OKC Thunder in the news: Questions and potential answers
By Reid Belew
OKC Thunder fans have reason to rejoice. Doesn’t it feel good to be a winner? The OKC Thunder are now a ripping hot 1-4 on the season, and things are looking up.
OKC Thunder in the news, despite our first victory of the season, is remarkably sad in tone. I hate to tell you that, but I’ve got to be honest with you: winning was great, but the real world moves on.
With that, let’s get to it.
Noel Questionable
That’s right, the greatest player in OKC Thunder history is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Clippers.
That’s hyperbole.
Billy Donovan said Nerlens Noel tweaked his ankle in the fourth quarter last night, part of the reason he didn't play the final 8:57. Thunder decided to rest him with way the game was going. Noel and Adams both listed as questionable vs. Clippers.
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) October 29, 2018
Noel had himself an amazing game against the Suns, tallying 20 points and 15 rebounds while playing outstanding defense. Noel was a joy to watch and was probably the happiest part of this young Thunder season so far. Without question, Noel deserves to play more minutes after his inspired play on Sunday.
Were he not questionable for Tuesday, he’d get another chance at stardom because…
Adams is Questionable
Uh oh.
Billy Donovan said that today was more a simple walkthrough with no contact but that Steven Adams was able to go. Will know more on his status tomorrow at shoot around
— Brady Trantham (@BradyDoesSports) October 29, 2018
The big man’s status is still up in the air.
This would be a rough situation, having both Noel and Adams out, especially now knowing what Noel is capable of.
This would leave things wide open for some ultra-small ball lineups featuring Grant or Patterson at the 5. Billy Donovan has no problem using nonsensical lineups, so this probably doesn’t even worry him, but it probably should, because…
Donovan is on the hot seat
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Whoops.
That’s right, Billy Donovan is now the Vegas favorite to lose his job first among NBA head coaches.
Donovan has never been universally praised or embraced by OKC Thunder fans, and his perceived lack of creativity, strange lineups, and absence of improvement have perhaps worn out their welcome.
According to Vegas, Donovan is more likely to lose his job than fellow NBA head coaches Tom Thibodeau, Fred Hoiberg, and for Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
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Since Tyronn Lue was fired Sunday, Vegas should probably update that to say ‘first Western Conference Head Coach, or next coach to lose his job’. It’s semantics at this point however, because all good OKC Thunder fans know Sam Presti isn’t a knee jerk reactionary type of GM.