You have to look for positives in a season like this one in Oklahoma City. Glass half full has to be the mantra. This will be easier for Oklahoma State football fans. They’ve lived this their entire lives. Rationalization fuels their existence. They hang a 1945 poser championship banner in one of their end zones. Sam Presti is counting on these people for sure.
So I guess sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans in the early stages of the season when the Pels didn’t have Zion Williamson is a positive. I know this though after watching Alvin Gentry’s clock management at the end of this game—Billy Donovan at least isn’t there just yet this season.
The Thunder improved to 8-11 with their third and final win over New Orleans on Sunday afternoon with an exciting 107-104 win over the Pels inside the Smoothie whatever Arena.
Such a strange game. Steven Adams with Chris Paul was getting the ball late in the game on the pick and roll. As well he should have considering rookie string bean Jaxson or Jackson Hayes was supposed to be guarding Adams.
Stunningly—Steven went to the free throwline late in the game making 5 of 6 and pretty much was the MVP in this one for the Thunder with a double double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Big Gallo was excellent as well stroking that velvet smooth shot of his which is as pleasing to watch as the best golf swing on the PGA tour. Phil’s maybe would be the comparison. Watching Gallo’s stroke is as pleasing as viewing an attractive naked woman on the Fox Trump Christian Network.
Chris Paul for an older man played well. Schroder scored some points again off the bench yet was -11.
None of the youth core of the Thunder’s future did all that much for me as SGA’s game of late does not inspire all that much. He’s smooth and glides somewhat like expensive bourbon, but beyond that I’m not all that sure I’d trade Chris Paul just yet and hand the car keys to an NBA team over to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to drive by himself.
Even though the Thunder have won only one game against a team with a winning record this season it’s hard to already lump Billy Donovan into the Mike Gundy/Alvin Gentry category nineteen games into an NBA season. Unlike Gundy—at least Billy Donovan doesn’t wear a ridiculous looking mid-life crisis mullet. In fact—I’ll say this… Billy D looks GQ smooth except when’s he’s smacking the gum like a roller skating car hop at a Sonic drive-in.
If you haven’t noticed yet this is my best simile driven recap of the season so far. Dan Jenkins would be proud…I hope. Maybe semi proud.
Some on the Thunder post game call in show were talking playoff run after this third win versus the Pels. I don’t think so. Six of their wins have come against the G League Warriors and the team Alvin Gentry is currently employed by. Otherwise–this Thunder team is 2-11 and the only team with a winning record they’ve beaten is Philadelphia.
Yet…you don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade. Each Thunder fan is entitled to handle this season as they see fit from an internal manner of speaking. But again…I’m fairly certain these Thunder aren’t the St. Louis Blues or the Washington Nationals lurking in the shadows of doing all that much once we get beyond December 15th and trade season opens and stays open till mid February.
Next up are the Indiana Pacers as they come to town this week to play the Thunder.