Moving forward for the Oklahoma Thunder…I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something of this nature in sports in Oklahoma before.
Maybe back in 2011 in the Bedlam football game when OU quarterback Landry Jones seemingly had an emotional meltdown in the first half and committed three turnovers in succession which led to 21 giveaway points which decided the game. Maybe. But even then I don’t recall something as detached from reality as what I felt last night watching Chet Holmgren play in Game 7.
It was painful to watch from a human standpoint.
We unfortunately live in a society of social media which very much crosses the line of what I would describe as inappropriate human empathy and behavior at times. Especially in the Age of Trump. That will not occur on this blog.
My heart goes out to Chet right now because he in a sense looks broken right now beyond just having had a two week stretch of very bad basketball.
This is why you cannot just have the Thunder ‘media team’ only handling team information in the manner of which they do.
This is why.
There has to be an adult voice in the room. A firm knowledgeable adult voice in the room who has the life experience to handle certain situations in the appropriate manner.
By the same token…when you’re getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball at this level of play in the public domain of pro sports in America that scrutiny comes with the territory.
So there’s both sides to this.
To understate significantly it will be interesting to see how the Thunder deal with this moving forward.
But in closing… Chet Holmgren–hang in there, buddy. Do not allow this to define you.
A tough loss for the defending champs to the very young upstart San Antonio Spurs. All the credit in the world should go to Coach Mitch Johnson and his team.
This was no fluke. The Spurs just jelled a year ahead of schedule and all told beat the Thunder eight times this season in a combined twelve games.
It was a vintage performance by the Spurs on the road under the brightest lights with the entire basketball world watching. If nothing else it reiterates what I was saying back in August as to how difficult it is to repeat in the NBA given the landscape of collective bargaining and such.
Shai was superb in defeat. He did everything one could ask from a franchise player and literally carried the Thunder on his back for 42:58 of playing time. His line was 35 points on 12-21 from the field with 9 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Obviously… without JDub the Thunder defense in no way is the 40 Minutes of Hell monster which creates live ball turnovers and transition points in flurries.. I’m not sure if Reggie Miller of NBC actually understands what JDub means to the Thunder’s defense and pace, but what JDub means to this team is a great deal.
So without live ball turnover transition points it was basically an uphill slog for Shai all series and Game 7 long, and quite frankly it must be written Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort as starters simply did not engage and perform at a standard which gave the team a legitimate chance to win this game.
I can’t blame Coach Mark because Coach Mark can’t make shots for Lu Dort or just attempt shots for Chet. I’ve watched a ton of NBA playoff basketball in my life and I’ve never seen an all-star max level player like Chet just simply refuse to offensively engage in a game of this magnitude and only take two shots.
Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford referenced this multiple times during the NBC telecast, but we’ll have to see how the likes of the Thunder’s media team handles what we witnessed from Chet in this series and this Game 7. I’m sure just about now Little Nick Gallo is tucking Chet in under his Thunder blanky.
Shai, of course, is one of the classiest athletes I’ve ever witnessed and in no way pointed a finger at any of his teammates. Add to the fact… Caruso had a tough 3-14 shooting night and that was pretty much in my mind the final deathknell for the Thunder in this Game 7.
Jared McCain had some nice moments in the first half for a guy from Duke with painted fingernails while Cason Wallace had a strong fourth period to actually keep the Thunder in the game in the final two minutes. I would think next season Cason Wallace will be in the starting lineup given Lu Dort only played 15 minutes in this Game 7.
As far as the question which was asked of Shai which he did not honestly answer because again he’s too much of gentleman to ever blame a teammate…I’ll try and help him out.
The question was…”What will the Thunder have to do to get better so as they could conceivably beat the Spurs next season in the playoffs?”
And my response would be they are going to have to probably move Lu Dort in a trade and exercise their third year team option on Isaiah Hartenstein because it is very apparent the Thunder are not going to beat the Spurs with Chet Holmgren as their center.
