Thunder bounce-back big time in Game 3, 131-102
DALLAS — How do you explain the difference between Game 2’s offensive frustration and Game 3’s offensive lightshow?
“Just making shots, man,” Russell Westbrook said. “Simple as that.”
If that was the adjustment the Thunder focused on, consider it a good one. In Game 3 they shot 57.7 percent from the field, hitting 15 3s. Kevin Durant scored 34 — albeit on a meh 10-of-25 shooting — as Westbrook rolled with 26 and 15 assists (and somehow zero rebounds). Dion Waiters scored 19 on 7-of-11. Enes Kanter had 21 and 8. Serge Ibaka 16 on 7-of-9. It was a clinical performance, mostly because, well, because they made their shots.
It felt like after Game 2 there was a necessity to react to the way not just the way the Thunder lost, but the way they played. Sure, Durant shooting 7-of-33 was an outlier. But the defensive breakdowns, the way the Mavs seemed to mentally ninja OKC — it was disconcerting. The Thunder have a significant talent and athletic advantage, but with the Mavs focusing on their veteran savvy and intelligence, maybe they could outwit OKC.
But what so often wins out is just ability. The Thunder have a lot more of it than the Mavs. They spent the two days off, though, focused on better ball movement and spacing. They only had 11 assists and 206 total passes in Game 2. In Game 3, Westbrook had 15 assists and the team 240 passes.
“Kevin and Russell are really, really good one-on-one players,” Donovan said. “You’re just not going to run a motion offense all over the place and get these guys fatigued. What you have to do is give them space on the floor. I thought our spacing was much better today than it was last game and that’s what we worked on. I thought when Kevin got the ball he made great choices. When we got the ball out we got it quickly reversed to the corner. Enes got a three and Waiters got a three. We got the ball out and did it quick. I think Kevin made some great decisions as did Russell. That’s what we have to do. We have to have the correct spacing around them. When those guys go to create and make a play, now it’s up to them to make good decisions. I think that was something we tried to work on.”
Two games, the Thunder have won by 38 and 29, which let me see, totals up to 67 points. In one game, the Mavs won by a point. It’s clear the Thunder are better than Dallas, but that’s no guarantee of anything. In the same way another 7-of-33 night from Durant is unlikely, another 7-of-11 one from Waiters is equally so. The Thunder grew into tonight’s game, finding rhythm and confidence as it went along. The Mavs will make their adjustments, which will probably include trying to muck the game up even more.
But in the end, you know what’s important?
The ball needs to keep going in.
NOTES:
- So Durant started 7-9. But he finished 4-16. Let’s not focus on that, though.
- Have we been that conditioned to the Thunder letting things slip? Is that why a 19-point game felt so much closer entering the fourth?
- And guess what: The Thunder won the fourth by 10, 34-24. A very impressive closeout.
- The navy alternates aren’t good, but adding black shoes improved them greatly. Naturally, though, Westbrook was different and stuck with white, which looked horrible.
- Important development: Ibaka may have rediscovered his jumper. He looks much more confident and sure of them, stepping into them without hesitation. He hit both his 3s, and was the Serge Ibaka that can really elevate the Thunder offensively.
- Ray Felton was the only thing that kept the Mavs in it? That was an unexpected sentence to type.
- Boy, Billy Donovan should pulled down Rick Carlisle’s pants tonight, right? No?
- After only picking up one foul in Game 2, Wes Matthews had four tonight. The Thunder’s not-so-subtle complaining appears to have been effective.
- With everybody paying attention, there were no pregame fireworks. The Thunder did their dance as the Mavs stood off to the side. Justin Anderson tried to do a half-ass staredown of sorts.
- Enes Kanter is a big problem for Dallas. The Thunder used him well tonight, and Kanter was a beast, per the usual, on the offensive glass.
- Donovan seems to be settling into a bit more of a tightened rotation. He mainly played eight guys in the second half tonight — the starters plus Collison, Kanter and Waiters — with Randy Foye seeing a little meaningful fourth quarter time. Getting a DNP-CD? Kyle Singler.
- Durant on looking forward to this game after two days off: “I was thinking about this earlier, I know how fighters feel when they lose a fight and they got the rematch coming, but it’s a year later. That’s how it felt for me. I was anxious to go out there and help my team win and give them a better effort on both ends of the court.”
- More Durant: “I was able to make some. I missed some tonight, too. I still feel like I should’ve made a lot. I still feel like I can shoot way, way better than I did tonight.”
- How about that fun Felton-Adams showdown?
- Also, Andre Roberson and Dirk tangled a bit. Things are getting more and more chippy.
- I feel like Rick Carlisle’s Game 4 counter, outside of getting Deron Williams back to start, would maybe be starting Justin Anderson. Have Wes Matthews on Westbrook and Anderson on Durant. Because for the most part, the Mavs are helpless against Westbrook/Durant lineups.
Next up: Game 4 in Dallas on Saturday
