OKC Thunder: Even series with Game 4 comeback- 3 takeaways
The OKC Thunder roar back to even up the best of seven series against the Rockets. Three takeaways offer further insight into the win.
Game 4 was the most important to date for the OKC Thunder. Win and even the series lose and be in an uphill battle down 1-3 in a series facing the league’s best sniper. Fortunately, the Thunder were able to even things up and now it becomes a three-game series. You have to like those odds for the Thunder.
In fact, as this series heats up the rivalry between the clubs and the question of whether former OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook will make an appearance in this series looms.
As per usual we reflect back on the game and pull three points that stood out from the match and contributed to the final result.
Three takeaways from OKC Thunder Game 4:
Teams will play to their identity:
Teams are going to play to their identity – that is a fact. We’ve witnessed it in other series like the Philadelphia 76ers who got swept and gave up on occasions in games. The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t exactly played equally on both ends of the court and that is carrying over even with the return of Jusuf Nurkic.
Perhaps the Denver Nuggets are the best example. Denver kept dropping down the ranking for defense and delivered the worst mark of all teams in their eight seeding games. While TI felt the Utah Jazz would be the best team to play their performance doesn’t change that opinion as much as it points out how poorly the Nuggets play defense.
When it comes to the OKC Thunder they aren’t any different. However, their habits for the most part are positive. They still have a propensity to start the first and third quarters slowly. But, if this Thunder club gets within range down the stretch of games — watch out! More than any other quality this team has consistently delivered this season is if they smell blood (ie they get within five points) they close like a freight train.
When players are under duress in games they’ll naturally shift to what they do organically. For the OKC Thunder, they win! No team in these playoffs has an equivalent clutch time ability that they’ve demonstrated and that is a huge benefit for OKC.