I thought the game was pathetic...as was the one before, however...
All teams have bad shooting nights. We did, and without Ayton's gravity pulling people away from shooters, and people focusing a lot on Devin, it makes it tougher on shooting. But even without those two things, bad shooting nights happen. Cam is just returining from a hip contusion I believe. I hope it doesn't impact his game too much, because when it happened to Aron Baynes a couple years ago, he was never the same...he improved a bit near the end of the season but it took a long time. We had started out on fire with Ayton out but then he got the hip thing against Boston like 13 games in and never looked close to the same.
Then, I think we went into the Memphis game thinking it would probably be an easy victory with their starters resting (except Brooks) along with Tyus Jones.
This doesn't usually happen, but I think the fact we had won so many in a row, knowing we could pull games out at the end if we get down, made us a little overconfident, especially with the players out.
It is VERY rare we don't take two games in a row seriously or
expect to win, and facing the Thunder resting like 8 of their best players, I'm sure we felt like it was an easy victory, especially sitting 3 starters. Now you'd think Cam, Shamet and McGee starting would have had more motivation, particularly the former two, but McGee is not an offensive threat, so when you can't shoot, you have no other option. They could put more focus on Bridges who can now score from anywhere.
Then Cam and Sham, despite the motivation, struggled shooting, going like 4-18, so when your best two shooters shoot like that in your starting lineup, with no scoring option in the middle, and a depleted bench due to 3 of them starting, you are going to have it tough.
Do not blame the game on the defense...should we talk about playoffs? I just hope we can win another game..