Chuck Chaney, left, with Tulsa Shock head coach Fred Williams
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Following Tuesday’s win over the Wizards, we caught up with Chuck Chaney of ThunderObsessed.com to discuss the current state of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chuck is encouraged by the increased space new coach Billy Donovan’s system has afforded the offense, but he’s wary of the Thunder’s lack of defensive intensity. It’s still “extended training camp” for this team and coach, Chuck asserts, but they won’t be a championship contender if they can’t find a way to defend.
Some notable sections include:
5:30-6:00: Interviewing Scott Brooks “was like talking to a wall, and the paint’s drying,” given that he was fond of using “Thunder speak.” Conversely, Billy Donovan is a “refreshing” personality, at least from a media perspective.
6:30-6:55: “Donovan really emphasizes that extra pass,” allowing Westbrook and company to flourish. “He (Westbrook) is the best player on this team because of Billy Donovan right now.”
7:30-8:30: Exploring the Thunder’s bad habit of late-game offensive stagnation and signs of improvement in that area
13:45-14:30: More on Dion Waiters, who has excelled in the sixth-man role so far
14:50-15:30: “Enes (Kanter), for some reason, is like a ballerina on offense, but on defense, he looks like a newborn giraffe learning to walk.”
21:10-22:25: Chuck is “not sold on them winning the whole thing.” The Thunder have to improve on defense by learning Donovan’s defensive system, more effectively running shooters off the 3-point line and displaying better effort on that end.
22:30-22:55: On Steven Adams’ new hairstyle: “Seeing it at Media Day was pretty impressive. I got to touch it…(it’s) like a horse. It’s like a mane. It was soft.”
Music: “Who Likes To Party” by Kevin MacLeod
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