5 Adjustments OKC Thunder Need to Make For Game 2

4. Mindset

This need for a mindset shift comes in two ways. One, is that the general defensive intensity of the team needs to go up, much like what Oladipo needs to do.

The other way Thunder players need to change their mindset is to play with more poise. The scoreboard looked bad, but the Thunder actually kept it close up until the third.

Then, when things started to get out of hand, (and more importantly, Westbrook was unable to  wave his wand and yank the team back) the team panicked and lost its poise.

Beating The Odds

The Thunder’s third quarter meltdown issue has been plagued them the entire season. In particular, the Thunder saw plenty of that against the Warriors. Both the Warriors and the Rockets have an army of shooters that allow them to blaze into a quick lead.

The key to winning against these teams is to expect a setback, and game plan for a comeback. Instead, the Thunder got stunned by how fast things went bad and then never seemed able to summon the energy necessary to get back in contention.

MUST READ: 3 things the Thunder defense must do to comeback

Let’s face it the OKC Thunder are a young squad with many on the roster still developing chemistry together. For some, it is the first time they are even in the playoffs, period.

So this lack of poise and perseverance is understandable. But that doesn’t mean it’s excusable. The Thunder actually have such a great clutch rating this season, meaning that they know what it is like to have to calm themselves down and execute. Now, OKC need to bring that mindset to circumstances in this series to avoid getting in a hole or use it to dig out of holes