Ostensibly, the reason Scott Brooks was fired and replaced by Billy Donovan was Sam Presti wanted an offensive system installed which got away from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook playing two against five in the offensive zone. Some called it Hero Ball. And in the end, it was Hero Ball which doomed the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals as Hero Ball reared its ugly head as the Thunder choked on a 3-1 series lead against the Warriors with Durant and Westbrook forgetting what got them the 3-1 series lead.
Some bad habits die hard and the Thunder for the eighth time this young basketball couldn’t hold on to a double digit second half lead in blowing a 15 point third quarter lead to the Detroit Pistons in a 99-98 home loss.
So…gone for the moment is the notion the Warriors win would be followed by a performance which would indicate a bridge had been crossed. I watched part of Billy Donovan’s post game presser and puked. He was okay with the shot selection, the offense, and pretty much seemed unfazed. He also didn’t seem to like my suggestion of Raymond Felton playing alongside Russell Westbrook some more to improve the decision making in the last six minutes of the fourth period.
Here’s the offense Billy Donovan was okay with. It was an offense which generated 98 shots and 22 assists. Of those 98 shots, 32 of these shots were three point attempts of which the Thunder made eight on the night.
Let’s delve a bit deeper. Of those 98 shots, 70 were collectively taken by Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony. Anotherwords, of 98 shots taken by the Thunder, only 28 were taken from players not in the Big Three Club. MOre revealing…of OKC’s last 50 shots attempted, 41 came from the Big Three Club.
Russell Westbrook was brilliant on Wednesday night, he wasn’t brilliant tonight against the Pistons. Westbrook alone took 29 shots and made 10. From beyond the arc he was 1 for 10 and took one three too many as with five seconds left and down by one, he heaved a tough deep three when he could have gotten much closer to the rim for the game winning attempt. Billy Donovan thought it was good shot. I beg to differ.
So…here the Thunder are back exactly where they were two nights ago when they were two games under .500 and apparently not any smarter, not any more poised in holding second half leads, and firmly embracing a new form of Hero Ball which is 3 vs. 5 instead of the 2 vs. 5 template which got Scott Brooks canned.
Until this Oklahoma City team learns that they have to move the ball for 48 minutes, they’re not going anywhere in April but home early. Teams which don’t pass the ball are like dogs that play in the street, namely–you don’t see them around very long. I heard a Putnam City high school coach say that once, but it sounds more like something Abe Lemons might have said during his OCU hay days.
So…here the Thunder are at 8-10 headed to Dallas tomorrow to play against Rick Carlisle’s rebuilding Dallas Mavs. Carlisle is a good basketball coach. A smart dude. His 2011 Dallas team won the NBA championship with a roster less talented than the one Billy Donovan is trying to coach currently. Even with the Mavs struggling, what you’ll see tomorrow night is the young Mavs moving the ball. This is not a complex concept. Same thing in hockey, you move the puck. Touch, touch, touch…finish.
Tomorrow morning when I read the usual OKC media suspects give their respective takes on the Thunder’s woes–it’s fairly simple move–the ball and play 5 on 5 basketball.
Again, note to Russell Westbrook…even Kobe trusted Big Shot Bob Horry. Bad Little Dude until you learn this you’re not winning anything from a team standpoint. I love your heart, but……
Thunder in Dallas tomorrow night. On the road this season the Thunder are 2-7.
Big Shot Bob Horry–even Kobe trusted him. Please watch and take note, Russell. I’m assuming Presti wanted Carmelo to be your Big Shot Bob. Deferring here and there is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of being a championship player.
Who should take the last shot?