Placing blame where blame belongs:
Who holds the blame in the OKC Thunder’s maddening season. Is seems the blame is collectively spread around. But, ultimately, Billy Donovan bears the brunt of the blame and rightfully so.
Sam Presti also deserves some blame and criticism, but I’ll save that for another day. Hence, the focus today is on the players and Donovan.
This is the current state of the Thunder. In the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night Donovan did something myself and many others had been clamoring for. He left Melo on the bench in favor of Grant. Or did he?
After the Thunder’s loss to the Nuggets, Donovan was asked about his decision this is what he said:
Melo went to the table to check in with a bit over two minutes to go in regulation but went back to the bench a minute later. Donovan said that was Melo's decision and that he told his coach, re: Grant, "Let him go. Let him go...Let's let him keep going."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 31, 2018
There you have it Thunder Nation, Carmelo Anthony tells Billy Donovan what to do. This could very well be common place in the NBA between stars and coaches. However, in Oklahoma City it is much too common.
So long as the players have the ability to run the team the OKC Thunder are not going anywhere. Players should play and coaches should coach.
Yet somehow the players on the Thunder have the freedom to do both. Can you win games with this philosophy, sure. Can you win a championship using the same philosophy, well the Thunder have not won a title yet. With their current philosophy I do not think they ever will.
Next: Analyzings stretch run of west's seed vying for playoff berths
That’s it for me today Thunder Nation. Let me know who you think holds the blame for the Thunder’s disappointing season in the comments section or by hitting me up on twitter.
Failures of OKC Thunder – where the blame lies