Isolating the 3 games which changed the OKC Thunder season
Definitive shift occurred in New York:
Still, if there was a moment to stamp it would be the loss to the Knicks. It wasn’t the fact the Thunder lost in the Mecca, particularly because they were playing on consecutive nights following a triple-overtime win in Philly. Rather, it was what occurred between the Magic and Knicks games, and more specifically precisely how and why they lost in New York.
Prior to that night the team and specifically the OK3 moved heaven and earth to make sure they beat George’s Pacers (twice) and Anthony’s Knicks earlier in the season.
Between the Magic and Knicks loss, the team had started to shift, winning six of eight games. Two were achieved in overtime, five were by five points or less and three came on the road including on the West Coast.
Clearly, Anthony was hoping to replicate what he did in Philly via the triple OT. But, he abandoned the player, ball movement sets electing to go iso.
Of all the losses this season, the one to New York seemingly stung the most. It opened old scars, sent pundits scrambling to suggest Melo was the issue in New York and once more shone a glaring spotlight on this talent-rich OKC team which was essentially strangling its own talent.
An ‘Aha’ moment:
Still, this may have served a greater purpose as shortly after the loss in New York, Melo told the media he would alter his game to the offense Donovan wanted.
In other words, it was his Chris Bosh moment – he was finally agreeing to:
- be the third option
- alter ‘how’ he played
- let Westbrook and George become the primary ball handlers and playmakers
- take more catch and shoot shots as opposed to pull-ups or iso dribbling into sets.