The Oklahoma City Thunder are attracting plenty of attention for mostly the wrong reason. Despite brandishing one of the most talented core of players led by the trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder are off to an underwhelming start, going just 4-7 in the first 11 games.
After losing to the Denver Nuggets on the road on Thursday, 102-94, the Thunder are now riding a four-game losing streak, which they are hoping to end against L.A. Clippers.
Asked about his thoughts on the Thunder’s early-season struggles, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers implied that it’s too early to push the panic button on the Thunder, per Erik Horne of NewsOk.com
“The first thing is I wouldn’t be worried about them. I know a lot of people are. I’m not in that group. I think they’re gonna be fine. The one thing that stands out to me is defensively they’re even better. They’ve established themselves. You watch them play … I watched three games and I watched the game last night, that’ll be the fourth – the same thing stands out. They’re long, athletic, they get deflections, they get steals. Clearly, when they’re not thinking offensively they’re really good, and that says it. In the first six seconds, they’re one of the best teams in the league in transition. That’s instinctive. When they get to thinking, that’s where they struggle, and that’s because they’re new. It’s one thing to have a lot of new guys – we have nine new guys – it’s another thing to have key guys as new guys, your stars. They’ll work it out. They’ll figure it out. I hope it takes at least another game, that would be nice, but they’re gonna be fine.”
Doc Rivers is speaking from a unique platform of course, having mentored a Big Three himself before with the Boston Celtics. And by mentioning the Thunder’s defense, Rivers also brought to light an aspect of Oklahoma City’s game that’s mostly overlooked by fans. The Thunder are allowing the second fewest points per game (87.5).
Rivers might also just be trying to butter up the Thunder with compliments in hopes of getting Russell Westbrook and company lose some sense of urgency, as the Clippers, during the time of Rivers' comments, were preparing for a showdown with Oklahoma City.
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