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Player Grades: OKC Thunder Catch Heat, clinch playoffs

By Stephen Dolan

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the OKC Thunder drives to the basket during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 27, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the OKC Thunder drives to the basket during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 27, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Player Grades

OKC Starting Rotation:

A-. . PG. Oklahoma City Thunder. RUSSELL WESTBROOK

Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double before the fourth quarter even started. He had 18 rebounds (meaning that he needs 16 in the Thunder’s last game to average a triple-double for the season. He’s getting that.) He finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists, and I think it’s important that we not lose sight of how spectacular that is. There’s nobody like this guy. He gets his “minus” because he only shot 8-21, but the minus is attached to an A.

This jumper was the play that really separated the Thunder from the Heat. Cotton.

B. . SG. Oklahoma City Thunder. COREY BREWER

Corey Brewer recorded only six points tonight, but he also had 4 steals and passed the ball abnormally well on the break. Generally, he tries to finish whatever he gets in transition, but he made a couple nice passes – one to Raymond Felton, in particular – that kept the defense guessing. Keeping expectations to their proper level after his hot start, this is a perfectly acceptable game from Brewer.

SF. Oklahoma City Thunder. PAUL GEORGE. B-.

It’s been a while since Paul George (27 points on 7-19 shooting) has had a shooting night (even) as good as this one. 5-13 from deep isn’t quite up to his standards. But, it is adequate, and seeing him launch 13 from distance is very encouraging. Let ’em fly, PG. This is the kind of confidence we need from you:

B-. . PF. Oklahoma City Thunder. CARMELO ANTHONY

It’s a mark of how far expectations of Carmelo Anthony (11 points on 11 shots, 5 rebounds) have fallen that one solid stretch is enough to earn him this grade, but that’s where we are at this point. With the Thunder struggling to get anything going in the first quarter, Melo provided a spark, scoring a few quick buckets and finding an open Raymond Felton out of a double-team for a three. If he can have a spurt like that in each game, this team is in good shape. If he can have two, look out.

STEVEN ADAMS. D. . C. Oklahoma City Thunder

Hopefully he’s banged up. He’s banged up, right? Steven Adams finished with only seven points on 3-6 shooting and only three rebounds. He also was replaced by Jerami Grant in crunch time for the second-straight game. Grant was awesome in this game, don’t get me wrong, but if Adams is 100%, that shouldn’t happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Big Kiwi sits out the Thunder’s finale against Memphis.

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