Fun Thunder have fun and stomp the Nuggets, 119-94

BOX SCORE

Once upon a time the Thunder’s entire bench consisted of Lance Thomas, Kendrick Perkins and Sebastian Telfair earlier this season? Now, they have so many good players that a guy that scored 32 points in their second game of the season is the 14th man off the bench.

The way the Thunder oblierated the Nuggets on Sunday night comes with the typical disclaimers — playing a bad team blah blah blah. But you can see what the Thunder are turning into. Russell Westbrook is playing a game of basketball rampage, leveling opponents like he’s just rose out of the Pacific Ocean. The new pieces have immediately fit, with Enes Kanter playing pick-and-roll buddy with Westbrook, Kyle Singler glue guying and D.J. Augustin running the second unit like Eric Maynor 2.0. Serge Ibaka looks rejuvenated, and even Dion Waiters did some OK-ish things.

The first half was a master class in basketball, with the Thunder blending ferocious defense with end-to-end offense. Westbrook is running the game like he already saw what happens, like he’s Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow. His blew up for a new career-high 17 assists with 21 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes. In the first half, he dished out 12 — a career-best for a half — and in a nine-minute span, had 10 in the second quarter alone. He wasn’t getting anything he wanted. He was taking whatever he wanted.

“And then Russell, he was,” Scott Brooks started, “he was, uh, nearly flawless. Other than the two missed free throws that we’re going to have to work on tomorrow.”

It’s true: Westbrook went just 3-5 from the line and broke a run of 45 straight makes from the line. What’s wrong with him?

But what was immensely clear in that first half is the raw power this Thunder team has. You’ve got Kanter as an exceptional roll big man, you’ve got Ibaka as a stretch option, you’ve got Anthony Morrow or Kyle Singler as a spot-up spacer, you’ve got Dion Waiters to take terrible step-back jumpers (hey, he had 17 tonight!), you’ve got D.J. Augustin that can run weakside screen-and-roll, or you’ve got Westbrook to downhill attack and slaughter defenses on his own. The Thunder offense is outrageously loaded.

Oh, and they should be getting the reigning MVP and four-time NBA scoring champion back in seven days or so.

Now. It’s really hard not to get wrapped up in hyperbole. So allow me to share a thought that jumped into my head tonight AND DON’T JUDGE: With the added depth, the Thunder look like the Spurs, but with two top three players. There are so many options, so many ways to attack. There’s an unstoppable feel about them when they get to rolling the way they did.

Then again, Scott Brooks:

“It’s very early. It’s 48 hours maybe, two or three days. There’s a lot of room for us to continue to improve. I like the group, I like the energy, I like the togetherness, I like the spirit of our group. We’re playing for each other, and we’re doing it at a high level right now. But there’s still a lot of basketball left to get better with.”

So, that’s true. It’s been two games. And while the Thunder stomped the Nuggets, again, it was the Nuggets. A lot can change with one ugly out-of-sync performance. But it is clear that the Thunder appear to be playing agenda free basketball, and refreshed with a new joy. The Thunder were starting to turn a corner before the deal was made, and now they’re headed for new levels. That’s six straight and seven out of eight (the one loss coming on an Anthony Davis miracle). And it’s not just the wins, but the exceptional way in which they’re doing it. The way they crushed the Mavs, the way they did what they had to against the Hornets and now the way they rolled the Nuggets.

They have a monster on hardwood leaving rubble behind him every night he plays, bulldozing his way into the MVP conversation whether you like it or not. And they’ve got more toys for him to play with than ever before.

As Kanter said postgame, “I’m playing with amazing players like Russell and all the other guys. I can’t wait until KD gets back.”

NOTES:

Westbrook: 21 points on 8-12 shooting, eight rebounds and 17 assists.

Ibaka: 20 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks.

Kanter: 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Waiters: 17 points on 7-15 shooting.

Thunder: 31 assists. 21 in the first half, which is an OKC-era record.

