Face the mirror time for Thunder

Originally Published: Jan 30, 2011 11:59 PM CDTSunday. National TV. Big game. OKC 103. But Miami 108. Didn&rsquo;t have to happen. Its face the mirror time

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:32 pm

By: News 9

Originally Published: Jan 30, 2011 11:59 PM CDT

Sunday. National TV. Big game. OKC 103. But Miami 108. Didn’t have to happen. Its face the mirror time for the Thunder and its fans.  Dear Thunder friends, save the emails. Save the texts. Save the dog-cussin’ cause you can’t be a bigger fan of the Thunder than me. However, having said that, here are some cold hard facts; Cold hard facts that led to the Thunder’s loss to the Heat on Sunday. 1.      Miami’s Big 3 is better than OKC’s Big 3. LeBron was better yesterday and is  better than Kevin Durant. Dwayne Wade was/is better than Russell Westbrook. Chris Bosh was/is better than Jeff Green. If you don’t like that statement, just stop and consider the bottom line question: If you had to pick your three in those matchups to play a game with your life on the line, who would you take? Hate to say it but I’m sticking with my statement. 2.      OKC’s top two centers scored two more points than a dead man. Ibaka hasn’t recovered from his “talkin’ to” Durant gave him Friday. And Krystic wasn’t hitting outside and is not a good matchup in a lot of situations. 3.      Thabo Sefalosha didn’t play due to injury. As expected, his defensive presence and mindset is critical to this team that otherwise doesn’t play with the consistent tenacity it takes to win big in this league. 4.      His replacement has gone MIA again. James Harden loafed on a play that fans didn’t appreciate and the coach apparently didn’t either. His inconsistent shooting is becoming a problem. This team must have better outside shooting and if Harden doesn’t pick it up I hope we get a bigger dose of Daequan Cook. 5.      Miami made a great halftime adjustment in shutting down the ferocious drives down the lane by Westy in the first half. Back-up point Erik Maynor was needed on a day when others outside the Big 3 (responsible for 77 points) were off. Maynor didn’t come close to playing his role. -All’s not lost. This bunch is young and they’ll bounce back. Their upside this season is limited, as you can tell by seeing results from games against heavyweights. But the long-term is more important. And that’s where the brain of young GM Sam Presti must deliver. Clay B and his Boys have him some cash in the kitty. Everyone expects he’ll lose Green after this season.  It’s time for Presti to once again live up to his rep. I have no doubt that he will. His Westbrook steal was genius. His Harden pick is nothing special. Nor does it appear his decisions on big men Aldrich and Mullins. Potential looks to be there for DJ White, but you know what potential is worth. And his upside isn’t going to make much of an impact anyway. Mo Peterson is not working out. Cook might, but hasn’t yet.  It’s time to find a reliable shooter. A reliable big man. It’s time this team play defense from tip to horn. We don’t want to see Harden nonchalantly go after a fourth quarter lose ball in a huge game. We love where the franchise has gone and how quickly it’s happened. But like everyone else, OKC fans want more.  Maybe it’s good the soft-spoken Durant has shown some anger twice in three days. Serge got a blast in Friday’s win. Bosh got a good one today (and well deserved I might add).  It’s time to Presti the right buttons. Both Scotty B and Sammy P. Thunder Up! Hasta luego, db P.S.  Always remember: Don’t argue with an idiot. He’ll drag you down to his level. Then beat you with his experience.