As an OU fan who watched Buddy play in Norman from 2013-16 this was a special night of hoops for me in Game 7 last night. MJ almost cried for Buddy, but didn’t. I’m trying to pull back on all of tmy cancer journey crying.
Keep this in mind about Buddy, in ’16 he won Big 12 Player of the Year and National Player of the Year as he led Lon Kruger’s Sooners to their fifth Final Four in program history. Plus, if I remember correctly–he was a lottery pick by the Sacramento Kings.
33 points, 9 three pointers, 12-15 from the field, several key defensive plays, and he tied a record for most threes ever made in a Game 7.
I’m just happy for Buddy. This is his 8th NBA season and in all truth the first good team Buddy has played on his professional career. Buddy has now played in a grand total of 11 NBA playoff games.
But keep this in mind about Buddy moving forward…in his eight year NBA career he and Steph have been the most prolific three point makers in the league. And again to give Warrior GM Michael Dunleavy some credit…when Klay left this summer to join the Dallas Mavericks…Mike Dunleavy found a way to fill that three point shooting void by adding Buddy to the Warrior mix.
And here’s another thing…with the Warriors, Buddy has improved markedly with the defensive side of his game. He’s no longer an easy guy to attack defensively. The Warriors win with defense and Buddy has learned on to play some defense. He’s no Luka, baby.
I thought both Steph and Draymond sucked in Game 5 and Game 6…and that’s exactly what I wrote on my ‘tell it like it is’ blog. I THOUGHT THEY BOTH SUCKED.
But Jimmy Butler was there to calm the waters was his level-headed approach and evidently the Warriors had a team meeting after Game Game 6. Both Steph and Draymond told the team they had to be better in Game 7…and they both kept their word in that regard.
Draymond, of course, got his obligaatory technical early in the game, but also made a couple of early threes to get his team in rythmn.
Steph only scored 22 points in this game, but overall was superb. He was the point guard the Warriors must have if they want to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves. He eliminated the weak turnovers, rebounded like Russell Westbrook, was STRONG ON THE BALL, won 50-50 battles for the ball, and scored the ball in the second half when the game was still in doubt.
He basically triple doubled with a 22, 10, 8 night when his team had to have it to move to the final eight teams still breathing basketball life.
Now we’re down to eight good basketball teams, and MJ would say this…. this is a year where I think eight of the eight could conceivably advance to their conference championship finals. Like the recent NCAA Tournament…this could be a stellar Final 8 for the quest to hoist the O’Brien Trophy.
The Minnesota TWolves are not a typical No. 6 seed. Any team with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler is not a typical No. 7 seed which had to win a play-in game just to advance to the playoffs. If you think I’m full of shit..I would suggest you consider what No. 4 Indiana did on the road yesterday versus No. 1 Cleveland in the East.
While I think the OKC Thunder are young and loaded, I in no way think they’re unbeatble. Quite the opposite.
So enough of the talk and the blogging…Game 1 tonight in OKC. Denver vs. the Thunder with their pretty little neatly folded T-shirts and noisemakers. I think I’ll wear my powder blue Jamal jersey to the gym today. I actually still have my 2012 noisemaker which had a team photo on the backside. Name that roster without Google and see if you’re a real NBA or Thunder fan.
This should be great basketball in all four series. Or at least we hope it will be.
I haven’t played the below song since the cancer journey became part of my life. I think this might be the right time to play it on my blog again.
Have a wonderful Monday.
Mike J