For thirty-three minutes, Billy Donovan had something going with his young Thunder as they led the Houston Rockets by 12 points and appeared positioned to even this series at one game apiece. But then Russell Westbrook took a seat and witnessed the same thing he’s seen many times this season, namely a lead evaporate while he rested. During those three minutes, the Thunder promptly allowed their lead to dwindle to three points and this basketball game was never the same even when Westbrook re-entered the game while playing every minute of the fourth period.
OKC led 68-62 at the half by playing some beautiful basketball. The ball moved and the Thunder had sixteen assists. In the second half, the Thunder scored 43 points, and the ball didn’t move at all in that fateful fourth period as the Thunder had but four assists the entire half. Russell Westbrook did triple double with 51 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, but he didn’t make a basket in clutch time and all told he took 43 shots.
It was awful, ugly basketball as Westbrook became frustrated and took one hurried bad shot after another. On the other side of the floor, Eric Gordon scored 11 points in the fourth period and teamed with Lou Williams to give James Harden some potent offensive support. And that primarily is the difference in this series, James Harden has some teammates who can spell him, Russell Westbrook doesn’t.
For the second straight game, Victor Oladipo wasn’t there for Russell Westbrook as he went 4-14 from the field. Combined, Oladipo is 5-26 from the field in this series so far. I know it was a stretch to hope Oladipo could be Westbrook’s Scottie Pippen, but right now I think most Thunder fans and Westbrook would settle for Derek Fisher, even the thirty-seven year old version.
For the second straight game, Andre Roberson was the Thunder’s second leading scorer as he garnered this honor with 12 points. If that doesn’t send up a red flag then I guess nothing would.
But unlike Game 1 in this series, the Thunder did compete hard. Billy Donovan did in essence bench Enes Kanter and basically go small which did work for those first thirty-three minutes until Westbrook kind of lost his mind as he watched the Thunder lead go poof while he sat.
You could see it in Westbrook’s eyes on the bench during those three minutes of play. The disgust in his eyes was evident as the lead so hard worked for went away with relative ease in those three fateful minutes. I’m not making an excuse for Westbrook’s play in the fourth, but I’m not condemning it either. In essence, it is exactly what this Thunder team has been all season long in various settings, but especially on the road against good teams.
It’s said role players generally play better at home, hopefully for OKC’s chances of making this an interesting series, this Thunder team needs some guys to make some shots at home on Friday night and inject some shooting confidence into their collective games.
So here we are with the Rockets leading the series 2-0 going to Oklahoma City for Game 3 on Friday night. I can’t imagine anyone would be shocked the Thunder find themselves in this position because if you’ve been paying attention this is what the season has primarily been—the Season of Westbrook in Oklahoma City. I don’t write that sentence with any snarkiness attached, but it’s what this season has been and will be till it’s conclusion.
Victor Oladipo, start making some shots, Russell Westbrook needs some help.
So disappointed after getting heartened by the early success.