Stone Cold outshines Indiana
The ball zipped around the court with quick passes uncommon in Thunderland. The ball eventually landed where it had started, in Russell Westbrook’s hands. Westbrook was wide open on the wing, but Westbrook in this young season is not showing a propensity to take advantage of such bounty. He’s looking for more.
Westbrook instead flung the ball into the lane, where Steven Adams had found an open space in the moving Indiana defense. Stone Cold caught the ball and flipped in an easy one-hander to give the Thunder a first-half lead Wednesday night.
By halftime, Adams had 11 points, on five baskets assisted by Westbrook. By the end of the Thunder’s 114-96 victory over of Indiana, Adams had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Has Adams gotten better in his fifth NBA season? Maybe. Has the game
gotten easier? Absolutely.
“There’s definitely more room,” Adams said.
As the Thunder goes through the growing pains of welding this new team together, the old standbys are reliable. Westbrook is better than ever. Maybe Adams is, too.
Thought to be an emerging star after the 2016 playoffs, Adams instead found his lane clogged like the Broadway Extension at 5:15. Kevin Durant’s departure meant defenses packed the paint like dry ice. There was little room for Adams to roll to the hoop and take lob passes from Westbrook.
That’s all changed, as Adams showed Wednesday while abusing the Pacers, most notably old pal Domantas Sabonis, who was shipped to Indiana in the Paul George trade in June.
After the game, Adams gave a hug and pat on the head to Sabonis, who responded with a grin that said he was glad to get this day over with.
“Russ knows Steven, Steven knows Russ,” said George. “Those drives, he knows where to be on spacing. And on the pick and roll, those two have unbelievable chemistry. It’s the reason their pickand-roll percentage is so high.”
That chemistry extends to the open court. Adams is that rare NBA talent who can bruise in the paint and run the floor at fast-break speed. His first two baskets Wednesday were in transition, as the Thunder busted off a slow start by beating the Pacers downcourt.
“That kid’s going to be OK,” said Indiana coach Nate McMillian. “He’s very talented. He’s physical. Both he and Westbrook have a connection. A real good chemistry in that pick-and-roll.”
All five of Adams’ firsthalf baskets were assisted by Westbrook. They make the quite combination and give the Thunder a nice fallback while George and Carmelo Anthony get accustomed to their new home. A fallback with room to operate.
Adams also is the defensive anchor. The Pacers got just five shots all game from the deep paint.
“He’s done a really great job defensively,” said Billy Donovan. “I do think his opportunities, his rolls to the basket, will be a little bit more of a factor. He’s so conscientious about trying to screen and get around screens, Steven’s always been a team guy. I think he realizes he can make the greatest impact on the defensive end of the floor. His effort, his energy.”
But Adams is making a big impact offensively. Adams now is averaging 13.8 points and 7.0 rebounds through four games. On a roster with Westbrook, Anthony and George, a player averaging 13.8 points while providing elite defense is a treasure.
Of course, a player making $22.5 million this season ought to be a treasure. Sam Presti backed up the truck for Adams a year ago, and this kind of performance is why.
“He’s a physical presence in the paint,” said McMillian. “One of the dominating centers in the league.”
That’s what Presti paid for. That’s what the Thunder needs. Looks like that’s what the Thunder has.