It seems like we’ve been at multiple turning points in this season of inconsistent play for the Thunder. Bad news is the Thunder have only veered and never really turned as a team as we sit on 46 games played.
If the Thunder don’t make the turn these next five games to finish the month of January they probably aren’t ever going to make the turn.
The five games left in the month read… home vs. Brooklyn, home vs. the struggling Wizards, road vs. the 2-8 Pistons in their last ten, home Sixers, and road Wizards. 5-0 is doable, nothing less than 4-1 should be acceptable.
Win four games and the Thunder is 30-21 heading into the All-Star break. Win four or five games to close out the month and the 4th or even the 3rd seed aren’t complete pipedreams when the season restarts on February 1st in Denver.
It’s time for Billy Donovan to drive his team. It’s time for the three stars to in a nuanced manner coach the team from within. It’s time for Steven Adams to continue his excellent play of late. It’s time for Andre Roberson to continue to be one of the five best defenders in the NBA. It’s time.
I’m not as down on the bench as some others are because the reality is when the playoffs get here I’m fairly certain Billy Donovan doesn’t go deeper than a nine man rotation. Ray Felton is fine. Patrick Patterson is coming around. Jerami Grant needs to settle down offensively and play within his skill set. Terrance Ferguson has been a pleasant surprise. Josh Huestis gives Billy Donovan another defensive specialist if he needs one on a given night. That’s the way I see the team. I would think Presti will make some type of move at the deadline but I’m at this point thinking OKC is all in with Paul George if for no other than to allow Russell Westbrook a chance to make his case to Paul George. It might not be the safe hedge play, but it’s the play Russell Westbrook needs to see from his general manager.
The Brooklyn Nets are in town tonight and the Thunder have the opportunity for the first time this season to get to seven games above the .500 mark.
The team is healthy and poised to make a bit of a run.
No more veering, it’s time to make the turn.