The nuanced reconstruction of this Thunder team is going to have to streamline what it will take to deal with Wemby and these eight guys alongside him who have only to date scratched the surface of their potential.
And I’m not talking about Thomas Sorber being the guy next season. That’s not what I’m talking about.
So I guess what I’m saying is…Chet moving forward at a max level deal is something I would have to seriously reconsider if I were Sam Presti because nobody is coming out of the West if they can’t deal with Wemby and run with those seven other guys.
Again…I can’t ever remember an all-star max level player just shutting down emotionally as Chet did throughout this series and in Game 7. I feel awkward even writing about it. It was genuinely sad to witness from a human standpoint. I felt sorry for him.
But again, all the credit to Mitch Johnson and his team. In this Game 7 all five Spurs’ starters scored in double figures and seven San Antonio players in all scored in double figures.
My Four Stars of the Game goes like this…1 Wemby, 2 Shai, 3 Julian Champagnie, and 4 Stephon Castle with both Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell getting Honorable Mention okcthunderground.com helmet stickers.
Not to fret though for this MJ…he’s going to cover both the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals to fill the void of the Thunder being eliminated.
Life goes on…que sera.
Sam Presti…you’ve still got some nuanced work to do beyond getting JDub and Ajay healthy. You know what I mean.
The Thunder season is officially over and there will not be a parade in Oklahoma City.
This is a huge one tonight for the Thunder. I would go as far to rank it as one of the five most important games to date in the Thunder Era in Oklahoma City.
I don’t feel as if that’s hyperbole at all. A championship repeat is at stake. A legacy and a firm place in NBA history is at stake for the team, and for Shai this game will further define his legacy in the Pantheon of NBA greats.
This in no way is a Thunder homer blog or a trashy Facebook page or a messageboard. I’m too old for any of that bullshit.
I created this blog because of my genuine passion for basketball and sport in general…and to ‘sometimes’ opine on the geopolitical world which surrounds us.
I take pride in the objectivity and fairness of the overall content. But today, I have to admit…I woke up with a homer feel in my heart for the guys on this Thunder team. Shai and this group of young men have been nothing short of an immense sense of communal pride not only for Oklahoma City, but for the state of Oklahoma as well.
This is clearly a game I want the Thunder to win, and I have to admit, this is the first time this entire basketball season I’ve had what I would describe as that ‘nervous competitive edge’ in my stomach.
Win or lose…I’ll later rank this game where I think it should rank in the top five Thunder most important games to date circa May 30th, 2026.
Unless you’re an idiot this announcement can’t be a surprise to anyone. I love JDub, but when you can’t run, jump, or shoot in your somewhat natural order…you can’t be on the court in a Game 7 against a Spurs team which not only has Wemby, but which has about six cats who run just as fast and jump as high as the Thunder’s top seven.
With all due respect to local high school sports expert Mark Rodgers on the Sports Animal….this was not a tough decision. JDub was -18 IN TEN MINUTES OF PLAY IN GAME 6. One five minute run like that by the Spurs tonight like they had in the third period of Game 6 in Game 7 and it could be a season ender.
Mark Rodgers…you do a fine job commenting on local high school sports, but, my friend… please know your wheelhouse and please stay there. Game 7’s are the time for the big boys with the big britches. Allow the pros to take it from here.
So…the updated weather forecast has the thunderstorms staying to the northwest of Oklahoma County tonight. That prolly will somewhat nullify my fatedom and destiny play with the music yesterday for God to intervene in Game 7 for the Thunder.
So how does Coach Mark get the Thunder past Wemby and his Young Guns?
I’ll start with three names…. Shai, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein. These three guys have to go in that lockeroom and exude not only leadership, but a quiet level of confidence that winning this game at HOME WITH THAT CRAZY OKLAHOMA CITY CROWD IS STILL VERY DOABLE.
Chet…I’m only asking Chet at this point to play solid. I’m not asking for any miracle performance. Just be solid like one would expect an upper tier role player to be at home in a huge game.
