Shorthanded and tired OKC Thunder ousted by Bucks – grades
Finishing a back-to-back set the OKC Thunder got blown out by the Milwaukee Bucks in a game everyone wants to forget. Player grades offer some insight.
Having to play back-to-back sets is never an easy task for any team. Players are already tired and legs are heavy. Depending on if there is travel involved that also factors in and of course the quality of the opponent. In this case, the OKC Thunder was the team traveling, facing a rested team. Oh- and that team just happened to be the best one in the NBA – the Milwaukee Bucks.
Entering the match there was optimism from the team given how well they’ve played the elite clubs. Even the first meeting on November 10th between the Bucks and Thunder was a two-point differential (121-119). Given the Thunder have meshed and grown it was a reasonable assumption from they would make this a contest.
Not so much.
Final. 86. 149. 133. 89
The Thunder got their hats handed to them in this game by the very best the association has to offer. It happens. Even teams who aren’t elite will go through ups and downs. Thunderous Intentions has referred to the four x four, factor previously. Every season a team typically loses five games they shouldn’t, wins five games they have no business winning, blows out five teams and gets blown out in five.
To this point in the season, the Thunder has eluded many of the above negative factors but this game definitely falls into the last category.
OKC lost every quarter but the second was by far where the Bucks took the wind out of the Thunder sails. Milwaukee won that frame 39-23 and punctuated it with 37-22 third quarter. The Bucks wanted to make sure Chris Paul and company got no inspiration to make a patented Thunder comeback.
On to some player grades.