Uninspired, uninterested, unmotivated. You pick the word. It all fits for this performance.
I had to keep telling myself to understand what I was watching. This is a team that doesn’t really care and they’re just looking forward to summer vacation. It’s kind of like a college freshman that has a guaranteed “D” in his biology class and while he still has to take the final, it’s not going to really change anything. So does he study? No, he just shows up, fills in some circles and leaves. That’s what the Thunder’s doing right now. And they were playing the kid that’s got a 4.0 and can get a 95 in his sleep. While it’s not exactly what you want to see, it is what it is (whatever the heck that means).
I could rant about effort and intensity and place blame on someone, but is it really worth it? Come next season, I don’t think we’ll look back and point at this game and say, “See! If they just would have brought effort here, they’d be competing for a playoff spot!” It’s just loss No. 59 in a season full of them. Sure it was pretty ugly, but this has been a long year for a lot of young guys and I’m sure they’re worn out both mentally and physically.
I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right there’s no excuse for it. But does the fact that the team has been uninterested and uninspired this last week and a half mean that all the good things that happened the past three months be ignored? Even though I knew exactly what was happening and I tried to tell myself that was the way it was going to be before tip, it didn’t make it any less frustrating. I was still bothered and agitated at each turnover, each defensive collapse and each Greg Oden uncontested dunk. Keep Reading…
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Limping to the line: How they’ll finish
The playoffs are locked up and the lottery teams are set. The season is nearly over and we’re very close to having a completely clear image of who will have the most ping-pong balls come the draft lottery. Right now, Oklahoma City sits as the fourth worst (or if you’re an optimist, 26th best) team in the league, with an 11.9 percent chance of winning. And while all these teams have nothing to win, they do have a lot of reason to lose. There’s some pretty tight races heading to the finish of who will get how many ping-pong balls. So what’s the final standings shaping up to look like?
Sacramento Kings: 16-64
Currently: 30th, 25 percent chance
Games remaining: at Denver, at Minnesota
Projected finish: 30th, 16-66. They’ve already locked it up. No breaking this down. And they’ll lose their last two anyway.
Los Angeles Clippers: 19-61
Currently: t-29th, 17.7 percent chance
Games remaining: at Utah, Oklahoma City
Projected finish: 29th, 20-62 The Clips will most certainly lose in Utah, dropping them to 19-62, but should beat the Thunder at home (where they’ve already beaten OKC handily once). Currently, they are tied with the Wizards for the second worst record with identical tallies of 19-61 and the two teams split the season series. (Lottery rules state that if two teams are tied, then they split the average amount of combinations. Just FYI.)
Washington Wizards: 19-61
Currently: t-29th, 17.7 percent chance
Games remaining: Toronto, at Boston
Projected finish: 28th, 20-62. With Gilbert Arenas returning the Wiz have played a bit better. The Raptors stink on the road and every team likes to win their home closer. Doubtful they win in Boston though. Looks like we’re heading for a tie at the 29th spot. That is, unless OKC can “upset” the Clips Wednesday.
Oklahoma City Thunder: 22-58
Currently: 27th, 11.9 percent chance
Games remaining: at Portland, at LA Clippers
Projected finish: 27th, 22-60. Really unless the Thunder goes crazy and win both their last games, I think they’re slotted at 27th. It’s possible to jump the Grizzlies if they lose twice and OKC wins twice, but looking at the schedule, that’s unlikely. Of course, they could tie each other. The Thunder can’t increase their chances at all seeing as the Wizards and Clips both have 19 wins and can’t catch OKC’s 22 with two to go. So at worst (or best, this is all so confusing), the Thunder will finish 27th with the potential to move up to 25th.
Memphis Grizzlies: 23-57
Currently: 26th, 8.8 percent chance
Games remaining: at Phoenix, Atlanta
Projected finish: 26th, 23-59 The Grizzlies could very well beat Phoenix, just because the Suns are done and look to kind of be cashing in their chips. Atlanta appears to be focused getting ready to head into the playoffs and it’s unlikely they’ll slip. As is, the Grizzlies could move up to 25th with two wins and two Minny losses, or could drop to 27th if they lose twice and OKC wins twice. Unlikely. So look for the Grizz to stay right at 26th.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 24-56
Currently: 25th, 6.3 percent chance
Games remaining: at Dallas, Sacramento
Projected finish: 25th, 25-57. Like all these bad teams, the Wolves are awful on the road and will likely lose to Dallas. But winning against Sacramento will seal their fate as the 25th best team in the league as OKC can’t catch them. Keep Reading…