Author: Mike

When you’re coming off a bad two game road swing on which the wheels fell off, the best remedy is a home game against a struggling team with lots of youth. Enter the Phoenix Suns on early Saturday evening for a feel good game inside Chesapeake Energy Arena for an easy coast to coast 114-101 win.

For the third straight game, Victor Oladipo sat with a sprained right wrist. But unlike the two bad losses which came on the road against Portland and Utah, Billy Donovan made a significant change. That being, he started Anthony Morrow and returned Jerami Grant to his bench role and it worked beautifully as Morrow hit 4 of 6 shots, scored 11 points, and created never ending space in the basketball highway referred to as the paint. OKC literally owned the paint on Saturday evening. Jerami Grant did his part as well he displayed his usual array of athletic plays coming off the bench. But to me at least, the key to this game was the space in which Westbrook and Adams operated their two man game all night long.

Westbrook and Adams were superb. Westbrook first. After going three straight games without a triple double, Westbrook decided to create shots for teammates instead of shooting the ball and it worked to perfection as he garnered a career high 22 assists on the night. Westbrook’s night read 26 points, 11 rebounds, and the 22 assists which are a Thunder record. It was Westbrook’s 50th career triple and puts him in sixth place on the career triple double list.

Now Steven Adams. Steven Adams has a nice little run of games going himself if you haven’t noticed. Against the Suns he scored 19 points and grabbed 7 boards. In his last six games he’s 50% from the field and averaging just a hair under 16 points a game. This is more in line with the Steven Adams we witnessed trending in last year’s post season and what the Thunder need of him on a consistent basis post Durant. When the Thunder combine Oladipo and Payne to this level of play from Westbrook and Adams it should be a much more fluid offensive team to watch.

Enes Kanter and Andre Roberson scored in double figures as well.

Semaj Christon was serviceable with 7 points in 15 minutes. Kyle Singler and Alex Abrines both played, ran around quite a bit and did a lot of nothing but it appears Billy Donovan is doing all he can to bolster their confidence with some playing time which in all candor neither have earned to date.

For the second straight game–Nick Collison played a role and Jofferey Lauvergne didn’t as Collison had a Collisonesque night with 7 points, 2 rebounds and seemed to have a settling effect on OKC’s very young bench. I love Nick Collison so you’ll never hear me bitch about Collison playing and one of the pups observing from the bench. But from my perspective the two pups sitting sgould be Singler and Abrines and not Lauvergne. We’ll keep an eye on this or maybe Donovan is just doing what all good hockey coaches by motivating his third line players to show some reason they should be getting ice time so to speak.

OKC improves to 16-11 and remains one full game behind the Utah Jazz for first place in the Northwest Division.

All in all it was a fun night inside the Peake as the Thunder won easly, Craig Sager was honored, Nick Collison made us remember why we love him so much, and OKC television play by play man Brian Davis donned a Thunder jacket I’d die to have in my Thunder wardrobe.

Atlanta in town on Monday night. Hope I can find that jacket to buy myself for Christmas. It’s trending No. 1 on my x-mas list as I close this recap.

Dr. George Cross was the president at OU from 1943 thru 1968. His term is the longest term for any OU president. He was president thru Bud Wilkinson’s historical run of three national championships and the 47 game winning streak. Perhaps, his most famous quote was, “We someday hope to have a university the football team can be proud of.” I wonder what Dr. Cross would say upon watching this video?

To date, I’ve only been able to discover one newspaper in the United States which agrees with how OU handled the Joe Mixon situation, and of course, that’s the Daily Oklahoman which the Gaylord family previously owned. You can have all the national merit scholars in the world, but if you don’t have any character in your leadership it makes no difference in the end.

This is very interesting if you really think about this because it indirectly ties to the Oklahoma City Thunder for this simple reason. Clay Bennett, the face of Oklahoma City Thunder ownership is on the Board of Regents at the University of Oklahoma and I would think a fairly influential voice considering the family he married into bears their name on the OU football stadium. Who knows, maybe it was Bennett himself who got Mixon lawyered up with the prestigious OKC firm of Crowe-Dunleavy or maybe it was David Boren. Or maybe a combination of both.

