Thunder in the News: The blowout that needed to happen
By Tony Heim
Today’s issue gleefully examines a dominant performance from the OKC Thunder. Then we examine two articles that hits home for two completely different reasons.
How’s it feel to be above .500 Thunder Nation?!?!?! If Oklahoma City didn’t completely obliterate the Jazz last night, this sensation wouldn’t be as euphoric. But alas, the Thunder blew out their opponent for the first time since October. Now OKC is tied for fifth with the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference standings and only 5.5 back from the third-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Oh how things can change in the NBA in a matter of a week .
48 minutes of dominant basketball last night
We start today’s issue with Royce Young’s recap from last night’s dub. Much like the Thunder, Royce had a complete performance. The quotes/anecdote from Carmelo Anthony tell us he and the rest of the team are fully committed to changing his game for the better of the team. At the same time ESPN’s resident Thunder expert doesn’t fall into the dreaded trap of recency bias.
One game doesn’t make up for the past 30 – if this play continues through the month and into the New Year THEN we will anoint this team as a contender.
"The Thunder have quietly won eight of their past 11 games, but before the game against the Jazz, none of those victories was all that convincing."
Our friend Enes Kanter might be in legal trouble
I hate to change the mood so quickly, but Enes Kanter remains an integral part of Thunder Nation. And his potential arrest (as unlikely as it may be) is important to quickly discuss. Kanter has become the symbol for the importance of free speech in America. He’s witnessing the horrors that are going on within US society, yet he’s still passionate that this is the best country in the world. It’s why he wants to become an official American citizen.
Keep Kanter in your thoughts as he handles this situation. His unwillingness to back down from Erdogan is a lesson to us all: risking your own life for the greater good is essential to changing the world. Much love Enes.
"Kanter later told Ian Begley of ESPN he isn’t worried about the sentence, adding: “That’s it? For all of the trash I’ve been talking?”"
Huestis decision is something Presti likely will regret
And here’s another switch-up! While the mood remains the same, the content is a complete switch-up. Thunderous Intentions’ staff writer Gideon Lim has been on a role with his film rooms recently, this time touching on Josh Huestis’ improvement this season. Lim notes how this is a positive for the team this season but a negative from the future perspective. Read it. Enjoy it. It’s really a great piece.
"But, one thing sets Huestis apart – his shooting fundamentals are much more promising than either of the two."
Next: Player Grades from the Utah Jazz Domination
That’s it for today’s issue of Thunder in the News! Check out all of our great content on our home page, including in-depth analysis from every game this season. More importantly, we’re featuring a myriad of popular Christmas Carols remixed for Thunder Nation.