Darius Bazley Lights up the Pelicans.
After the Thunder's preseason, there were a few reasons to be optimistic about the core of young talent Sam Presti had acquired though the trades of Paul George and Russell Westbrook. One of those was first-round draft pick Darius Bazley. Bazley's numbers in the preseason - eight points, six rebounds per game and an almost thirty percent three-point percentage - were reason enough to think Presti had struck gold. His 6'8 frame, 7'0 wingspan, ball-handling skills and ability to fit seamlessly into the Thunder's offense after taking a year away from competitive basketball were yet another.
The first five games of the season have been anything but seamless for Bazley; his high point total in any contest was five (Golden State, Washington), his rebounds were in the single digits, and, despite averaging 45 percent from three, he had only taken four shots from beyond the arc.
Then came the Pelicans on Saturday and along with it, Bazley's coming out party. In seventeen-minutes of action, Bazley lit New Orleans up for 17 points while going three of six from three including a 22 footer as time expired in the first quarter on an assist from Chris Paul. Bazley learned the best way to come out of a slump is to keep shooting. Prior to the game, Bazley says the Thunder coaching staff told him his teammates were passing him the ball for a reason.
Bazley also says he was getting open looks so he was taking them. Bazley is young - extremely talented, but young. Performances such as this one vs. the Pelicans will come again, but so will nights like Monday at Houston where Bazley scored three points in twelve minutes. And with wins coming at a premium right now for Oklahoma City, watching Bazley grow will still be worth the price of admission.
•Before today's game, Billy Donovan discussed why he hadn't used his coach's challenge. With 6:37 left to go in the second quarter, Nerlans Noel was called for goaltending on Jahill Okafor layup. Donovan challenged the call and lost. With only one challenge per game, the Thunder playing teams so tight right now and Donovan valuing the challenge at the end of games, it will be worth watching to see if he'll use his next one in a game-deciding situation.
•According to Thunder spokesperson Terrence Ferguson left today's game after playing just over five minutes with flu-like symptoms. It was not known if he was battling illness before tipoff or if the sickness hit him during the game
•Darius Bazley's former Cincinnati High School teammate and current New Orleans Pelican Jaxon Hayes stopped outside the Thunder locker room after the Pelicans loss for a photo opp. You can see the result above in the embedded tweet.
