For the second straight game, the winning team scored a 115 points. For the third straight game in this series, the winning team scored 115 points or more, and for the first time in this series the Oklahoma City Thunder scored 115 points and it was just enough as a James Harden three came up a little short on the game’s last possession.
I stress ‘115 points’ in my first paragraph because that’s the number of points this Houston team averages per game. And on this night, it was the Thunder standing at the 115 threshold. Including the first two Rocket wins in this series, Houston had won five straight versus the Thunder and crossed the 115 marker four of the five games. It’s what they do, who they are, or more importantly what Mike D’Antoni’s teams were in Phoenix when he coached the Suns to two Western Conference Finals.
As an opponent, you have to score with these guys because no matter what you do they’re going find their offensive spurts somewhere in those 48 minutes of frenetic shooting or with James Harden’s ass parked at the free throw line. There’s a specific reason to what D’Antoni teams do–it’s not complex. But you have to score with them. Defensively, they’re nothing special. Kind of like those teams Billy Tubbs had at OU with the exception of the ’88 team–which was special defensively.
Billy Donovan did better this game, but he can still do even better in mixing and matching though, especially at the end of the third quarter. He was wise in keeping Sabonis, Singler, and Semaj near the Thunder bench area for the duration of this basketball game. What Donovan needs is a combination of decent defense and the chance to score somewhere around 115 points. I know most Oklahomans don’t buy into climate change, but this is a math and science thing. It’s more about the math. D’Antoni knows this and he relishes in it. He did it with Steve Nash, he’s doing it with James Harden. If ever a player and a coach were a match it’s Harden and D’Antoni.
Much like in Game 2, it appeared Donovan’s end of third period lineup would cost the Thunder another double digit lead. It almost did, but Doug McDermott nailed a corner three and Enes Kanter made a two to keep the working margin at six points. I was seething in the stands before those two made buckets. Literally seething.
Unlike in the fourth period of Game 2, when Westbrook returned to the floor, he stayed within himself remembering he had teammates on the floor with him. As a team, OKC stepped up in this game and the Thunder’s two late biggest baskets were made by Jerami Grant and Steven Adams as the Thunder had just enough offense in them to hold off Harden and his Rockets.
Westbrook triple doubled at 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. It was evidence again of why he should be the league’s MVP winner for the regular season.
But on this night at home, he got some offensive help from some of his teammates. Taj Gibson scored 20 points on 10-13 shooting. Oladipo chipped in 12 points on a 5-8 shooting night. Andre Roberson had his third straight double digit scoring game of the series with 12 and is averaging 14 points a game in the series. Abrines hit two threes and had eight points. McDermott had two threes including the big one while Westbrook was sitting. Norris Cole had a three and five points. Adams and Jerami Grant did their usual blue collar things and hits those huge late buckets. As a team, the Thunder were 9-19 shooting threes. It was a collection of things from the league MVP and his blue collar teammates who on this night brought their lunchpails with them to the arena.
And at the end of the day, that’s exactly what this Oklahoma City team is…Westbrook and his blue collar mates. On those nights when his teammates can give him some support, they’re a nice little team. On those other nights, not so much.
But on this special night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the good team showed up and their home fans were appreciative of the effort.
But again….115 is the in house working number. Does this bunch have enough in them offensively to get near the 115 marker to win three of the next four games in this series is the question? Mike D’Antoni thinks not.
It was a great night for me. I went to the game with my brother and his wife. I wanted to make sure Russell Westbrook knows how much this fan has appreciated the season. I was the official leader of the MVP chants in Section 101. It was a gas.
I sat near two black guys from Houston who were both wearing Harden jerseys. Big physical guys who both looked like Mr. T. I told them I still loved Harden, but that I hope he loses this series. One of them flipped me his complimentary Thunder T-shirt and said, “That’s cool, you take this. I don’t wear Thunder shit.” We talked briefly after the game and there was this understanding. We both were good. It was that kind of night.
Game 4 in Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon on the ABC matinee game.
Harden is still loved in OKC. Some of the fans around me heard what I said about my Harden shirt and pretty much said the same thing. Harden will always be loved here, the douchebag in Oakland, not so much. Anyway, great interview by Harden.