We’re back from Colorado just in time for the Thunder’s opening night in San Antonio. It was wonderful and sublime with the fall color in Greenwood Village. I have fallen in love with eight month year-old golden lab Sunny. He actually had me at hello with his incessant hugging and kissing and breakneck speed in retrieving a fuzzy basketball in the backyard. Our Sunny’s reminds me of the Sunny Hayes-Brad Pitt character in the movie Formula I, which I liked very much… the gist of their indefatigueable spirits are pretty much the same. I need to see the new Brad Pitt dog movie. I hear it’s beyond great.
MJ loves the spirit… my OU Sooners offense better start showing some of ‘that’ in Starksville this Saturday if they wish to have a season not being compared to the three pitiful seasons of John Blake in Norman. I’ll write more on the Sooners pitiful offense, which shouldn’t be pitiful… later in the week.
This is not the time to pile on with all of the ‘experts’ on the Sports Animal all ready in full blown blow it up mode one week after Brent Venables was named the National Coach of the Week after the amazing win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry. There are times when I absolutely hate some of my fellow OU football fans. You can’t jump off a ledge every time you lose an SEC game. You have to grow from these setbacks because everyone in the league is experiencing this occurence.
Two words…get better, then three words….every single week. This is football—this is life.
This week the Thunder have my undivided attention on opening night and on Thursday in their home opener versus my second favorite team in the NBA, that being the Denver Nuggets.
Also, before my top three narratives…Sam Presti just signed Cason Wallace to his rookie extension contract at something close to or around to $28 million per season. This had to be done and now its done. The extensions to Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain will be coming due down the road as well. I’m not going to fret on this because Sam Presti is the best GM in the league.
Now to my Top Three Thunder opening night narratives:
1 The return of JDub. JDub in my view is the Thunder’s best overall two-way basketball player. JDub has the soul of a ‘complete’ hockey player. He does so many different things well on both ends which make Shai a better player and the Thunder a more complete team. But in regards to the matchup with the Spurs…JDub’s physicality and versatilty define the Thunder’s defense. JDub plus Cason Wallace’s defensive speed and ability to stay in front of any guard in the league are why losing Lu Dort isn’t the end of great basketball defense in Oklahoma City.
JDub’s return is my No. 1 Thunder narrative. Period.
2 Cason Wallace. Sam Presti has shown us what he thinks of Cason by trading Lu Dort to Atlanta and by resigning Cason before the season started. Cason’s role on this team is of immense importance moving forward. It’s time for the rest of the NBA universe to witness what Cason is capable of as a complete basketball player getting starter’s minutes.
Quick question before heading to No.3 … which NBA team has the best two John Calipari – Kentucky guard combo in the league?
Answer: Sam Presti with Shai and Cason.
3 Coach Mark’s ability to insulate Chet’s fragile confidence issues in regard to Wembyama’s presence on the court. This is a nuance thing in such how does Coach Mark with the other Thunder players as a team minimize Wemby in the paint near the rim and beyond? plus…is the rookie Mara capable of giving the Thunder ten minutes of quality time against top NBA teams as the season moves along?
These are the things at the top of my list heading into today and tonight’s amazing three games on NBC’s Opening Day/Night marathon. It’s time for MJ Yogananda to put on his NBA blogging goggles and get serious.
Peace and love to all, MJ.