OKC Thunder: Top 5 takeaways from Blue and White Scrimmage

The OKC Thunder kicked off their 2018-19 campaign with their annual Blue and White Scrimmage serving up five key takeaways from the action.

OKC Thunder fans got their first look–kind of–at their squad this Sunday, September 30. For the first time in their 11 scrimmages, the team will stay home and play in their usual arena. Fans piled into Chesapeake Energy Arena to watch the blue and white scrimmage and they were treated to a fun afternoon.

First, let’s talk about who was out. Alex Abrines did not play due to back spasms. Abdel Nader was sidelined with swelling in his knee. Russell Westbrook and Andre Roberson were obviously out as well.

Top five takeaways:

Schroder ballin:

Dennis Schroder played shooting guard with Raymond Felton handling the ball at times. Thunder fans have questioned if Schroder and Westbrook will play together once Russ returns, and that seems obvious.

What is not so obvious is who plays off ball? While Russell Westbrook makes the most sense to be the one off ball from a basketball sense, was the line up foreshadowing? Does Billy Donovan want to get Schroder use to playing the two at times?

Pick and Roll:

Dennis Shroder and Steven Adams will be amazing in the pick and roll game

Patterson in mid season form:

Patrick Patterson looked incredible! Clearly Patterson focused on getting in better condition this offseason, and it showed on the court. He looked lighter, and moved much better on the floor  than he did a year ago.

Patterson was knocking down shots, spacing the floor, boxing out stronger and getting deflections on defense. Patrick Patterson dominated this game, stealing the afternoon show. He looked sharp and locked in. Perhaps the most exciting part of PPat’s game was how efficient the big man was from deep, blitzing in five threes during this contest.

Adams and Noel:

Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel went back and forth during the second half. At the break, Billy Donovan decided to shake up the rosters and one of the moves sent Nerlens Noel to team Blue. This pitted him opposite Steven Adams who remained on Team White.

Adams got physical down low with a lean Nerlens Noel and the two went back and forth. For Thunder fans who go back a while, you will remember when Kendrick Perkins use to torment Steven Adams at practice, contributing to the player Adams has become. Despite being 25 years old this points to Adams already assuming more of a leadership role on the team.

Felton still in mid season form – offseason that is:

Raymond Felton did not look like he was in shape at all. Billy Donovan and Sam Presti made a point to preach their new uptempo offense. Before the scrimmage Billy Donovan mentioned some guys need to be in better shape.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 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

I think that the word “Guys” in that comment can be trimmed down to “A guy” being Raymond Felton. Felton was slow up the floor offensively, and was a true ball stopper on that end of the floor.

The Rosters:

Team Blue Starters:

Abdul Gaddy, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Deonte Burton, Jerami Grant, and Tyler Davis.

Team Blue Bench:

K.J. McDaniels, Bryce Alford, and Richard Solomon.

Blue team coach: Bob Beyer.

Team White Starters:

Dennis Schroder, Terrance Ferguson, Paul George, Patrick Patterson, Steven Adams.

Team White Bench: ‘

Raymond Felton, Nerlens Noel, and Hamidou Diallo.

White team coach: Billy Donovan.

The Oklahoma City Thunder take the floor against their first NBA opponent Wednesday, October 3 against the Detroit Pistons.

As a whole, there were a few positive signs to take from this ultimately meaningless scrimmage with mostly unbalanced teams.