It’s time OKC Thunder make a change – Top 5 reasons to fire Billy Donovan

Billy the unadaptable:

If you’re a regular Thunderous Intentions reader, then you’re familiar with an oft cited complaint following losses (actually sometimes even following victories). Billy Donovan simply either doesn’t adapt, can’t adapt or by the time he does it’s far too late.

The playoffs are when this failing is most predominant. We’re witnessing it in the Raptors series with Nick Nurse’s substitutions leading to at least one of their two losses. And, we saw it with Donovan repeatedly throughout the season and again in the postseason.

The most egregious of Donovan’s mistakes in this regard is when he doesn’t adapt in the game to offset advantages. Looking back, it was going with Kanter too long back in the 2015-16 playoffs, sticking with Carmelo Anthony too long last season and this year it was not going with Grant in small ball lineups sooner.

Moreover, not once in the Blazers series did Donovan attempt to double Lillard or try to force the ball from his hands. It didn’t even seem like there was a definitive plan in place to attack Kanter or take advantage of Blazers defensive deficiencies.

The Thunder had a decided advantage with Westbrook’s driving speed and the Russ-Adams pick and roll given Kanter’s historical issues defending it. Although Donovan did a bit of the latter he didn’t stick with it consistently throughout the game or return to using it in every game.

Nor were there offensive options in place to clear up shooters via screens, pin downs or double screens. It was simply the ‘your turn, my turn’ offense.