Six of the last seven OKC Thunder losses have come against non-playoff teams. Yet they’ve won six of their last seven games against legitimate Playoff teams, including the Rockets and Raptors. What’s the difference from game to game? Themselves.
It’s incredible when you look at the Oklahoma City Thunder season as a whole. If you start from the beginning of season and recap wins and losses, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. You’ll notice the Thunder are beating teams like Golden State, Houston, Toronto, Minnesota, San Antonio (any win against them is impressive).
However, they’ve also lost against some pretty bad teams this season. They’ve lost to Dallas, Orlando, Sacramento, New York, Brooklyn and Charlotte.
Now, the New York Knicks game was a fluke due to the triple overtime game the night before in Philadelphia. However, the loss to Phoenix last night was something different. This isn’t a loss you can explain with numbers or stats. You could argue that it is a lack of effort. However, I’d argue it’s a psychological thing.
I think its a motivation problem. When the OKC Thunder see they have Brooklyn or Phoenix on the schedule, it’s difficult to get hyped about the game. I’m not saying whether it’s right or wrong, nor am I saying its what they get paid for. None of that really matters to me as a fan and a writer.
That’s what makes the Thunder the NBA’s most interesting team. They beat teams they probably aren’t expected to and check out against teams they should beat. Seriously, they should have destroyed Phoenix last night, but the Suns were simply more excited to play the Thunder than the Thunder were to play the Suns.
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I know if I played for the OKC Thunder and we had to face the Brooklyn Nets, I wouldn’t exactly be amped for that game.
Think about it – there are people you work with that make your job complete hell. When your boss says you’re working with this person, you instantly check out. You say things like “I have to work with this guy?!?!” It literally takes all of the motivation out of your day.
I realize that it takes minimal effort to get hyped for a basketball game. However, staying motivated through an 82 game season can be exhausting. I’m not here to argue if it’s right or wrong.
People should realize by now that the NBA season is basically preparation for the playoffs. The OKC Thunder aren’t going to see Brooklyn, Charlotte or Orlando in the playoffs; it makes sense that they aren’t exactly into the game.
Honestly, I went to bed at halftime of the Phoenix game last night. The NBA season is long, and there are going to be games where players don’t bring it.
Sure, it’s what they get paid for. However, you can’t say you’ve never goofed off at work because you just weren’t feeling it that day. The Thunder are the same way.