Things could be worse...tonight's game could be in Houston. As far as anything good coming out of the T-Wolves game, well, how about before it? GM Sam Presti pulled another rabbit out of his hat, dealing from strength to make Oklahoma City a more complete team.
And in the process, the Thunder improved the present and the future of the franchise.
Johan Petro, OKC's starting center this season, used an impressive preseason to turn some heads around the league. Unfortunately for his career, the Thunder didn't have time for him to develop and opted for vetern Nenad Krstic instead. With Nick Collison again in the rotation and Robert Swift playing ahead of him, Petro was the odd man out.
Enter the Denver Nuggets, who had the exact opposite problem. Chucky Atkins was a former starting point guard who was deep on the bench in Colorado. Sounds like a match made in heaven, except this story gets even better. OKC also grabbed a first round pick in exchange for a second in the deal, giving the club three for the upcoming draft.
Atkins gives the Thunder another shooter and becomes the grand old man of the roster. He also potentially opens the door for more trades before the upcoming deadline. All of this probably means nothing to the Rockets, except who to cover at the Ford Center.
A well traveled veteran, Atkins has worn multiple numbers in the NBA and maybe can hide from Houston tonight. I really hope that is not the most exciting thing to happen, unless he makes four or five 3-pointers in his OKC debut. Nonetheless it is progress for the Thunder, who continue to find diamonds in the rough so to speak.
Kevin Durant and Jeff Green need to recover from the terrible Minnesota game if the home team has any chance for the sixth win. As carbert pointed out to me, the curse of the Celtics may be our best hope. The Rockets knocked off Boston in impressive fashion their last time out, much like the Knicks did before coming to Oklahoma.
Can lightning strike twice? Only if the Thunder bring the defense back and keep the game in the 90's. That is the only way OKC can hit the road with any momentum and put the recent tough losses behind them.
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