Thunder in the News: The Terrance Ferguson era has begun
By Tony Heim
Today’s OKC Thunder in the News celebrates everything. It’s 2018, aka the year of Oklahoma City. Terrance Ferguson has arrived, Russell Westbrook has his own show. Life. Is. Great.
Happy Gameday Thunder Nation! I’d also like to wish you a Happy Russell Westbrook Day, a Happy Terrance Ferguson is Here Day and a Happy the Lakers Do Not Look Like a Team Paul George Would Want to Play For Day! Last night was simply fantastic. The Thunder played three quarters of championship-level basketball while also giving us hope for the future in the form of a 19-year old dunking prodigy. Who also happens to be able to shoot the lights out of the ball. Let’s get right into it.
The Thunder are turning into a complete team right before our eyes
The Terrance Ferguson explosion was necessary. Not because Oklahoma City needs a bona fide offensive weapon off the bench (which they do); it’s because they needed to prove to themselves and the rest of the NBA that they don’t need to solely rely on their three offensive superstars. Ferguson proved to Westbrook, George and Carmelo that there are many ways to put up points, that they don’t need to carry an offense by themselves. Dave Schilling from Bleacher Report explains how the Thunder are “evolving into an ideal team.”
The key word is evolving, because they are nowhere near to their full potential.
"What was once a solo act is now a full ensemble. After Russell Westbrook spent the 2016-17 season emphatically proving he could carry a team by himself, Oklahoma City feels like a cohesive unit now."
Why Not Zer0.1’s are officially here
Even more reason to celebrate – the reigning MVP finally has his own shoe. Russ debuted a special edition last night in Los Angeles. Here’s the official introduction video from the MVP himself:
What a blessing!!! I could never imagine a kid like myself with his OWN shoe!! I’m still in shock lol. Huge thanks to @Jumpman23 for the opportunity and can’t wait to show y’all more flavors! #whynot pic.twitter.com/1YGWtC3gCP
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) January 4, 2018
And if you want more information on colorways, release dates, etc. just hop on over to XXL Magazine’s post on the new shoe. Congrats to the MVP for finally getting his just due; the shoe is simply fantastic.
Grading the Thunder’s biggest blowout of 2018…and the season
And finally I prop myself up a bit and present my report card from last night’s victory. I don’t want to go into too much detail considering I’ve already written over 1,000 words on the subject…so go read it. Enjoy it. Embrace it. Share it. Comment on it. Do whatever your heart desires, so long as you click that link and digest the beauty that came out of these fingertips at 2 AM.
"In all serious, the first game of 2018 truly was a special night for Thunder Nation. Granted, it was against the lowly Los Angeles Lakers. But after watching this team lose to to the Dallas Mavericks at home, then play a poor first quarter tonight, you can’t help but be excited."
Next: Previewing Thunder's second straight matchup in LA
That’s it for today’s issue of Thunder in the News! Go over to our main page for ALL of our WONDERFUL content, including New Year’s Resolutions, multiple previews to tonight’s game and much, much more.