No Chet……and yet?

Earlier in this NBA season, the OKC Thunder, due to circumstances beyond their control, were without the services of both Isiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, two players that undoubtedly are pivotal to the success of this team. However, the record will show that in spite of the unavailability of both players, and others, also recovering from injuries, the Thunder has risen to the occasion and hold the top position in the Western Conference and the second best win/loss record in the entire NBA, behind the Boston Celtics. Today their record stands at twenty wins versus ONLY five losses. In the midst of this inaugural NBA Cup tournament, they rolled over arch rival, neighboring state Dallas Mavericks with an impressive win and came alive in Las Vegas, after a disappointing first half performance and squashed the Houston Rockets to punch their ticket to the NBA Cup finals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Bragging rights and monetary rewards notwithstanding, this team is FINALLY, getting a little respect from the media talking heads. But if you ask any of their players, the focus is always the game, the game plan and the next team on the schedule. It’s one game at a time, play together, from start to end and in between, working on improving wherever the need has been exposed and do better when the lights come on again. How can I, as a fan, not be proud of the trajectory that this team is on. Brilliant draft choices by a GM and his staff being able to spot talent and bring in personnel that fits the style of the Thunder and let’s not forget the coaching of Mark Daigneault and staff, and particularly the addition of Chip Englund, who has positively had a hand in the marked improvement in the shooting of all the players and namely SGA and Lugentz Dort.

So, having said all that, it’s onward to the NBA Cup finals on Tuesday. It’s another tough test against a seasoned team, stacked with star players. Just another game….or is it? Chet remains on the sidelines, still recovering and the game goes on.