Best OKC Thunder Reserve:
I’d almost rather not give any of the reserves the hat tip tonight given how poorly the team played and how they were completely incapable of stopping the bleeding.
Darius Bazley could’ve got the nod for his 12 points as he was the only bench player to score in double-figures. But he also posted a team-worst minus 23.
Having to watch this game after the fact on league pass meant I had the benefit of knowing what each player delivered so I was keen to see what Hamidou Diallo did because the play by play noted several missed bunnies and lay-ins. Like Shai, his shot was off (3 of 11) but he didn’t force the3-pointer attempting four and connecting on one plus he had two assists.
The reality was everyone had a tough night and it’s hard to pin it on Hami who brought effort on a night when the defense was in short supply.
The positive takeaway on Diallo was he did other things like his eight rebounds of which half (4) were on the offensive glass and he also chipped in with two steals, had no turnovers.
Best Opponent:
Several Grizzlies could get the nod here. Jonas Valanciunas delivered a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds (five offensive) as well as two assists, a block, and a steal. However, much of the reason JV got rolling was the absence of someone big enough (read: Steven Adams) to stop his sheer size and strength.
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Dillon Brooks led the scoring effort (22 points) and filled up the stat sheet. Likewise, Anthony Tolliver was a major factor. He pulled the Thunder defenders out to the edges of the court and it gave the Grizzlies spacing to work with.
That all said, this team goes as their leader goes and that crown lies on the head of the rookie Ja Morant. It’s rare that a rookie takes such a role but its also undeniable he is their leader.
The rookie wasn’t perfect, but it seems like he’s growing each game out and it’s not hard to understand why he cited Russell Westbrook as a major influencer. He scored 19 points, adding nine assists, four rebounds, and drove aggressively earning seven trips to the line.
The OKC Thunder is back in action Sunday when they’ll play the front end of a back-to-back set versus the Wizards. Not since the early season has the Thunder failed to respond with a solid showing after a poor night at the office.
For a full box score of tonight’s game, head over to this link courtesy of ESPN. Of note, for those interested in how all the teams are doing check out the article below listing all 22 team’s schedules and is updated on a nightly basis with the results.