Player Grades: OKC Thunder try their hardest, but fail to lose to the Magic

Player Grades

OKC Starting Rotation:

Russell Westbrook ended this game with a line of 8 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 7 turnovers. He gets a C- for a few reasons. The first is that there were multiple points during this game when I thought “Oh, wow, I didn’t realize Russ was in right now,” and I’m not sure that’s ever happened.

The second is  this was the first time in his entire career, per Basketball Reference, that he’s ever finished a game with double-digit rebounds and assists, but single digit points (like, Rondo much?) The third is that I was petrified whenever DJ Augustin had the ball.

Josh Huestis (5 points, 5 rebounds) played in this game. He hit a three, and he didn’t mess up much. Good job.

Paul George probably deserved a higher grade in this game. The thing is, everyone knows PG can do more. He didn’t make an impact in the close first quarter, he never made me say “Wow,” and he, also, disappeared at times.

Still, the guy led the team in scoring, filled the stat sheet, and made a few defensive plays. Oh, and that dagger three. Not bad.

Melo seems to have taken a step back from the point when he was “willing to sacrifice.” It’s ironic, since the article declaring his selflessness recently came out on ESPN (see below), but he has recently reverted to taking long, iso 2s and hammering the mid-post. Move the ball, Melo.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Carmelo Anthony is learning … – ESPN.com

It may be the benefit of being a “role player,” but I don’t blame Adams one bit for scoring 10 points in the first quarter and only six the rest of the way. Adams will never demand the ball. I’m not sure if it’s the players’ or the coach’s fault that the ball stops finding the Big Kiwi as the games go on, but it’s not the Big Kiwi’s.