Thanksgiving Bolts: 11.28.19

Thank you for supporting Daily Thunder. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

The Blazers hosed the Thunder last night. Your DT recap, courtesy of Brandon Rahbar: “There isn’t much to take from this game other than the Blazers were Carolina Reaper levels hot. They were hot from the 3 point line. From midrange. From the foul line. At the rim. From the locker room. From Autzen Stadium. It didn’t matter, if anyone from Dame to Melo to Hassan Whiteside was shooting, the ball was going into the basket.The numbers are just silly. The Blazers were a perfect 24 for 24 from the free throw line. They hit 14 of 30 3 point attempts. Rodney Hood scored 14 points on 6 shots, Carmelo Anthony scored 19 on 11 shots, Whiteside 21 on 13 shots. Oh, and Dame and CJ McCollum combined for a mere 49 on 31 shots.”

Nick Crain (Forbes) on the Thunder’s severe discrepancies in home and away performance.

Paris Lawson (okcthunder.com) on Thanksgiving as a Thunder: “Most players at this point in their basketball careers are jaded by the notion of being whisked across the country on Thanksgiving Day. From Thanksgiving tournaments in college to Holiday Hoops Classics in AAU, competitive basketball is in full swing during the holidays. It not only takes a toll on the players, but on their families as well.”

Joe Mussatto (The Oklahoman) with more on Chris Paul developing a bond with the young pups: “He helps me every day, whether it be manipulating a pick and roll in the game, or showing me things outside of the game that help you in life,” (Shai) Gilgeous-Alexander said. As much as anything, Paul said he invited Gilgeous-Alexander and (Darius) Bazley to Los Angeles with him for good company on the flight home. “When my career is over and done with,” Paul said, “I don’t care where they at, what team they playing for, I’m gonna be flying to see them.”

Very cool: Per a Thunder release, the team will celebrate Native American Heritage Night for tomorrow night’s home game: “Prior to tipoff, Rev. Dr. David Wilson of Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and United Methodist Church will lead the invocation, and members from the Seminole Nation Honor Guard will present the colors. The national anthem will be performed by Sarah Pohawpatchoko, who will be joined by Comanche Nation Youth Dancers to perform the anthem in sign language in full regalia. At halftime, Bunky Echo-Hawk will give a live art performance, with the final piece to be donated to the Thunder Cares Foundation. From Oklahoma, Echo-Hawk is an esteemed Native American artist and poet, who currently works with Nike’s N7 Brand.”