OKC Thunder Film Room: Breaking down game two loss
By Rylan Stiles
Damian Lillard has been better than Russell Westbrook, and also lucky.
Damian Lillard posted 29 points on 47 percent from the floor, and 50 percent from deep. Lillard also got six assists and four rebounds, to go along with his three steals and two blocks.
Lillard took this matchup with Russell Westbrook personally, and for good reason. So far, he has gotten the best of Westbrook and the OKC Thunder, but how sustainable is it? That is the only glimmer of hope for the OKC Thunder who are going to have to win both of the next two games to get back into the series.
One thing that is absolutely sustainable is Damian Lillard’s ability to attack the rim.
Here he is relentlessly attacking the rim, again.
Dame being able to drive is something that is totally sustainable. He will give the OKC Thunder trouble all series long by attacking the rim. However, it is not likely that he will make half of the three’s he attempts.
Damian Lillard is a 36 percent 3-point shooter in the regular season. In game one he shot 45 percent from deep. There are many factors for that, one being it is easier to shoot at home. Lillard during the regular season is a 39 percent 3-point shooter. That number dips to 33 percent on the road.
Beyond just the shooting better at home factor, he has been extremely motivated to prove himself this series after the Blazers were on a ten game postseason losing streak. Now, that motivation may switch back to Russell Westbrook who was embarrassed by Lillard in game two.
Beyond all of that, there was some luck involved for Lillard’s performance. Or, at least, some 50/50 plays that likely will not go his way the entire series, and if it does you just tip your cap.
Check out this play. Terrence Ferguson smothered Damian Lillard, and Lillard took a bad fall away three….and nailed it.
Look at this play with Damian Lillard taking a leaning three with
closing out, and eventually fouling Damian Lillard. This is a tough shot. The odds say he eventually will miss these.
How can you defend this drive to the basket? That is just a bad luck shot for the OKC Thunder defense.
This play is a great one, jaw dropping even. But it can easily go the other way. He got in the air before he saw a wide open
, Russell Westbrook has made this play before too, and he has also got in the air and not had anywhere to go with the ball resulting in a turnover.
Check out this long three. Again, this is a money shot and looks pretty, but it is a wildly inconsistent shot for anyone besides Steph Curry. Dame has already made three of these long 3-pointers. Eventually, that luck will turn, and there is a good reason to believe it turns on the road.
On that long three, even if Russell Westbrook steps up to defend the long three, he exposes himself to be blown by and taken to the paint. If Lillard is going to continue to make these kinds of shots, which I do not think he will, you just have to applaud him.
Damian Lillard had a great game, a fantastic game, words can not do it justice. But it is important to note as I did above, that it was not all doom and gloom.
Rus(s)ty at best.
For the first Russell Westbrook clip, let’s stay with the bad luck. Here he plays good defense, gets pushed off, closes out again, and the Blazers make a buzzer beater.
Westbrook scored just 14 points on 25 percent shooting from the floor and 16 percent from the 3-point line. He hauled in nine rebounds and dished 11 assists. He was thoroughly outplayed and embarrassed in game two, and he said it himself after the game, that his game two performance was “Unacceptable.”
Returning home, in front of a sellout playoff crowd in game three and game four of the series, down 2-0, against a guy in Damian Lillard who Westbrook loves to compete with, I suspect we will get a great Russell Westbrook game in both games in Oklahoma City.
And if we do not, it is time to put to bed the idea that Westbrook can just “turn it on.” because he has made it clear over the last two years so far, that he can’t. If he has two more duds, that is very concerning.
Russell Westbrook attempted six 3-point attempts and made one. When he drives, he is so good and it opens up the offense more. It is important to note that only one of those 3-point attempts was a bad shot, but he has also proven he can not shoot. He has to find a new niche than taking six treys. He does not need to be
and never shoot, but maybe stick with two or four 3-point shots a game.
That Westbrook drive was so awesome. He flashed his downhill speed boost we all know and love and made a great finish at the rack.
This is Westbrook just dancing with Dame, and taking him to the rim. Westbrook needs to be this aggressive and controlled, the rest of the series.
Finishing at the rim was not the only thing Russ did, but all these highlights do happen at the basket.
It is amazing how the OKC Thunder’s pick and roll offense against the Portland Trail Blazers is “Undefeated never lost.” in the words of LaVar Ball.
Jerami Grant makes a great cut here, and Westbrook finds him beautifully.
This matchup edge clearly goes to Damian Lillard.