We knew he would be a good player in Indy. It was only going to be a matter of time. Oladipo made the All-Star squad this season. I would think the day isn’t far off when both Oladipo and Sabonis make the team together. This was one of those trades which actually worked out for both franchises.
Which when you think about it is what should happen in a trade.
Russell Westbrook played one of his best games of the season as the Oklahoma City Thunder won their second game in a row and third in the last four by defeating the Brooklyn Nets by a 108-96 count on Wednesday night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.
On a night when the Thunder started slowly, Westbrook was a constant source of energy on both ends of the floor while racking up his 26th triple double of the season. Westbrook’s line went 31 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. But more importantly Westbrook’s shooting numbers continued on an uptick in the month of March as he scored the 31 points on a 12-23 shooting night. Don’t look now, but Westbrook in spite of everything which transpired in Utah is playing his best basketball of the season.
And on this night, the Thunder needed this Westbrook because the rest of the team appeared to be suffering from a Utah hangover and started the game slowly.
OKC trailed by ten at half, but finally got it going in the second half with good defense and energy by the entire team.
For the second straight game the Thunder held an opponent to under a hundred points and it appears ‘possibly’ the Thunder are getting back to playing more focused on the defensive end of the floor.
Paul George was better offensively scoring 25 points on 18 shots. This wasn’t the Paul George who was the Western Conference’s February Player of the Month, but it was better than the Paul George who’s struggled of late coming off a shoulder injury.
Steven Adams and Jerami Grant both had solid double figure nights. Dennis Schroder struggled going 3-10 from the field and the bench as a whole had a quiet offensive night.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 25 points.
The Thunder improve to 42-26 with the win and are now tied with the Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the West with OKC currently holding the head to head tiebreaker.
Fourteen games are left for the Thunder and the math looks markedly better in as the Thunder have won three of their last four and weathered the brutal four game road swing by not losing any ground for holding on to a top four seed in the West.
In fact, if the Thunder can win eight of their remaining fourteen games the Thunder would hit the 50 win plateau in a regular season for the first time since Kevin Durant’s departure to Oakland.
So amazingly in the eye of what appeared to be to a negative feel coming out of the game in Utah where the Trump supporter shared with the world his social views on race—the Thunder are actually looking the best they’ve looked since the All-Star break.
The Thunder are back on the road tonight for one game in Indiana on the second night of a road back to back, but one would think Paul George will have some special energy playing on the floor where he started his professional career.
After the Indiana game…the Thunder host the Golden State Warriors on a special Saturday evening game on ABC.
The Thunder host the vastly improved Brooklyn Nets tonight inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena. I really don’t feel like a basketball game just at this moment. For some reason today when I woke up this is what I thought of instead.
The year was 1968 and the Summer Olympics were being held in Mexico City. This was probably the most traumatic year in American history during my lifetime.
So instead of writing about Russell Westbrook and the MAGA person in Salt Lake City this is my blog entry for today preceding the game.
I found out this past week-end I’m going to be a grandfather in late September. I wonder how much this country has really changed in the fifty years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos took the medal stand in Mexico City.
I’m not sure the country has changed all that much.
Did the NBA get it right?
Probably–there’s not much more they could do even as disgusting and racist as the comments were. A professional athlete in a setting like this cannot do things which would escalate matters and endanger the safety of innocent people sitting around this coward/racist. How would Russell Westbrook have felt if a child or an elderly person had been hurt in the process of punching out this coward?
And that’s exactly what this guy is…a racist/coward who knew he could say these things and not have to fight. He knew the safety buffer zone was there for him to say these things and not have to throw a punch.
The guy’s a complete coward. And not a bright one at that.
This became a national story and maybe some good will come out of it in relation to some of these Trump people with their MAGA ball caps and 1830’s type of mentality towards race. I write 1830 because that’s when South Carolina began it’s movement for nullification from the Union based on their argument that unreasonable cotton tariffs by the Union were being imposed on them by Andrew Jackson and the Feds. They knew abolition was the next step after the tariffs.
So what’s really changed in the South in 189 years?
Not all that much and heck I married an Auburn girl almost forty years ago. The South is the South.
But this incident didn’t happen in the South. It happened in Utah in a state in which Trump garnered only 45% of the vote. Lest you forget Independent Evan McMullen pulled 21% of the vote away from Jeff Sessions’ buddy back in 2016.
My point being is that racism is still everywhere in America. It’s not just limited to the Solid South which became solid the day after LBJ passed the most sweeping set of Civil Rights laws in our country’s history.
If you think I have it wrong start reading your history books.
So how does Russell Westbrook intelligently handle this moving forward?
I would love to see him engage with our local media and do everything he can as a man to help a state like Oklahoma become a little more enlightened on race.
To me, that would be the next logical step for Russell Westbrook the man.
And BTW, now knowing all the facts, I genuinely admire Russell Westbrook for showing his young son you have to swing your sword from time to time.
This will be brief because I’m already tired of writing about what happened in Salt Lake City last night. Adam Silver is the commissioner of the NBA. It’s his job to make sure all NBA venues are safe for opposing teams and players. Nothing could be more basic in the job description.
