If you’ve ever played sports you knew the Thunder dug themselves a big hole last night when Russell Westbrook lost his mind and allowed that game to go to three completely unnecessary overtimes in Philly. It was obvious, or at least it should be, they would have no legs tonight in New York. They didn’t. It was obvious. And the Knicks without their best player in Kristaps Porzingis toyed with the Thunder on Carmelo’s forgettable return to Madison Square Garden.
The final read 111-96 in favor of the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony was terrible going 5-16, while on the other end of the floor glassy-eyed Michael Beasley looked All-World in going off for thirty points against the gassed Thunder. I know Michael Beasley. He played one season at K-State for Frank Martin. He has a nice offensive skill set, but not this nice.
The Thunder Fox narrative will be that the Thunder won two of three on this eastern road swing. Moral victory. Yeah, I’d certainly have taken two out of three heading east, but again there was no need for the Thunder to have entered this game with the three overtimes tied around their necks liked chained weight. No need.
Here’s the thing though. With still over two minutes left in New York, Paul George nailed a three from the top of the key to bring the Thunder within 101-95. Ballgame on. Thunder get a stop. Russell Westbrook takes the ball accelerates to Mach I speed and blows himself up at midcourt with a completely unforced turnover. Ballgame over.
That sequence in a nutshell is why the Thunder aren’t really going anywhere except maybe beyond New Orleans, Denver, and Portland in the Western Conference standings. I’m still not totally sure about Minnesota, but I’m not sure the Thunder are smart enough as a team to overcome the T Wolves for the Northwest Division championship.
That’s a fairly damning thing I just wrote if you’ve ever played sports or coached sports. That being, wondering if a team is smart enough to overcome themselves. I don’t write shit like this to be snarky. This is an obscure blog. I don’t need to stir the pot like Berry Tramel to create traffic. I don’t give a fuck about traffic or selling adds. This is my basketball diary. I don’t pander to millennials or Boomers. It’s just me, baby.
But here the Thunder sit at 14-15 with this fatted, bloated payroll Sam Presti has put together and I have serious doubts whether the Thunder have enough smarts and heart to aspire beyond possibly challenging the T Wolves in the Northwest.
Somebody must have gotten to Antonio Daniels on the Fox postgame show. All the sudden he’s tame and lost his edge. He looks like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest after Nurse Rachet had him mentally spayed.
Et tu, Brute. Dude, you can’t be my Thunder soulmate anymore. It might have to be Tramel.
Anyway, the Thunder now enter an incredibly easy stretch of schedule where they play seven of eight at home. Only once in this stretch will they be a Vegas underdog. That being on Christmas evening against the streaking Houston Rockets. I’ll be there sitting low near midcourt per a Christmas present from my loving son. I can’t decide if I should wear my Fear the Beard t-shirt or not. Probably not.
In closing, a positive. I thought Patrick Patterson really looked pretty good tonight versus the Knicks. That’s a good thing because in seeing Carmelo’s old worn ass tonight it’s fairly evident the Thunder will need Patterson to be what we saw tonight moving forward.
Denver Nuggets without Paul Milsap in Oklahoma City on Monday night. If OKC loses this game even the Fox drones have nothing to say in defense of the effort.
I’m so disappointed in Antonio Daniels.
My challenge to the Fox crew. Tell the truth. In the end, you’ll feel better about yourselves. Especially you, Brute.