Amazing how things went south so fast in basically the span of seven days. It was last Friday night at home against the Celtics when the Thunder rolled out a pristine first half performance against Boston in rolling up an 18 point lead. But ever since that second half collapse, this Thunder team has gone from that seasonal pinnacle moment to being the biggest disappointment in the NBA so far this season.
The Thunder have now lost four straight since they beat the Milwaukee Bucks to improve to 4-3. None of the losses have been blowout losses. In every game the Thunder have started well, but as the games wear on, for a variety of reasons this team doesn’t match their opponents with smarts, poise, discipline, and just basic execution during the last six minutes of close basketball games.
This game followed the same pattern as OKC opened an 11 point lead early, but by halftime Denver only trailed 53-51. The game was tied 75-75 entering the fourth period, but has been the case during this swoon the Nuggets won the fourth period 27-19 as the Thunder still stand alone as the only Western Conference team without a conference win.
But even worse is the fact this Thunder team have run the table in NW Division play going a collective 0-5 versus the Wolves, Blazers, Nuggets, and Jazz. Stunning, put aside for the moment the ludicrous notion this team could beat the Warriors, Rockets, or Spurs four times in a post season fortnight, but right now any win over any Western Conference team would feel like a breakthrough moment.
Russell Westbrook wasn’t good on Thursday night as he went 6-22 in the game and basically melted down in the fourth period as the Thunder from the point the score was 93-90 couldn’t execute much of anything offensively or defensively.
The bench was awful for the second straight game. Paul George played 42 minutes, but never got into any offensive flow whatsoever and had one shot in the final period. The lone bright spot was a nice offensive night from Carmelo Anthony, who scored 28 points fueled by a 6-10 night from beyond the arc.
As per Newsok, the Thunder didn’t make their players available post game to the press for thirty minutes as it was stated by Paul George the team had a meeting airing out their individual concerns about how bad they’re playing as a team.
Fairly huge game for the Thunder tonight in OKC as they host the Clippers in what appears to be a very big game considering it’s only Game 12 of an 82 game marathon.
This team needs a win in the very worst way. It’s a team in need of some type of positive reinforcement that they can work through this and emerge as a playoff caliber basketball team in the West.
I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say tonight versus the Clippers the Thunder need to toughen up mentally and find a way to win an NBA basketball game.
It’s a cliché, but it’s gotta be ten or eleven guys pulling their link on that collective chain. It’s gotta be those guys scratching, clawing, and bleeding for that inch which separates winning and losing. It’s gotta be doing the little things, the battles which don’t always show up on a box score. In a word, this team needs to locate their collective heart tonight or this could turn into a very long season in a hurry.
If ever there was a time for this, it would be now. I might be wearing this out before Thanksgiving if these guys don’t get it together.