OKC sweating on fitness of Adams
Seldom, if ever, have Steven Adams’ healing powers been more important than right now as the Oklahoma City Thunder steel themselves for a pivotal last 12 games of the NBA’S regular season.
Adams picked up a hip contusion, on the back of an ankle tweak, in the Thunder’s 106-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings and sat out Wednesday’s 119-107 followup success over the Atlanta Hawks – OKC’S fourth win on the bounce that, for now, has them up to fourth in the Western Conference on a 41-29 record.
But it is no stretch to say that Thunder coach Billy Donovan needs his 2.13m Kiwi starting centre back as soon as possible, preferably in time for tomorrow’s next game up at home against the surging Los Angeles Clippers (37-29, seventh in West).
Starting against the Clippers, they are about to play 11 straight games against teams with winning records, including the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.
Given the tightness of the West’s playoff race, with just two losses separating fourth through 10th, every game from here to the finish could prove crucial for final placings and even just making it into the post-season at all.
OKC should make it safely enough (basketball-reference.com projects them to split their remaining 12 games and finish fifth), but getting a healthy Adams immediately would certainly increase that likelihood.
Not only is the big Kiwi in the midst of a breakout season (averaging 13.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 63 per cent FG), but he is the anchor of their defence, their one-man offensive rebounding machine, best screen-setter, primary rim-protector and their leader in hustle plays, box-puts, scrappiness, toughness, and numerous other aspects that don’t show up on anyone’s box score.
The Thunder were able to safely negotiate the tanking Hawks without their starting centre, but even then there were signs he was badly missed. In the first half OKC’S interior defence was woeful, allowing Atlanta to attack seemingly at will in the paint, before some key adjustments from coach Billy Donovan arrested the issue over the run home.
Some stats have emerged from Thunder superstar point guard Russell Westbrook bringing up his 100th triple-double (and 21st of the season) against the Hawks that further underline Adams’ value to OKC.
Adams has emerged as the unlikely sidekick in Westbrook’s triple-double tear. The electric guard has had 92 of his tripledoubles over the last four seasons, and the New Zealander leads all team-mates in being there for 88 of his 100 stat-stuffing efforts all told.
What is more Adams also comfortably tops the list of recipients for assists dished out by Westbrook over that century, receiving 236 dimes in total, more than 100 clear of Enes Kanter’s 129 and Andre Roberson’s 115.
But there’s more: Of Westbrook 912 buckets through his 100 tripledoubles, 727 have been unassisted, per espn.com. But the team-mate who has dished out the most assists to Westbrook in those games is none other than Adams (32).
All of which adds to the importance of an immediate Adams return, especially given the Clippers boast one of the NBA’S premier interior operators in the form of Deandre Jordan. And it only gets tougher from there, with East leaders Toronto next up at their house, followed by the Celtics in Boston.