Preseason Thoughts: Thunder 111, Fenerbahce 81

A couple very important thoughts from the Thunder’s second preseason game:

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both got 22 minutes again tonight. And it was more of the same. Durant started 4-4, looking as smooth as he ever has and finished with 13 on 6-10 shooting plus five assists. Westbrook shot the ball poorly to start, but got going to finish with 16 on 6-14 plus five assists and three steals.

Within minutes of each other Durant and Westbrook threw down absurd dunks. Westbrook’s was probably slightly better, but there’s no doubt that Durant’s was more fun to see.

Durant’s first bucket, he put some guy named Nikola Kalinic in a washing machine, turning him all the way with a crossover and splashed from 15. It’s nice to watch Durant basketball again.

Steven Adams was back, and the starting five returned to Westbrook, Roberson, Durant, Ibaka and Adams. In 21 minutes, Adams was very good scoring 10 points with eight boards. One area that’s looked much improved from Adams are his shooting mechanics. Much more fluid. He hit 4-5 from the line tonight and watching him at practice, he’s pretty smooth from 10 feet and in.

Best player on the floor tonight: Dion Waiters. He had 19 points in 19 minutes on 6-9 shooting (3-3 from 3) and dished out two assists. He’s been really impressive so far. Maybe he’s turning a corner, maybe it’s the contract year, maybe it’s just two preseason games and a scrimmage, maybe it’s playing with a full roster, or maybe it’s something else. But he’s appeared different; more selective, more efficient and more determined to work for a good look.

One thing that’s odd: Waiters is shooting his free throws darn near from the right elbow. Why? “My shooting coach, we had to get this thing figured out. We watched old film and all my shots would always go to the left. So I said, ‘Damn, since all my shots are going to the left, I might as well take a step over to the right.’ So we made a couple adjustments and it’s working so far.”

Third quarter, Westbrook took a smaller Fenerbahce guard into the post and scored easily. Billy Donovan: “Russell, keep doing that.” Westbrook then scored from the block the next two possessions. I tell ya, that Billy Donovan can coach.

Josh Huestis played his first (sort of) NBA minutes, and hit his first shot, a corner 3.

Roberson’s defense was impressive. Of course, it was against mostly non-NBA guys, but he completely suffocated them. Blew up a number of possessions single-handedly.

Durant had a breakaway in the third quarter and the crowd buzzed a little in anticipation for a big dunk. Durant held back a little and threw down a pretty standard one. Asked if he’s still kind of feeling things out, he said, “That’s how I usually do it. I’m not a huge fast break dunker. That’s what I usually do. You guys are making me feel like, ‘Damn, I’m not supposed to have bad days or regular dunks.’ Shit, I was doing this before I was hurt. I felt the same, man. You won’t see a windmill or 360 from me. I’m kind of basic.”

One new wrinkle I noticed out of the pick-and-roll. With Westbrook handling and Durant as the roll man, Westbrook hit Durant on the roll with Serge Ibaka spotted up in the strong side corner. It was a very Spurs-y set.

The final possession of the game, the Thunder are up 33 points with three guys on the floor that won’t be on the team in a month, and the entire bench is up cheering them on like crazy. Durant was the most vocal, as he kept yelling “One more possession!!!” edging his way darn near under the basket. That always just blows me away. Preseason. Against Fenerbahce. Up 30. And still engaged for those final 20 seconds. That’s one of those simple culture setting things Durant does.