LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Twenty-four thoughts for 24 3-point attempts by the Oklahoma City Thunder in its 105-86 trouncing of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
1. There are six barbers inside the Disney bubble. All six have day jobs cutting the hairs on NBA players’ heads. One of the six is a man named Willie Brooks, personal wigbuster to Chris Paul.
2. “We just tried to find people who were willing,” Paul told me. “This is a big commitment they have to make too.”
3. None of the 343 players had as much to do with the construction of the NBA’s bubble campus as Paul, president of the players’ union. It was a collaborative effort led by commissioner Adam Silver, but with input and consultation from Paul on any number of issues, including barbers. “It was a collective effort for a lot of people, a lot of phone calls, a lot of back and forth,” Paul said. It’s up to him whether or not he wants to take credit for building the bubble, but he’s playing like he owns it.
4. Paul smoked the Lakers for a game-high 21 points, along with seven boards and six assists in 31 minutes. He buried a jumper over Quinn Cook in the third quarter, and jogged back down the floor chanting, “All night, all night.” In three games at Disney, he’s averaging 20.6 points and seven assists, and Oklahoma City is 2-1. He’s commanding and steering his teammates on both ends of the floor, keeping the ball moving and making sure they pressure opponents. And he’s jarring the hell out of the other team with his voice, filling up quiet gyms during the Disney preseason and then cutting through the fake noise being pumped into them now that the game counts.
5. “We’re just going to keep our head down, keep fighting, understand that we weren’t supposed to be here,” Paul said. “Point-two percent chance.”
6. The Thunder were supposed to be rebuilding, having traded away Russell Westbrook and Paul George last summer. Paul came over from Houston in the Westbrook deal, and he wasn’t supposed to be here for long. Rather than fold or push his way out, Paul stayed and took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under his wing. Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari have been terrific. And with Wednesday’s win, the Thunder moved into fifth in the West, just a half-game behind the Jazz for fourth. There is no homecourt advantage in Disney, so seeding isn’t as important as before, and Paul is right, few, if any, expected him and his team to be in this spot.
1. There are six barbers inside the Disney bubble. All six have day jobs cutting the hairs on NBA players’ heads. One of the six is a man named Willie Brooks, personal wigbuster to Chris Paul.
2. “We just tried to find people who were willing,” Paul told me. “This is a big commitment they have to make too.”
3. None of the 343 players had as much to do with the construction of the NBA’s bubble campus as Paul, president of the players’ union. It was a collaborative effort led by commissioner Adam Silver, but with input and consultation from Paul on any number of issues, including barbers. “It was a collective effort for a lot of people, a lot of phone calls, a lot of back and forth,” Paul said. It’s up to him whether or not he wants to take credit for building the bubble, but he’s playing like he owns it.
4. Paul smoked the Lakers for a game-high 21 points, along with seven boards and six assists in 31 minutes. He buried a jumper over Quinn Cook in the third quarter, and jogged back down the floor chanting, “All night, all night.” In three games at Disney, he’s averaging 20.6 points and seven assists, and Oklahoma City is 2-1. He’s commanding and steering his teammates on both ends of the floor, keeping the ball moving and making sure they pressure opponents. And he’s jarring the hell out of the other team with his voice, filling up quiet gyms during the Disney preseason and then cutting through the fake noise being pumped into them now that the game counts.
5. “We’re just going to keep our head down, keep fighting, understand that we weren’t supposed to be here,” Paul said. “Point-two percent chance.”
6. The Thunder were supposed to be rebuilding, having traded away Russell Westbrook and Paul George last summer. Paul came over from Houston in the Westbrook deal, and he wasn’t supposed to be here for long. Rather than fold or push his way out, Paul stayed and took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under his wing. Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari have been terrific. And with Wednesday’s win, the Thunder moved into fifth in the West, just a half-game behind the Jazz for fourth. There is no homecourt advantage in Disney, so seeding isn’t as important as before, and Paul is right, few, if any, expected him and his team to be in this spot.
