Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Five takeaways from the Thunder’s Game One loss

By Tony Heim

Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks up during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks up during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) is called for an offensive foul against Houston Rockets center Nene Hilario (42) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) is called for an offensive foul against Houston Rockets center Nene Hilario (42) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Steven Adams and Enes Kanter can’t play

Okay maybe that’s a stretch. Steven Adams definitely should still start, but Enes Kanter cannot play a single minute more in this series. And Billy Donovan seems to agree.

Kanter is simply too easy to score on in this Houston Rockets system. His natural instincts lack as it is, so trying to read James Harden coming off a screen has proven to be impossible for the young big. And when the Thunder switched everything – eliminating Kanter having to call out coverage – he’d get burned in isolation.

If we’re being honest with ourselves we have to decrease Adams’ minutes as much as possible. If Donovan truly wants to stick with the “switch everything” mentality for most of the game then the Big Kiwi can’t be on the court.

James Harden tore Adams apart last night. It was sad to watch. Frankly, I can’t handle it for three-six more games. I’ve been saying it since the all-star break and I’ll say it once more: Oklahoma City’s best small-ball lineup is Westbrook-Oladipo-Roberson-Grant-Gibson. The only time we’ve seen it this year resulted in the miraculous Dallas win.

Related Story: Five ways to stop James Harden

Even if it isn’t that exact lineup, last night showed us that Adams and Kanter are too slow to cover Nene and Clint Capela. It doesn’t have to be that way; it really doesn’t. But the overall team communication isn’t there. Just look back on the first video of this slide when Kanter immediately lifts his hands up and asks where the help is.

More Taj. More Grant. Maybe even a little more Domas. Just please less Adams and Kanter.

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