Adams assumes centre stage
A few eyebrows were raised a year or so ago when the Oklahoma City Thunder offered Steven Adams a mammoth US$100 million (NZ$145m) four-year contract extension.
That was awful big money, mumbled the sceptics, to pay for an offensively limited out-and-out centre when the traditional big man’s role in the NBA game was becoming more and more blurred.
It is fair to say those ‘brows are a lot more horizontal right now, with the 24-year-old Kiwi well and truly delivering on the investment his team made in his first postrookie contract, not to mention striking a blow for seven-foot paint dwellers everywhere.
Adams is having a heck of a season for the 11-12 Thunder who appear to be in the process of figuring out how to play as a team after the off-season additions of All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, as well as key reserves Patrick Patterson and Ray Felton.
There is still a way to go for OKC to emerge as the legitimate Western Conference contender many had them pegged as when they added such quality to join reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook, Adams and key role players such as Andre Roberson, Jerami Grant and Alex Abrines.
They remain a long way behind the level of play that will be needed to usurp the Golden State Warriors from their champions’ perch, or even the Houston Rockets and fullstrength San Antonio Spurs as the acknowledged chief threats in the West.
But after ripping off three straight victories to edge to within a game of the .500 mark (and a win off eighth in the West), the Thunder are certainly – and finally – heading in the right direction.
The play of their popular 24-year-old New Zealand centre (averaging career highs of 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds with a 65.3 field goal percentage that is third in the entire NBA) has been a big reason for the renewed optimism in Oklahoma City.
Adams has been on a tear over the three-game win streak, exhibiting not just the form that justifies that monster salary, but indicates his mentor Kenny McFadden’s prediction he will be an NBA All-Star before all is said and done may yet prove prescient.
Over the home victories against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Spurs and Utah Jazz, Adams has scored 66 points (at 22ppg) while converting on 28 of his 34 field goal attempts at an extraordinary 82 per cent clip.
These last three victories have shown the huge strides made by the 2.13m Kiwi over what coach Billy Donovan labelled his most productive off-season. He gets a lot of dunks courtesy of playmakers Westbrook and George (and latterly Anthony), but there are also a decent amount of tricky flip shots from six to eight feet, contested hooks and rugged putbacks.
Adams started the tear with a career-best 27 points on a ‘‘perfect’’ night against the T-wolves when he went 11 of 11 from the floor and five of five from the line to go with six boards, a steal and a block.
Then he added a double-double 19 points (8/13 FG), 10 boards, three steals and a block against the Spurs and, most recently, poured in 20 points (missing just one of his 10 shots), nine rebounds and a steal against the Jazz, including a massive O-board and putback with 43 seconds to ice a 100-94 victory.
All of this offensive efficiency is coming while he still maintains his pivotal role as the Thunder’s key interior defensive presence.
Adams’ play has shown that the Thunder do not possess a big three as much as they do a big four, and can only be positive as they look to morph into the legitimate contender their lineup says they should be.
Donovan, though, deflected some of the credit for Adams’ stellar play to George and Anthony. You can be assured that’s a deliberate attempt by the canny coach to keep his star additions engaged and continuing to buy into the team ethos.
‘‘The reason Steven’s doing what he’s doing is because of Carmelo and Paul,’’ said Donovan after the Jazz victory. ‘‘Steven’s not doing anything different. He’s catching in the lane, he’s making floaters, he’s making extra passes, he’s offensive rebounding. But it has a lot to do with the guys that are on the floor. That’s what’s opened up for him.
‘‘It makes teams have to make a decision. When Steven scores, it should be one point for Steven Adams, one point for Carmelo. You all benefit when you play the right way.’’
Adams, of course, remains unchanged by his success.
‘‘The ball is just going in,’’ he shrugged. ‘‘Other than that, it’s the execution of plays and the tempo we’re playing with. When you play with good tempo it really opens the window of opportunity for players to score.’’
Just doing his thing. What it takes for his team to win.
Adams' play has shown that the Thunder do not possess a big three as much as they do a big four.