As with any somewhat hastily assembled team – no matter how immensely talented – there’s always going to be a steep learning curve. The Oklahoma City Thunder are finding that out the hard way right now while in the throes of a three-game skid, the most recent loss coming at the hands of the 2-8 Sacramento Kings.
But rather than get bogged down under the weight of those recent mishaps, and the endless scrutiny that accompanies it all, the Thunder’s superstars are approaching it for exactly what it is: a learning experience.
After Tuesday night’s loss in Sacramento, both Carmelo Anthony and Paul George expressed similar sentiments on the state of the Thunder and how to handle this type of adversity, given all the expectations surrounding the team this season.
Via Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post:
“This is all new to everybody, new situations for everybody,” said Anthony, who along with George joined the team this summer. “Even though we losing games, I think it’s more of lessons being learned than actually losing the game. So right now, we’re learning a lesson in these last couple games.”
***
“We have a whole year to figure it out,” George said. “We can’t really try to rush this. It’s something that’s step-by-step, day-by-day [and], at this point, game-by-game. We’ve got to slowly get on the same page.”
It’s certainly a healthy perspective, especially this early in the season. Yet it’s also apparent that the mounting frustration has gotten the better of them of late.
Anthony got tossed from OKC’s game against the Blazers on Sunday after throwing himself into Jusuf Nurkic, and although his ejection was arguably excessive, his action on the play in question was likely in retaliation for an uncalled foul committed against him on an earlier possession.
To make matters worse, George, Russell Westbrook, and coach Billy Donovan all earned fines on Wednesday from the league offices for publicly criticizing the officials involved.
As George and Anthony both indicated, the Thunder have time to figure things out. But in a loaded Western Conference with several very good teams clamoring for playoff positioning, they may not have as much time as they’d like.