Adam Silver…you have a Utah problem and it needs to be addressed regardless of which story you believe from last night. Under no circumstances can you have this happening inside of your NBA arenas in this politically charged era of having a Birther as a sitting POTUS.
This type of behavior cannot be allowed. Most in OKC probably don’t even remember the 2004 incident with Ron Artest inside the Palace in Detroit. It was one of the major incidents which in essence shaped and altered the NBA.
This cannot keep happening in Utah.
No. Of course not. I don’t think he should be fined either unless the other party pays the exact same amount to a Salt Lake City charity for children. There is no way in hell you only penalize one party in a situation where the decision making was flawed by both parties.
Do I empathize with Russell Westbrook’s frustration with racist white people? Of course I do. Just read my blog and you know where I stand on all of this. I’m not white—I’m brown.
I totally get it and am on his side in this matter. I’d march with him and Ray Felton if they ever want to march in downtown OKC. Let’s go.
My father shared this story with me as a kid. In 1952, my dad as a college freshman had a summer job in downtown OKC at a Conoco service station. One of his co-workers was a young man the same age as my father. Only thing is–he was black and his name was Joe Carter, Sr.
They went to lunch one day together at a downtown café and were refused service because Joe was black. My father told the owner to go to hell and they walked out. I think they went to a convenience store and bought some sandwiches and ate them sitting on a curb.
This was the catalyst of a lifetime friendship between my father and Joe. My dad went on to become a lawyer. Joe went on to have a wonderful life as a father and grandfather. Best fisherman I’ve encountered in my life. He was literally buried with fishing gear draped all around him in his casket. And oh, by the way, his namesake…Joe Carter, Jr. had 396 career home runs and one especially big one against Mitch ‘Wild Thing’ Williams to win the Toronto Blue Jays a World Series. I was at the Carter home in northeast OKC at a watch party when that happened.
So while I don’t have black skin per se. I understand what Russell Westbrook was feeling…somewhat. I just think that instead of handling it like he did–he should instead be talking openly and honestly about racism in America and what we can do as a country to get beyond this issue.
I’m going to go ahead and post this, then sleep on what I write about this on my blog in conjunction with the very column Berry Tramel wrote on March 11th on newsoksports. This is one of those times you don’t just blurt something out without all the facts.
Let’s put this Ray Felton statement on here as well this morning. Felton is a solid dude and someone I’d listen to in regards to all of what happened last night in Utah between Russell Westbrook and the married couple.
I completely agree. We should have civility between all parties in public settings. Fair enough. But here’s what I’ll also say to Ray Felton. Your teammate needs to grow up. In a hurry.
Isn’t it odd I featured Westbrook’s deal with Mitt Romney on my small blog before last night’s game. You know why I did it? I did it because I was almost certain Westbrook would at some point in the evening lose his composure with either Ricky Rubio, Jae Crowder, or with a fan. Rubio was a DNP, Jae Crowder was somewhat mild last night and the fans were subdued for the most part because their team couldn’t make a shot.
Here’s what Ray Felton didn’t say. Russell Westbrook leads the entire NBA with 17 technical fouls of which two have been rescinded. He never stops talking during a game. He complains and curses about every call he doesn’t get. He’s constantly chirping at opposing players. In Denver, he once had an incident with the mascot, and then just several weeks ago there was the ridiculous episode with the eight year-old boy and his parents. Maybe it’s just me, but just maybe Russell Westbrook tweaking the maturity knob just a turn wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Here’s another thing and Ray Felton should know better. Russell Westbrook treats the local media like trash if they ask him any kind of adult oriented question which isn’t of the jock sniff variety. Just recently… I posted on this very blog an interview where after answering a few fluffballs from his pet gerbil, Little Nick Gallo, he then rudely would not answer questions from Erik Horne, Maddie Lee, Royce Young, and Berry Tramel. All of their questions were super soft—not even tough. Yet Westbrook opted to go this rout.
Anyone’s who’s ever read my blog knows I have little patience with dumb white people. I also have little patience with any people who are overtly rude to others. I wouldn’t coddle a racist for a second. I deplore the stupidity which has currently overtaken our country in regards to race.
But here’s the thing, Russell Westbrook. It’s a two way street. Game officials are human beings. Opposing players are human beings. Opposing fans are human beings. Your local media which is just trying to do their jobs are all human beings. The management of the Oklahoma City Thunder needs to stop babysitting you.
Respect begats respect.
Give it a try and see what happens.
You might be surprised to find how many people agree with you if you give them the chance.
This should be a pivotal game for both teams in how the Western Conference standings shake out 4-8 when the final game of the regular season is concluded.
Utah comes in two games down in the loss column behind the predictably sinking Thunder as both teams have hit polar opposites as far as strength of schedules. Unless you’re Little Nick Gallo or Michael Cage this shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’re a serious fan of the NBA.
OKC’s Thunder enjoyed one of the easiest schedules in the league to begin the season, and in all candor, OKC should have come out of those easier games with at the minimum six more wins than they did. Wouldn’t those six wins come in handy just about now?
