Without Kevin Durant, you never really know how the Oklahoma City Thunder is going to play. The Thunder could beat the Spurs like on Christmas Day, or they could drop one to the lowly Knicks. Tonight, the Thunder found a way to win on the road against a team that desperately needs wins to make the playoffs.
Westbrook was his typical self. He turned the ball over a few times and didn't shoot as efficiently as he did against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but the Thunder point guard found a way to get his team a much needed win. Russell finished with 33 points and 10 assists. If he hadn't missed fourteen games, you'd really have to consider him a candidate for MVP. Even these "off" nights have been fantastic. It'll be interesting to see if the Thunder are favored in playoff games as a seventh or eighth seed.
D.J. Augustin was pretty great in his debut. Thunder fans already love him. The selfishness that Thunder fans loathed in Reggie Jackson doesn't exist in D.J. Augustin. The new Thunder backup point guard had 12 points and two assists, and most importantly hit 2 of 3 from deep.
Enes Kanter grabbed a double-double in his first Thunder game. He and Westbrook tried working the pick n roll all night, and it needs some working out, but overall the potential is there. The spacing he provides in the Thunder offense is something this team has never really had. Additionally, Singler filled in for Durant and knocked down two of his four three-point shots.
With Singler, Anthony Morrow, Dion Waiters, and Mitch McGary all potentially coming off the bench, one has to wonder if Andre Roberson's starting minutes are numbered. The man plays good defense, but maybe not good enough to justify starting over Anthony Morrow in the lineup. Morrow makes a lot more sense in the long run, and it would allow Waiters to still run the second unit. Morrow is the spot up three-point shooter OKC needs out there with the starting lineup. Thunder fans shouldn't expect a change soon though. Brooks has consistently shown reluctance to change up his starting lineup, but one has to think the Thunder can't keep up this 11-man rotation once Durant is back. Roberson may be better utilized as a utility defender.
The Thunder has to answer a lot of questions going forward. Who plays crunch time? One possession stood out. Westbrook swung it to Augustin, who penetrated and found an open Serge Ibaka, Ibaka passed up a good look and made the right basketball play, then swung it onto Waiters who clanked an open three. Morrow makes more sense there, but usually number 35 will be on the floor. A Westbrook, Augustin, Durant, Ibaka, Kanter closing lineup is very appealing, and Brooks has often favored lineups with two ball handlers. Going into Sunday's game with Denver is intriguing. Will Durant play? Who else starts? But the bigger question, will Durant be healthy? Because if he's not, none of this other stuff really matters.