Several years ago, a Thunder player by the name of Deandre Liggins played for the Thunder. He was a nice role player along the lines of say maybe Jerami Grant or perhaps even Andre Roberson, but I may be giving Liggins a little more credit than he deserves. Anyway, Liggins became emeshed in a domestic violence incident and was quickly removed from the team for the simple reason he wasn’t a difference maker.

On the other hand, in 2014, Joe Mixon was the most talented football recruit Bob Stoops had signed in this decade and that OU win over Alabama was a part of Mixon coming to OU. The notion that OU football was once again on the cusp of becoming nationally relevant was part of Mixon’s decision to move from Oakland to Norman. And OU did become nationally relevant as they made college football’s Final Four last football season before being exposed by Clemson in the national semi-final game.

So here we are in late 2016 and this is what we have, on one hand, Clay Bennett’s Thunder getting rid of Deandre Liggins, but his Sooners defending Joe Mixon to the bitter end.

Gosh, I hope this isn’t just because Joe Mixon is the most talented player on the OU roster.

Interesting, maybe either off the record puppets Royce Young or Barry Tramel could untether themselves long enough to write a piece on it. If they don’t, I think I will.

C’mon guys, the First Amendment is an enormous, glorious ocean of possibilities. You can do it if you really try.

The video of OU running back Joe Mixon assaulting a young woman half his size three years ago was released to the public today per a recent 8-1 ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Mixon’s attorneys entered an Alford plea on behalf on Mixon back then in the hopes all this would go away.. Mixon never served any jail time and to date has yet to pay damages to the assaulted party who is now suing Mixon in civil court. Mixon, who is arguably the best player on OU’s team, weighs 220 pounds. The plantiff weighs approximately 110 pounds.

This isn’t that video just yet. This other incident I’m showing first comes from the 2013 Sugar Bowl game between OU and Alabama where a drunken young woman about the size of the plantiff in the Mixon case. Mixon knocked Ms. Molitor unconscious with a closed fist punch and fractured her orbital. As you’ll see in this video no assault and battery from any of the men in this incident. I’m fairly certain Crow-Dunleavy, Mixon’s hired lawyers, won’t be in any hurry to admit this video into evidence. The female’s behavior in this incident was much more egregious than that of Ms. Molitor in the Mixon assault. Not even close.

Having just lived through my father’s battle with pancreatic cancer and passing in August, I must admit it tugged my heart yesterday when I heard of Craig Sager’s passing. What I learned from my father and what I’m certain Craig Sager’s sons have learned was that while the process is extremely painful for all concerned, it’s extremely inspirational too see your father live every remaining day to the fullest and embrace life and loved ones. My heart goes out to the Sager family.

This a Wall Street Journal sourced news video. I’m not sure if Trump supporters consider the Wall Street Journal as a viable news outlet or just another effort by mainstream media to smear his doctrines, whatever those might be when he wakes up every morning as Reince Priebus greets him with his juice, slippers, and copy of the National Enquirer. Wouldn’t it be surreal if Trump and other Russians started wearing ‘Make Russia Great Again’ red ball caps? I think I’m being sarcastic, but I’m really not sure any longer.

I haven’t written anything yet on our president elect since the election mainly because I’m still holding onto some sort of pipedream hope the Electoral College electors will heroically come to the rescue and do something like maybe make William Weld, Lindsey Graham, or John Kasich our 45th president in the name of human decency.

It’s been an interesting transition. White supremacist Steven Bannon is on the White House staff. Michael Flynn was made Trump’s national security advisor despite being forced to retire from the military in 2014.. Alleged southern racist Jeff Sessions has been nominated to be attorney general. Rick Perry of Texas has been nominated to head the Dept of Energy though he’s on record saying the department should be abolished. Oklahoma’s own Scott Pruitt who’s shown no ability whatsoever to keep Oklahoma from becoming the earthquake fracking capitol of the world has been pegged to head EPA. Bulldog General Mattis will head the Dept of Defense and in all candor he’s actually the only one I would confirm. Exxon’s CEO Rex Tillerson has been selected to head the state department despite ties to Putin… see Lee Marvin character in Gorky Park scene below as to Tillerson’s style of diplomacy. Former Dick Cheney neocon crazy John Bolton is the preference to be deputy of state under Rex T. The person from Carl’s Hamburgers who made those fast food erotica commercials will head the Dept of Labor. Two former Goldman Sach executives will head U.S. Treasury and the Dept Commerce. Pretty much still looks like a swamp all things considered, just lighter in shade.

