I’m not the biggest AC/DC fan… which is probably an understatement. But of course, I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t feel a smidgen of hype by the time “Thunder” is said seven straight times, and in a way, perhaps a metaphor for the actual Oklahoma City Thunder. I’ve never actually met a Thunder fan, have never seen one outside of Paycom, and I have a hard time finding a reason to retain any information of the team from year-to-year, yet at certain times, usually the playoffs, I find myself getting hyped by their ability to just grind. And while this was not actually one of those games (WHAT A TWIST), I do find it absolutely compelling when watching a team come down from 26 points to defeat a Lakers team that oddly has a few players which might have played for Oklahoma at some point and time? As I said, Thunder retention has been at an all-time low for me, but the fact remains, after four straight losses and allowing the Lakers 41 points in the first quarter, under 27 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a double-double by Josh Giddey, the Thunder were able to pull out an implausible victory against the Lakers and a quadruple-double from Russell Westbrook. I mean, even the Knicks had a 27-point lead the other day against the 76ers and managed the win so… ahem.
Here’s what else I saw and hopefully retain (crosses fingers) with last night’s games…
Cole Anthony – 35 MIN, 11-20 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5 REB, 6 AST, 1, STL, 3 TO, 24 PTS – Lemme ask you guys, how many UNC players make it to the NBA? Can you remember any of the last 20 years? Maybe Anthony is the one.
Miles Bridges – 35 MIN, 11-21 FG, 5-10 3PT, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 31 PTS – Dude has some style and finesse under that rim and is looking great from on the outside. Is already an All-Star for me if he can keep averaging over 20+, which seems entirely possible with the Hornets/Bobcats (let’s keep it open folks, I’m open to all of nature) new strategy for just scoring 120 points a game.
Spencer Dinwiddle – 30 MIN, 8-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 22 PTS – I would have rather talked about Kyle Kuzma (he was okayish) to tie into my last post, which sorta tied into my last post before that, but then I realized it would just be a long line of Wizards content that might have been mistaken with a cry for help from a fan who has seen everything. Scott Brooks, Four-guard lineups, “defense”. But yeah, Dinwiddle can ball people. It may be only against the Celtics, but that doesn’t not make it true.
James Harden – 36 MIN, 4-12 FG, 3-8 3PT, 7 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 14 PTS – Uhhh. Okay? Harden does not look good right now, at all. Being outscored by P.J. Tucker probably isn’t the best way to do it, and one has to wonder if Harden still has hamstring issues or he’s just out of shape. Or why not both?
Scottie Barnes – 36 MIN, 8-17 FG, 7 REB, 7 AST, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 18 PTS – What a draft class so far. What a timeline where you can make a legitimate argument that every team should be completely ecstatic about their picks so far. Well, except for Suggs. But still…
Trae Young – 36 MIN, 13-27, 2-6 3PT, 5 REB, 7 AST, 31 PTS – Just 3-3 with free throws guys, come at me, bro.
Anthony Edwards – 33 MIN, 9-24 FG, 2-10 3PT, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 2 TO, 25 PTS – Keep an eye on Edwards, he might be somebody. That is all.
Harrison Barnes – 39 MIN, 10-18 FG, 2-6 3PT, 9 REB, 4 AST, 1 TO, 22 PTS – Nailed the game-winning three proving that the Kings are a product of evolution, in a previous epoch, they once were known for blowing late-game leads and now they have risen in this age to almost blowing late-game leads. Progress is a fickle thing.
Damian Lillard – 32 MIN, 6-22 FG, 4-11 3PT, 3 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 2 TO, 20 PTS – I wouldn’t say Dame is back to normal, but it looks like he’s getting there? Okay, I mean, 6-22 isn’t that normal, but better than 6-23, am I right? At least the Blazers can play defense now, so there’s that.
Collin Sexton – 38 MIN, 12-20 FG, 0-4 3PT, 7 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 26 PTS – I mean, besides Sexton and Garland, this team’s defense is scary, but that 0-4 from outside the arc is interesting in that the entire Cavs team won going 3-20 for three-pointers. True, this was against a Kawhi-less Clippers, but people forget that this is pretty much standard…
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell. You can follow him on Twitter @jaywrong.
