Surviving Without Chet
Even after I decided on that title for this entry, I nearly changed it to “thriving without Chet” because, surprise….surprise, the Thunder has blown right through the number of wins for this season, as predicted by all the “educated” talking heads of sports channels. Who would have guessed as we face the last 10-12 games of the current NBA season, the Thunder’s win record is so far beyond what most would have expected? When Chet Holmgren suffered that injury spelling the end of his season, many felt that OKC would end the season at or close to the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Well, hold that thought folks!! Reality check. The team is getting better game to game and have beaten every playoff team from the past season including both teams that played in the Finals last year. The Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76’ers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns have all found themselves on the short end of the scoreboard in games with the Thunder. Things are looking up for the home team and It’s beginning to look like the basic pieces of a near future dominating presence is brewing in Loud City. Only time will tell when Chet will take the floor with the rest of the team but the core that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lugentz Dort, Josh Giddey, “JDbub” Williams (of Santa Clara), JWill from Arkansas, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and the remaining supporting cast of players, all capable of scoring, mean that the future is very bright. It looking like the playoffs are in our future at the close of the regular season. Add our stockpile of draft capital, the added experience we are accumulating game to game AND the return of Chet who, while he has not returned to playing status is already practicing, bulking up and becoming even better than he was was when chosen as the 2nd overall pick by OKC. Don’t close the door on us yet folks! We’re not done and we can beat any team on any given night. Except Sacramento, who has “lit the beam” on us at least eight times in a row. Our day will come, Kings! On any given night…….it could happen.