Relying on a two-man game?
How the KD-Westbrook late-game shot domination stacks up to others
Is it really Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook against the world with the game on the line as it so often seems?
After its sixth loss in eight games after the All-Star Break, the Thunder was hearing a familiar tune of criticism, one similar to the postgame aftermath of a Game 2 loss to Dallas last week.
“When a game is on the line, they give the ball to Russell, they give the ball to Kevin and they play one-on-one,” Inside the NBA’s Charles Barkley said in March after the Thunder’s loss to Golden State. “We’ve been saying the same thing for three years … You would think they would evolve.”
Thunder coach Billy Donovan isn’t nodding in agreement with Barkley, but when asked about the Thunder’s late-game offense boiling down to a twoman game, the same word came up.
“That’s, I think, the evolution, the challenge,” Donovan said. “… for someone like
Kevin and Russell is making those reads to get it and create an open shot.”
Often when the game comes down to the final five minutes, the Thunder offense looks like 2-on5. It’s not uncommon for duos to dominate the shots in the NBA, but the Thunder does it more so than any of the other NBA title contenders.
The NBA defines “clutch” situations as any game in which a team is ahead or behind by five points or less in the final five minutes. This season, the Thunder went 22-22 in such games. San Antonio, the Thunder’s second-round foe, went 21-9. In those games, Durant and Westbrook took 69.4 percent (222-of320) of the Thunder’s shot attempts in clutch situations. In comparison, the Spurs’ top scoring duo of Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge took 43.2 percent (82-of-190).
Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry? 54.3 (132-of-243).
“We all know our roles,” Thunder guard Andre Roberson said. “(We’ve) just gotta be ready when the ball comes to us and make the right decision, depending on whether they’re going to help off and kind of double team Russ and Kevin.
“I’ve got two superstars, hall of famers, in the starting lineup. They’re going to get the majority of the shots. Everybody knows that.”
When asked about the 2-on-5 basketball concept that’s hung over the Thunder through Durant and Westbrook’s ascent to elite status, Donovan noted Dirk Nowitzki’s and Raymond Felton’s isolation play that guided the Mavericks to a Game 2 upset.
The lopsided margin in shot attempts by two players on one team isn’t as uncommon as you’d think. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have combined for 49.4 percent of Cleveland’s shots this postseason, not far off of Westbrook and Durant’s 51.2 percent.
The gap widens in the clutch, however. This postseason, James and Irving are taking 70.6 percent of clutch shot attempts. Durant and Westbrook: 78.6.
“There’s a balance there,” Donovan said. “If Kevin can generate a good shot with his one-on-one ability, we’ve gotta take advantage of that, because Dallas is doing the same thing with Dirk, Cleveland is doing the same thing with LeBron.
“Where we’ve gotta do a good job is when the help comes. When there’s two, three people running at him, then we’ve gotta make the extra pass. There were opportunities for Kevin to do that a few times there late, but I think this thing that guys are just dribbling around the shot clock out … I just don’t see that going on at all.”
Game 2 against Dallas was one of two games the Thunder has played this postseason that had “clutch” situations. Westbrook and Durant shot 1-of10 in the final five minutes on a combination of open looks, early-in-the-shotclock heaves, and off-balance shots.
After turning the ball over seven times in the Game 2 loss, Durant had just seven more the rest of the series. In the second quarter of Game 3, the double team rushed Durant in the post and he passed out quickly to Dion Waiters for a 3-pointer. The next day, Durant talked in detail about the defensive coverages the Mavericks were throwing at him. “They were probably shadowing a little more,” said Durant about Game 2, but “just went straight up double” in Game 3.
“I wouldn’t even get a dribble off sometimes,” Durant said. “I couldn’t even gather myself and they were coming for the double team. We moved the ball afterwards, guys got open shots on the backside.”
Durant and Westbrook aren’t unaware of the offense’s stagnation in lategame situations. That’s what Donovan wants more recognition from his stars. It’s something he says without question will be paramount against a Spurs team that rates among the best defensive units in NBA history. Durant and Westbrook are still going to be taking the bulk of the shots late. With the ball in their hands, it’ll also fall on them to make the game 5-on-5.
“I think those guys are aware of it,” Nick Collison said. “… and it’s important for the team to really execute and be in the right spots so the spacing is good, so those decisions are easier.”