The first gameday of 2018 reminds us how fragile this OKC Thunder team truly is.
Happy Gameday Thunder Nation! Hopefully you’re like me and washed away the last game when the calendar turned to 2018. If so you sadly have greater things to worry about. Andre Roberson is out for at least three more games, meaning the defense probably won’t return to its elite status this week. More importantly, we’ve got to worry about Paul George’s return to Los Angeles tonight.
Paul George speaks on offseason Lakers rumors
And that’s exactly where we start today’s In the News. I give PG credit for the genuine honesty with this question. George has never tried to front about his feelings towards any organization he’s played for – his dismissal of any regrets that those rumors leaked tells me he’s in a happy place right now. While I’m not as confident as I was earlier in the season, I still believe the Thunder have a very good chance of re-signing him this offseason. This answer oddly backs that sentiment up.
Pretty candid stuff from Paul George about L.A. with Lakers and Clippers coming up. Says he has no regrets about Lakers popping up as trade destination when he was with Pacers: pic.twitter.com/1j2bqmRc8m
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) January 2, 2018
And the Thunder’s official Big Three is…
BAM! The eye-test has said it all season, and now analytics backs us up. Steven Adams is easily the third member of Oklahoma City’s Big Three. The beauty is it’s not even close. A combination of three advanced stats actually places Adams fairly close to George in terms of overall impact – that’s surprising because of all the little things the Big Kiwi provides. Even with their early struggles, the New OK3 ranks fifth overall in the League in terms of trios. Check out the full article for in-depth looks at the 13 best Big Threes in the NBA.
"Nope, it’s not Carmelo Anthony. His poor shooting and inability to contribute in any other areas has led to a score of minus-1.02 that ranks No. 6 in OKC and No. 203 overall."
Newest OKC players active in community already
We’re keeping the positive vibes going with the most positive Thunder fan I know. Heather Koontz took a step away from the court to highlight just how important the OKC Thunder is to the community. Yes, sports are about winning. But their also here to help take us away from our everyday struggles, to give us hope when times get rough. Heather looks at the work Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and others have done this season – give it a read to remember why we all love this organization for more than the basketball product.
"It is an honorable display of compassion, charity, and giving back. And for fans who call OKC home, shaping our community is often worth more than winning a basketball game."
That’s it for today’s issue of Thunder in the News! Make sure you check our home page for our previews (that’s right it’s plural depending on when you read this) to tonight, then return later on for our recap and report card from yours truly.