Another loss. To be fair, the Clippers are a team on the rise. Zach Randolph is a good addition and Eric Gordon is an impact player. Nonetheless, it's now been 45 days since the Thunder won at home. On a personal note, I didn't even see the victory against the Grizzlies because of the Bedlam game.
It's getting hard to handle. It felt like there was no life in the Ford Center at the start of the game last night. There was a palpable sense of impending doom. It's like nobody wanted to go all-in cheering for this team only to have it go for naught. And, regrettably, the feeling was well founded.
It takes a lot out of me I have to admit. It's not like I go home and kick the dogs or anything but when you lose by 10 and have 20+ turnovers to go along with 60% free throw shooting it's frustrating.
The Oklahoman suggested that maybe the Thunder are pressing at home, desperate to give the hometown crowd something to cheer for. I can see it.
While there is the aforementioned palpable sense of doom there is also a tangible sense that the fans desperately want something to cheer about. They want to connect with this team and vice versa.
Not only that but the Thunder did not play nearly as free as they did against the Mavs or Spurs. Jeff Green in particular struggled more than usual.
If I would have written a post last night after the game it would have sounded really bitter and ungrateful.
So here's a list of cliches, anecdotes, etc. that I keep telling myself to cope with the bitter defeats:
- This time last year there was no NBA team in town to root for.
- It's easy to root for a winner.
- It's better to get in on the ground floor.
- You have to pay you dues.
- It's just karmic retribution and it eventually will pass.
- How fun will it be when this team wins?
- Sustained success is built through the draft.
- We have a 25% shot of getting Blake Griffen- by most accounts the only sure-thing in this draft.
- It beats sitting at home.
- My hometown is a major league city.
