Perhaps, the last minute and a half of this game tells us all we need to know. The Thunder hung around and closed to within 102-98 with more than a puncher’s chance of winning their most important game of the season. But then in a matter of seconds the Thunder did what they do best and became their own worst enemy while finding a way to lose to the Trailblazers by a 108-100 count.
There were three straight Thunder turnovers during this lapse, but the one which really hurt was Jerami Grant’s off target pocket pass. This was followed by Paul George taking a horrific foul on Damian Lillard who wasn’t even in shooting range and was having a tough 5-18 shooting night. Thing is though, Lillard shoots 90% from the line and made both free throws–and in those two back to back plays the Thunder allowed a four point swing and in essence the game was over.
Portland now moves into third place in the West, while the still underachieving Thunder drop back to seventh place with the Houston Rockets on deck with Chris Paul playing this time against the Thunder on Tuesday night.
Brian Davis had the gall to mention Andre Roberson’s absence in the last minute of this game and I couldn’t even curse at the flat screen. It was that lame. Andre Roberson’s absence was no big deal in this game as Lillard didn’t hurt OKC, neither really did Shabazz Napier, and truth be known CJ McCollum only went 2-8 from beyond the arc. As a whole the Blazers shot 44% from the field and went 11-33 shooting threes. These are both winning numbers from OKC’s standpoint if you’re game planning on how to beat the Blazers, but you have to be smart offensively and the Thunder were not a smart offensive team, not even close.
I hate to keep banging this drum, but I wonder what Billy Donovan says to his team at times. Carmelo Anthony didn’t play in this game needing rest in the season’s most important game, but Pat Patterson did a good job and scored 12 points. I actually like Patterson starting by the way in that he’s a better defender than Carmelo. Why Carmelo isn’t the sixth man on this team paired with Raymond Felton is beyond me. But it is what it is. I wonder if Billy Donovan has even ever broached this subject with Anthony or if he’s allowed that latitude by Sam Presti. Are NBA coaches allowed to do this sort of thing?
I just don’t get it with Billy Donovan and Sam Presti. I don’t. In reality I see no coaching upgrade from Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan. If anything what I’ve seen is a regression in the team in that say what you want it was very seldom if ever you questioned the Thunder’s heart with Scott Brooks. Now, you might have cursed hero ball and shot selection when Durant and Westbrook forgot about their teammates, but you very seldom questioned the effort.
But tell me what the Thunder are now? On a night when Steven Adams only got nine shot attempts, Russell Westbrook was going 12-31 on a night when you knew his tank was going to be running low after the game in Phoenix. Hero ball solo?
Are you kidding me? Does this Thunder team watch film? Do they discuss the game the afternoon before the game? This just boggles my mind in that you have all these paid coaches and it appears at times there’s no thought whatsoever put into what the Thunder are doing out there.
For instance in this game… I would have asked Ray Felton if he could go thirty minutes. I would have done the same with Josh Huestis. I’m not going to use Alex Abrines as a punching bag even though he didn’t make a shot with only one attempt in fourteen minutes. So tell me this, why the fuck as a coach would you allow Alex Abrines fourteen minutes with only one shot attempt? That makes no sense whatsoever. None. That’s like asking a power play specialist in hockey to not shoot the puck. Pure stupidity.
And then you decide to play Corey Brewer who hasn’t even practiced with the team to play twelve very forgettable minutes. I mean, he hit the side of the backboard on his first shot, didn’t score a point, and was -14 in twelve minutes.
Here’s a novel thought…maybe Carmelo Anthony could have played those twelve minutes.
I just don’t get it.
But, oh, BTW…Mikey Boynton did something yesterday which no other Big 12 coach had ever done before during the Bill Self era at Kansas, namely his team swept the Kansas Jayhawks for a 2-0 season sweep. Good for Mikey Boynton. Isn’t it amazing what can happen when a team buys into their coach?
Speaking of series sweeps, former OU forward Terry Stotts is 3-0 versus OKC’s Super Team so far this season and in third place in the West.
Again, full credit to Clay Bennett for staying silent as an owner thru this. I could never do what he’s done this season for sure. I could never sit in those courtside seats in that I would have already been removed by security several times for screaming at my own team.
James Harden, Chris Paul, the singing Trevor Ariza..and the league’s best record Rockets in town on Tuesday night.
Good luck with that, Thunder.