Adding to this Donald Trump still hasn’t shown his tax return. Still hasn’t divested his business holdings. Has shared with the country he doesn’t feel he needs the daily national security briefings because he went to Wharton, watches Daily Joe, and is a smart guy, you know. Even more, Trump has openly lied about his knowledge of Russian hacking and he recently disparaged his soon to be own CIA which at some point he might need in the event he ever takes part in one of ‘his’ own daily intelligence briefings with someone other than Bannon or Flynn. Surprisingly, Billy Bush has yet to be nominated for a cabinet post nor has Sarah Palin been named ambassador to Russia even though she can see Putin from her front yard.

The Time Man of the Year piece is excellent and mostly explains the perspective from Democrats in the rustbelt who ended up voting for Trump.

I have my own theory. This first video is pretty much it in a nutshell.

Keep praying for our country.

Sigh.

My favorite scene from Gorky Park. Maybe it’s time to start thinking like a Russian.

Again… I hate to be vague or ambiguous. Shortest distance between two points is a straight line. So I’m not going to waste anymore words and get to it.

For the second straight game without Victor Oladipo, the Oklahoma City Thunder basically sucked in pretty much every facet of the game albeit the opening minutes of the third period when Billy Donovan couldn’t watch anymore from several of his younger role players. Nick Collison and Anthony Morrow started the second half and the Thunder cut a 19 point Jazz lead down to six points. But Nick Collison and Anthony Morrow are too old to do this for sustained periods of time so as you and I were watching this we knew this wasn’t sustainable.

I write on my own rogue blog. I’ll never have a dumpster fire message board. I don’t have Billy Donovan’s cell number. Sam Presti and I have never had lunch together although he would love if he ever did being that we’re both history majors and basketball addicts. We’d have a great deal to talk about. What I’m saying here is I don’t kiss ass just for off the record access which in most cases is very seldom used in modern sports journalism anyway because if you write the truth you lose the very off the record access which you ultimately don’t have the balls to ever use anyway. I know, that was almost as confusing as trying to explain/discern which has failed the world more–the Bush or Obama Doctrines on foreign policy. But it was cathartic for me at least.

Back to the straight line.

OKC lost at Utah on Wednesday night by a 109-89 count on the second night of a road back to back after being blown out the night before in Portland in a game which they basically conceded at the end of the fourth period. I don’t want to read any nonsense from the off the record writers on any of this. The back to back didn’t matter, Oklahoma City just sucked and looked lost in both games on both ends of the floor without Victor Oladipo’s 36 minutes, 17 points, 6 rebounds, handful of assists — and most importantly, the reminder to Russell Westbrook that Sam Presti has one other guard or wing player on the team who can actually play on both ends of the floor for sustained minutes.

I hate to pile on, but here I go. Andre Roberson, who ostensibly is regarded as part of Oklahoma City’s core future played thirty two minutes on the same unit as Russell Westbrook and didn’t score a point. That would be like me playing in a mens rec league ice hockey game on the same line with Gretzky and Messier and not getting a goal or an assist. Roberson was -11.

Semaj Christon did hit a desperation heave at the end of the first half, but otherwise he got torched and was -20.

Jerami Grant is what he is…an offensive project so I’ll skip that rant, but he was -23.

Alex Abrines actually made a three point basket, albeit it was in garbage time. I won’t write anything tough about Abrines because he’s a long way from home and looks like he might start crying if I did. My mother would never put up with me being a bullying blogger or a Trump supporter so I won’t go off on Abrines.

Domas Sabonis scored a couple of buckets early then got lost in the game the wrong way. Was that organic enough, Sam?

Kyle Singler played 16 minutes and did nothing of discernable consequence I could detect.

Jofferey Lauvergne didn’t get to play much because Nick Collison took his minutes tonight so no rant on Lauvergne, besides he’s usually a positive contributor.

If you include Lauvergne’s numbers from last night, Sam Presti’s one way youngsters played a combined 120 minutes. Combined they shot 11-33, grabbed 16 rebounds, had 6 assists, and were a collective -85.

