Westbrook gets a big assist from teammates
OKLAHOMA CITY — It turns out Russell Westbrook does in fact have teammates.
Maybe it was thunder sticks (which are aptly named in Oklahoma City) or the blue and white clad crowd that never let up on their cheering and booing and all-around noisemaking in Chesapeake Arena on Friday night.
Whatever did the trick, the other guys who play with Westbrook finally showed up for their playoff series against the Rockets.
As the Thunder picked up their first win in the series — a 115-113 victory — it was the first time Oklahoma City’s supporting cast contributed in a big way.
There’s been nonstop chatter since the start of this series about how Westbrook doesn’t have help, how Mr. Triple Double has to do it all every minute of every game.
It’s the top argument given for Westbrook in the great MVP debate of 2017.
Taj Gibson, Andre Roberson, Victor Oladipo, Enes Kanter, Alex Abrines, Steven Adams
and Doug McDermott might have something to say about that.
Westbrook, who was as brilliant as usual, did pick up a triple-double for the second straight game. But this time, he had a lot of help.
And that’s precisely why the Thunder aren’t down 3-0 in the first round now.
Westbrook couldn’t have been better in Game 2.
He had 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on Wednesday.
The Rockets won that game.
For the Thunder to have a shot in this series, it’s going to be about more than one guy no matter what his stat line looks like (the stat line Westbrook doesn’t give a you-knowwhat about.)
For the first time in the series, Westbrook didn’t have to carry the entire load.
From Game 1 to Game 2, the Thunder improved. From Game 2 to Game 3, they improved more.
“I think as this series has gone on, we’ve been getting better,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “I think with a young group of guys in this situation that happens. I also think both of these teams grow as they become more familiar with each other.”
Gibson was a monster in the paint, scoring 20 points. The Rockets had no answer for him as his teammates dumped the ball to him under the basket time and time again.
Supporting cast solid
For a few minutes early in the game, Oladipo finally went from being a watered-down, flat version of Westbrook into the active, entertaining guard we knew from his time in Orlando. He finished with 12 points.
Kanter bullied Clint Capela in the paint on more than one occasion to pick up 10 points.
Roberson, Abrines and McDermott knocked down a couple 3-pointers each.
The Thunder shot over 61 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 55.4 percent.
Even when the Rockets threatened comebacks and even took a lead, OKC remained collected, made smart plays and never let the Rockets gain control.
In the fourth quarter, when the Rockets were close to coming back to win and Westbrook was once again struggling in the fourth quarter (like he did in Game 2) Adams tipped in a missed Westbrook 3-pointer that helped the home team remain in the lead at the most crucial time.
Oklahoma City was able to pull out the win from there.
As well as they played, the Thunder only won by two points and they were on the ropes as James Harden missed the final shot.
Adjustments to make
If the Thunder want to tie the series on Sunday when the two meet for Game 4 at 2:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City, they are going to need the same kind of activity and then some.
The Rockets know something about having multiple offensive weapons.
Their MVP candidate James Harden has had Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Lou Williams (among others) to lean on this season.
They’ll look back at this one, adjust and have a plan on Sunday to contain the Thunder better than they did on Friday night.
They know that when Westbrook isn’t flying solo, the Thunder are much harder to beat.
If the whole team shows up on Sunday, the series could get interesting.
If Westbrook’s supporting cast stays home, the Rockets will be able to cruise to a 3-game lead in the series.
The Thunder are more than Westbrook.
The Rockets learned that Friday night.