If you read my blog here and there you’ll observe I didn’t see Russell Westbrook’s exit from Oklahoma City as a cataclysmic event as far the level of NBA basketball which would be played this season.
Russell was good for Oklahoma City given the nature of Kevin Durant’s departure. So I’ll try to always keep that in mind this season and beyond. I will write though…as a hoops fan it’s been a great deal of fun to watch this new Thunder team which in essence plays three point guards together in Chris Paul, Shai-GA, and Dennis Schroder. Throw in the silky smooth shooting stroke of Danilo Gallinari and when they’re all in sink this Thunder team is a little bit sneaky good.
Maybe not Washington Nats winning it all good, but still sneaky good as long as Sam Presti keeps the above four together this season.
You couldn’t have scripted a better evening of basketball for the Thunder to close out Martin Luther Day if you’re a Thunder fan. On the road, the Thunder fought back from a fifteen point fourth period deficit to beat the Houston Rockets by a 112-107 count.
On a night when the Thunder didn’t have Steven Adams, Nerlens Noel, or Terrance Ferguson the Thunder simply sucked it up and found a way against Westbrook’s new team in Houston.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t per se have a vintage night scoring the ball with 13 points but on 10 shots attempted, but it didn’t matter as CP3, Big Gallo, and Dennis Schroder combined for 76 points to cover his back.
On the defensive end, Billy Donovan finally pulled his head out of his ass and reinstated rookie Lu Dort back into the rotation these past two games. Don’t confuse Lu Dort’s value to this team. He isn’t needed to score the ball. He’s needed to shut down the other team’s best guard and infuse his teammates with defensive energy.
I honesty have no idea what transmits through Billy Donovan’s mind at times. I have no idea why Dort was sent back to the G League after in essence he had a part in kick starting the Thunder’s turnaround in December while injecting the fanbase itself with some much needed feel good for those like me who actually enjoy seeing NBA players ‘trying’ on the defensive end.
Dort didn’t just play in this game–he started and played 32 minutes with his primary assignment being to harass James Harden playing the Patrick Beverly role. On the night, Harden scored 29 points on 29 shots attempted and was 1-17 shooting threes. Mission accomplished for Lu Dort. He made Harden work his tail off. He did his job. That’s what role players are paid to do.
Don’t look, but this Thunder team is now 11-10 on the road this season after the 1-7 road record to start the season. In fact, this group seems to play much more focused locked down basketball on the road.
The Thunder are securely the No. 7 seed in the West and it’ s not crazy to write they have a chance to challenge for a couple of spots higher.
I just hope Billy Donovan had a bit of a Lu Dort awakening this week-end. I’m not saying to start Dort or even play him heavy minutes. What I’m saying is play him and use him in an intelligent way as a defensive role player who’s energy is contagious to his teammates.
The Thunder now stand at 25-19 overall and are at Orlando on Wednesday night.
Parra to Dort…why not. If I were Sam Presti I’d get some Baby Shark music playing on the sound system for home games. I mean, if you can steal Seattle’s team why not steal the Washington Nats’ fight song? I’d roll with it. The Trump evangelicals will love it.