The game itself was almost unwatchable as the Thunder without Russell Westbrook held on to beat the abysmal Cleveland Cavaliers by a 95-86 count. The game would have been a complete downer if not for one thing…that thing being the sizzling play of Dennis Schroder.
OKC’s bench struggled. Patrick Patterson couldn’t hold on to the basketball and complete basketball plays. Nerlens Noel played like he was hungover. Ray Felton struggled at times looking rusty. Alex Abrines wasn’t horrible, but he was 3-12 shooting the basketball, albeit the three makes were three of the seven total three point makes for the Thunder on the night. Hamidou Diallo had a nice first half, but struggled with some bad fouls which seemed to derail his energy.
It was one of those nights when young role players struggled on the road after playing some really sharp basketball for several games. But it’s hard to blame them being the setting in Cleveland is so depressing that even the Cav players don’t really want to be there. Kyle Korver would be a nice landing spot for the three point shooting challenged Thunder who were 7-27 shooting threes on this night.
As far as the starters…Terrance Ferguson was almost unnoticeable. Jerami Grant was off and on. Steven Adams was okay and I’d give him a B-. Which brings us to Batman and Robin on this night when Russell Westbrook was not able to play because of the ankle sprain.
A funny thing happened though. Dennis Schroder emerged as Batman, while Paul George seemed content with still being Robin even with Westbrook sitting. I could care less. But it’s something I’ve noticed with Paul George since his arrival in OKC. He doesn’t seem to crave being ‘the guy’. A solid player and leader yes, but not what you describe as a player who has to be the center of attention. The almost perfect second best player on a team.
On this night it was clearly Dennis Schroder playing the Russell Westbrook role as he led the Thunder with 28 points and made the plays when the plays had to be made coming down the stretch.
This is not a game you dwell on long. It was the first night of a back to back with the Houston Rockets looming tomorrow night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena. This is clearly a game where the Thunder need both Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder on the floor to counter James Harden and Chris Paul. It’s one thing to disguise the absence of Westbrook versus the lowly Cavs, but something entirely different with the Rockets coming to town for the national TNT game tonight.
Carmelo Anthony returns for his first return visit to Oklahoma City since last season’s dismal ending in Salt Lake and Carmelo’s then foolish exit interview. I mean, I hope there isn’t booing though. Oklahoma City isn’t a red dirt dumb Trump city anymore. Heck these people must be reading the NY Times nowadays given they just elected Kendra Horn to Congress as their first ever Dem in the contemporary era of politics in Oklahoma. I’m guessing Kevin Durant will no longer be booed again as well when he comes back to OKC. There’s now more compassion, empathy, and smarts inside the building since it could be possible more people in the market are more aware than they were say eight years ago. Maybe there is a residual culture effect to having an NBA team. Who would have thought…Oklahoma City would emerge as a mecca of liberal diversity and thought? Who would have possibly thought this possible ten years ago? Maybe it was the Sam Anderson book? Maybe these people figure it’s time to somewhat begin to smarten up just a little since they receive 1.5 federal dollars for every dollar they pay in to the United States Treasury. Know what I mean? You need to be smart enough to at least vote in your own self interest. You’ll never ever hear Mary Fallin or Kevin Stitt give that federal dollar exchange rate in Oklahoma. Like in ever. This didn’t escape Sam Anderson as well.
Move over Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver. Here comes Oklahoma City. Just kidding. That was benevolent sarcasm.
I really never paid attention to Drew Edmondson until I walked in on his speech at Fassler’s Hall. He was a good speaker in person and I liked him. I like his wife as well. A history major no less, go figure. A very nice couple. They’re probably lucky they don’t have to spend the next four years of their lives dealing with the Oklahoma state legislature. Good luck with that.