What is there to say? Everything went as planned. The Thunder hung tough for virtually the whole game, but inconsistent jump shooting and extremely poor execution of course doomed them in the end. A stale stretch in the second quarter and a bad fourth quarter basically summed up the Thunder’s 99-88 loss in Atlanta tonight.
OKC shot terribly (37 percent) all night long and the worst part is, it didn’t really adjust. The Thunder weren’t hitting shots but instead of changing it up and driving to the hoop or trying to get to the line, OKC kept hoisting the jumpers. And they kept not falling. I think the poster-boy for this season is Earl Watson. Unbelievable underachieving, awful jump shooting and pathetic decision making. If there’s one thing that makes me want to put my face in boiling water it’s Earl Watson dribbling up the floor, taking one step inside the three-point line and hoisting a 20-foot jump shot with 18 on the shot clock. And lucky for me, he did it multiple times tonight.
Russell Westbrook did what rookies tend to do: He reverted back and played like he did at the beginning of the season. But as we all know and as we’ve all said (numerous times), that’s the growing pains of a 20-year-old point guard. He wasn’t good tonight, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be good next time out.
And I guess Scott Brooks’ text messages are working. Jeff Green poured in another strong effort on the glass, grabbing 14 boards. Kevin Durant continues to play efficient basketball. Seems like every box score lately is looking about the same for him (in a good way): 28 points, 10-19 from the floor, 2-3 from three, six rebounds. He’s doing his part. Over the past eight games, he’s averaging almost 28 a game. And he’s just 20. I can’t wait to see where’s he at in three months, much less three years. He’s getting better daily.
Atlanta is a top five team in the East and OKC is a bottom two team in the league. It turned out like it should – especially with the game being in Atlanta. Against contenders, this is what Thunder fans have to hope for – staying close and not getting embarrassed. So by all accords tonight, mission accomplished.
Oklahoma City gets a few days off and then returns to action Friday against the Pistons.
In Seattle (and the rest of the civilized world), there is this thing called "sarcasm" that people sometimes use to make fun of people of lesser intellect. It's sort of like making a gay joke, except not repulsive and bigoted.
Mark, you poor confused idiot. In your first paragraph, you wrote..."All we did was steal their 41-year old team" and then in the rest of your post it's evident that your from Washington. How fucking stupid are you?
You should probably stay off of your boyfriends computer and stay face down and plump bottom up like the rest of the Seattle sissys.
Wah! The evil Seattle people are ruining my basketball (if you want to call it that) experience! All we did was steal their 41-year old team! I know! I'll talk about the people that kill themselves or the gays! Wow, for real Ford-tough, hard, country manly-men you guys sure have no balls.
For your information, the people that commit suicide up here are mostly the California transplants with no family and aren't used to the weather. I know the concept of people from a different state moving to your home state is foreign to you Oklahomans, but try to understand.
Slade may be a jerk but I'm afraid that he is right.
With the current budget crisis in Washington, it would be wholly unresponsible to spend one dime of taxpayer money on an arena.
There are just too many "more important things" to worry about right now.
Lucky Duck, you wouldn't believe it, but we have N***ers and educated folk up here too. F*cking terrible. It's kinda like living in a Big League City or something.
Wow, Lucky Duck ... way to impress the world with your okie tolerance.
I know it's hard for you to understand but Seattle is a real city, with lots of different people and huge population. OKC must only be limited to racists, bigots, and intolerant "manly" men. LOL
Did they really have over 4 hundred thousand people at the Gay Pride parade in Seattle this year? Are all the men there gay?
Nothing is worse or more pathetic than Okies and their shit city.
Seattle trolls make the real Seattle fans look bad.
I agree with the "gay blade". The haters that have bombarded the OKC sites with their trash talk have brought the bad Karma upon themselves. Seattle doesn't deserve to ever get another team
slade, errr, philip- or is it MIKE U.? when do you start talking about your personal contri to the dying WA economy and how you're taking your softball team to an adjacent state's HoJo? i think your irrelevant rants about washington's economy and your CB bank account cheerleading is more depressing than forced hugging rituals. royce would agree, drop the inferiority complex and root for "your" team buddy. what's seattle got to do with it now?
You do a great job with your blog, Royce. Don't let the rodents get you down.
Did you read where Washington is 5 billion dollars in debt and getting ready to go into session to establish spending for the next two years? There is absolutely no way that Frank Chopp will allow money to be spent on an arena when all of his pet programs are being cut.
Clay Bennett and the PBC will get to keep their 30 million dollars and Mayor Mcfatty, Slade, Wally and Steve will all be left with their thumbs up their asses. Bennett sure schooled those clowns....funny, funny stuff.
Don't let teh haiters get you down. It's not like they outnumbar us positive and inteligant Oklahoman poasters. This is the best blog on the internets. Keep up the grate werk.
Isn't Earl a peach?
Hey, if you've got Brooks's phone number for text messages, mind passing it along?
OKC standards are low for both the written word and basketball results.
Very nice blog.