phoenix Suns.

When you think it can’t get worse it does and so unravels the continual chaotic presidency of reality television star Donald Trump. Hey, you Trump supporters, I do give you this…at least you didn’t elect a Kardashian or Larry Flynt from Hustler magazine. I’ll give you that.

Just another ordinary week for America. Hope Hicks resigns. Dipshit son-in-law Jerod has his high level security revoked. Gary Cohn on the verge of resigning. Same with generals McMaster and Kelly. Jeff Sessions has an interesting dinner date with his Justice Department heads. Trump makes no coherent sense with any of his statements concerning gun control, trade tariffs, and Russian interference in our election. The stock market doesn’t know what to do or think.

Just another week in the never ending saga of Donald Trump’s reality television make believe presidency.

Who would have thought America could devolve to this in thirteen months?

OKC signed former Florida Gator small forward Corey Brewer. I’ve liked Brewer from his days at Florida with Billy Donovan and thru his numerous NBA stops. He’s a nice two way swing player who if Donovan actually uses could help the Thunder this season and perhaps next season when you consider no one knows exactly knows when Andre Roberson will return next season.

Gosh, not ever knowing what Billy Donovan will do, I think or hope or pray this means Billy Donovan and Sam Presti are going to reduce the Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson minutes as we head down the stretch run.

A couple of years ago, Presti signed Ronnie Brewer and Scott Brooks really never used him. So we’ll see if Corey Brewer gets some real rotational minutes.

Brewer played sparingly for the Lakers this season, so he should be very well rested. Not a huge signing, but one which could actually help the team if Billy Donovan can move beyond the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood rotation philosophy he embraces as we hit the most important part of the season. I very much understand you need to develop young guys like Abrines and Ferguson, but there is that time you put the hammer down and you do put winning ahead of youth development. This would kinda be that time.

Here’s the thing, I expected a close game and it was one. There’s such an enormous difference in the coaching department when these two teams play each other… unless your head has been buried in the sand this is what you should have expected.

Plus, I think Dallas has some nice young pieces moving forward beyond the Dirk era. I like Harrison Barnes, I like Dennis Smith Jr., I’ve always liked Dwight Powell, Yogi Ferrell is decent, and I think as time moves along Nerlen Noels will be a nice role player, plus that hair. I’m a fan of Nerlen’s hair.

You have to be a realist, the Thunder is an undisciplined team which is its own worst enemy for periods of time in almost every game. It is what is. I mean, if I were Clay Bennett, I’m not even sure why I would pay the six million to have a head coach. Maybe just pay Nick Collison another million to call timeouts, talk to players in a coachly (word?) way, and placate the local college media in post game pressers. Save yourself five million and basically be what you are now… which is a team which doesn’t listen to its coach all that much.

Actually, this was a very entertaining game..so you know, I’m good. Dysfunction begats dysfunction.

Westbrook hit the game winner. Paul George had a nice game. Steven Adams was my player of the game. Carmelo was awful..again. Josh Huestis was decent. Ray Felton was good. Jerami was so-so–I expect more of him. Terrance Ferguson played what I thought were ten good minutes. Pat Patterson was okay. And once again Billy Donovan showered Alex Abrines with 20 minutes of love. Of course, Abrines only made one shot, but he wasn’t horrific.

You know what a good coach would have done tonight, he would have pounded the rim with Westbrook and Adams assaulting the Mav’s interior. Adams made all four of his shots, but instead—there’s OKC jacking 36 threes even though they only made ten of them. A good coach would not have allowed his team to play this stupidly. I honestly think Billy Donovan is intimidated by the three stars. Wouldn’t you be if you made six million and all three of these cats are making much, much more. Why else would Carmelo even be on the floor for that last defensive situational possession of the game following two timeouts? See what I mean? Things which Mike Boynton would be going ape shit berserk over. But Mike Boynton doesn’t have multiple star millionaires on his team. His players have to listen.

But always remember… it’ a superstar/agent driven league. Always.

OKC improves to 36-27 on the season and now heads to Phoenix to see if it can beat Devin Booker on the road. This will be an interesting Vegas spread in that OKC is in Portland the next night in what is looming as a fairly important game on Saturday. I can already hear the Michael Cage excuses bouncing off my ear drums. ‘Um.. the last game of a three game road swing is actually like playing the sixth game in six nights.” He actually says shit like this and it drive me crazy. What the fuck ever.

I worry about Antonio Davis a little bit. He’s not coming to terms with things like I am. He’s resisting the obvious. But I like him and wish him well. Seems like a nice man.

Dirk became the sixth player in NBA history to score 31,000 points. Good for him. I’ve always loved Dirk. I completely respect the way he stayed in Dallas and won his ring in 2011 on a team which didn’t have nearly as much talent as this Oklahoma City team. The other five players on the list? Michael, Kobe, Kareem, Wilt, and Karl Malone. I actually saw Malone in person in ’83 when his Louisiana Tech team came to OKC to play Wayman Tisdale’s Sooners in what was an epic NCAA Tournament game.

The Thunder in the Valley of Sun on Friday. Devin Booker seldom disappoints. It should be a fun game to watch.