Three more names….Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, and JWill. You three guys have to ELEVATE YOUR GAMES tonight. Lu Dort, my other Canadian friend, this is not the game for you to be chucking threes unless you come out hot. Lu…feel the game and allow the tempo of the game to come to you…don’t force it.
Kenrich Williams…you’re in the rotation tonight. Be ready to play 14-16 minutes. This is why you’re still on the roster…for situations just like tonight.
McCain…you’re No. 9 on my rotation tonight. We know what you do. You make big shots because you’re a kid with offensive basketball hubris and painted fingernails. I’m going with you over both Isaiah and Aaron in the first half.
Isaiah and Aaron…be ready. Every game is a new unique script. Just be ready.
Shai…this is MJ, buddy. Block out the noise and just play.
Before these NBA Playoffs began… I picked the Thunder to beat the Spurs in seven games and to beat the NY Knicks in five games. I made that prediction thinking JDub would be fine.
He’s not fine. He can’t run and he was -18 in ten minutes of very limited play last night. Unless something biblical happens with that hamstring in the next 24 hours he should not be allowed to play tomorrow night in Game 7.
And I’m fully aware Ajay Mitchell isn’t playing either. But here’s the thing…I’m sticking with my picks because I believe in my basketball heart Shai will lead and as the basketball axiom goes….the role players ‘AT HOME’ will follow and several guys will have outstanding games we’re not anticipating at this juncture while still riding the emotional roller coaster of what traspired last night in San Antonio.
If my memory serves me correct we had thundertsorms in OKC after the Game 4 win at Denver and thunderstorms after the Game 7 home win versus Denver. I also recall we had storms after the Game 7 win against the Pacers.
So…… being that I believe in karma, fatedom, and destiny for those with faith–I’m bringing my Thunder rain music back.
I am.
So there. Plus, I really want to see another parade in Oklahoma City.
I specifically called out Wemby and Stephon Castle on my blog yesterday and they responded accordingly. But it just wasn’t those two Spurs. From my view both Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell were clutch superb as well.
That’s how I’m starting this autopsy of the carnage we just witnessed in San Antonio last night, and keep in mind… De’Aaron Fox was horrible shooting the ball and the Spurs still won by close to thirty points.
My Four Stars of the Game go in this order…1 Wemby, 2 Vassell, 3 Harper, and 4 Castle.
In no way am I being overly dramatic in stating not one Thunder player came remotely close to cracking my Top 4 in Game 6.
Brutal would be too generous of an adjective to describe the Thunder’s performance. They weren’t even brutal, and if what we saw from JDub is the extent of his present mobility he SHOULD NOT PLAY in Game 7. I’m old enought to remember Willis Reed, but that was then and this is now.
Know what I mean?
The fact the Thunder lost is in no way a shock. This happens in seven game NBA playoff series. Shit happens. There’s a competitve flow back and both when both teams are equal in ability. But this event went beyond that threshold in my view.
Allow me to be more specific, and if you’re one of those Thunder fans who think Michael Cage, Little Nick Gallo, and Matt Pinto are legit NBA journalists or objective commenters please refrain from reading any further on my blog.
Sam Presti has two dudes on max contracts, and one dude on a super max contract. Combined those three dudes went a combined 10-27 from the field in Game 6.
10-27 with the NBA universe watching on NBC along with MJ from the luxurious okcthunderground.com studio.
The super max dude was a game worse -28.
Now allow me to gather myself a bit. I’ve treated Shai like a god on this blog this season, but I’ve always held back from worshipping him alongside the real MJ…Michael Jordan.
There’s a reason for that. That being … I don’t think he posesses Michael Jordan’s obsessive desire TO NOT LOSE OR TO COMPETE TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL every single game.
In fact…part of me thinks Michael Jordan probably wasn’t as nice of a human being as Shai is in regards to being a father, a husband, and just an all around sweet guy.
