Things have gone from bad to worse in Oklahoma City as the slumping Thunder dropped another game to a non-playoff team who was playing without their star.
It what seems to have become a nightmarish version of Groundhog Day, OKC just can’t seem to shake sub .500 teams. That trend is particularly alarming when you consider they are about to draw the Golden State Warriors or the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs.
Oklahoma City is guaranteed a playoff sport (currently the 8th seed) but in the present state of things that isn’t even close to being a comfort to fans. In the era of social media, Twitter was full of responses to the Thunder’s 106-103 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday. Most of them weren’t good.
Thunder fans: maybe we should try and win out.
— Steve Bullard (@stevebullard) April 1, 2019
Thunder: pic.twitter.com/QOqN35SQHF
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 8th seed in the west. With 5 games left, that include the Rockets and Bucks, a 1st round matchup against the Golden State Warriors looks likely.
— Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) April 1, 2019
Will it be another quick exit for the Thunder? pic.twitter.com/aydUZezZbh
The Thunder have the 2nd highest payroll in the NBA, 2 of the 8 highest paid players in the NBA, and they're a complete catastrophe. It's hard to imagine them winning more than 1 game in the playoffs and somebody is going to be fired because of it.
— Bryan Keating (@KOCOKeating) March 31, 2019
Not Donovan's fault he doesn't have shooters, yet nobody ever blames Presti.
— Shane White (@Pokefan93) March 31, 2019
I never thought Id say this, but I see why KD left.
— Gus Sanders (@GusSanders88) March 31, 2019
The Thunder needs to clean house!
— Patsy Pitts (@schbuss) April 1, 2019
Name an available coach that Russ would listen to.
— Marshall S. (@msturdy51) April 1, 2019
Plenty of blame to go around. Players lack sense of urgency, discipline & lack internal leadership. Billy doesn’t seem to have respect of players & struggles with game mgt & sub patterns. Presti gets long, athletic players but not shooters.
— Joe Ray (@joe_soonerjoe) March 31, 2019
Billy has to go
— Kevin Ducey (@KMDuce) April 1, 2019
Agree. Thunder Play Basketball like 4th Graders. No mentality period
— Jim Mcauliff (@jmcauliff1) April 1, 2019
— LandTron (@SpikesDAKing) March 31, 2019
— Brett Mathew (@BrettMathew) March 31, 2019
Do we have to go to the playoffs?
— A.J. (@alexfinsfan) March 31, 2019
I'm done with this team
— Fabi (@fxbi04_) March 31, 2019
You better fire Donovan after we exit in the first round yet again this year. Embarrassing that we should lose to Dallas never mind without Luka…
— C B (@BankzyNFFC) March 31, 2019
Fire Donovan… worst coach in the league
— Leonardo (@leoz_41) March 31, 2019
Thunder wake up. Bad decisions and unforgivable coach work. Why is Westbrook takin the last shot. No gameplan. No Ball movement on af off the ball. Fire Donovan and there is no excuse, when you have two all-stars and one MVP candidate, you need to win these games.
— Mathias Carlsen (@MathiasCarlsen7) March 31, 2019
Ffs
#Embarrassing let’s give billy Donovan another extension that was a great idea……. pic.twitter.com/CpH6rVXiQ8
— JJ (@rockfilmrecord) March 31, 2019
Thunder are Hot Garbage. I’m switching my allegiance to the Nuggets…a team that actually cares & plays with a purpose
— Joe Cobb (@JoeDavisCobb) March 31, 2019
We have completely unraveled. Another 1st round exit. Doesn’t matter who we play
— Connor McMullin (@Connor_Mac07) March 31, 2019
This is the worst team in Thunder history we were better with melo. I’m not even mad anymore we always loosing pretty disappointing.
— Bryan 🏀 (@BryandeBest) March 31, 2019
PG has to finish the game, he had an opportunity to close it and he missed. Oh well, onto the next one.
— Kevin Krew Orellana (@KREWDAGOD) March 31, 2019
Westbrook got a triple double 😈🤟🏾
— Hakeem🧸 (@king_hac) March 31, 2019
Something needs to change. Can’t lose to Mediocre teams and expect to go far in the playoffs.
— Money_Mike_405 (@405_money) March 31, 2019
Can't wait to get swept the first round. Can we opt out and let the Kings have our lovely 8 spot?
— Brady Kendrick (@BradyKendrick24) March 31, 2019
Just trade everybody and get a new start. We’re going nowhere with this team and i honestly prefer 3 years of rebuilding instead of 3 years with some frustration and watching this team getting more ridiculous year after year.
— Constant Lubin (@ConsconsLubin) March 31, 2019
3 straight years of first round exits. Yeah something has to change. Donovan needs to go, he's been given enough chances to try to take this team somewhere. Surround Russ and George with knock down shooters and maybe this team could do something next season.
— jakob (@JakobWasTaken) March 31, 2019
How did this team go from a squad no one wanted to see in the playoffs, to a team everyone hopes to see? Billy Donovan has got to go.
— Joe Something (@JoeDe_) March 31, 2019
Way to much talent on this team for us to be this bad, Donovan needs to go, this is pathetic… At this point I'd rather give @SacramentoKings our Playoff spot, they'd do more with it 🙄 #ThunderUp
— Mat (@MatMontgomery12) April 1, 2019
FIRE Russell Westbrook… common thread.
— jack wolf (@JACKWOLF2) April 1, 2019
Another loss to a bottom of the table @NBA team at home. Seriously, these guys must want to finish as the 8th seed. Lucky Sacramento kept losing…#ThunderUp #nba
— Davo FB (@FCFBDragon) March 31, 2019
I was really hoping for the 3 seed. That definitely won’t happen. Maybe if we don’t get the 7 or maybe the 6 seed, things would be better. I hate losing. We are better than this. We should have been as good as we were before the all star break… We need another superstar player.
— Hank Olsen (@HankOlsen2) March 31, 2019
Changes need to be made to bring in more talent that can play harder and consistently in the regular season as well as playoff it is shameful thus team can not make it pass a first round exit every season under Donovan and Presti non existent GM skills bringing the right talent.
— Nakesha Horsey😍 (@nakesha_horsey) March 31, 2019
Ship em back to Seattle. I don’t want them anymore.
— 🤠 huezzy (@coyotejonez) March 31, 2019
Stop posting, start winning!
— Hadrien Rivayrand (@HRivayrand) March 31, 2019
How did the team manage to waste it all. Nothing but a hudge sweep is waiting for OKC. I don't think the all team get that in mind. Figure out a damn way to make things better. Tired to see 'em losing 😤😤
Better luck next year…..seasons over, yeah we clinched a playoff spot but will be out in the first round I don’t hate Westbrook but chucking stupid threes over and over and over again is unbearable to watch anymore and he isn’t all the sudden gonna start making them.
— Tyler (@Tyler6388) March 31, 2019
SERIOUSLY?! That was pathetic pic.twitter.com/FQE5Khtmkp
— Evantodd (@Evantodd15) March 31, 2019