A Young team makes young mistakes. You can relate so many aspects of this loss to any team that is young and has not been there before. Experience trumps exuberance. Mark my words; this WILL be a tremendous learning experience for the Thunder as this team moves forward. Just like Serge Ibaka forgetting to box out Pau Gasol in Game 6 vs. the Lakers last season. These mistakes are a splinter in your mind for the entire off season.
I am not going to sit here and dissect the Thunder’s logistical problems, draw up plays, or analyze who should or shouldn’t have taken shots or even been in the game. That’s Scott Brooks job. But I will remind you; this is only Scott Brooks 2nd year as a head coach, and he also has made youthful mistakes in this series. But he too will learn from this loss.
Okay let’s talk about the big finish. When it comes down to it, you cannot be content with being ahead IN the game; you have to stay ahead OF the game. The Thunder were 15 points in the lead with under 5 minutes to go, looked at the scoreboard, and felt content. Even my brother sent me a text message that said “Ballgame!!!” You have to remember that these players are humans just like you and I, and you AND I thought this game was over! The last 5 minutes we played not to lose, and that is such a huge difference than playing to WIN. We settled for seemingly easy jumpers instead of being aggressive and taking the ball to the basket like we did all game. There are lessons to learn all over the place. It’s not any different with any competitive environment. You have to stay aggressive. You have to stay on your toes. Go get what you want, or someone is going to take what you have from you. Finish strong. Protect what you have. Just like Dallas closed the Thunder out in game 3 after blowing a huge lead. They knew that they were going to have to stay aggressive to beat us. And they did; in more ways than one.
The second a competitor notices a moment of vulnerability; they are going to take advantage. Dallas did just that. They kept the game close and waited patiently for the shots to fall, and they did. They also played like they have been there before, and they had. They have experienced the heartbreak and that “splinter” in their mind all off season following Dallas’s 2006 devastating playoff exitus. This might just be that off season memory that motivates the Thunder in the off season.
There definitely is something to be said about experience. It shows us that we have to have that killer instinct. You have stay on your toes; you have to stay aggressive. Learn from your mistakes, and when you’re down, come back stronger. This is true of sports, business, or any situation where something is extremely coveted: being the best in your field of expertise.
“Bitter experience has taught us how fundamental our values are and how great the mission they represent.” -Jan Peter Balkenende
