OKC Thunder net first win via a thorough beat down of Dubs – player grades

It’s no secret I’ve got a bone to pick with Dennis Schroder. He was exceptional in the FIBA World Cup figuring out how to score and get his teammates shots. The fact he was able to navigate those games and showed the ability to read the game situation should indicate he can do it at the NBA level.

It’s not simply that he calls his own number it’s that he telegraphs what he’s going to do. Watch him on the court and at least 95 percent of the time you can tell if he’s going to take the shot or pass. In other words, he’s made his mind up before surveying the defense.

If the OKC Thunder wants to be a club who gains a playoff berth it’s essential the bench unit gets rolling. To that end, everything relies on two people — Dennis Schroder and Billy Donovan. The former in terms of him quarterbacking the team and getting his reserve mates involved offensively and the latter in terms of the coach ensuring DS sticks to the gameplan and has alternative options if he doesn’t.

Schroder’s line was exceptional: 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Best Opponent:

While you watch Stephen Curry battling to keep his team in the mix you feel for him. On the other hand, it’s hard to feel too upset given the past five years the Warriors had.

It also raises the point that while so many people trashed Russell Westbrook in his MVP season watching Curry struggle points to precisely how special Westbrook’s season was as he dragged his Thunder teammates into the postseason.

Curry isn’t shooting the ball like he typically does which could be a combination of factors. Surely, his comfort level isn’t what it normally would be playing alongside Klay Thompson. But something more seems off and that could be a factor of Curry expending more energy on defense as he attempts to keep his club in games.

His line was 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists but came courtesy of a very inefficient 7 of 18 from the field and 2 of 9 from deep.

In closing:

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Because the Warriors are a team struggling to produce offense and are a mess defensively it’s not like the Thunder can expect to emulate their offensive results moving forward. However, the habits they displayed today are a great start.

The ball moved better than it has and OKC found the open man. I’m still not thrilled with Schroder’s propensity to call his own number first and getting the bench rolling has to take precedence. The defensive effort has been stellar in each outing landing the Thunder in third overall.

The defense will keep this squad in matches but they absolutely have to find a way for the reserve unit to score. If Schroder refuses to be the man who initiates that offense perhaps Billy Donovan should consider utilizing Gilgeous-Alexander and/or Chris Paul for a few minutes in order to kickstart the offense.

The fact Donovan got his 200th win with the Thunder (kudos) won’t stop me from complaining about the fact SGA was still on the floor in the fourth quarter with the team up 38 points. That is typical of Billy’s obvious shortcomings. If Paul or Gallo were on the court because the Thunder are shopping them I wouldn’t like it but I could understand his rationale.

But, why on earth would he risk SGA getting injured when the game was well in hand and they are playing again tonight in Houston?

Other quick notes: Darius Bazley continues to show well in his minutes and my guy Deonte Burton finally had his shackles removed albeit in garbage time. In Burton’s very first play he blocked a dunk at the rim (Billy Donovan  – can you please give him more playing time).

The full box score can be viewed on ESPN by clicking here.

Next up the OKC Thunder play the Rockets in Houston in their first meeting with Russell Westbrook since the trade. Check back with Thunderous Intentions for our game preview.