Day 241

Fresh Start_241: A monster night is just not enough
The Oklahoma City Thunder might have nothing left. With the 51 point, 10 rebound, and 13 assist triple-double Russell Westbrook played his heart out last night in Houston, and the Thunder still lost 115-111. Oklahoma City’s play last night was a last resort gasp that screams that the Thunder have nothing left in the tank or another gear besides letting Westbrook do what he did last night.

There has to nothing left because what else can the Thunder do than lean on Westbrook for 50+ plus points in a triple-double. Last night the second leading scoring for OKC was Andre Roberson with 12 points and well, that just isn’t enough. Steve Adams to have 5 points and 7 rebounds just can’t happen again if they want to fight in this series against the Rockets. Victor Oladipo having 11 points isn’t enough but the 8 rebounds are a bright spot to lean on. One of these two guys (Oladipo or Adams) must step up in Game 3 in Oklahoma City to help the work load that Westbrook puts upon himself.

Westbrook last night played 41 minutes last night and looked flat at the end of the game, and looked like he needed another break at some point in the 4th quarter. A playmaker needs to step up when Westbrook is off the floor. This is because the Rockets went on a 10-3 run in the last 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter which trimmed an 86-77 lead to 86-83 without Westbrook on the floor. Because of this Westbrook came back in the beginning of the 4th quarter, where he usually takes the first two minutes of the 4th off, this run forced Westbrook back in the game. This took a toll on Westbrook as the 4th went on, showing in the last couple of minutes when the Thunder needed him most, when the Rockets pulled away and won the game.

The turning point of the game was that run that Houston went on with Westbrook sitting. If the Thunder don’t find that playmaker before Game 3 on Friday to take some of the work load that Westbrook takes on, the Thunder can look forward to getting swept at the hand of the Rockets. There is just no other option and nothing more that Westbrook can do.
Sources:(espn.com)
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