Coaches challenge costs OKC Thunder in loss to Clippers – player grades

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Recognizing Dennis Schroder‘s stats likely deserve credit I simply can’t give him the best opponent reward because there was a two to three minute stretch in the third quarter where the Clippers pulled ahead and most of it was due to Schroder trying to play one on five.

Noel, on the other hand, served up a complete game effort with seven points, eight rebounds, three assist, two steals and three blocks!

In addition, Noel was aggressive in the paint getting to the line six times and connecting on five of those attempts.

So, while I still think the Thunder would’ve been better served to play Adams on Harrell more I can’t falter Noel’s overall play because Harrell is just too beefy for him to stop.
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Best Opponent:

While I take umbrage with the calls and no calls he gets away with there is no denying this guy plays with energy. For the most part he played bully ball in the post and was allowed to swing his elbows freely. That’s not his fault – it’s the refs fault for allowing him to do what virtually no other center in the league is allowed to do.

If we’re honest who wouldn’t want Harrell playing as their backup center? And hey, his performance means I don’t have to give Paul George the award which tickles me pink.

Harrell’s full performance included a double-double of 28 points (almost a third of the Clippers point production) and 12 rebounds. He also had five assists with a steal and a block.

Click this link for the full box score via ESPN on tonight’s match.

The OKC Thunder are back in action tomorrow night back in the same arena as they get the brutal back-to-back set facing a rested Los Angeles Lakers club. Check back in the morning for the three takeaways as well as the game preview for the Lakers match.