Let’s play a game of What Would The Stats Have Looked Like? If Westbrook plays the fourth, I’m guessing he goes for 34-12-22. If Kanter does, he goes for 22 and 15. If Ibaka does, he goes for 24-10-10.

Kanter has some big time ability. You can see how much Westbrook likes running pick-and-roll with him. Five of his eight buckets were set up by Westbrook. Kanter has great hands and a great feel for space. He screens hard and mixes his rolls — straight, looped, diving, etc. With the other options out there, it’s such a handful for the defense.

Steve Novak, who knows Kanter well, talked postgame about how he looks more relaxed and confident since the trade. “He looks like a different player right now.”

Kanter asked about being more relaxed: “Definitely, definitely.”

How about that Kevin Love-like outlet Kanter fired to a streaking Serge Ibaka?

Kanter was maybe a little too fired up in the first half. He launched himself over the first two rows and nearly decapitated himself on a guard rail.

Again, Westbrook’s free throw streak ended at 45 tonight. The OKC-era record is 52 by Durant, set in 2010.

Big stat: Westbrook didn’t pass to Durant one time tonight smh.

Westbrook asked about his impressive assist numbers: “I just want to see the scoreboard just keep going up. My job is if the pass is there, make the pass, and if not, score the ball. My job is to see how the game is going, if they are putting two guys on me that means someone is open and that is part of my job.”

One thing I’ve learned this season: Russell Westbrook apparently has a very complicated and length job description.

So, yeah, when Steven Adams comes back. That’s a great question. For continuity sake, you’d think you go with Adams, but Kanter plus Ibaka plus Westbrook looks pretty good so far.

Thought: Kyle Singler could be the Thunder’s Shane Battier. Not quite in the same class defensively, but maybe a little better offensive player, or at least more versatile. I might just be stereotyping Duke guys, but I feel like they’re similar.

Singler had seven points in 15 minutes on 3-3 shooting, but five fouls.

Westbrook said “my bad” to Kanter a couple times tonight. Either he really likes him, or he’s just being really nice to the new guy. In a week it’ll be death stares and “I HATE YOU CATCH THE BALL.”

Steve Novak walked through the locker room pregame and said hey to Westbrook and his response killed me. He pulled out his earbuds and said, “Hey Steve how’s it going buddy!” I don’t know why, but it was so out of character for Westbrook.

Steve Novak should play with a fanny pack on. #ThunderDad

Steve Novak looks like the kind of guy that would put sunscreen on before checking into the game.

I bet when Steve Novak got traded, the first thing he did was ask Russell Westbrook to explain how to turn off push notifications on his iPhone.

A little bit of a crazy thing: On a day with bad news, there’s an incredible energy around this team right now.

For some reason I like that Kanter fist-pumps his teammates making shots.

Mitch McGary’s bench towel-wearing game is STRONG.

Media pro-tip for players: When you’re talking to reporters, cross your arms and lean back a little. It makes it seem like you’re being really conversational and candid. Steve Novak did that and I immediately assumed everything he was saying was amazing and complete truth.

Pregame, Jeremy Lamb made sure to point out to a reporter — not me — that he was not in the doghouse, as he had tweeted. Lamb: “I’m not in the doghouse. I’m just not playing right now.” Lamb wanted the record corrected on that very much.

Lamb went 0-3 in eight garbage time minutes.

With so many options all over the floor, it’s hard not to wonder where Andre Roberson fits in. And I’m pretty firmly pro-Roberson. He’s already a near elite defender, which is something that is useful to this team, but if you’re trying to squeeze minutes in, what’s the point of starting him if he’s only going to play 10-15 minutes?

Last thought on Westbrook: He’s played 42 games this season. And in those 42 games, he’s been the best player in the NBA. I don’t know if he has time to realistically get in the MVP conversation, but if the Thunder keep winning without Durant and they finish something like 22-6 in their final 28, he’s going to get a healthy number of votes.

Next up: Home on Tuesday against the Pacers