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 what we’re approaching on Saturday night in Game 7… and that might be what Shai needs to brings to PayCom on Saturday evening.
You lead…they follow. This is not complex, my Canadian friend.
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.
Have a wonderful Friday, Oklahoma.
Mike J