Another tough night for the Thunder as they fell 103-99 to the Trailblazers on Sunday night in Portland. OKC drops to 4-5 on the season and has still yet to win a game against either a Northwest Division or Western Conference opponent. Of OKC’s four wins to date, three came against Eastern Conference teams who probably won’t make the playoffs and the one quality win came against the Milwaukee Bucks who should make the playoffs. OKC got blown out at Utah, lost two close games to Minnesota, and lost this close game to Portland. To date, OKC has not played a game against an elite team from the West unless you’re giving Minnesota too much credit this early in the season.
Another lethargic performance by OKC’s starters. Steven Adams was brutal and basically played one of the worst games I’ve seen him play with the Thunder. Russell Westbrook had another tough shooting night and missed three free throws at the game’s most critical moment in the final minute of play. Carmelo Anthony got ejected on a questionable Flagrant 2 call in the third period after starting the game red hot shooting the ball. I thought for the second straight game Paul George was OKC’s best player on the floor.
OKC’s bench was pretty good actually as Ray Felton was outstanding and Jerami Grant was his rock solid self again. The problem wasn’t OKC’s bench, it was basically Carmelo getting ejected, Russell struggling at crunch time, and Steven Adams playing like he was hung over. That’s a lot of payroll getting outplayed by a non-contender like Portland.
For a team who on paper has one of the top five rosters in the NBA this isn’t a great start especially the way the team has been playing late in close games.
Super Team this—Super Team that, you gotta bring your A game mentally and physically to the arena to win games in this league.
OKC at Sacramento on Tuesday night. It’s early, but a loss to the feeble Kings coupled with a 4-6 start wouldn’t be a good thing despite the gentle warm things Brian Davis whispers into Thunder ears on the local Fox telecasts.
Might be time for Billy Donovan to say fuck a few times in the locker room and throw a chair… if NBA coaches are allowed to do such things under the collective bargaining agreement.
Always remember…it’s a star/agent driven league.
This call was complete bullshit. They don’t make this call in the North Edmond Little Girl’s Rec Soccer league. Total bullshit. Just me talking out loud as a former hockey coach, but in a situation like this I go to war for my player and if I get ejected then that’s just the way it goes and Mo Cheeks finishes the game. Just saying. Great opportunity to light a fire under your team missed by Billy Donovan. An elbow wasn’t thrown, it was there in a natural position to command space on the play.