LA Clippers 103 — Oklahoma City Thunder 98
Tough to think about a recap considering what transpired in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, but still, this is a Thunder journal so I’ll make this to the point and get off of here.
OKC’s Thunder lost to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night in LA by a score of 103-98. OKC led 58-38 at the half, and led by as many as 22 points late in the third period. But in the game’s final period–OKC was outscored 35-13 and subsequently lost a basketball they had no business losing simply because the team’s two superstars refuse to play the game the right way on a consistent basis.
What I mean by the right way—is to believe in the team concept and instead just go into two man basketball mode whenever a game gets tight. It’s the same mode of play from Durant and Westbrook which has kept them still in search of their first NBA championship this far into their respective careers. It’s why I in no way consider them a viable championship contender even though both of them are stunning individual talents, yet two players who refuse to morph their games to the extent that they can trust their teammates for 48 minutes of play against top half teams in the league.
You look at this this loss through an honesty lense and you have to write the presence of Billy Donovan has in no way changed the culture of this ball club. You get to a point where you read the usual Durant and Westbrook quotes after a loss like this and you just kind of shake your head. Don’t get me wrong, I love these guys and have loved every minute of watching them play in Oklahoma City, but when do they get it? Seriously—when are they going to get it?
With the win LA continues to hang and play decent ball without Blake Griffin. The Clippers have now closed to with a game and a half of the Thunder.
When you watch the Thunder play like this it makes Charles Barkley and others appear prescient when they describe the Thunder as a dumb basketball team. Not Sacramento King dumb, but a team which despite its potential seems intent on playing the game the wrong way and not being smart enough to learn from its mistakes and become the team it has the potential to become.
At Golden State tomorrow night at Oracle.
Mike Jackson