Subscribe
Follow Us
With the addition of Carmelo Anthony and Paul George to their lineup back in the offseason, the expectations on the Oklahoma City Thunder have understandably spiked up. Now that they have three legitimate stars in their fold, they're already considered serious contenders for the title, and many believe they can topple the other powerhouse teams in the Western Conference.
However, things have not gone according to plan 18 games into the season, as they only have an 8-11 record to show. The team is still in the process of finding their identity, and have played inconsistently so far. During Saturday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Anthony did not even see action in the fourth quarter. When asked what he felt about it, the 10-time All-Star made it clear that he understands his head coach Billy Donovan's decision, and knows that the lineup on the floor were the better fit against the Mavs.
Melo on not playing during the fourth quarter: pic.twitter.com/fW2N5MfmIC
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) November 26, 2017
Donovan said Melo sat during the fourth because he liked the way the lineup that was out there was playing
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) November 26, 2017
Anthony's comments definitely shows a lot of maturity, despite losing some playing time. It's not a normal occurrence hearing players with his stature not feeling bad about being benched. While many questioned how he will co-exist with George and Russell Westbrook, he is proving that he is willing to make sacrifices for the team, in order to be more successful.
Donovan's decision may also pay dividends for the Thunder in their coming games, as it could fire up Anthony, and bring out the best in him. If he plays better than how he did on Saturday, he will certainly receive the usual playing time he gets, and will avoid getting benched again. It could result in more wins for the team, which they badly need at this point, to turn around their fortunes and live up to expectations.
