Views from OKC: Thunder Nation, I think it’s time to start believing

Views from OKC is a daily diary about the current state of the OKC Thunder. Today we celebrate last night’s monumental win in Toronto.

Victor Oladipo: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 60% FG, 86% 3PFG

Taj Gibson: 13.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 48% FG

Steven Adams: 10.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 69% FG

Andre Roberson: 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 50 % FG, 40% 3PFG

Enes Kanter: 15.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 58% FG

Alex Abrines: 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2 steals, 57% FG, 45% 3PFG

These are the averages for the main OKC Thunder role players over the last two games; it’s exactly why they won two road games in dominating fashion. Everyone but Abrines is capable of averaging numbers like these over an entire season, but that was impossible with Russell Westbrook’s record-breaking usage rating. Speaking of Westbrook…

24.5 points, 11 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 3.5 turnovers, 40% FG, 40% 3PFG

MUST READ: It’s time to start appreciating Russ for who he is

So the field goal percentage is a little low these last two games? The future MVP averages over 24 attempts a game this season yet he’s cut that back to 17.5 attempts in these road wins. Westbrook trusting his fairly new and young teammates has been a problem for the overall progression of this team.

Let me be clear: I don’t blame Westbrook THAT much. The man wants to win games and for most of this season he saw himself as the best route to get a W. A lot of the times he was right, but in the grand scheme of things he had to allow his talented youngsters progress into a new role. And that’s exactly what were seeing.

Oladipo has crossed the 20-point threshold the past four games (all wins) because Westbrook has given him the backup keys to the Thunder engine. The 24-year old is attacking the basket more, averaging 2 more two-point field goals than his season average. And his efficiency from both the field AND from deep is up because of it.

With Gibson, Westbrook has another big to run the pick & roll/pick & pop with. Putting Gibson in the starting lineup has forced teams to worry about both Adams and Gibson running the play; that extra weapon has opened up driving lanes for the aforementioned Oladipo.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

It all comes down to one thing though: teamwork. Westbrook has been a good teammate in the sense that he set guys up for scoring opportunities, cheered them on from the bench and encouraged them in practice. But he didn’t allow other players to create as much.

That’s the big difference from this win streak and past win streaks this season. Westbrook has gone on his tears wear he single-handedly wins games; this streak is all about the team winning games together.

I said it in a recent Views, I needed to see a big road win, Oladipo continuing his play and the increased ball movement to stay before I got excited. In the two games since then, the Thunder checked off everything I’ve asked of them.

And now I leave you with this.

It’s getting real folks.