Golden State Warriors 121 — Oklahoma City Thunder 106
Golden State continued on its historical season with a predictable 121-106 win over the Thunder on Thursday night at Oracle Arena. This completes a three games regular season sweep of the series for the Warriors in a season which was supposed to be all about redemption in Oklahoma City.
Keep in mind, as I proceed further I want to trend gently and show compassion as a human rather than just tear into the Thunder like I have before. The reason is simple–the Thunder are lost right now. Completely and totally lost in going 2-6 since the All-Star break.
This team has no idea what its doing right now. No team identity other than just hoping Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can do enough and get them over the hump on a given night. The coaching staff has been obliterated by the absence of Monty Williams and Mo Cheeks. The entire state of Oklahoma is in a state of shock over the death of Aubrey McClendon and the Thunder have spiraled downward in the wake of all of this combined with the fact their schedule got really tough at just the wrong time.
I’m not making excuses for the Thunder, just trying to show some compassion amidst what is on the verge of becoming a completely lost season if OKC can’t work thru this in the coming days and start winning some games.
It hurts deeply as a fan to see this in a season which was supposed to be a season of vindication for the Thunder following last season’s injury riddled train wreck which kept the Thunder out of the playoffs. This was supposed to be redemption for Kevin Durant, Sam Presti, and the entire Thunder organization with a new coach and the hopes the team could show enough to keep Kevin Durant in a Thunder uniform for years to come.
Instead, it’s turned into a season of human tragedy and the revelation the Thunder have continued to regress in spite of having two of the most talented players in the world playing together.
Maybe this is what Scott Brooks privately understood about his two superstars and Sam Presti hasn’t been able to come to terms with as the general manager.
Maybe, but I know I’m not alone in thinking this. While both Durant and Westbrook are lauded as tremendous individual talents–their inability to morph their games into a more team style of play is what national guys like Charles Barkley are correct in pointing out repeatedly. You don’t get that enough from the local media in OKC because quite frankly its a college market which just happens to have an NBA team.
OKC is now one game in front of the Clippers for the third seed in the West. Local homers can make the claim the Warriors and Spurs are doing historical things. So be it. But the Clippers have just basically had to dig in with Chris Paul leading a team which has been without Blake Griffin for a large stretch of this season. I call this professional mental toughness. Others can call it whatever they want.
OKC plays in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder clearly need a win of any kind right now. Maybe a team meeting with players only wouldn’t be a bad idea between now and then. Clearly a tough spot for the Thunder currently, but it they want this season to be something other than a meltdown they better pull together as a team and figure some things out in a hurry.
Mike Jackson