Week in Review: When do the playoffs start?

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Post-All Star Break, the Thunder have limped along to a 2-4 record. Now more evident than ever, the Thunder have the look of a team with its mind set on the playoffs. Maybe it’s the fact that there’s very little to chase–the Golden State Warriors are 12 games ahead in first, and the San Antonio Spurs are 8.5 games up. Maybe it’s the fact that the Warriors are consuming 95% of the attention of the NBA-watching world in their pursuit of the best regular-season record in NBA history.

Whatever the reason, the Thunder aren’t the same team from night to night, and this inconsistency was on full display this last week. In the first game after the Cleveland Cavaliers drubbed Oklahoma City, the Thunder had that take-care-of-business mentality and easily handled the Dallas Mavericks. Except, the next night the Thunder tried to sleepwalk past the New Orleans Pelicans, dropping yet another frustrating game to a team they should beat.

But then, of course, the Thunder look like the juggernaut everyone thought they could be and nearly topple the Warriors (and would have, absent Stephen Curry having an out of body experience and Kevin Durant briefly losing his mind).

It’s frustrating as a fan, however, watching your team allow a middling three-point shooting team like the Pelicans to hit 60% of their attempts, while two nights later holding everyone not named Stephen Curry to 2-16 shooting from three. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch one of the league’s worst offensive rebounding teams gobble up second-chance opportunities (the Pelicans), while two nights later limiting the Warriors to just 4 offensive rebounds.

When the Thunder are focused, the results are encouraging. Twice now the Thunder have proved they are more than capable of competing with the NBA’s best team (the Warriors). But equally, if not more, discouraging is when Thunder fail to give same effort against lesser opponents. It’s the sizeable difference between the Thunder and the Warriors. Both are talent-rich, but the Warriors are the team chasing history.

And the Thunder? Well, the playoffs start in about six weeks.

THE GAMES

• Win at the Dallas Mavericks on February 24, 116-103
• Loss at the New Orleans Pelicans on February 25, 119-123
• Loss vs. the Golden State Warriors on February 27, 118-121 (OT)
• Win at the Sacramento Kings on February 29, 131-116

THE BEST PLAYER

Kevin Durant. Though the Thunder as a team look a little mentally fatigued, Durant continues to amaze. Over the last four, Durant lit up the box score, averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks while shooting over 50% from the field, over 44% from three, and over 95% from the free-throw line.

Honorable mention: Westbrook is a close second. Westbrook, also, was amazing, averaging 28.5 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.8 rebounds. Fun fact, last week, Westbrook and Durant were the most active passers on the team, with Westbrook assisting on 49% of OKC’s shots, and Durant assisting on 25.3%.

THE WORST PLAYER

Randy Foye. Welcome to the Thunder, Randy. You know, I think Foye has been fine. He hasn’t been bad, really. He’s hit a few shots, and he’s played admirable defense. It’s nothing flashy, but nothing to get excited about–4 points per game, nearly 2 assists, but with a TS% of 42%.

But the biggest problem is just that, he’s nothing to get excited about. He doesn’t move the needle one way or the other, and yet, he’s playing at the expense of Cameron Payne. I don’t get it, and I don’t like it.

THE BEST PERFORMANCE

Kevin Durant against the Golden State Warriors. Putting aside Durant’s bumbles in the final seconds, Durant played an epic game. He scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished 5 assists, and blocked 2 shots. He hit 7 of 11 from three. He was awesome.

Honorable mention: Westbrook had yet another triple-double, his ninth of the season, against the Kings–20 points, 15 assists, 13 rebounds. Westbrook has a real shot of matching or even eclipsing his mark of 11 triple-doubles set last season. Except this year he’s playing with Kevin Durant.

THE WORST PERFORMANCE

Enes Kanter against the New Orleans Pelicans. Something about Kanter playing 18 minutes and managing just a single rebound bothers me. He blocked a shot though.

THE BEST PLAY

Kevin Durant hits the should-be-a-dagger three against the Warriors.

I really thought the game was over after this. I even yelled “boom!” really loudly in excitement.

THE WORST PLAY

Kevin Durant throws the game away.

Ugh.

THE WEEK IN PREVIEW

• At the Los Angeles Clippers on March 2 at 9:30 PM (ESPN)
  Prediction: Clippers break the Thunder’s hearts in the final minutes.
• At the Golden State Warriors on March 3 at 9:30 PM (TNT)
  Prediction: Another admirable performance by the Thunder ends with disappointment, as the Warriors win again.
• At the Milwaukee Bucks at on March 6 at 2:30 PM (FSOK)
  Prediction: Thunder win.