Chemistry. With new faces in familiar places, that’s the key to training camp for many NBA teams. It’s no wonder Paul George has stressed that the new-look Olkahoma City Thunder are getting along just fine these days.
George enters his first season with the Thunder after a NBA Draft-day deal that sent him to Oklahoma City for his contract year. But the late addition of Carmelo Anthony complicates the chemistry equation for the Thunder, who also bring back the reigning NBA MVP in Russell Westbrook.
George was asked about how the team has looked thus far, and despite the inevitable difficulties that will come with playing together, he seems optimistic about what the Thunder can do this season.
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“We look really good,” George said to reporters on Friday. “And you gotta include the other two guys — you gotta include (Andre Roberson) and Steven Adams. I think all five of us in the starting lineup have really looked well. My chemistry has been really good. We’re seeing plays before they actually happen.”
“With three NBA stars coming together on the same team the question is always who will control the offense, but George said that himself, Westbrook and Anthony have been given the freedom to take chances when they see fit.
I think the best thing is we’re allowing each other to play. If Russ sees something or has something, we let Russ go with it. If Melo has something, if i have something, if we see a read that we can exploit with Steven Adams or Andre, we’re attacking that matchup as well. And I think what’s going to be key, our chemistry has to be on that level every time we’re on the floor, and it has been. We’ve looked really good in camp.”
It’s a good sign for a Thunder team that will be downright fascinating to watch this year. Adding Anthony to the team may be a move designed to keep George with the Thunder long-term, but the first thing the Thunder need to figure out is if that trio can actually play together in the first place.
George is confident they have figured it out, and Thunder fans certainly think that’s the case.