In sixteen minutes of play, Collison had two points, four rebounds, and was +9. In 28 minutes of play, Anthony Morrow was +3 as Collison and Morrow were the only two Thunder players on the plus side.

I’m not advocating Morrow and Collison should start. What I’m advocating is maybe even when Victor Oladipo and Cameron Payne both get back sometime in the next week, Sam Presti and Clay Bennett will still need another reliable two way vet wing player as in someone like Wilson Chandler in Denver. Hint, hint. 60 is the new 100, baby.

Note to Clay Bennett, oil is trending back upwards in the low 50’s and is projected to maybe crest at the 58-60 range in 2017. As we well know in Oklahoma, 60 is the new 100 in the oil business. There’s no reason to have resigned Russell Westbrook if you’re not going to put some honest two way players around Westbrook, Oladipo, and Adams. None. Russell Westbrook needs some help. Don’t lose another superstar, please. They don’t come by easily in the NBA.

The Thunder host Phoenix at home on Saturday afternoon.

Note to Sam and Clay, let’s do lunch.

As of late, the Thunder have usually started slowly then behind Russell Westbrook stormed back in the fourth quarter. Not so in Portland on Tuesday night as this game was over at the end of the third period. Russell Westbrook never re-entered the game in the fourth period and didn’t register a triple double as the Trailblazers routed the Thunder by a score of 114-95.

If Billy Donovan and Sam Presti wanted to see what Victor Oladipo means to this Thunder team they got an up close and personal look–and it wasn’t at all pretty as the Thunder looked bad offensively, looked lost defensively, looked in disarray with its starters, and even worse with the bench. The Thunder got hammered in the paint, got beat in transition, and basically played one of their worst games of the season.

I hope that wasn’t too vague or ambiguous.

Oladipo sat with a sprained right wrist as Jerami Grant got the start. Don’t get me wrong, I like Jerami Grant’s defense, hustle, and athleticism, but when you’re already spacing challenged with Andre Roberson, I’m not sure Donovan can get away with Oladipo sitting in a splendid dark blue blazer and tie while Jerami Grant starts. On this night it ultimately didn’t matter because Anthony Morrow, Andre Roberson, Alex Abrines, Jerami Grant, and Semaj Christon all struggled with their shots.

OKC actually came out of the gates rather crisply and led 27-21 near the end of the first quarter when Westbrook took his customary first break of the game. In essence, that was the turning in this game as Portland then took control of the game with neither Westbrook or Oladipo on the floor. The Trailblazers led 32-31 to end the first. From the point Westbrook sat at 27-21, the Trailblazers outscored the Thunder 71-44 through the end of the third period. Ball game, and really no reason for the OKC starters to play in the fourth period considering the Thunder play in Utah tonight with of all things first place in the Northwest Division on the line against a Jazz team which has been playing well of late.

Westbrook’s line went 20-6-6, but in fairness to Westbrook, from the point he sat that first time the rest of his team was so bad minus Steven Adams and Joffery Lauvernge, maybe it was meant to be one of the those NBA hangover nights when you rest your superstar and look forward to the Jazz game tonight.

There were some silver linings though. Steven Adams had his third straight solid game offensively and is on a shooting tear currently. I thought as per the usual norm, Joffery Lauvernge did his array of little things well. Kyle Singler played in the fourth and did some nice things during mop up time, though I’m sure some on Daily Thunder and the Sports Animal will blame him for this loss (sigh). Jerami Grant got time to work on his offensive game in the fourth and made five of six free throws in the game. Again, I like Grant as a player, but maybe not so much without Oladipo there to mitigate the Andre Roberson spacing dilemma.

As I close this recap down I’m sure the DT millennials are feverishly working their dozen different plus/minus variations to figure out what happened last night. Here’s what happened, OKC’s second best player and the guard who has been sliding over to cover bench units as well, was in a suit and tie watching the game. That’s what happened.

So you can either beat the Thunder down and wear yourself to the nub like the DT millens trying to come to terms with this loss from a metric lense or maybe take the grownup approach and realize that this Thunder team without Westbrook, Oladipo, and Adams all healthy doesn’t have the overall talent to sustain for very long.

Get well soon, Victor Oladipo.

Thunder in Utah tonight with first place in the Northwest Division on the line.

Nick will always be one of my favorites.