Wiggins, Wolves Beat Thunder Again in OKC, 119-117

As a Thunder blogger/observer I had the date December 10 circled as when I guessed the Thunder would start their trek back to a realistic mean of what they are as a Western Conference contender. Up to that point the Thunder had feasted on the NBA’s easiest schedule coming out of the gate going 16-8. Since then the schedule has gotten tougher and the Thunder are 9-7. If only the Thunder had taken care of business against the Wizards and T Wolves at home they’d be a fairly impressive 11-5 for the stretch. But such are numbers and trends in the NBA as the Thunder sit at 25-15 and pretty much what I think they are….a No. 4 or so seed in the West.

It is exhausting following this team at times. They seem to be bent on their own demise or lack of achievement despite how much cash ownership throws the way of the roster. They find and create ways to lose games against lesser teams like the Wizards and Wolves.

Take this loss for example. Terrance Ferguson had his best game of the season going 4-4 for 12 points and a team high +12, but yet he never saw the floor in the fourth period as Andrew Wiggins was going off for 40 points against his favorite team to play against in the Thunder. Explain to me how that makes any sense whatsoever. It makes none. It makes as much sense as extending Billy Donovan’s option year without seeing how this team does in March and April.

Ferguson had his best game as a starter, Adams was solid, Westbrook was decent, Paul George was okay…and yet the Thunder for the second straight game at home wilted against a sub .500 team. Homes games against .500 teams this year are precious commodities. Ones which should be valued given how tough the Thunder’s final 14 games of the regular season will be. Yet, in Thunderland there never appears to be all that much urgency. If you get outrebounded or out hustled on defense it’s not that big of a deal. Like I wrote earlier…these guys are like an extension of MAPS in that the team is the baseball park or the river. The people in OKC I guess are just glad to have an NBA team regardless of how they perform in relation to their payroll. I’m not paying for it so I’m not sweating it either.

Interesting to see Nick Collison back at the Peake for this game and with it the announcement he’s been hired in some capacity to help with the team. Here’s a suggestion for Sam Presti… groom Nick Collison to be your next head coach. Groom someone who might throw a chair or say something to the team when they’re loafing or underachieving or not visualizing the big picture goals for the team come early May. I know, shit like this doesn’t happen in the Age of Millenialism, but that’s what I would do if Nick Collison has any interest.

I would hope or assume or pray that Presti and ownership do not equate this level of payroll with this type of performance on the whole as acceptable. So much for the rainbows and butterflies feeling in Portland. Save the money and install a water park with dolphins in Bricktown instead. At least get something in return for your money and see if you can win 45 games a year with $20 million less a year in payroll.

In closing, Nerlen Noels took a brutal shot to his head when he fell after confronting Andrew Wiggins at the rim. It was awful. I hope he’s okay this morning. My prayers are with him. But really, that play was just a microcosm of the game with Wiggins conquering the passive Thunder for the second time in a two week span on the loser’s floor.

The indifferent Thunder play the surging San Antonio Spurs next. I feel some Pop on the fall of Rome motivating me more than the play of the Thunder.

Andrew Wiggins obviously loves playing in the Peake. Maybe it’s the lighting or the Thunder Girls or the fact he played his college hoops in somewhat near Lawrence, Kansas. OKC can’t even beat this guy when Carmelo makes a shot. I wonder what Wiggins would do if he played 41 games a season inside the Peake.