Who would have thought back in August that first year O State head coach Mike Boynton would emerge as the coach in Oklahoma this season with the most impressive season to date. Back then, the Lamont Evans FBI probe story was breaking and you might have thought there was no way this young coach could make it through that turmoil, let alone have his Cowboys on the cusp of making the NCAA Tournament. But with last night’s road win over Iowa State, and a home game looming this Saturday against Kansas to close out Big 12 regular season play–this O State team is a win or two away from making the Big Dance in Boynton’s first year.

When you looked at that initial situation back before the season began–no one in their right mind would have thought this possible for Boynton and his team…including me.

But I’ll say this–way back at the beginning of the season I heard Boynton do an interview on the Sports Animal and the guy just floored me with the way he carried himself in the interview. He’s just one of these no nonsense guys who himself was a good point guard at South Carolina. A player who had to work his ass for everything he’s gotten to date in basketball. His team plays with his attitude. His personality. 2nd Rule of Coaching— you coach thru your personality and character.

So—with both Billy Donovan and Lon Kruger’s teams massively underachieving this basketball season, first year coach Mike Boynton has emerged as a nice story of sorts for those like myself who love seeing basketball played the right way. Namely, with some heart and passion.

I would say if O State beats Kansas at home this Saturday and then wins their first round game in the Big 12 Tournament they’ll make the NCAA Tournament.

Who would have thought?

Tough to calibrate the bottom two spots this week, but clearly it was easy to drop the OKC Thunder off my poll this week. They basically played poorly in all three games coming out of the All-Star break. OKC is still a team you keep an eye on because of the Big Four, but right now it’s more of just placing OKC in a position of being a team which is 6-7 since Andre Roberson’s knee injury and has dropped to 28th in the league in defensive efficiency. If OKC wins out this week including a win at Portland, I’ll probably put them back in my poll.

1 Golden State
2 Houston
3 Cleveland
4 Toronto
5 Boston
6 Minnesota
7 San Antonio
8 Portland

There is a good thing about this Thunder season if you’re the glass half full type. That being, no matter how bad the Thunder opponent is on any given night, you’re probably going to get a competitive game from a standpoint of the score.

Enter the worthless forty something loss Orlando Magic. Putting the game aside for a bit…you know what I kept thinking about as I watched this game…Billy Donovan. I kept thinking back to 2007 when Donovan made a verbal agreement to coach the Magic on a five year deal which would have paid him $27.5 million.

I kept thinking to myself, “Where would Orlando be if Billy Donovan hadn’t changed his mind?”

And the answer I came up with was pretty much they would be the same team we watched tonight. Because like in OKC, his Orlando deal did not include any GM responsibilities. And as we should know at this point…player makes the coach and the NBA is a star/agent driven league, which is what the top tier of college basketball is per what the recent FBI probe of college basketball is revealing right now.

To Billy Donovan’s credit though, he could have taken the Kentucky job and he said no to that mess—and like I’ve said on here multiple times…I respect Billy Donovan as a man. I respect the heck out of Billy Donovan as a good man. I think he’s a great dude. I do. But maybe not the coach to handle this team.

In Billy Donovan’s defense, when he came here, it appeared the template would be for the Thunder to build a team of rookie scale players and low cost, low ego vets, around Durant and Westbrook. With that template, yeah, I get it—Billy Donovan could be a really effective NBA coach.

But then Durant left and this past summer Presti changed the Thunder template, and for the first time in Billy Donovan’s coaching career he finds himself babysitting to a certain extent.

Anyway, that’s my way of saying I really don’t think Billy Donovan is stupid. I just think he’s not the right coach for this team. But we’ll see. Lots of games left in this season. Twenty meaningful games are an eternity.

In this game, both Westbrook and Carmelo struggled. But fortunately, Paul George scored 26 points and finally lit a fire under the Thunder with a sequence of plays late in the third period which propelled OKC to a hard fought 112-105 Orlando Magic.

In all, six Thunder players scored in double figures, but with only Steven Adams joining George as a Thunder starter in double figures. BTW, Steven Adams, has written a book. I’m sure it will be good and I can’t wait. Only so many authors can write what a douchebag Donald Trump truly is.

That Thunder bench was good on this night, but again it was at home and against a really bad team. So…where was that shit on Saturday night in Oakland against a good team when it mattered?

Ray Felton, Jerami Grant, Pat Patterson, and cuddly Alex Abrines all had double digit nights. Heck, you might even say Abrines created the spark in that third period run when he found another white European in the league in Mario Hezonja who has less game than him and stuffed Super Mario at the rim. It’s my play of the game. Go fucking figure. Note to Sam Presti…don’t acquire Mario Hezonja.

Anyway, it was a win. At this point, you just hope this team has enough in them to not miss the playoffs completely. That’s the focus right now. Just don’t miss the playoffs. One day at a time. Pray for loving kindness from the basketball gods above.

Another forty something loss team on the horizon Wednesday night in Dallas against Mark Cuban’s beleaguered Dallas Mav organization. Only thing is—OKC has already lost to these chumps twice this season. So.. I’m thinking probably take the Mavs, homecourt, and the points if it’s a six point spread or more.

Vegas must hate this Thunder team. What a nightmare for the pros.

Thunder in Dallas on Wednesday night.