Starless Thunder fall in OT in San Antonio, 102-98
So it’s a 55-27 regular season. On to the postseason. But first some notes.
NOTES:
- No Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or Serge Ibaka as the Thunder’s top trio stayed back in OKC to watch this one. Starting tonight was Cameron Payne, Dion Waiters, Andre Roberson, Nick Collison and Steven Adams.
- That was a really impressive performance by the Thunder’s others. Losing in OT to the team now 40-1 at home is pretty good. And really, the Thunder had a ton of chances to actually win it! It was just clear down the stretch they ran out of ideas, while also giving the ball far too much to Dion Waiters.
- Why didn’t the Thunder get a 2-for-1 late in OT? It ended up with a Waiters jumper with 13 seconds left. If that’s the shot you’re getting, why not take it right away and at least assure yourself another possession? Poor execution there.
- I hate to nitpick this, because these guys really didn’t know what to do without Westbrook or Durant, but Cameron Payne should’ve been running the pick-and-roll more in OT. Putting the ball in Waiters’ hands that much was asking for trouble. He’s too turnover prone, and just isn’t reliable enough with his decisions.
- Waiters had a terrible and also good game. He shot it horrible, and took lots of bad shots. Though Payne should’ve had more control, Waiters was also one of the best offensive options down the stretch with his ability to turn the corner and collapse the Spurs defense. It was not a good place to be in for the Thunder.
- The numbers: Kanter with 17 and 16, Adams 17 and 9, Payne 17 and 7 assists, Waiters 17 on 5-22 shooting.
- The Kanter/Adams frontline could be effective in a playoff series. The Spurs like to play with size themselves, and with Kanter and Adams the Thunder can dominate the glass. Except the Spurs might have an X-factor that revealed itself in the second half: Boban. He owned the interior on both ends.
- Steven Adams was an absolute defensive monster.
- So was Andre Roberson. Probably not a coincidence than one of the Thunder’s best defensive games of the season featured Roberson and Adams playing 65 minutes combined.
- So the turnover issue isn’t just a Westbrook/Durant thing. The Thunder committed 21 tonight. This is the thing to watch in the postseason. Get that under control, and they’re going to be competitive. Don’t, and it could be a struggle.
- The continuation Waiters got at the end of regulation on his and-1 was incredible.
- The Thunder led by 18 in the first half. That’s the largest deficit the Spurs have had at home all season. Did I mention that Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka didn’t play?
- Josh Huestis did some things again. So he only played five minutes (five minutes?! Come on Billy), but he was active and showed that athleticism.
- Thought it was smart of OKC to blow the lead late in the third to avoid adding to the “blown fourth quarter lead” narrative. I gotta say, I wanted the Thunder to win so I could talk about their HUGE fourth quarter comeback. (They trailed 74-72.)
- That Billy Donovan mic’d up segment was something else.
- I don’t think I trust Randy Foye running point for eight minutes a game in the playoffs.
- Payne was really good. Especially all things considered. This was his first ever start, and the Spurs had Kawhi Freaking Leonard switching out on him in the second half. Payne finished with 17 and 7 assists, and while he turned it over 6 times, he ran the offense well and made some really nice plays. If he finishes that layup with 45 seconds left, we might be watching another OT right now.
- Nick Collison is timeless. Played 30 minutes as a starter, put up six points, nine rebounds and four assists. And was just in command of the game when he was on the floor.
- So it’s on to the postseason now. Buckle up.