Thunderous Intentions
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Views from OKC: Don’t get excited until they win a big road game

By Tony Heim

Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) dunks the ball over Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) dunks the ball over Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) dunks the ball over Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) dunks the ball over Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Views from OKC is a daily diary about the current state of the OKC Thunder. We’re loving the recent play, but temper those expectations just a tad.

These rash judgements after each OKC Thunder winning/losing streak are starting to get old.

I couldn’t have said it any better.

It’s incredible the range of emotions I have seen from OKC Thunder fans this season the last four days. After the Portland loss all I heard was “Billy Donovan is awful because of his strange rotations,” “Russell Westbrook has zero help” and “this team would get swept in the first round no matter the opponent.”

Then Victor Oladipo returned from his back spasms and Taj Gibson was inserted into the starting lineup. Now all I’ve seen is “this team has a chance at the Conference Finals” and “OKC will be the most feared lower seed out West.”

Chill.

MUST READ: Breaking down the Thunder’s record in each jersey combination

This season has been a roller coaster; how haven’t you learned that this team is less consistent than Westbrook’s jump shot? I will, however, admit that this feels a little different. Oladipo genuinely looks like a true second star and Gibson has brought an added boost to the starting lineup. But there are a few things I need to see before I even become remotely convinced that this team took a step in the right direction.

  • I need a big-time road win. If Oklahoma City doesn’t beat Toronto on Thursday this means nothing. The Thunder are going to have to win a playoff game on the road if they make it to the second round. Fun fact: they haven’t beat a playoff team on the road since January 23rd.

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    I need Victor Oladipo to keep playing with this fire. Wow has he looked fantastic since returning. Oladipo has shot over 50% from both the field and three-point line in his first three games back; he’s attacking the rim more often and shooting efficient, open threes. Averaging 20 points a game the rest of the season is feasible for the 24-year old. If he can do that it will only add another element to the Thunder offense.

  • I need the ball movement to continue. This begins with Russell Westbrook. The Thunder have won these past two games with Westbrook shooting under 40%, which is a very good sign. They’ve gotten double-digit outputs from Steven Adams, Gibson, Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and Oladipo; when teams have to worry about players-not-named Westbrook OKC becomes very hard to stop.

    • I’m not doubting that these can happen. The Thunder genuinely look like they are figuring out their identity at the right time. But then again we’ve said that 5+ times this season.

    Back to the original point. It’s okay to be optimistic like Heather Koontz or pessimistic like Jeremy Lambert or a little in the middle like me, that’s how fandom works. But this flipping out over every other streak, whether it’s good or bad, has got to stop.

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