I’m going to tell it like I see it on this blog…period. I’ve listened and read the local takes from others who write or talk about the team before getting on here this morning. As Billy Donovan said in his postgame it was a game of two halves. OKC won the first half 55-37. Boston won the second half 64-39. Just so Billy D and his team know… it’s the second half which matters most because you know that’s when NBA games are usually decided. Anotherwords, good teams usually have a run or two in them even when they’re trailing at half.
So why would OKC go into a coma after one half of play? Why would that happen? None of OKC’s three stars have ever won a ring. So there in no way should ever be an issue with competitive complacency from this team. Quite the opposite should be true…Westbrook, George, and especially Carmelo Anthony should be playing with a chip on their collective shoulders in search of NBA championship validation.
What happened in that OKC locker room at halftime? Were they laid back drinking pina coladas and talking fashion trends?
Let’s call it like it is right now. OKC played like a championship contender the first twenty-four minutes, then didn’t bother to show up in the second half. They loafed on defense. The ball didn’t move. It was ugly iso ball with the team only garnishing 4 assists the entire second half. This is why for the most part the NBA is a star driven league versus being a coach driven league. That being it appeared OKC couldn’t have possibly listened to anything Billy Donovan said to them in the second half of this game…because if they did then Billy Donovan should be fired this afternoon.
I put this one on Russell Westbrook. It’s his team. You gotta take ownership of what you want to be as a team. You have to take pride in playing the right way. You don’t owe that to the fans, you owe it to yourself.
Again–this is pretty damn simple. Teams which loaf on defense and don’t move the basketball are usually done after one round of the NBA Playoffs. As in ‘Gone Fishing’ or on the golf course.
After the Warriors won their first ring—you know what they went and did…they won 73 games the next season without Kevin Durant.
You know what the Warriors did this past playoff run with Kevin Durant—they won their second ring and went 16-1 in post season play. My point? These guys are competitive motherfuckers and it matters to them how they play the game.
The Golden State Warriors don’t just compete against the other 29 teams in the league, they compete against themselves and the notion they want to become this era’s historic dynasty. How they play ‘Matters To Them’.
So…OKC is now 4-4 after eight games. Like I said before on here the record itself isn’t a big deal this early in the season if steady incremental improvement occurs. Effort to me should be there every game and for 48 minutes. Sure, it’s the NBA and it’s an 82 game marathon, but this game was at home and the Thunder were coming off two days of rest and pretty much healthy. Correct me if I’m wrong…but I don’t believe anywhere in the NBA bylaws where it states teams can’t play hard for 48 minutes.
Boston, which is pretty much a new team itself, has now won seven games in a row holding opponents under 95 points a game for seven straight games. Plus, they lost Gordon Hayward for the season in their season opener.
It pretty much comes down to playing hard and playing smart. Not complex.
OKC at Portland on Sunday evening.