NBA - D. Cook Is Back

(Jeff Green, Daequan Cook, Kevin Durant)

1.28.2011 - Oklahoma City Thunder 103 vs Miami Heat 108
- Daequan Cook 13 points, 4 rebounds
2.15.2011 - Oklahoma City Thunder 126 at Sacramento Kings 96
- Daequan Cook 20 points, 5 rebounds!

A professional can be defined as a skilled practitioner or an expert in his or her field, mentally & physically. So much of being a pro in basketball or any sport is being ready to perform at all times.

Four year pro Daequan Cook is starting to perform for a very good Oklahoma City Thunder Team. The guard from Dayton probably wishes some of his recent shooting games would have came earlier in the season calendar, but his recent contributions reveals how unwavering confidence can carry a player through, despite not playing.

The best description for Daequan's early season play is just an honest shooter's slump. OKC had him in their plans as he played in the first seven games (67 mins), but making only three 3-pointers out of 16 attempts in that time span is obviously way short of what Cook is capable of (Cook Stats). The November 12 contest vs Portland was Daequan's last game action of 2010. He would then endure a long stretch of DNPs which can be attributed to his slump, but also the depth of Oklahoma City. When you have James Harden, a budding star at SG, and Thabo Sefolosha (one of the best defenders in the West), distributing minutes is not very hard especially if Cook is not hitting.

Yet, to number #14's credit..he remained confident, kept putting in work & waited for his next opportunity to contribute.

Back In Style - Daequan Cook found his way back into into the OKC rotation due to a mid-January injury to Sefolosha. He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip after not playing for some time. In his second game back, the former Buckeye hit three trey balls in a double overtime victory over the Washington Wizards (1.28.2011).

Sports has a way of making great story-lines, and it was funny how Cook was able to find a little rhythm vs Washington just in time for the nationally televised clash with his former squad, the Miami Heat (1.30.2011). This is what it is all about, overcoming adversity & contributing to the team. And by his performance in that marquee game vs Miami, you would have never known that Cook was out for an extended period time. He scored 10 big points off the bench in the first half, finishing with 13 points & 4 rebounds.

(Video - Cook highlights vs Miami! The swag was on full display here..he knocked down his first three, hit Eddie House with a nice pump fake before a mid range J, and also got a run-out dunk. His final corner three in the fourth quarter was sweet..his stare down at the Miami Heat bench was priceless!)



Cook Heats up before All-Star break: Daequan had his best game of the season in a 30 point rout of Sacramento on February 15. #14 blazed the Kings for 20 points behind five 3-pointers. The game was another reminder of Cook's capability to help Oklahoma City in the second half of the season.

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