I have really only rooted for two NBA teams in my almost 30 years of life. The first is the team everyone loves to hate and the second is of course, Oklahoma City. San Antonio travels up the I-35 for a contest between the clubs built very similar in fashion but with different results. Or are the Spurs and Thunder really that different?
This article got me thinking about how OKC stacks up against the late 80's version of San Antonio, and the similarities extend beyond just the rosters. Since Sam Presti took over as GM, the Thunder rebuilt nearly all of the roster and have used a Spurs-like approach this year.
Kevin Durant's return has me thinking about the future, even though the stretch of games without him was a success. OKC, winners of three in a row at home, no longer are the laughing-stock of the league. The Thunder have the base of a squad poised to break through next year with a little help. That assistance should come in the draft, where a 3-point specialist and another big man are on the menu.
Whipping up on the bottom-feeders, OKC also surprised Dallas and Philly at home in the past two weeks. Playing at the Ford Center is not easy now, and it will only get tougher for the visitors. That sign resembles the Spurs the most, a franchise that prides itself on maintaining home court advantage. San Antonio started over from scratch with the Admiral, and the Thunder did the same with KD.
Only a month remains in the inaugural campaign for Oklahoma City, and games like tonight show more about what is to come than the present. A victory isn't expected but a learning experience is. The Spurs may find themselves looking in the mirror the next time they travel across the border, especially with the Thunder using a time-tested model for reference.
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