Broadcast Information
- Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. CT
- Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network
ATLANTA -- Whether its Andre Roberson finishing a tough layup in transition, Joffrey Lauvergne boxing out a big man to pave a path for a defensive rebound or Domas Sabonis setting a crushing screen to open up an angle to the rim, Russell Westbrook’s Thunder teammates are creating the ecosystem for its point guard and the team as a whole to thrive.
Westbrook has racked up five straight triple doubles during the Thunder’s five-game winning streak, which could grow to six tonight with a win over the Atlanta Hawks. This current run of play is a measurement of how this team’s offense has grown throughout the course of the season and the way all five men on the floor have been working together to produce results.
So far this season, the Thunder ranks seventh in the NBA in field goal percentage at 46.0 percent, while ranking 12th in assists with 22.5 per contest. Since November 15th, those numbers are even more staggering – the Thunder is racking up 25.2 assists, the second-most in the league in that span, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, the fourth-best mark.
“The most important thing is that we’re sharing the ball,” said center Enes Kanter, who is averaging 13.0 points on 55.6 percent shooting this year. “Russell and all these guys are doing a really good job of finding the open man.”
Westbrook’s assist average is now up to 11.3 per contest, second-best in the NBA, but Donovan and company are getting distribution from others as well – Victor Oladipo is averaging 3.0 assists per game and Semaj Christon is chipping in 2.4 per contest. Since that same Nov. 15 start point, Oladipo’s assist average has jumped up to 4.6 per game.
The catalyst for opportunities for others to create and for teammates to get one another open looks stems from Westbrook’s ability to attack and generate open lanes, but also because each man on the floor for the Thunder is doing their part – the blocking and tackling, so to speak. Over the course of the game, that wears out defenses, while Westbrook and his guys keep trucking along. Endurance and the mental discipline to bring it every single night is absolutely a skill in the NBA, and Westbrook is showing just how far it can go.
“It’s amazing, night-in and night-out he gives us all of his effort,” forward Jerami Grant said. “It’s something that everybody needs to just sit back and watch.”
Fans will be anxiously awaiting Westbrook’s next move. Even though he simply goes out and plays his game, Westbrook will have the chance for a sixth straight triple-double and his 11th of the season if he completes the task tonight.
The 10-11 Hawks are coming off a pair of losses to Eastern Conference foes, but just narrowly fell to the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns on the road last week. Dwight Howard roams the paint as the Hawks’ rim protector and rebounder, while shifty point guard Dennis Schroeder navigates out top to find shooters like Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore.
It will take a full 48 minute effort for the Thunder to win this one on the second night of a Central to Eastern time zone back-to-back. That challenge may be even harder based on the status of Steven Adams, the Thunder’s starting center who sustained a sprained left ankle on Sunday night against the Pelicans. The team hopes their big Kiwi will be available, but knows it has depth along the front line for occasions just like this if he can’t go.
“If he doesn’t play, we have bigs who will have to step up,” Kanter said. “I hope he’s going to do well. We need him. He’s a big part of our family.”
In the free days leading up to this home-road back-to-back set for the Thunder, the lesson plan was all about defense. Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club dispatched of the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena utilizing the tools it sharpened in practice, but also flexed some offensive muscles with 24 assists even when the shooting numbers were just okay.
With the Hawks next up on the schedule, the Thunder will have to put both sides of the ball together again in order to get a win. Defense is the side of the ball that must make the team plane for any NBA squad to win on the road, but the more you can put the ball in the basket, the better.