It was a tough game to watch as the OKC Thunder lost its fourth straight game and in the process lost its season series against the Portland Trailblazers by a 3-1 count. From an entertainment standpoint it was okay, but if you bleed Thunder basketball it was painful as the Thunder dropped to 35-29 and seem headed to a very short stay in the NBA’s post season tournament.
Two things stand out in this game,(1) namely OKC couldn’t play much of any defense and allowed Portland to shoot 55.3% from the field and 47.8% from threes, and (2) Russell Westbrook took 39 of his team’s total of 89 shots to score 58 points.
Combine no defense with no trust in each other as a team and this isn’t a good sign moving forward.
Victor Oladipo returned and played decent scoring 16 points and was 4-5 from three land, plus he hit a very big shot which kept OKC in the game until the very end. But in the end it was a distorted, disjointed Thunder team which in these last four games is winless against sub .500 teams.
I look at it this way, as ball as ball distribution–that being, OKC’s better offensive players didn’t get enough touches in this game against a Portland team which is a poor defensive team. Enes Kanter only got 6 shots, Steven Adams only got 5 shots, Alex Abrines 5 shots, Doug McDermott who ostensibly was brought here to shoot the ball–attempted one shot.
It’s as if when Oladipo went out Russell in an effort to keep the boat afloat got lost in his own game so to speak. The real measure of a great point guard is making the tools around him better. Russell has shown he can do this, but he needs to get back to it and his teammates need to finish when he shows trust in their games.
In all candor, I have not been impressed with Billy Donovan of late. It is a coach’s job to leave his imprint on his team. I’m not seeing any imprint on this team currently other than Russell trying to do too much. If I’m to assume Oladipo is back for good now–then OKC as a team needs to take a deep breath and reset itself somehow against the Spurs on Thursday night at home.
The goal for OKC right now is to find itself as a team and learn how to play with one another.