On the other hand, Utah started the season with a difficult schedule and has never really got untracked as a serious contender for a top three seed in the West despite having rather easily dispensed of the Thunder in last season’s first round while advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals.
Quite frankly…I think tonight’s game in Salt Lake City is the biggest game of the season for the Jazz if they want claim the No. 4 seed in the West over both the sinking Thunder and the hard to predict Portland Trailblazers. One other observation to be made is that the Spurs and LA Clippers just don’t appear ready to concede that either is ready to accept a No.7 or No. 8 seed.
I’m going to quit labeling the Thunder as the league’s biggest underachiever because that’s not accurate any longer after witnessing the meltdowns by the teams LeBron James and Anthony Davis played on this season. Clearly…the Lakers and the Pels have been by a defining margin the two biggest underachievers in the West.
So… tonight’s game? Vegas opened this game with the Jazz at -3.5. The line has since dropped with the Jazz at -3 with 54% of the money being bet on the Thunder. This means Vegas feels this should be a one possession game and that the additional half point is tough to give given the fact in most big games this season the Thunder have competed fairly well.
I’d wouldn’t take either team in this game. That’s a razor thin margin for error. Three of the Thunder’s best performances of the season have come at Portland twice on the road and in the miraculous win in Philadelphia. Whether you’re a Thunder fan or a Utah fan… tonight’s game will be another playoff game of sorts.
Simply look at Utah’s schedule after this game and you see why. Unlike the Thunder, after tonight they have one of the league’s easiest schedules with only four playoff level teams left in their remaining sixteen games.
Conversely, the Thunder’s next seven games are against playoff caliber teams and the question is not if the Thunder will drop in the standings, but how far they will drop.
This marks the final game in the Thunder’s murderous Western four game swing. Everyone knew this would tough. If OKC could escape Salt Lake City tonight and finish the swing at 2-2 it would be an enormous positive for a Thunder team which for over two months has been one of the league’s worst defensive teams. Only the Phoenix Suns and NY Knicks have ranked lower in this regard.
Big game tonight in Utah. I bet Mitt Romney will be sitting courtside heckling Russell Westbrook. Is there anyway Westbrook can get his 15th technical for verbally assaulting a sitting United States senator? That would be a new one.
Storylines abound in Salt Lake tonight.
Of all Dan Jenkins’ best-selling novels–the one closest to my heart is Dead Solid Perfect. It’s the fairytale story of golfer Kenny Lee and his improbable run to the U.S. Open Championship. Like all of Dan Jenkins books it has life and romance interwoven into the storyline.
After selling the rights to Hollywood for the making of Semi-Tough, Jenkins swore never again would he allow a screenwriter to change his story into a film adaptation of his work. If I remember correctly…he almost or did sue the producers of Semi-Tough for butchering his story.
Consequently, Jenkins wrote the film adaptation for Dead Solid Perfect and was involved in the production of the movie as well.
As with all Jenkins stories the characters breathe both comedy and heartache to the story.
The main characters in Dead Solid Perfect are Kenny Lee, Beverly Tidwell (his wife and the most liberal young woman in Ft. Worth), Bad Hair Wimberly (his oil ‘bidness’ tour sponsor), Spec (his ever loyal caddie), Jani Ruth Rimmer ( his girlfriend after Beverly walks out on him), and Donnie Smithern (his one time best friend on the tour).
In the end you probably need to be at least a casual golfer like I am to enjoy the story from a golf and life standpoint.
But as in all Dan Jenkins novels there’s a love story interwoven into the storyline.
Who would have ever guessed Dan Jenkins was a hopeless romantic.?
Here’s the opening of Dead Solid Perfect and Kenny’s initial meeting with his soon to be sponsor Bad Hair Wimberly.
To start…I don’t think there’s any conspiracy whatsoever by NBA refs to take sides against the Thunder. The refs in this league haven’t been the problem for the most part. The problem is the Thunder are basically around a No. 4 or No. 5 seed type of team in the West. I had them as a No. 4 on my West bracket sheet–so I guess by the same token I should stop calling them underachieving and just refer to them as overhyped a bit.
I do think though that the refs in this league are tired of listening to Russell Westbrook complain as much as he does. There’s a psychology involved to winning refs over to your side. I would suggest Billy Donovan and his staff teach this approach to their players. Refs are human, they get tired of listening to the same people complain over and over and over.
OKC’s defense is the primary problem as in it’s one of the worst in the league since January 1st giving up 118 ppg… which is exactly what they just allowed to the Clippers. Only bottom dwellers Phoenix and the New York Knicks have been worse during the same time span.
Bottom line…OKC has to get its minutes and its defense figured out. They have to design a plan which can somehow ‘hide’ or ‘disguise’ how weak Dennis Schroder is defensively. Coaches in basketball and hockey have to do this all the time—so it can be done. I don’t think all the sudden Steven Adams has become a bad player. I think he’s just worn out to a certain degree.
Here’s Billy Donovan’s post game presser last night following the loss to the Clippers.