6 Thoughts
1) Competent win - true, against the worst team, record-wise, in the league, but the Thunder were coming off home wins over Detroit and Utah, and it was the second night of a back-to-back for Miami, and the final game of an interminable 7 game road trip. Caps off a very pleasing 4-3 trip, heading back home for a brutal schedule of Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta over the next week. 22-18, and hanging around right in the thick of the playoff race.
2) It was also a highly entertaining game - one of the more enjoyable of the year, really -which featured one of the most athletically stimulating sequences of the season. 6' 3" rookie jumping jack Russell Westbrook blocked a Jamal Magloire dunk try at one end, and the Thunder raced out in transition where Kevin Durant tried to flush a tomahawk dunk on Beasley, took off too soon, and threw it forty miles an hour off the top of the backboard, caroming back out to Wade going the other direction, who went behind the back to Chalmers on the wing, and then right back to Wade on the dead run for a crazy two handed flying slam. The Thunder are young, athletic, and wild, the crowd is loud, and the arena pipes in 80s music at level 11 - prominently featuring Run DMC - while play is going on. It makes for a frenetic evening.
3) This really should be # 1, but - Jamal Magloire was the best player on the court in the second half. Was effective in a short first half stint, got it going in the third quarter and never came back out. Finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 30 minutes. Even better, his defense was impeccable. He contested post position, he showed on pick and rolls, he was a deterrent around the rim, he drew a charge - he played a great defensive game. I'm not going to make a joke, I'm not going to expect it on a regular basis - but he honestly played a fantastic game. One other thing I'll say for him - he has always played hard, every time he has been in all season. Probably in a little better shape than he been in awhile - that helps, I'm sure.
4) Thor and his friends from Kansas are off the hook now that Mario Chalmers finally bounced back and had a nice game, 13 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, and one late dagger three with the shot clock going off to thwart the Thunder's last run. Hounded fellow rookie Russell Westbrook in to a 4-12, 4 turnover night. Westbrook, the # 4 pick in this year's draft, is an unbelievably electric athlete. He also has an absolute passion for dribbling the ball. Where? Right, left, to the side, in transition, backing up - anywhere it can be dribbled, really. If someone can teach him how to distribute he has a chance to be a great player, but it might take some teaching...
5) The crowd seemed disproportionately riled up - not that unusual for a Miami road game, where Dwyane Wade usually brings sold out houses and an extra electricity in the air. Still, this crowd seemed even more excited than usual. M. Minutos guessed that there may have been a festive atmosphere afoot, what with MLK Day tomorrow, and the inauguration on Tuesday, until it was pointed out to her that the game was in Oklahoma City, so it was unlikely to be a really pro-MLK, Obama crowd. "Oh, no, there are black people there," said M., "they are just sitting up at the top where you can't see them."
6) And finally, now available: "Dos Minutos: The Record, Vol. 1," a thirteen song CD with many of the hits, stoner jams, and new music mentioned on this site over the first forty games of the season. First copy printed and delivered yesterday, and available for free to all readers of this blog. Just reply with an email where to send it if you would like one. Note to Plumber: there is no Roy Orbison on it - you may want to pass...
