Preseason Thoughts: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 107
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The Oklahoma City Blue Thunder topped the Memphis Grizzlies 117-107 as Steven Adams continued his steady takeover of the NBA. The big question coming in was obviously how things would operate without Kevin Durant, but with more than half the roster sidelined, it really was a question of how the Thunder were going to just get through the game.
Things went quite well, actually. Russell Westbrook was prudent in running the offense, Adams shredded Memphis for a quarter and Anthony Morrow knocked down a handful of 3s. Some thoughts:
- Russell Westbrook was a bit of a mixed bag, but he really found a groove running pick-and-roll with Adams. Westbrook had 12 assists, six of them going to the Kiwi. Westbrook finished with 14 points on 6-10 shooting and while he had seven turnovers, at least four of them were teammate induced. He fired a couple of really clever passes that both Lance Thomas and Talib Zanna weren’t ready for, forced an alley-oop that failed to Andre Roberson and missed on a few pocket passes. And one was a bogus charge call. Seven turnovers sounds really bad, but Westbrook was very much under control.
- Steven Adams: 21 minutes, 22 points on 9-11 shooting, 4-5 free throws, six rebounds and a block. In three preseason games (71 minutes), Adams has scored 56 points on 24-28 shooting. In the second quarter, he scored 14 points, including 12 straight in two minutes. He didn’t really score in a variety of ways, mostly bulldozing his way to the rim. He did hit a slick lefty baby hook and schooled Kosta Koufos twice on post-ups, hitting him while a subtle shoulder shrug to create some space as he powered through him. No, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph weren’t playing, but Adams continues to look fantastic. The connection with Westbrook was obvious, and at one point pulled Adams aside and said, “Every time, Stevo.” There was a clear chemistry developing between them — Adams wiped out Westbrook man with a screen, rolled down the paint, Westbrook attacked to draw help, and dished. Simple, effective stuff.
- Great stat via Anthony Slater: “Steven Adams has scored 14 points in a QUARTER twice this preseason. Perkins has scored 14 in a GAME just twice since joining the Thunder.”
- Westbrook on what he’s seeing in Adams: “It’s going to be like that every night, I think. Once I drive, the big has to help and he just has to be ready. I’m constantly keep telling him, so he always knows the ball is coming.” Westbrook was then asked about how his confidence is growing in Adams: “He can catch.”
- Westbrook on playing without KD: “We’ve got to get a rhythm, find sets. I know for myself I’ve got to see how I can make an impact on the game and still be effective and find a way to win games.”
- Westbrook’s anger was in midseason form as he picked up a technical in the first quarter, slapping his own arm ultra hard and yelling at Pat Fraher, “He grabbed my f—in arm!”
- Perry Jones looked, well, good. He had his minutes limited as he’s still working back from offseason surgery, but in 19 minutes he had 12 points on 5-6 shooting. He worked in the mid-post a bit, spotted up, attacked off the dribble and flew down the floor in transition.
- After Anthony Morrow nailed his third 3 of the night, Westbrook and Durant look at each other with their eyebrows raised shaking their heads and smiling. Morrow in 22 minutes: 19 points on 5-6 shooting, 3-4 from 3 and 6-6 from the line. So far in the preseason, he’s 8-14 from 3.
- Jeremy Lamb with another solid performance, leading the Thunder with 23 points on 8-19 shooting, six rebounds and three assists. He had a few nice finishes at the rim, attacking primarily to his left.
- Kevin Durant was in a warmup tonight, wearing regular KDs, no boot or anything. He’s still set to likely have surgery later this week, but he was out on the floor taking some set shots and bouncing off the bench all night cheering on his teammates. In fact, in the fourth quarter both Westbrook and Durant spent most of it standing and clapping on the guys on the floor.
- Because there seems to be some confusion: KD is still on track to have surgery soon. They’re not delaying this or anything. He’s not injured in your classic sense. He’s basically just walking around with what feels like a bruise.
- I asked Scott Brooks pregame about the Westbrook stat of him playing 41 minutes without KD last season shooting 35 times with a usage rate near 50. And he answered it by telling me what a good leader Westbrook is. It was quintessential Brooks.
- My feel sad moment of the night was when Talib Zanna whiffed on a sweet pass from Westbrook and as he jogged back down the court, VERY sheepishly said “my bad” and extended a arm. Westbrook never looked at him and most definitely extend a hand back. I feel like for every new player there should be a Russell Westbrook orientation where they learn what it’s like to play with him.
- Forget 44-minute games, let’s experiment with fewer preseason games. This is too much.
Next up: Thursday at the Pelicans
