With the Houston Rockets coming to town followed by a tough tilt against the Boston Celtics, the Thunder knows it will be up against some stiff competition if it is to keep its six-game winning streak alive. So over the past two days Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club has been focused primarily on how it’s defending – if it has that side of the floor locked down, its chances of winning grow substantially.
“There were some things we needed to clean up from the previous games, especially on the defensive end,” guard Andre Roberson noted.
Thunder Talk: Andre Roberson
When the Thunder has gotten stops, Russell Westbrook has shown so far this year that he can be a one-man fast break for the Thunder – taking a defensive rebound and flying up-court un-touched for a layup. Sometimes, however, he doesn’t even need to do that much. Over the past few weeks Westbrook has seen streaking teammates like Roberson flying into transition and simply zipped the ball over the top for easy buckets. When the Thunder defends at a high level, it provides opportunities to slip behind the defense where Westbrook, acting team quarterback, can fire a long ball for a score.
“We like to play at an up-tempo pace. Sometimes it’s us leaking out,” Roberson said. “We feel like we play great half-court defense and we’re taking advantage of getting a defense on its heels is leaking out sometimes and making them get back in transition. It also makes it easier for Russ to take advantage of the lanes they’re giving to him.”
- Not only has Roberson been a beneficiary of Westbrook’s passes in transition, he’s also taken advantage of another wrinkle in Westbrook’s game. Often times, opponents will put a shooting guard or even small forward on Westbrook, leaving a point guard to defend Roberson. At 6-foot-7, Roberson has the size, length and athleticism to drive and finish over smaller defenders.
Thunder Talk: Coach Donovan
- “Andre’s offense continues to evolve, develop and grow,” Donovan said. “Inside of what we’re trying to do offensively, based on last year, he’s trying to find different opportunities and times where he can cut and move and create opportunities for himself, whether it be getting out in transition, back-cutting, getting behind the defense, offensive rebounding or making a three. He’s been able to take advantage of those situations.”
- “I’m just taking what the game is giving to me and try to help Russell out the best we can,” Roberson added. “If I have a smaller guy on me, it’s easier to finish and I can get in there and crash a bit more.”
- After the first four game of the season, part of Victor Oladipo’s acclimation period to playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder and his new teammates, he’s been remarkably productive and efficient. Over the last 18 games, Oladipo is averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from the three-point line.
- “He’s done a great job of listening to Russell. Not listening to him about how he has to play, but listening to him about different things that he should be thinking about and that he can do,” Donovan said of Oladipo. “They’ve created a good connection there and they’re playing off of each other fairly well.”
- Although playing just 13.1 minutes per night, backup point guard Semaj Christon has done well in his time on the court. Just like any rookie there will be growing pains, but his 4.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best on the team. That means that Christon is getting the Thunder into offense and on most possessions, the team is generating a shot attempt rather than coughing the ball up.
Thunder Talk: Enes Kanter
- “He’s feeling more confident and comfortable,” center Enes Kanter said of his fellow reserve. “He’s communicating out there and leading the second unit pretty well.”
- Kanter also discussed his starting point guard, Westbrook, who has a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a part of his 31.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 11.3 assists-per-game average. Not only is Kanter aware of how historically special Westbrook has been so far this season, he understands that it’s must-watch action every time Westbrook steps on the court. In order to make sure he’s keeping pace with his point guard. Kanter, Steven Adams and the other Thunder big men have been working on catching the ball in traffic and on the move, considering Westbrook’s penchant for firing passes into tight spaces.
- “He’s making everybody else better and is finding the open man. 20 years from now I’m going to look back, ‘man I played with that dude’,” Kanter grinned. “I’m going to tell my kids, maybe my grandkids one day that I played with Russell Westbrook.”
- Then, Kanter delivered the line of the day: “We’ve been working on those hard catches. You never know when Russell is going to pass. You always have to look at the ball, look at the Russell. You have to read him.”