OKC Thunder player grades – Paul George and Steven Adams extinguish Suns to claim victory

Given his stats this might feel like an overly critical grade, however the diminutive guard was one of the key players who began jacking up shots in the third quarter. As the quarterback of the team he has to be the one driving the mandate. Specifically, the team was beasting via utilization of an inside out offensive focus and owning the paint. By abandoning that focus it not only stalled the offense, but when it was combined with a lack of defensive aggression it resulted in letting Phoenix back into the game.

At game end his stats look solid: 20 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and only one turnover. That said he was an extremely inefficient 6 of 19 from the field or 31.5 percent.

This game was a wash for TFerg who didn’t do anything wrong nor did he do anything spectacular besides a one handed dunk. The big positive is Ferguson is hitting his three’s at a much better clip. And, unlike the Dallas game where he kept shooting from deep even though he was off, tonight he used more restraint.

Defensively there is palpable signs of growth and especially keeping Devin Booker in check for the majority of the game. Although Booker still delivered 19 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists this has to be considered a win given what Booker is capable of. In all Booker was 3 of 9 in the first half for nine points and 4 of 9 in the second half for another 10 points and TFerg gets most of the credit for this success.

In one half of basketball Paul George delivered 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting and hit five from deep on seven attempts. Although he only scored 11 points in the second half he did take over in the critical clutch moments of the game to cement the victory for OKC.

By game end his stat line was: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and six triples shooting 11 of 19 from the field.

You have to love the fact Jerami Grant doesn’t try to be someone he isn’t. Instinctively Grant seems to know when he’s rolling and on those nights he’ll take more shots. Nor does he jack up treys knowing it’s still a shot he’s working on gaining consistency with.

His best effort came on the glass where he pulled  down eight rebounds to go along with his 10 points and block.

I began to wonder if the OKC Thunder had read TI writer Lawrence George’s article early in this match when the Thunder were seemingly running the offense through Adams. But, in the second half the team abandoned what worked so well in the initial frame.

It can’t be over stated how valuable Steven Adams is to the Thunder. Nor can it be expressed often enough how Billy Donovan hasn’t fully capitalized on the big Kiwi’s full spectrum of talent.

Through the early season Deandre Ayton has delivered easy scoring on most nights, but having to deal with Steven Adams taught the rookie just how hard it is to play MEN with muscles and smarts. Adams held Ayton under his season averages (16.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.0 turnovers). Every category for Ayton fell short mostly thanks to Adams: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and FIVE turnovers.

On so many evenings the box score doesn’t truly show the full picture, however this one came close (other than the hockey passes) with Adams line reading 18 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, 4 (yes FOUR) steals, two blocks and a game high plus 23 differential.