OKC Answers, No Westbrook

OKC continues to answer the call. After last night’s 106-100 grind it out game two win in Dallas to tie the series at one game apiece, the Thunder have claimed home court for the remainder of the series. Now 3-0 in game two’s in the postseason, the Thunder continue to play with a poise far beyond their young years.

Durant has been brilliant, averaging 32.0 points in the series on 68.5% shooting. Last night the oft’ quiet star, played with an abandon necessary to drive his team to victory. A dunk late in the first quarter with his team down nine, swung the momentum back in the Thunder’s favor.

Durant’s teammates have been the same. Last night Jeff Harden continued his maturation into  the Thunder’s third option offensively,contributing 23 points and is now averaging 17.5 points per game in the series, 13.2 in the postseason.  Eric Maynor chipped in 13,  and the bench as a whole scored 50.

But where was Russel Westbrook?

The intangibles rest in Westbrook’s physique and explosive speed. The twenty two year old former UCLA Bruin, has garnered praise all year for his quick maturation into a perennial point guard. His feisty fear-none mentality, and lengthy 6’5 size, have placed his name among the elite point guards with Derick Rose, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, and Steve Nash.

So where was he?

Benched late in the third quarter after another ridiculous turnover, Westbrook blabbed the rest of the game while his Thunder went +7 without him. His backup Eric Maynor, a four year starter at Virginia Commonwealth, played poised and far beyond Westbrook’s years: swinging the ball, running Scott Brooks half-court set schemes, and solid defense.

Maynor did what he had to do to win a ballgame. Things are not pretty in the postseason with the slowness of half-court basketball and the physicality of the defensive sets. It seems Westbrook has not figured this out yet. As great as he has been all season and as explosive here in the postseason (23.6 pts, 6.7 ast, 5.4 reb), the natural shoot first–pass second two guard, is better fit as a scorer for now.

Maynor clearly benefited from four years of college basketball, including three straight years in the March tournament. The twentieth pick in the 2008 draft, Maynor has a comfortability at the point guard position–something Westbrook, a one and done collegiate athlete is lacking.

In a closeout game against Denver in the first round, Westbrook shot 30 times to Durant’s 18 and the Thunder lost. Game four of a three overtime round two loss to the Grizzlies, Westbrook shot 33 times to Durant’s 20, and in a game six collapse, Westbrook took 22 to Durant’s 14.

The pattern is simple, get Durant the ball. Westbrook is better fit as the Robin to Durant’s Batman, but is aloof to this reality. It will be a interesting postseason for both OKC and Westbrook to see how their relationship either builds or begins to fragment.

And if fragmented, there is always Chris Paul (hmmmmm….).