Oklahoma City Thunder end road trip against Dallas Mavericks
The Oklahoma City Thunder are back in action on Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Try to contain your excitement.
Following two disappointing and preventable losses, the Oklahoma City Thunder have to find a way to get something going on the road, where their record is a weak 12-17. The Mavericks are just above .500 at home (17-14) and are 25-36 on the season. Both teams are playing some mediocre basketball as of late, going 5-5 in their last ten.
Westbrook Needs Help
Russell Westbrook has been doing everything the past two games, scoring 45 and 48 points respectively. Unfortunately, both games were losses. Westbrook took 36 shots (16 threes) against Portland and 30 shots (12 threes) against Phoenix. The Thunder can’t win when Westbrook takes that many shots. He’s a better player, and the OKC Thunder are a better team, when he keeps his shot total under 30 and his three total under 10.
Part of the reason Westbrook has taken so many shots the last two games is due to the lack of support from his teammates, especially the starters. In the last two games, the non-Westbrook starters have combined for 53 points. Four players have combined for 53 points in two games. Not only players, starters. On a professional basketball team. That’s unacceptable.
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Some of that is on Westbrook, who needs to do a better job of getting his fellow starters involved and engaged from the jump. But most of that is on them, who need to do a better job of getting open, running the offense and knocking down shots. Steven Adams in particular needs to find his game again on offense. He’s been frozen out, for the most part, these last two games. He started to come alive late against Phoenix, but he needs touches early and often to really set the tone.
The Mavericks defense gives up less than 100 points per game. Baskets won’t come easy for Westbrook or the rest of the team, which is why he needs as much help as he can get.
Defense. Defense. Defense.
The Thunder defense has been abysmal the past two games. Both Portland and Phoenix shot 49% from the field and each team scored 54 points in the paint. Without great shooters, OKC has been a bully in the paint all season. 46% of their points have come in the paint this season, good enough for second in the league. But over the last two games, they haven’t been getting easy baskets and they’ve given up far too many of them on the other end. The Mavericks offense averages 97.8 points per game and are dead last in paint points.
If the Mavericks are able to execute a layup line the way Portland and Phoenix did, then the players and coaches need to take a long look in the mirror and figure out where the hell things have gone wrong.
Andre Roberson hasn’t looked like himself defensively the past two games. While Devin Booker and C.J. McCollum didn’t go off, or even shoot the ball particularly well, Roberson just seemed to lose them more often than we’re used to seeing. It’s possible that Booker and McCollum only missed due to Roberson osmosis and not because of Roberson’s defense. Harrison Barnes had 31 the last time these two teams met. Roberson needs to limit Barnes while the rest of the OKC defense must keep the Mavs on the outside.
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As mentioned, the Mavericks defense is stout. OKC needs their defense to match what the Mavericks bring to the court. If they don’t, get ready to yell at your television.
End Strong
Following a four-game win streak at home, OKC has dropped their last two on the road. This is their final game on the road trip before starting a three-game
And given that this is their last chance to win a road game before heading back home. It sure would be nice if they won tonight.
The game tips off at 8:30 PM EST and will be televised nationally on ESPN. So get ready for the scorching hot takes by people who only watch one Oklahoma City Thunder game a month.