Peace, Love and Thunderstanding: Can Ya Dig It
When the Thunder have only one shot to take, obviously they look for Kevin Durant to take that shot. He’s, at minimum, the second best player in the NBA right now, and according to the rankings the league’s best scorer. Unfortunately, every team the Thunder plays knows he’s option 1 and 1A and therefore do everything in their power to deny him the ball. In the end, he either gets the ball somewhere close to half court where he still has to take the shot with a hand in his face. And if that doesn’t work, Russell Westbrook or Thabo Sefolosha, who aren’t exactly snipers in the easiest of circumstances, wind up taking the games biggest shot.
Not surprisingly, the Thunder are 7-10 in games decided by three points or less.
Maybe Scott Brooks should be drawing up plays to put the game in the hands of option #22…mainly because Jeff Green has actually proved he will come through. Last season, he banked home a win against Golden State. This season, with bigger stakes, he has had even bigger moments. Who can forget Green’s performance against the Hawks on Martin Luther King Day? His clutch dunk and incredible block sealed the victory over one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams on their home floor. Soon after, it was another huge defensive play by Green that saved the Thunder from an embarrassing defeat against Minnesota.
When the pressure is on, Uncle Jeff is the man you can count on. That was never clearer than Tuesday night in Utah. Even after Kevin Durant shot the team back into the game, it was Green who drilled the three pointer that tied it in regulation. Then, with five seconds left in OT, Green banked home a runner to give the team a (brief) one point lead. I was so pumped I re-wrote a classic song in his honor. Check it out after the jump.
Who’s the 6’9″ guy in the post
that hits the shots when needed most?
Green!
You’re damn right!
When the games on the line
who blocks the shot from behind?
Green!
Can ya dig it?
During overtime with only five ticks
who banks it in in front of all the chicks?
Green!
Right on…
That Green is a clutch mutha–
(Boy shut yo mouth)
But I’m talkin’ bout Green
(Then we can dig it)
He makes a nightly contribution
that gets overlooked by even the biggest fan
(Jeff Green)