Donovan not making excuses for missing Adams
How does Billy Donovan
asses sap re season loss without two key starters? Not much different than a regularseason game.
Take the Thunder's massive rebounding disadvantage in a 107-70 loss to Dallas on Monday. Without Steven
Adams, who was rested, the Thunder was already at a double-digit disadvantage on the glass entering the second half. Then, Maxi Kleber exacerbated the issue with a putback dunk over Nerlens Noel and in between two other Thunder defenders.
The Mavericks outrebounded the Thunder 66-39, but Donovan wasn't making any excuse sin postgame for the rebounding disparity.
"Tome, let' s say injuries are a part of the game, right? Tonight, Steven was `injured.' You've got to find different ways to win and it can't be an excuse," Donovan said.
"Steven's a terrific player and has done a really great job for us, but there may be times, and god forbid I hope not, he may not play. He may miss some time. Something may happen where he has the flu and he may miss two games."
Following the trade of Russell Westbrook, Adams is the Thunder's best returning rebounder. Yet, even Adams pulled down just 13.1 percent of available rebounds when in the game last season, 44th among 250 players who averaged 20 minutes or more a game last season.
Donovan said other players need to step up.
"I think every guy in that locker room is capable of doing that ," Donovan said ." The discrepancy in rebounding, Steven is a really good player, but I think there' s certain things in the game we have control over. Rebounding is one of them, and I think we could have done a better job collectively as a team."
Grizz youth
The Thunder isn't the only team trotting out young talent.
To closet hep re season Wednesday, the Thunder will face a Grizzlies team led by the young duo of Jaren Jackson Jr., 20, and No. 2 overall pick Ja Morant, 20.
The 6- foot- 11 Jackson Jr. was an All-Rookie First Team selection last season and has impressed in preseason, shooting 50 percent from 3 on more than three attempts per game, to go along with 1.3 blocks per game.
Mo rant has struggled shooting in preseason (40.7 percent), but is averaging 7.7 assists in three games, second only to Houston' s James Harden. Erik Horne, Staff writer Grizzlies at Thunder When: 7 p.m., Wednesday Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena Radio: WWLS-AM 640 / 98.1 FM
Three things to know
• The Thunder and Grizzlies both faced the New Zealand Breakers of Australia's National Basketball League in preseason. OKC beat the Breakers 110-84, and Memphis won 108-94. • Memphis selected point guard Ja Morant No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has played 19-plus minutes in each of the Grizzlies' first three preseason games.
•The Thunder is coming off a 107-70 loss at Dallas in which OKC scored just two points on second chances. The Thunder rested Steven Adams, who leads the team in offensive rebounds, for that game.