Thunder in the News: Warriors Wednesday is upon us
By Tony Heim
Thunder in the News is anticipating fireworks tonight. Whether that comes from the OKC Thunder crowd or the actual players is to be determined.
Did the NBA really have to schedule this game for today? Two days after the Oklahoma City Thunder blew their second straight 20 point lead? Yes, yes they did. Because everything bad that can happen to the Thunder, usually ends up occurring.
Here’s the spin zone though: after two bad performances it’s possible that OKC turns it around for this emotional game. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony know how important this is to Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams. Maybe, just maybe, this team rallies around the past two losses/a visit from the Warriors and finally reaches their turning point in the season. We’ll just have to find out.
Russell Westbrook is struggling to adjust his game
Breaking News: the Thunder aren’t going to win this game – or most other games – if Westbrook keeps playing the way he has this season. As Jeremy Lambert so eloquently put it Monday night: the problem is Westbrook
While Russ has had his moments, he isn’t playing the game naturally. Sometimes he passes up wide open shots because he thinks he needs to get his teammates involved. Other times he forces up early, contested jumpers because that is what he’s accustomed to. The Associated Press’ Cliff Brunt has more on Westbrook’s early-season struggles.
"But he is not dominating fourth quarters like he did last year, and the Thunder are losing the close games he so often willed them through with his scoring flurries."
Sam Presti and Billy Donovan use jazz for inspiration
These are the Sam Presti inside stories I’ve been waiting to hear about. Presti and Billy D held in-depth discussions with the Marsalis brothers, two jazz legends, in order to learn more about teamwork, improvisation and communication. Aren’t those three topics a grand idea for this Thunder team? Check out the full story for some interesting quotes from both the Marsalis’ and OKC’s most important non-players. I promise you’ll come out feeling better about this team.
"He said most of Donovan’s questions were centered on refocusing individual goals to align with collective goals and ways to change “a value system so that the sacrificial decisions that undergird group success are as venerated as individual achievements.”"
The true reason why Warriors/Thunder still carries so much weight
Of course we’re going to feature a story about tonight’s game. But instead of our official preview, we’re going to highlight Thunderous Intentions’ resident-truther/feature writer/emotional savant/any other positive descriptor you can think of. Heather Koontz explains how Kevin Durant is the only thing keeping this rivalry so juicy from a national perspective. Without his constant chatter this would be just another game in Oklahoma City.
"But while we may have moved on, someone else hasn’t. And, it’s making things really difficult."
That’s it for today’s special Warriors Wednesday edition of Thunder in the News! Thunderous Intentions will have THE definitive post-game analysis, from player grades to takeaways. Make sure to interact with us on Twitter as well to ensure your Wednesday is filled with fun either win or lose.