My biggest fear of this Thunder team came to fruition as Oladipo, Adams, and Kanter didn’t step up and play up to their capabilities in Game 1. Ostensibly–they’re OKC’s second, third, and fourth best players and the truth of the matter is Pat Beverly by himself did more for the Rockets than the core of OKC’s team did as a whole combined.
Roberson was easily my Thunder Player of the Game, but I thought when Beverly took that massive hit from Adams on the screen the game changed. Beverly popped up, waved at the Thunder bench, and then helped his team go on a 19-8 spurt which put the game away for Houston. I thought Capela was excellent as well and the best big on the floor for either team. I think a great deal of OKC fans greatly underestimated both Capela and Nene coming into this series. I love Beverly. He’s annoying as hell, but he brings his lunchpail every night. He would have been a great hockey player.