With Spurs up next, Thunder focuses on pinpoint passing
Russell Westbrook tapped his index fingers to his head, as if to tell himself, “Think.”
In the midst of a brilliant floor game on Thursday, the Thunder point guard had darted down the court, Carmelo Anthony trailing close behind. Westbrook left a pass for Anthony behind the 3-point line.
It was high, and Anthony had to reel it in before misfiring from the top of the key.
At the next opportunity, Westbrook tapped fingertips to temples and apologized.
It wasn’t the Thunder’s only sloppy pass in a 115-87 rout of the Suns, and so — despite that blowout win — Oklahoma City focused on that very issue at Friday’s practice in preparation for a Saturday night game against the Spurs and their elite defense.
“That’s something that was a huge emphasis this morning,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “We’re passing the ball to guys who are open at the 3-point line and we’re taking guys out of 3-point shots. And I do think that does affect your shooting percentage as a team.”
It’s not enough to find an open shooter and get him the ball.
If a player doesn’t get the ball in or around his shooting pocket — the place where he starts his shooting motion — a defense has extra time to close out to him as he gathers. Pinpoint passing accuracy is key in a game where a split second matters.
Against the Suns, several Thunder passes found their intended target, but not in rhythm. Paul George passed on a shot when he had to gather a pass and the Phoenix defense reacted.
Passes to Raymond Felton at the top of the key and to Corey Brewer and
Josh Huestis in corners allowed the Suns time to challenge.
The Spurs, who visit Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday, have the NBA’s second-rated defense, allowing 102.4 points per 100 possessions.
Offensive execution is key against San Antonio.
And the accuracy of passes to perimeter shooters makes a “big time” difference, Anthony said.
“I won’t consider myself a shooter,” Anthony said. “Klay Thompson is a shooter. Steph (Curry) is a shooter. Those guys are shooters. I consider myself a scorer. And as scorers, you want the ball in rhythm. You can catch it and go right up. You don’t wanna have to kinda alter your stance or your shot or your rhythm because any small thing — the pass can be off a little bit — it’s a big difference between making a shot, missing a shot or just a shot going in or not. It’s a major difference.”
Ferguson update
A collision with Steven Adams in Thursday’s game likely will keep Terrance Ferguson out of Saturday’s matchup with the Spurs.
“We just clanged heads,” Adams said of the play against the Suns that sent Ferguson to the floor and out of the game. The rookie on Friday was diagnosed with a concussion.
As a result, Ferguson is listed as out for Saturday’s game. He’s in the NBA concussion protocol, meaning there’s no set time for his return.
Per the protocol, Ferguson will undergo a series of tests that begin once he’s free of concussions symptoms.
He must complete each step without symptoms, and if they reappear, he’ll return to the previous step once he’s symptom free again.
Before he’s cleared to play, a Thunder physician will have to discuss his return with the director of the NBA Concussion Program.
Spurs update
San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard, who has missed all but nine games this season as he recovers from the quad injury that ended his season in last year’s playoffs, remains out for Saturday’s game in Oklahoma City.
Spurs center Pau Gasol, who missed Thursday’s loss at Golden State with a sprain of the AC joint in his right shoulder, is listed as questionable for the Thunder game.
He told the San Antonio Express-News that there’s about a 50/50 chance he’ll play.