Thunderous Thoughts: All games are not created equal
Welcome to Thunderous Thoughts, your weekly look at the OKC Thunder. This week, I am allowing everyone to take a break from watching basketball.
My wife says the same thing to me every time I put the OKC Thunder game on television.
“They’re playing again?”
Yup. They’re playing again. They play 82 times a season. It’s an exhausting schedule for the players and fans. It’s most exhausting for significant others who can’t stand basketball.
Here’s a secret, Thunder (and all basketball) fans. You don’t need to watch every game. Unless it’s part of your job to watch every game, you can skip a handful of games throughout the season. Not all games are created equal. A Wednesday night game against the Hawks does not carry the same value as a prime time showdown with the Warriors.
You may want to watch every game. But your relationship will be better off if you don’t watch every game. Give up a game here and there. You’ll be less stressed and your significant other will appreciate that you’re paying more attention to him or her.
These next handful of games don’t matter, Thunder fans. Even that showdown with the Warriors on Tuesday doesn’t matter.
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Because the team you see now will be completely different than the team you see a week from now. Andre Roberson’s injury has changed the Thunder’s plans heading into the deadline. Instead of acquiring a role player off the bench, Sam Presti will likely be aggressive in acquiring a legitimate starting shooting guard. He can’t afford to waste potentially his only season of the Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook trio by rolling into the playoffs with Terrance Ferguson or Josh Huestis as the starting shooting guard.
If they win their upcoming games, enjoy the victory. If they lose, don’t sweat it. And If they get blown out by the Warriors, stay off Twitter.
Thunder Nation, if you’re in a relationship with a significant other who doesn’t understand why your life is attached to sports, build up some good will over this next week. Spend some time with him or her and give up basketball for a week. Save yourself some stress and arguments. Decompress heading into the All-Star break and gear up for the playoff run. That’s the time that matters.
Other Thunder Thoughts
*The Thunder should “rest” Paul George and Russell Westbrook against the Warriors. Both guys would probably destroy the locker room if they are told that they won’t play, but what a great troll move it would be. Admit it, you’re 100 percent behind this idea now that I’ve mentioned it.
*Courtney Lee is still the guy I hope the Thunder have their sights on. The problem with Sam Presti is that you can’t pay attention to any of the talk. Because it’s always a smokescreen with Presti. The guy you’re not thinking about is the guy he’s calling for at 3 a.m.
More from Thunderous Intentions
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- 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
*If Joakim Noah is bought out, I expect him to sign with Oklahoma City. There’s no way the Thunder deal for Noah (unless Kristaps Porzingis is attached), but he’d be a great backup center on a minimum deal. And obviously, the Billy Donovan connection is there.
*How happy is Westbrook that George made the All-Star team and is on Team LeBron with him? Instead of Loner Russ, which was awesome last year, he gets to hang out with his new best friend, while his old best friend fraternizes with the enemy some more.
*Tony Allen is not the defender he used to be, but he’d be a no risk option for the Thunder. Even though he’s no longer Mr. First Team All Defense, he’s a better defender than Terrance Ferguson. Offensively, he does similar things to Andre Roberson with his screening and cutting. I see no downside to signing Allen.