OKC Thunder: 3 keys to claiming victory versus Nuggets
OKC Thunder key number: Channel inner road warrior:
Throughout this season the Thunder has oddly been better on the road than they have in the warm confines of Chesapeake Energy Arena. Up until the two games versus the Lakers, they boasted a 7-4 record away from OKC. Despite the two overtime losses OKC still has a winning road record. Even a loss in Denver would draw them even on the season.
Still, following the loss on Wednesday in LA, coach Mark Daigneault made an interesting comment that hinted at the potential for issues if the trend continues:
"“It’s getting old, but I’ve just got to commend them for their effort, their competitiveness,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “On a short turnaround, after a tough loss the other night, we compete for 53 minutes. These ones sting, because you want to come away with a win when you put that sort of effort forward. But we’re focused on progress, and we continue to show progress.”"
The key takeaway of this comment is Daigneault knows there is a danger in having your players lay it on the line constantly for 48 minutes and not see any reward for their efforts.
The culture is strong with the OKC Thunder, but if the team starts losing all the close games it will be harder to keep the youngsters invested in playing that way only to watch the opponent celebrate and rub it in.
Every player knows the big picture and that the future is bright but it’s equally important to have some wins along the way. Those occasional (and timely) wins will help to maintain the team’s spirit and assist the coaching staff in maintaining the identity and culture of the team.