But to be what Michael and even Kobe were requires being a son of a bitch, heartless prick at times and with what we’re anticipating on Saturday night in Game 7… that type of mindset might be what Shai needs to brings to PayCom.
You lead…they follow. This is not complex, my Canadian friend. Role players follow at home and maybe if we tell Chet he’s an overpaid role player and not a max superstar….he might get caught up in he moment and follow.
As I recall…it was later revealed it wasn’t the flu, but a case of food posioning. Either way…this is what I mean about Michael. He just hated losing….at anything. Skipping rocks, dice, golf….whatever.
JDub is hurt so in no way am I calling him out. I don’t call out players who can’t run.
Chet is another matter. I’ve insinuated from time to time to time this season I think Chets plays soft at times and not worthy of a max deal. Well, I’m done insinuating that thought any longer on this blog.
Chet…if not now, whenever, buddy???????
The above Chet rant was my Phil Jackson-Pau Gasol moment if you’re paying attention.
I hope none of this was ambiguous or vague as to what I’m thinking heading into Game 7 tomorrow night in downtown Oklahoma City.
I think what I’d like to do tomorrow on the blog is take a look back at both of the Thunder’s Game 7 wins versus Denver and Indiana last season.
Great news on the Stage 4 front for the time being…my PSA ( Prostate Specific Antigen) blood lab yesterday morning for the first time ever since the original diagnosis registered Non-Detectable, as in zero for the first time ever in the last three and a half years.
Hence…Dr. Lam at St. Anthony’s canceled the remaining schedule of the nuclear-radiation drone treatments and has sent me back to Dr. Showalter for what lies ahead.
To say I’m thrilled is an understatement.
So…as we move onto Game 6 tonight in San Antonio it is with great gratitude to God, family, and friends for staying with me through all of this journey to date. Stage 4 is a rest of life thing…but this was a moment of pure joy for certain.
The game tonight in San Antonio?
I was ‘on’ Jim Traber’s show yesterday and basically we talked about three things… `1 Shai’s 17 free throw attempts in Game 5, 2 Hartenstein’s incredible performance to date in the series, and 3 Alex Caruso basically being the MVP so far in the series.
Here’s the thing…the 17 free throws are a semi-obsenity of sorts because Shai’s has turned getting to the line into his own artform of sorts. But Shai isn’t the refs. If I’m Shai’s coach instead of Coach Mark… I’m telling Shai to push it to the limit and only pull it back if and when the refs adjust.
None of this is on Shai. It’s on the league and the refs.
Additionally… Coach Mike is telling Hartenstein, Caruso, Kenrich, and whoever to keep pounding Wemby’s body at every opportunity until the refs start calling it tighter in that regard as well.
Wemby has played 194 minutes to date in the first five games. That’s just under 40 minutes a game. Again…this is Coach Mike saying, “Beat this motherf–ker to death every time he touches the ball because these guys can’t beat you without Wemby being amazingly fabulous.
With Wemby on the floor these are guys are +42, without him they’re not even remotely competitive. Conversely, in Shai’s 193 minutes to date in this series… his +/- is dead even zero.
What does this tell America’s most celebrated underground NBA blogger?
It tells Mike J the Thunder can win games without Shai being spectacular, while the Spurs HAVE TO HAVE both Wemby and Castle at the absolute apex level of their games to beat the Thunder.
So if some of you Thunder fans want to keep listening to the likes of Michael Cage, Little Nick Gallo, and even the semi-delusional Matt Pinto then go right ahead and live in the world of basketball homer darkness.
In closing…I have no idea how tonight goes, but I know this… the Thunder having Game 7 at home in their back pocket is a HUGE thing and why winning those 65 regular season games was a really important accomplishment.
Good luck to both teams tonight in San Antonio. Give okcthunderground.com and NBC a show tonight worth watching.
I’m in a hurry this morning so as to get to my once every six week radiation drone treatment in downtown OKC. This was a horrible game other than the fact it was an elimination game of sorts for the Thunder as defending NBA champs.
