OKC was a Vegas seven point favorite at home in Game 3 on Friday night. I would expect about the same tonight inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena as the Thunder hope to even their first round series with Portland.
Never take anything for granted with this team though. It is a team in a season in which they do the opposite of what you think they’ll do every time you think you may have a feel on the pulse of the team.
But at the end of the day it’s always about Russell Westbrook and which Westbrook shows up for tip for the Thunder.
You would think both Westbrook and the Thunder will be ready for what is clearly now the team’s most important game of the season. Tuesday night in Game 5 in Portland will be the next most important game of the season as the Thunder try to emerge in the bottom side of the Western Conference bracket which spared the Thunder from both the Warriors and the Rockets until the Western Conference Finals if the Thunder can only harness their inner demons and play basketball at a level they should be able to play at… given you never take anything for granted with Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder win this game and they only have to win one game in Portland to advance given the thought they could hold home serve in Game 6. If the Thunder lose tonight in Game 4 they would have to do the almost unthinkable and win two games in Portland to play the winner of the Spurs vs. Nuggets series.
Russell Westbrook at the age of 31 may never get a draw like this again where he doesn’t have to beat the Warriors and the Rockets to get to the Western Conference Finals.
It would appear the Warriors vs. the Rockets in Round II will be a war. The question is if Sam Presti finally has a team since Durant’s departure which can advance to play the winner in the conference finals?
Never assume what seems to be the next step when Russell Westbrook is involved. Never assume anything.
Just looked—Oklahoma City is a six point Vegas favorite tonight.