All Thunder, no clouds
Oklahoma City is having a dream season, waiting for its dream future to show up.
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Let’s basketball.
J. M. W. Turner, Valley of Aosta: Snowstorm, Avalanche, and Thunderstorm
The Oklahoma City Thunder obliterated the Houston Rockets in Russell Westbrook’s homecoming game on Thursday. Before we talk about the subject at hand too much, let’s make sure you’ve all seen the truly outstanding tribute video the Thunder put together for Westbrook.
Westbrook had a strong individual game, but it was over early. OKC moved to 22-16 on the season, on track for 47 wins this season. Vegas had them at 32.5 in the summer. So while a number of analysts did think they’d be frisky and some even picked them to make the playoffs, being on track for 47 wins as we near the midway point is an incredible development.
The Thunder traded Paul George (a top-10 player in his prime), Russell Westbrook (a recent league MVP) and Jerami Grant (a solid NBA starter) for a young star-in-the-making (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), a solid NBA starter (Danilo Gallinari), an aging NBA star on an enormous contract (Chris Paul) and a bounty of draft picks. And they have barely fallen off where they were last season. Barely.
The Thunder are 22-16. They were 25-13 at this point last year. In fact, the Thunder are just four games behind PG-13 and the vaunted (title favorite) Clippers in the standings and just 3.5 games behind the Rockets. And because of the PG and Westbrook trades, the Thunder have essentially all of the Clippers and Rockets’ draft picks going forward. The Thunder could actually meet the Clippers or Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and based on Thursday’s game against Houston, OKC would at least be competitive against one of those teams.
This is a dream for the Thunder. To rebuild with an absolute gold mine of draft picks plus Gilgeous-Alexander (who is already in the All-Star conversation at age 21) and remain competitive along the way in a small market that depends on gate revenue? This is the perfect situation. Based on the fact the Thunder were trying to trade CP3 in the summer after acquiring him, this would likely all come as a surprise to the OKC front office as well, unless the trade attempts were just covering bases to please the veteran point guard.
Michael Pina at SB Nation wrote about OKC’s hyper-potent three-guard lineup. Chris Herring at FiveThirtyEight wrote about CP3 dominating at the end of games. The defense (and by extension Billy Donovan) should get a lot of credit, as well: the Thunder offense is middle-of-the-pack, but the defense sits at No. 10 in the NBA. The three-guard lineup has been really good on both ends, and Steven Adams is an important figure in all of this.
But really, it comes back to CP3. Sure, he gets paid a whole lot of money. He’s earning it. For all the gruff that comes with him being a tough team leader who can rub co-stars like Blake Griffin and James Harden the wrong way, he works hard and expects others to do the same. He seems to be finding willing partners in Oklahoma City, despite never having played with any of these guys in the past. Perhaps the fact that none of them are yet full-fledged stars in their own right helps. Perhaps CP3 has learned how to lead in softer ways after the Harden break-up. Whatever’s happening, it’s working.
The Thunder really can’t lose here, no matter what happens next. If they flame out and end up as a sacrificial lamb in the playoffs? They weren’t supposed to be there anyway, CP3’s value is buoyed and the draft picks are coming. If they get extra frisky down the stretch and challenge for a 4 or 5 seed? Run a parade. If they actually win a playoff series, something the post-Durant Thunder have been unable to do? Statues for everyone.
This is a dream for the Thunder. What is left to be resolve is whether OKC’s dream becomes a nightmare for the Clippers, Rockets or both.
Relitigating Kevin Durant’s Decision
Russell Westbrook’s return to Oklahoma City caused some people to say some wild things about Westbrook and by extension about Kevin Durant. One of those people who said a wild thing is former Thunderian and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins. Perk claimed on Twitter (that he was about to claim on SportsCenter) that Westbrook is the best player to have ever worn a Thunder jersey, which is absolutely not true. When challenged, Perk dragged KD lightly, which of course led to KD absolutely lighting fire to the situation.
Perk blasted KD back.
And back to KD.
And a last blast from Perk.
This is messy and because it’s messy and involves two famous people (one of which is a certified legend) it’s fun. (It also might all be a troll: KD and Perk are said to be friends.)
But if it’s legit, this is old material from Perk. This has been fought and fought. Durant’s decision to go to Golden State absolutely affects his legacy and how his triumphs there will be viewed. But it doesn’t change the fact that Durant is a two-time NBA champion, is a two-time Finals MVP, is the best player in Thunder history, is one of the greatest scorers and players of all-time. Celtics Edition Joel Przybilla calling KD a coward doesn’t change that.
Perkins will likely discuss this ad nauseum on ESPN on Friday. Tell me when KD is back in the conversation.
Scores
Celtics 98, Sixers 109 — Yet another time in which the Sixers, seemingly reeling, step up against a top-flight team. Josh Richardson had a spectacular game with Joel Embiid out, and Al Horford had a particularly Al Horford game. Philly has now clinched the season series with Boston, in case that tiebreaker matters at season’s end.
Weekend Schedule
Once again, there’s only national T.V. action on Friday this weekend. So, here are those games and the best League Pass has to offer. All times Eastern.
Friday
The ESPN doubleheader is Pelicans vs. Knicks (7:15) and the very nice Lakers vs. Mavericks (9:45). (What specific start times!) Other interesting games include Spurs-Grizzlies (8) and Hornets-Jazz (9).
Saturday
The best options are Lakers-Thunder at 8, Sixers-Mavericks at 8:30 and Bucks-Blazers at 10.
Sunday
Jazz-Wizards at 3:30 is a matinée worth taking a look at, and Spurs-Raptors at 6 could be interesting. The main event is Clippers-Nuggets at 8.
Links
My man Ricky O’Donnell has an updated mock draft. LaMelo Ball to the Warriors is everything I need in life.
Chris Mannix on the Markelle Fultz revival.
Harry Lyles Jr. on whether John Beilein can come back from calling his players “thugs” (even mistakenly).
Royce Young on the shelf life of Russell Westbrook’s style.
Tim Bontemps of the utmost importance of the East’s No. 2 seed.
Do the Clippers have a Lou Williams problem?
Baylor beat No. 1 UConn in a huge women’s college hoops game.
The worst sports commentary you will ever hear.
Harry and Meghan to L.A.? Tampering investigation coming??? 👀👀👀
Rob Mahoney on Kevin Love and those LeBron leaves behind.
The origin story of Alex Caruso’s legend status.
And finally, I love this: the simple joy of f—king up in the kitchen.
Thanks for your support. Be excellent to each other.