OKC Thunder In the News: Caution – we’ve got a man bun sighting

The win streak was nice while it lasted but OKC Thunder in the news examines a disturbing loss in Mexico City and odd rotation choices of Billy Donovan.

The OKC Thunder had seemingly turned a corner with a three game win streak in hand the squad headed to Mexico City to face the Brooklyn Nets. By no means are the Nets a pushover, but seriously the talent on paper isn’t even close. Mid day news surfaced Paul George (calf contusion) and Jerami Grant (hip) would not dress. Since both had participated in practice without showing any ill effect it was presumed this was more of a cautionary move.

We’ll take that to mean — the Thunder assumed they could easily extend the win streak to four versus the Nets.  Let’s cut to the chase here, because based on Billy Donovan’s rotational choices how else can this situation be interpreted?

Man bun sighting:

Through 23 games Kyle Singler had registered all of 2 minutes and 26 seconds on court in a blowout win by the OKC Thunder. So, why with a healthy Josh Huestis sitting on the bench and Patrick Patterson exuding what looks like his typical flip the switch December would Billy Donovan trot out Kyle Singler to play 23 minutes in the loss to the Nets?

The only reason this scribe can assume is

1. The OKC Thunder are trying to generate buzz on Singler by showcasing him in an effort to up his trade value.
2. Billy Donovan and the Thunder completely underestimate the ability of the Brooklyn Nets

Either way, Singler and his man bun didn’t lose the game for the OKC Thunder, but he sure didn’t add enough value to help win either.

Speaking of trades….

As Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes points out this is rumor mill time. From the quarter season mark through  to the trade deadline rumors of trades will run rampant. Hysterically, any decent player who might be moved inevitably lands on Cleveland Cavaliers via some pundit’s thought process. Perhaps this is because low key GM LeBron James has made sure to pull the strings behind he scenes during his second stint with the Cavs. Or, perhaps scribes are trying to add talent to the Eastern squad they deem most likely to give the Warriors a run for their money.

But, when Brian Windhorst (who is a couple of the TI’s team’s favorite writer) opines Paul George could become a Cavalier people pay greater attention.

The fact however, as Hughes points out is this is simply conjecture (or a wish) on Windhorst’s part.

"I don’t think the Grizzlies will trade Gasol. From a strategy point, if I were the Cavs, I would keep an eye on the Paul George situation in OKC. I would not get involved in anything else until that situation is figured out.”They’re called rumors for a reason, people.So, no, there’s not much here. But anything involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and the possibility (however remote) of acquiring another star has to get some run. Windhorst is effectively saying the Cavs have priorities and will do their due diligence on the player-acquisition front. In fact, he’s mostly asserting what he’d do if he were the Cavs. That’s not really news."

Donovan credits Anthony and George for Adams offensive breakout:

During the media scrum in Mexico City, OKC Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan was asked about Steven Adam’s recent offensive flurry. Donovan took the opportunity to praise Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for their selflessness.

ESPN writer Royce Young elaborated on Donovan’s comments.

"The center is averaging 22 points per game on nearly 80 percent shooting during OKC’s three-game winning streak.The reason for his emergence? According to Thunder coach Billy Donovan, it’s Carmelo Anthony and Paul George.“I think people have it really backwards,” Donovan said when asked why Adams has taken on such bigger offensive focus. “That’s the greatness, to me, of Carmelo Anthony. The reason why Steven Adams is doing what he’s doing is because of Carmelo Anthony and Paul George.” – Donovan"

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Adams performance (while stellar) was far less efficient in the loss to the Nets. Furthermore, Carmelo Anthony was an abysmal 5 for 20 from the field. So, should we then ascertain it’s Paul George who makes the biggest difference to how well Adams plays? Or for that matter Anthony?

Moving forward, the OKC Thunder have two games upcoming which feature teams who are also mired in the middle ground and both dealing with key injuries.  Surely, the loss in Mexico City to the Nets should have served as a wake-up call.  Right?

Then again, nothing the OKC Thunder have done this season seems to have a rhyme or reason attached to it, so we’ll just hope the Thunder can put behind another brutal unnecessary loss and make a move back to ball and player movement. Something which was featured more predominantly in the team’s win streak.

Next: Defining what's wrong with the OKC Thunder offense

That’s wraps up OKC Thunder in the news for Friday, December 8th. Tomorrow the Thunder travel to Memphis to play the reeling 8-16 Grizzlies. Let’s hope OKC and Billy Donovan took note in the message sent loud and clear by the Nets. Any team can win on any given night.