Player Grades: Thunder comeback falls short against Milwaukee

OKC Thunder Player Grades

Starting Lineup

I’ve basically touched on Russ’ game already so I’ll keep this short. Without Westbrook the Thunder would not have had the opportunity to win this game. It just isn’t good for an NBA offense to be that reliant on one single player long-term. I get Paul George was out, but there’s no reason for Carmelo Anthony to only get 12 shots tonight, especially when his first step looked extra-quick tonight.

Again, I’m praising him for how he played tonight. I just don’t like seeing the pick up your dribble, pass it to the perimeter and immediately get the ball right back in the long term. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that it was because he didn’t have PG coming off screens.

Alex Abrines’ fall from grace has been stunning. The second-year player looks lost in any defensive situation – his lack of confidence on the offensive end makes him unplayable. In Abrines’ lone shot he second-guessed whether or not he should shoot it, allowing John Henson to deflect the attempt. Billy Donovan started him hoping to regain the Spaniard Sniper’s usual looseness on the court, but instead it only extended his recent poor play. In his 10 minutes (all in the first quarter) the Thunder were outscored by 24 points. Looks like Terrance Ferguson is about to get some run.

The Lowkey MVP did a great job on Giannis Antetokounmpo tonight. With help from his teammates, Roberson prevented the Greek Freak from patrolling the paint on offense. Milwaukee’s length caused Andre to struggle finishing on the other end, leading to an uncharacteristic 2-8 performance from the field. After two weeks of inactivity Roberson attempted three shots from behind the arc. His lone make came with less then two minutes kept OKC in the game – it’s always fun when he makes the occasional clutch three.

Carmelo truly has accepted his role as a catch-and-shoot role player in this offense. I’ll probably keep typing that sentence every game  because it’s so hard to believe. Melo played like a role player tonight with  a casual 12 and 6 with 0 assists, steals and blocks. You’d like him to get more engaged when he doesn’t have the ball, and that goes for the defensive end as well. Everybody in the Thunder starting lineup is averaging at least 1 steal a game – he can join that club if he simply ups the energy a bit.

Steven Adams was abysmal in the first quarter – he could not figure out the perfect balance to John Henson help-side defense. Sometimes he’d sink to low and allow Henson to get an easy 10-footer, while other possessions he’d stretch out too far and give Bucks’ perimeter players enough space to drive to the bucket. Once Adams shored that up it was the typical Big Kiwi game except for an atypical 2-7 shooting performance. With Paul George out Adams didn’t get the looks he’s been accustomed to all season, yet another reason to pray PG rests up quickly.