If you watch closely every night in the NBA you can learn a little something. We know you are busy and can’t keep up with every game, so we’re here to help with those lessons from another night in the Association. Here’s what you missed after buying a bacon scented lottery scratcher ...
1) Oklahoma City is starting to get it together. I talked about this on PBT Extra — the Thunder need to get hot now, not later, if they want to make the playoffs because the Suns are not coming back to the pack. (Yes, Phoenix has a tough schedule the next few weeks, but the team’s schedule also is home heavy the rest of the season and Phoenix is already on a 47-win pace.) Oklahoma City is doing just that — the Thunder have won 4-of-5 and while the Miami Heat did not make it easy Tuesday night the Thunder got 19 each out of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and that was enough. However, the real key was the bench — on a night Dion Waiters couldn’t throw a pea in the ocean (1-of-9), Reggie Jackson (remember him?) stepped up with 16 points including 7 in the fourth quarter to help seal the win, while Anthony Morrow pitched in a dozen. The Thunder still have three games to make up on the Suns but they are starting to hit their stride and that should scare the rest of the West. So should the dunk fest Durant and Russell Westbrook put on:
2) Ernie Johnson is the best. After the Thunder beat the Miami Heat, Russell Westbrook did an interview with NBA TV, Ernie Johnson was in the studio and asked the brilliant questions (based on this).
.@TurnerSportsEJ couldn't resist...https://t.co/FFwRq2L2yM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 21, 2015
3) Kawhi Leonard is back and the Spurs are starting to look like the Spurs. As Jeff McDonald of the Express-News noted, the Spurs are suddenly 3-0 since Kawhi Leonard got back. It’s not a coincidence. Leonard had 17 points and 15 rebounds in a vintage Spurs win over the Nuggets — Denver hung around for three quarters, then the Spurs took their execution to another level and Denver couldn’t hang. Leonard brings another shooter, an increased level of athleticism, and quality perimeter defense to the table. The Spurs are better than any other team in the league of just saying “the next guy has to step up” after an injury, but some guys are just harder to replace than others and Leonard is not a guy they can easily replace.
