OKC’s Thunder vets stepped up in big way on Wednesday night in Portland, unfortunately Ajay Mitchell sat the game with some ankle discomfort, and the other young guys as young role players in the NBA usually do…struggled mightily on the road.
The result was a Portland Trailblazer 118-108 win and a sweep of the teams’ two night back to back. The Thunder drop to 8-4 in the standings which as of today puts them in the No. 7 seed and in play-in status along with the No. 10 Denver Nuggets.
It’s early with 70 games still to play, but the games missed by JDub, Chet, and Cason is one thing…but taking out Ajay’s offensive production in my mind is not something Coach Mark can solve on the road against quality playoff competition.
Shai, Isaiah, Caruso, and Aday played well enough for a win, however the rest of the team struggled mightily as the rest of the team went a collective 10-40 from the field.
10-40 from the field will get you zero wins on the road versus playoff teams hungry for wins and seeding position.
Ajay Mitchell’s offense can’t be replenished consistently enough for him to be the fourth Thunder starter sitting and watching. This is not sustainable even with Aday Mara playing high quality minutes as a rookie and btw I have El Grande No. 2 on my ROY list behind only his Michigan mate Yaxel Lindeborg.
Sam Presti is a smart dude, but I was moaning and groaning about Yaxel in the summer before the draft, and alas, Sam instead listened to his guys instead of OKC’s No. 1 OKC Thunder Underground blogger. When you have all the assets Sam has THAT WAS if ever the time to bundle and move up in the draft and grab Yaxel as well. His human story is a compelling one beyond the stats.
Yaxel last night in Houston was the best player on the court. Doris Burke was barely able to contain herself. Settle down, Doris…it’s a marathon regular season. He’s 24 with an NBA ready body without the 82 games a year tread on his body parts, plus… his basketball IQ is outstanding, plus along with Mara they won a national championship. Unlike Chet, who never made it past the Sweet 16 at Gonzaga…Yaxel and El Grande have that winning chip on their shoulders.
Can any of you imagine Yaxel and Mara together last night in Portland with the Thunder? It wouldn’t have mattered if Cason and Ajay had played albeit Chet and JDub. Yaxel is a Swiss army knife who can play all five positions.
You put Yaxel out there and you’ll be taking the punches and stepping over the road blocks. Micah Peavy and Nique Clifford are somewhat functional role players, but on the road against playoff level competition when it matters…we’ll have to see.
Anyway…enough of that for the time being. In spite of that Sam Presti misstep…his guys have to suck it up and at the least make it up to the No. 6 spot and avoid the play-in and the Spurs until the Western Conference Finals.
Because right now if the Thunder don’t get healthy versions of Cason, Chet, and Ajay in March and beyond on the floor and not sitting while watching in street clothes… the Thunder playing the Spurs in post season is not a concern. The Thunder simply won’t get to that turn in the road to play the Spurs who have now won 12 games in a row.
These young guys all going down is an amazing thing because it’s been Shai, Caruso, and Isaiah who’ve for the most part carried them on their backs these past three years. They’re the three guys with the most wear on their bodies…especially Shai. Which leads into my Four Stars of the Game:
1 Isaiah: 34 minutes, 20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists. One of the best games I’ve seen from Isaiah. He more than answered the bell.
2 Caruso: 29 minutes on that worn out body, plus he stayed in the game after a tough knee to knee. 14 pts, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals. I’m not even going write where Chet would have been after that knee to knee. I’ll just write Chet’s not a hockey player, Alex is.
3 Shai: 36 minutes: 31 pts, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal. You add those Ajay numbers and it’s a different game most likely because the Thunder had a real chance to win this game unlike on Tuesday night.
4 Aday Mara: I don’t consider El Grande a rookie anymore. He’s playing starters’ minutes and embracing a starter’s importance as far as role. He’s contributing mightily. You look at his stat-line every night and it’s impressive. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and one blocked shot last night.
LA Clippers up next on this tough road trip. Ajay Mitchell needs to play. The role players need to make more than 10 of 40 shots. Some guys need to step up and grow up as far as the road in the NBA goes.
Mike J