There’s quite a bit I want to write about in regards to what I think was a pivotal Game 5 win for the Thunder.
I think basically what this game showed was why the Thunder are defending champs, and why the still immature and young Spurs aren’t quite ready for the bright lights of an NBA Finals.
This Game 5 version of the Spurs is pretty much what I witnessed from them in their immensely disappointing performance in the Emirates NBA Cup Finals versus the NY Knicks.
Quite frankly…the Spurs will not beat the Knicks even if they do advance. Whereas…I believe the Thunder could still beat the Knicks in either six or seven games even without JDub and Ajay.
But I do want to come back later after I’ve gone nuclear to give some love to Shai, Hartenstein, Caruso, and Kenrich as my Four Stars of the Game award.
MJ goin’ drone nuclear, baby for the third time this year.
America’s No. 1 NBA undergroubd bloger is back on his perch inside of the studio of okcthunderground.com. We had a wonderful two week stay in Greenwood Village, Colorado with the grandkids and the ‘Fam’.
I don’t blog when I’m with the grandkids…when you’re running an internationally acclaimed geopolitical blog which cover the NBA, NFL, NHL , the College Football Playoff, the mens’ and womens NCAA basketball tournaments. the Masters, and even the World Series..there are times when you have to break just to ensure the content stays incredibly fluid and trend setting in the midst of so much abject mediocity from others on the internet.
The Knicks winning the East is no surprise. Detroit is still too young, and the Cavs with Harden are a toxic amalgam of classic NBA entitlement prima donnas. The only piece of NBA dysfunction missing from that roster f–kfest was Russell Westbrook.
The Knicks are good. They won the Emirates NBA Cup. If you read my earlier stuff… I clearly wrote I had the Knicks and Spurs tied as my second seed behind the Thunder.
I watched all four of the Thunder-Spur games while in Colrado and have each game crisply cateloged in my lazor-like memory console.
Chet has played like a scared elderly woman to date. I warned of this constantly during the regular season. At times…he appears to be terrified of Wembyanama. Chet cannot play in this manner any longer if the Thunder are to advance. He and Lu Dort cannot play like corpses in this series any longer.
Also…in the locker-room parlance of what Coach Mark should be saying in private to Isaiah Joe, Wiggins, JWill, McCain and even Shai…STEP THE F__K UP AND PLAY LIKE TONIGHT IS AN ELIMINATION GAME AND YOU’RE THE DEFENDING CHAMPS….because this very well might an elimination game of sorts.
Here’s the simple truth about the Thunder’s 8-0 start in these playoffs so far…they haven’t played anybody who’s worth watching to date.
Phoenix was missing their No. 1 center in Wark Williams and one of their other best defenders in Goodwin. Additionally, the Lakers are a horrid defensive team with or without Luka.
This somewhat reminds me of the Thunder’s run in 2012 when the beat Dirk and Kobe back to back in the first two rounds as those two were well past prime and their teams around them weren’t very good.
So the Thunder are done with the duds from this point forward. They’ll either play the Spus or the Twolves in the Western Conference Finals and most probably the streaking NY Knicks in the NBA Finals.
So, in essence, there’s no need for me to write anything beyond what I’ve just written. It is what it is and if Wemby’s Spurs advance the NBA basketball world will get exactly what its been clamoring for since the All-Star break.
That being, the two most talented rosters hooking up in the Finals.
At some point in that series I’ll be back from Colorado and all the frivolity associated with the Avs hopefully making it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
A great bounce back game for the Avs last night as they plyed what I thought were sixty very solid minutes of playoff hockey. Every facet of their game was where it needed to be….goal-tending, five on five, got the forecheck going, specialty teams, and most important of all their first three goals cames from guys not named McKinnon and Makar.
So….we need to get to Greenwood Village, Colorado so I can sing John Denver songs and watch the Spurs-TWolves tonight and then the Avs-Wild tomorrow night in what I hope will be a close-out game at Ball Arena.