After three days of beach inner peace in Melbourne, Florida — I feel refreshed, reset, and ready to follow the Thunder’s season. It was wonderful. Great weather, almost completely empty beaches, collecting sea shells with my wife, talking surf fishing with the locals, sea food and cheeseburgers, watching the World Series and college football at night. I know the Thunder lost by three at Minnesota and then blew out the Bulls–but for the most part I was only a casual observer for those two games.
Last night was my first night back and as my custom I was seriously focused for the Thunder’s game in Milwaukee.
I thought it was easily OKC’s best game of the season as they pretty much did what they wanted to in a surprisingly easy 110-91 win over the promising Bucks. OKC improved to 4-3 and now has a two game winning streak heading into Friday’s home game versus the Celtics.
The standings mean little to me this early in the season. Just get better every game and define the roles on the team while getting a feel for one another. What I saw on Tuesday night made me feel this Thunder team has some very good team basketball in front of them as they make their journey through this season.
I can’t think of one thing to bitch about in this recap. Not one. Other than Nick didn’t see the floor. C’mon, Billy Donovan.
Five Thunder players scored in double figures while Felton and Roberson were both one point away from scoring in double figures themselves. And, oh…BTW–Andre Roberson looked liked John Stockton perfectly swishing his two free throw attempts. Andre Being the Ball is what that was about. He must be reading okcthunderground.com. Be the ball, Andre, be the ball, buddy.
Something about Raymond Felton as well. Quite frankly, he’s giving OKC the best backup point guard play they ever had in the ten years here. Some might bristle at that comment and say, “What about Reggie Jackson?” But what I would say is fuck the little bitch Reggie and I’m going with Ray Felton. I really like what I’m seeing from Felton.
Russell almost had another triple double, but this isn’t the season of chasing Oscar. This is the season of chasing a ring so trip dubs aren’t our focus this season. The ball moved, the Thunder had 25 assists as a team. Teams which move the ball win championships–teams which don’t move the ball are on golf courses in May and June. That’s a fairly simple axiom of basketball.
Paul George and Carmelo look more comfortable every game. I have nothing to bitch about there except I am a little disappointed Presti couldn’t land LeBron on this year’s roster.
Steven Adams was excellent and is on a nice run of basketball pretty much looking like the guy from two seasons ago in post season. As I wrote earlier in this season–Adams should be the one player who benefits the most from all the space created by the additions of PG and Melo. Oceans of space and time are there whenever he and Russ nod and wink at each other. That’s another axiom of basketball. Space and time…move the ball. This isn’t as complex as figuring out health care.
Jerami Grant was great in this game with a 17 point performance. Given the fact he’s been a member of my two favorite teams–the Thunder and Sixers…Jerami is one of my favorite Thunder players. Plus, like all serious OU basketball fans how could I not love a guy related to Harvey ‘The General’ Grant from OU’s ’88 championship final team.
Patrick Patterson looks like he’s getting healthy and he played 23 solid minutes on Tuesday night.
I still want to see more from Alex Abrines, but I’m not going to bitch when the Thunder win by 19 points on the road against a playoff caliber team. He made a nice power move on the baseline, then missed the dunk. Great move, but finish. I’m seeing more overall TSN toughness in his game and less of the Euro frilliness…both good things.
The Thunder host the Celtics on Friday inside Chesapeake Energy Arena and it should be a great game with what I think will be a playoff feel inside the building. But really—who needs Big Al Horford when Sam Presti can put Russ, PG, and Melo together in Mystery, Alaska?
Game 7 of the World Series tonight and of course I’m for the Dodgers as my son and I watched so many of these guys play in AAA for the OKC Dodgers…even Clayton Kershaw on an injury rehab assignment pitched here in July. Chris Taylor, the leadoff hitter, is one of those guys and he’s pretty much my favorite Dodger.
LET’S GO DODGERS!