Week in Review: The last two weeks

John Napier -

AP Photo

Authors Note: Due to “real world” responsibilities, I was unable to publish the Week in Review last week. As a result, this week’s edition will cover the last two weeks.

Okay, guys and gals. I think I’ve come up with a ground-breaking strategy for the playoffs. I sure hope Billy Donovan and the rest of the team will read this article, because I’m sure it will change their whole perspective.

Ready?

In the playoffs, each possession is a precious commodity. In the regular season, possessions are like those chocolate diamonds. I mean, they are valuable in some way because they are diamonds and all, but let’s not kid ourselves, these so-called “chocolate” diamonds are just the least valuable diamonds being repackaged by marketers to increase value.

In the playoffs, though, possessions are GIA-certified VVS diamonds. Like the diamonds that are actually valuable because they are truly much more rare.

So the detrimental effect of turnovers, the bane of the Thunder’s existence, accordingly escalate in damage. High turnover teams rarely succeed in the playoffs. As a matter of fact, the last 10 champions averaged just 14.3 turnovers per game during the regular season–the Thunder averaged 15.9 this season, good enough for fifth-worst in the league.

It’s a simple conclusion, that protecting the ball correlates strongly to winning. It’s no doubt why only 13 teams since 2000-01 have had a .500 record or better while averaging 15.9 or more turnovers per game. Or why only 4 teams since 2000-01 have had a .600 record or better while averaging 15.9 or more turnovers per game. It’s actually a testament to the Thunder’s offensive efficiency, that despite turning the ball over at a rate that would stunt success, the Thunder manage to win at a very high rate.

Should the Thunder go on to become NBA champions, their 15.9 per game turnover numbers would be the highest for an NBA champion since 1986-87, when the Los Angeles Lakers averaged 16.6 during the regular season. Notably, the NBA played at a much faster pace back then (league average of 100.8) than today (league average of 95.8).

Not only do the Thunder struggle as a team with turnovers, but their two highest-usage players also struggle. This season, Russell Westbrook averaged 4.3 turnovers per game, while Kevin Durant chipped in another 3.5 turnovers per game. In the 3-point era, only 3 other sets of teammates each averaged 3.5 or more turnovers per game. DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo (also this season), Allen Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse in 1996-97, and Andrew Tony and Moses Malone in 1983-84.

All this to say, I think a significant key to the Thunder’s ability to make a run in the playoffs is limiting turnovers.

Did you get that Billy?

THE GAMES

  • Loss at the Detroit Pistons on March 29, 88-82
  • Win against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 3, 119-117
  • Loss at the Houston Rockets on April 3, 118-110
  • Win at the Denver Nuggets on April 5, 124-102
  • Loss at the Portland Trail Blazers on April 6, 122-115
  • Loss at the Sacramento Kings on April 9, 114-112
  • Win against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11 , 112-79
  • Loss at the San Antonio Spurs on April 12, 102-98

THE BEST PLAYER

Russell Westbrook. Appearing in just six of the last eight games, Westbrook was still able to accumulate 5 double doubles and add two more triple doubles to his league-leading, and record-tying, total of 18. Over the last two weeks, Russell was able to post near triple double averages. This week he averaged a cool 20.5 points, 10.3 assists, and 9 rebounds per game.

The one negative on Westbrook was that he struggled shooting the ball, with disappointing shooting splits of 41/27/80.

THE WORST PLAYER

Dion Waiters. Yet again, Waiters proved himself to be inconsistent. The numbers, overall, were unkind. He shot just 37.2% from the field and 28.6% from 3. He also was third on the team in turnovers per game (averaging 2) behind Westbrook and Durant. He did manage to average double figures in scoring with 10.9 per game.

But that game against the Spurs…

THE BEST PERFORMANCE

Russell Westbrook against the Los Angeles Lakers. It only took 17 minutes and 35 seconds for Westbrook to notch his 18th triple double of the year. It was the second-fastest triple double in history, with stat gurus having to go all the way back to 1955 to find a faster triple double. (In 1955, Jim Tucker recorded a triple double in 17 minutes flat (did they even count seconds back then?) for the Syracuse Nationals.)

Not only did Westbrook complete the feat in a record-setting pace, but his total of 18 is the most since the 1981-82 season, when Magic Johnson also recorded 18 triple doubles.

Of course, these stat gurus I referred to probably had this information on the ready, since Westbrook’s triple double on March 4, 2014 against the Philadelphia 76ers was the previous second-fastest triple double in history. It took Westbrook an excruciatingly long 20 minutes, 17 seconds back then, and he didn’t complete the feat until the second half. Pfft.

THE WORST PERFORMANCE

Dion Waiters against the San Antonio Spurs. With the fate of the Thunder’s surprisingly competitive game against the Spurs in his hands, Waiters served up a dismal performance. Although he, along with Steven Adams, Cameron Payne, and Enes Kanter, led the team with 17 points, it was clear that the same late-game iso-principles the Thunder are famous for were merely transferred to Waiters. And in overtime, with the game on the line, Waiters closed things out by dribbling for about 148 seconds before launching (and missing) a contested step-back fadeaway jumper, and then, with a chance to tie, Waiters threw a terrible pass to Payne that sailed out of bounds.

In fairness, while Dion’s fourth quarter was actually pretty great (4-7 shooting, including the game-tying layup and free throw), the rest of the game he shot an abysmal 1-15.

It was only the fifth game this season where a player took 22 or more shots and only managed to make 5 of fewer.  He is in elite company, however, as Kemba Walker, Damien Lilliard, Kyrie Irving, and Dirk Nowitzki also completed this dubious feat.

THE BEST PLAY

This Westbrook dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers is dunk-contest worthy.

THE WORST PLAY

H/t to my man “E” who astutely pointed out this amazing shot by Waiters. Not only did Waiters jump-stop on his layup attempt, but he also under hands it right into the bottom of the backboard. I mean, that’s almost amazing. Like a dog eating a whole-wheel of cheese amazing.

WEEK IN PREVIEW

Playoffs.