Game Day Preview: OKC Thunder open season vs. friends and foes
The OKC Thunder begin their 2017-18 campaign hosting a Knicks squad who arrive with familiar friends in tow.
It’s remarkable how quickly things can change in the NBA, just ask OKC Thunder fans. Precisely one year ago the franchise began the season still reeling from the departure of Kevin Durant. Experts predicted the team would be lucky to make the playoffs and suddenly a franchise with eight out of nine winning seasons appeared in flux.
Sure, Russell Westbrook won the regular season MVP, doing so in historic fashion. But, a quick exit from the post season raised copious questions about where the NBA’s third smallest market was headed and more importantly how committed their super star was.
Despite qualifying for the super max deal, over zealous pundits assured Russ would not be signing any extension in order to set himself up for the summer of 2018. Rather, they insisted, Russ would follow his nemesis’ lead and head for a larger market – namely his home town Lakers. Moreover, speculation mounted ‘without other stars on the roster and precious little cap space to work with the franchise faced an uncertain and precarious future.
OKC Thunder win offseason:
Cue the Magician Sam Presti. The GM kept surprising everyone with his ability to swoop in and usurp front runners for top talent. What made his moves so remarkable is the assets traded often were not of the same ilk as the offers from other teams.
Furthermore, the Paul George trade cleared the way for free agents to bet on OKC again. Patrick Patterson’s decision to join the Thunder at what can only be termed a big discount was key among the free agent signings. Raymond Felton followed suit while Presti locked up Andre Roberson on yet another reasonable contract.
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Still, the cherry on top came just prior to training camp. This, because Carmelo Anthony increased his short list of one acceptable trade destination (Houston) to three (Cleveland and OKC). Presti wasted precious little time nailing down the deal to bring the prolific scorer to the Thunder. Daryl Morey was left to lick his wounds over the fact he couldn’t paint Ryan Anderson into a viable trade asset. Cleveland refused to part with Tristan Thompson and despite rumors to the contrary, shopped Kevin Love who as it turns out was also unappealing to the Knicks (contract length/amount not his ability) .
Paul George on Gordon Hayward’s injury, and his own experience coming back from one: pic.twitter.com/2KlDNzN3x3
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) October 18, 2017
OK3 Common Goal:
So, as the OKC Thunder prepare to begin their first decade as a franchise they do so considered one of the upper echelon squads in the stacked Western Conference. Where they finish is up for debate. Certainly no one would deny the Warriors who brought back the entire core and even augmented it, are the team everyone is chasing. The trio of teams expected to vie for the second spot are perennial favorites San Antonio, Houston’s 3-point bombers and the Thunder.
What is not up for debate is the triumvirate of Westbrook, Anthony and George have assembled with a common goal in mind. Each is driven to capture what has alluded them thus far in their processional careers – to win a title. Tonight they take their first step toward accomplishing that feat.
With that, here is the preview for the OKC Thunder 2017-18 season and home opener.