Three takeaways from OKC Thunder huge win over Rockets

A tale of two starters

Now, we have talked about Russell Westbrook, and Jerami Grant, and we all know how Paul George has performed this year and last night. But what about Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson?

Do you want the take that will make you feel warm and happy first? Or that will make you hate me and grab your pitchforks and head to Twitter to voice your disdain for this slide?

Let’s start with the positive.

Terrance Ferguson was absolutely awesome.

Ferguson went three for six from deep, making one less three than Paul George and Russell Westbrook who both hit on four trey balls apiece.

Ferguson posted 16 points, three rebounds, and an assist. At one point, he ran a fastbreak as the primary ball handler to perfection, which made me think back to this past Summer League when the OKC Thunder staff tried to make him more of a playmaker. He was also a better Russell Westbrook pass from throwing down a dazzling jam.

The most important thing about Ferguson’s night is that when he was switched onto James Harden, you did not just say “oh no.” You were as confident as can be when seeing James Harden with the ball. He defended Harden without fouling or getting flustered. An excellent job by the second year guard.

Now, let’s shift over to Steven Adams. Yes, everyone’s favorite player. Let me preference this with the qualifier that I love Steven Adams and all that he brings off the court, and can appreciate what he brings on the court.

I think it is clear Adams is hurt. He just looks slow and beaten up. He does not look anywhere close to his once all-star form. Adams missed eight shots from the field. eight. Adams is not stretching the floor. He missed a ton of bunny shots, and to be fair a few heavily contested layups. That can not be the case for your number three.

Steven Adams was shaky at best on the defensive end, but to his credit was only hit with one foul.

Adams is also an incredible rebounder, grabbing 13 total rebounds, eight of which were offensive to often times bail out bad shots to recent and allow the OKC Thunder to score that possession anyway’s and keep it close before eventually pulling ahead.

Again, I would love to see a fully healthy Adams this late in the season, but I wonder if we ever will see that. He takes too much of a beating throughout the 82 game slate.

Watching the game tonight, it was painfully obvious he can not be your number three option on a Championship level team. He can absolutely be your number four and you would be looking at a super team if he was your number four option, but the OKC Thunder just need more star power, more guys who can hit difficult shots even.

Now, this is not a “Trade Steven Adams!” article, but his play down the stretch has made that idea seem not as radical.

Again though, I do not think that is likely, and I think if we saw a fully healthy Adams the narrative around him might be different.