Monday Rewind: November 12-18

November 12: Thunder Roll in OKC, Top Suns 118-101

• I vividly remember the rookie & sophomore version of Steven Adams. Watching him dominate Deandre Ayton early in this one was beautiful:

• Steven is the king of going out, doing his job and not showing a ton of emotion, so it’s always worth noting when he does show a bit. At one point in the first quarter, Adams and Trevor Ariza started jawing at one another. I’m not sure what’s being said, but it looks like Steve takes it a lot less seriously than Ariza did.

• Yes, the Suns closed the gap a bit, but it’s such a good feeling seeing the Thunder bounce back from the Mavs loss and dominate most of this one. Another sign the team has exercised those ’17-18 demons.
• This definitely felt like the game where we could make the official call: Thunder basketball is fun again.
• The game also provided one of the best highlights we’ve seen in OKC in a while. PG –> Jerami off the backboard.

• Scoring in this one: George (32), Schroder (20), Adams (18), Grant (10), Noel (9), Diallo (9), Abrines (8), Ferguson (5), Patterson (5), Felton (2). A well-rounded effort, fellas.

November 14: Thunder Coast in OKC, Dominate the Knicks 128-103

• Paul George got our hopes up with that little soundbite. Westbrook did not play.
• The Enes Kanter/Oklahoma City relationship continues to fascinate. Check out the ovation Big Turkey gets when he checks in:

• Yes I said, “checks in.” Kanter does not start for the 4-13 Knicks. *eye roll*
• George was pretty darn good in this one: 35 points on 13-22 shooting, 5-11 from 3PT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, no turnovers.
• Schroder had a 0 assist game vs. the Cavs earlier this month… Finished this one with 15 points and 12 assists. Progress!
• The Thunder wore their new Native-inspired City Edition uniforms. They look even cooler with the orange sleeves/tights.
• Paul George had a FRESH pair of PG 2.5’s to go along with the new unis.

• Sorry to go highlight heavy in this week’s Rewind, but there were so many good ones! Like this:

• And this:

• The pass by Steven Adams down the court to Patterson is something to behold. Steve is too good.
• Deonte Burton, Abdel Nader, and Timothe Luwawu-Caborrot all get some action in this one. Victory cigars for everyone.
• Burton was wearing bright pink shoes. I learned this week that it’s a tribute to his mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2014.
• Burton actually finished with 7 points (3-6 shooting) in 12 minutes of play. I’m a fan.

November 17: Thunder Win 110-100 in Phoenix, Move to 10-5 on the Season

• We’re fifteen games in and have beaten the Suns three times. I’m over it.
• Trevor Ariza as a buy-out candidate in the future? Eh? Ehhh?
• While I’m tired of the Suns, I doubt Steven Adams is. 26 points (11-15), 10 rebounds for Big Kiwi in another dominant night of harassing Deandre Ayton.
• Terrance Ferguson was out due to personal circumstances. Hamidou Diallo drew the start and finished with one point on 0-1 shooting in 19 minutes. So there’s that.
• TLC, on the other hand, finished with 12 points (4-8) in 25 minutes.
• Comment(s) of the Week? (That used to be a thing, right?)

Other Things:

• Tom Haberstroh has received a reaching foul:

• Is the Warriors Empire beginning to crumble? Draymond called Kevin Durant the B-word several times apparently and ended up suspended by the team.
• I mean, it’s not funny… but it’s totally funny.
• Please spare any Thunder fans on talk of how tough Durant’s free agency is for the Warriors franchise. Pretty sure we lived in limbo for three or four years.
• Once again, I think this speaks volumes of how OKC, Westbrook, Donovan, etc. handled Durant’s last year in Oklahoma City. There were no public blow-ups and the team went really far. (Given, Durant is probably handling this year a little differently.)
• Oklahoma’s favorite family grows by 2. Nina and Russell Westbrook welcome twin girls, Skye and Jordyn.
• Did Russ just name his kids Air Jordan? Legendary.

Looking Ahead

• Tryptophan and Thunder hoops on the schedule this week. Getting started tonight in Sacramento: