Just so we’re clear, the Washington Nats were 19-31 coming out of May this past spring without superstar Bryce Harper who now plays in Philadelphia.
Not that I’m obsessed with this, but the Oklahoma City Thunder who were supposed to be in full tank mode by now were 7-11 coming out of November. Of those seven wins only two came against current legitimate NBA teams in Philadelphia and Orlando. The other five wins came against Golden State’s G League squad and the seemingly never ending team of confusion called the New Orleans Pelicans.
Since December 1st the narrative has changed dramatically in Oklahoma City. These Thunder aren’t the Bad News Bears as a team on a mission to lose games. Nope.
The Thunder went 11-4 in December and became road warriors by winning a road back to back in Portland and Utah which are the dates to circle if somehow someway this Thunder team of destiny and dreams keeps chugging along flirting with basketball karma.
Some scoff at my comparisons. Let them scoff. The Thunder have notched two more road wins to begin the month of January and are 13-4 since November.
Washington National skipper Dave Martinez was on the verge of being fired at the end of May as his Nats were sagging at 19-31 without Bryce Harper.
Likewise in Oklahoma City….Billy Donovan was on the hot seat. But like GM Mike Rizzo in Washington D.C.—Sam Presti seemed calm with Billy Donovan still at the Thunder helm.
Amazingly—with Russell Westbrook now in full Bryce Harper mode and in Houston…Billy Donovan with Chris Paul as his point guard has become the John Wooden of the southern plains…and btw the NBA Coach of the Month in December.
Isn’t it a quaint thing which happens to your ball team when your point guard isn’t jacking bad threes and turning the ball over in the final six minutes with regularity?
Simple game.
So the Thunder now stand 20-15 with six games to go to the mid point of the season with the same roster they started the season with on opening night.
A big week stands in front of the Thunder with games against the Sixers, Nets, Rockets, and Lakers.
I wish Sam Presti would call me and ask for my opinion.
But I’m not Tramel or Royce Young so I suspect Presti will never give me his cell number or pull me aside and ask what he should do.
But if he did ask my opinion my answer to Sam Presti would be simple.
Dream big, buddy. Dream big in Oklahoma City.
Next up the Sixers in Philadelphia.