Thunderous Intentions
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Preview: OKC Thunder host Jazz in Game 5, potential series finale

By Alex Mcewen

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 23: Paul George #13, Carmelo Anthony #7 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the OKC Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Miami Heat on March 23, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 23: Paul George #13, Carmelo Anthony #7 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the OKC Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Miami Heat on March 23, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Well, Thunder Nation the OKC Thunder have taken us on a wild roller coaster ride all season long. If it indeed ends tonight the season has been mediocre.

Prior to Game 4 OKC Thunder starting forward Carmelo Anthony gave yet another quote about how it would be a test of who the Thunder are. Once again it was a test Oklahoma City failed.

While it is easy to place the culpability on the shoulders of Russell Westbrook the Thunder’s issues lie much deeper. The philosophy starts at the top and trickles down, Billy Donovan and Sam Presti deserve as much blame as anyone.

Today is not the appropriate time to address Presti, Oklahoma City still has at least one game to play tonight. The day is rapidly approaching unfortunately, and at the moment it seems it will be much sooner than Thunder Nation had hoped.

Shifting back to Game 4, Westbrook passed the ball 54 times. 23 of his passes led directly to a shot attempt, his teammates went 7-23 (30.4) percent on those looks. Russ can be better at getting his teammates more looks, yet at the same time, his teammates must do a better job knocking down shots.

Views from Utah

Coming into the series this scribe picked the OKC Thunder in six, although I did state I could see it going either way in six. It appears if OKC does not bow out tonight, they will indeed bow out in Game 6.

The Jazz deserves all the credit due them. Utah looks like the better, faster, stronger, more experienced team. Watching the series one would think it was Utah who possessed the fifth most postseason experience and Oklahoma City had the least amount of playoff experience. In reality, the situation is the opposite.

Ricky Rubio has been masterful, Rudy Gobert has been a dominating force, Joe Ingles has been a pest, Donovan Mitchell is a gravitational superstar and Quin Snyder has been the maestro of everything. With every turn in Games 1, 2, 3, and 4 Snyder has outsmarted Donovan in every possible in-game adjustment.

With that let’s get to the defensive matchups of the game.

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