I think for the most part as long as Gallinari and Chris Paul are in OKC the average Thunder fan is going to get a fairly entertaining night of NBA basketball in the games played at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
On the road…not so sure.
But on this Friday night the Thunder fans got their money’s worth in an exciting 127-119 overtime win against a legit Sixer team which should be a contender to make the conference finals in the East.
From my view–it was easily OKC’s best win of the season as it was a win over a possible championship contender.
Chris Paul, Big Gallo, SGA, and even Terrance Ferguson were excellent in this game. Especially—Ferguson who despite working thru personal difficulties of late in his life had one of his best games as a professional. Maybe this is something he can build on for the Thunder’s sake and his own.
The Thunder are now 5-3 at home for the season and 0-4 on the road.
The road gets very tough the next two games as the Thunder have a back to back against the Lakers and the Clippers. It won’t get any tougher this season.
But in this season you can’t fret over a tough upcoming road back to back. Instead, when you get a good moment like the one which came on Friday night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena you enjoy it and accept it for what it is. You enjoy watching Gallinari’s smooth game for as long as he’s here in Oklahoma City.
So how would have Gallinari and Chris Paul fit in with a starting five of Kevin Durant, Steven Adams, and a healthy Andre Roberson back in 2016?
We’ll never know. But for now we’re seeing them with Adams, SGA, and Ferguson in the early days of Sam Presti’s rebuild in Oklahoma City….and it’s fun when they play in Oklahoma City.
Next up… Kawhi and Paul George on the road.