Tuesday, September 29th 2015, 11:01 pm
What about the D?
Defense, Defense, Defense, yes, that was a sore spot for the Thunder one season ago. To no one's surprise, or at least it shouldn't be, Billy Donovan used his first training camp practice to teach his defensive philosophies.
I believe the word absorb was used to describe how the players are adapting to his new ways. How long will it take to get his defensive values ingrained into this team is still unknown, but rest assured coach Donovan will pound it in one way or another to establish his defensive identity, as he calls it.
While we're on the defense topic, Enes Kanter questions popped up after practice. He can score with the best of the centers in the league; that was evident during his brief time with the Thunder last year. His lack of skills on defense was evident too. If coach Donovan and his staff can correct that or at least improve his defense some this season, Kanter's stock will rise again and maybe some of the doubters who questioned the re-signing of him will hush up.
So who do you want to start at center this year for the Thunder, Kanter (offense) or Steven Adams (defense)? That question will pop up sooner than later, and in my opinion that's a good problem to have, because both show signs of having a promising career in the NBA.
Way off topic, I, like so many out there, tried my best to land tickets to the Thunder home games when they went on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. I guess I did OK, no luck on Cleveland or the Rockets, but I did score two good seats that my wife will enjoy for the Knicks game. She will be about eight rows behind Derek Fisher and the Knicks bench.
She also landed two for the home opener against the Spurs, of course at a steep price. I guess I know where all my overtime pay is going.
September 29th, 2015
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