Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder say they’re going to get better, but the losses keep coming. The Thunder dropped another game Monday night to the Charlotte Hornets, a 116-103 loss at home where they gave up a whopping 63 points in the second half to blow a lead and spark another round of frustrated postgame comments from various Thunder players.
George was atop that list of frustrated stars, and he said he’s had enough with the December doldrums his new team has suffered through. George was meant to make the Thunder a contender along with Thunder all-everything Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, who was also traded to the team before the season.
It’s a trio that was supposed to need time to get it right, but the further into the winter OKC gets without the necessary growth and cohesion the more fans are concerned that things might not come together in time to match up with some of the West’s best.
George isn’t joining that chorus of concern just yet but he did say on Monday night that a change needs to happen, and happen fast.
“For the talent that we have, obviously this is not where we want to be,” George told ESPN after the loss. “But we’re going to remain optimistic, though, about the future and what we can do. Once we can find a way to really do it night in and night out, it’s no panic mode, but we have to start playing better. It’s getting to a point where we can’t allow ourselves to be at this point. We can say we’re going to figure it out, we can say all that. But at some point it’s gotta stop.”
Oklahoma is just 12-14 after Monday’s collapse, which included a 22-2 Hornets run. Thunder head coach Billy Donovan was optimistic after the game, however, and Westbrook also seemed upbeat despite the loss.
“It’s up to us, honestly,” Westbrook said. “Just gotta figure it out and play the same way every night.”
Whenever they figure out how to replicate their play though, they won’t be taking Monday’s game as the replica to follow.
