Thunder: Not enough shots for Kevin Durant
The big Thunder talk this morning is about Russell Westbrook and his ESPN anthology game: 30 for 30. Thirty points, thirty shots in the Thunder’s 104-101 loss to Denver on Monday night.
I am a big Westbrook fan, and in the Wednesday Oklahoman, I’m going to write a column in defense of the Thunder point guard.
But for now, let’s admit the obvious. Westbrook took too many shots at the expense of Kevin Durant not getting enough. Durant got 18 shots, made eight and scored 31 points. That’s efficient offense. Westbrook took 30 shots, made 12 and scored 30 points. That’s inefficient offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot against Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin (4) during the first half in game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Monday, April 25, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
No one play gripes me about Westbrook. Not one. Not even that air-ball 3-pointer with eight seconds left. Down three, eight seconds left, it’s OK with me if someone jacks up a three. Get it up, if it misses, maybe someone rebounds. Westbrook shoot it poorly. I don’t believe he shot it unwisely.
No, the problem with Westbrook on Monday night, and something he hopefully can learn from, is that Durant needs more shots. Give six of those Westbrook shots to Durant, put them both at 24, and the Thunder’s in business.
The NBA stat geeks have come up with a great measurement, a tool called usage. How many possessions does a player end, either by shot or turnover, while he’s on the court.
For the season, Westbrook has “used” more possessions than has Durant, 31.6 percent to 30.6 percent. That stat doesn’t alarm me. I’d just as soon see Durant get the 31 percent and Westbrook the 30, but either way, it’s OK. They spend most of their minutes together — Durant averages four more minutes per game, primarily because Westbrook has a good backup in Eric Maynor and there’s really no one to play in Durant’s stead, especially with Jeff Green traded to Boston.
But think about those usage numbers. That’s about right, isn’t it? Don’t you want Durant and Westbrook accounting for 62 percent of the shots/foul shots/turnovers when they’re on the court together, which is most the game? You don’t want to spread it around too much, give Thabo or Kendrick Perkins or even Serge Ibaka and James Harden an equal share.
So here was the problem Monday night. Westbrook’s percentage went up to 37.7 percent. Durant’s was 27.6 percent. That’s the difference in those six extra shots.
For the entire four-game series against the Nuggets, Westbrook’s usage is up: 35.7, to Durant’s 27.8 percent. Again, that’s too much. Get them both back around 30.
Some have argued that Durant needs to have a higher usage percentage, but I don’t think so. Westbrook’s the point guard. The ball’s going to be in his hands a bunch. If the ball leaves his hands too much, bad things can happen. Sign me up for a different 30/30. Thirty percent usage for Durant, 30 percent usage for Westbrook.
What’s absolutely fascinating is this. The Thunder lost three of the four quarters Monday night. Denver led 26-20 after one, outscored OKC 26-24 in the third and 33-30 in the fourth. But in the second quarter, the Thunder outscored Denver 25-19.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the second half in game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets Monday, April 25, 2011, in Denver. Denver beat Oklahoma 104-101. Oklahoma leads the series 3-1. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
And in the second quarter, Durant and Westbrook both had their lowest usage percentages.
Here is Westbrook usage by quarters: 36.3 percent, 26.3, 40 and 45.8. That’s right. After Westbrook entered the game with 10:16 left, almost half the Thunder possessions ended with a Westbrook shot or turnover.
Here is Durant usage by quarters: 32 percent, 21.1, 23.1, 33.3.
A couple of interesting thoughts. The quarter in which Durant and Westbrook did the least, was the Thunder’s best. And that goes right along with what we’ve seen in this series. The one rout in the series was Game 2, when Harden was the star and the Thunder role players asserted themselves.
Outside of Ibaka, that didn’t happen Monday night. And I don’t blame Westbrook (or Durant) for that. The other Boomers get a little passive. Sometimes Westbrook takes over a bunch of possessions because he wants to. Sometimes Westbrook takes over a bunch of possessions because he has to.
In the fourth quarter Monday night, Westbrook and Durant re-entered together, at 10:16. From that point on, they combined to either shoot, get fouled or commit a turnover on 19 of the Thunder’s 24 possessions.
Harden had a dunk and a drive resulting in foul shots, the latter with 7:53 left. Ibaka made two foul shots with 2:33 and a jumper with 1:41 left. And Kendrick Perkins missed a tip.
Hey, it’s great when Durant and Westbrook are doing most of the shotmaking. But getting everyone else a little more involved is paramount. The Thunder is better when Ibaka and Harden (and heck, Nick Collison and even Sefolosha) are contributing, too. That’s the job of Westbrook, yes, but that’s the job of everyone. You can’t go standing around. Westbrook doesn’t stand around and isn’t going to wait on anyone who’s trying to decide.
So in no way do I want to bridle Westbrook. He just needs to look to pass a little more. Not a lot. Just a little. Primarily to Kevin Durant.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
The problem begins at about the 4 min mark. Westbrook dribbles the ball till about 6 seconds are left on the shot clock. Doesn’t make any difference if they are ahead by 10 or behind by 10. Brooks must insist that they run the offense just as if it were the middle of the third quarter. This two man offense just does not get it at that time. If I can see this certainly the teams that they play can as well.
Russell refuses lately to drop the ball off time and again when he drives the lane and gets doubled. That is bad, low percentage basketball, and it will also shorten his career because he does not need to crash into Kenyon Martin every other play. Charles Barkley had it right.
Does it make sense to try to finish against a double or triple team when Serge or Nick is standing there wide open ready to drop an easy dunk? To dribble for 10 seconds and try to shoot over your defender, closely guarded one on one, sometimes with a help defender too, while Harden is wide open next to you? No, it is bad, dumb, boring, selfish basketball. This could win it all if he and Kevin share the ball out of double, but will get destroyed if they do not.
@ Don
I totally agree, so tired of the change in offensive philosophy when the big two checks back in in the fourth. Like my Papa used to say: “Dance with the one that brung ya”
My problem with Russ was his pouting after the missed layup (and probably it was a foul) and not getting back on defense only to give up that 3. You missed, the ref’s didnt call it…get over it and get back on defense!!
I don’t care what some BS computer program says. Westbrook played badly last night, and showed a poor attitude. How does the algebra account for his whining and not getting back on D while Lawson sprints up the court — unguarded — and finds an open Gallinari for a backbreaking 3?
That’s what’s alarming.
Chill out Leah, he’s referencing Boomers as one of his choices for the name of the franchise when they first came to town and didn’t have a name. It has nothing to do with OU, otherwise he’d be calling them Sooners.
How much of the blame should be on the coach? I think he should have pulled Russell to the side and remind him of who the #1 guy is, Kevin Durant. He had a couple of opportunities to call a time out and refocus his team. Sometimes players either try to hard and begin pressing when their game is off. 30 attempts from a point guard…Are you serious? They won’t win any close games that way. C’mon OKC…stick with what got you there, KD!
Let’s not get them to counting or anything like that. Durant will get his shots, and so will Westbrook. We’re up 3-1 on a dangerous Denver team. We can play better. All the fans and the Thunder know that. And we will come Wednesday night. So let’s leave the bad behind and drive on towards the future. We need to shut down Denver Wed. and rest before playing a tough Memphis team.
Since the Spurs\Grizzle will go on until the weekend, Scott Brooks probably decided they didn’t NEED to win Monday night & an additional game in his mind seemed beneficial….
Same thought the Heat have with the Sixers…. More practice time under game conditions…. Keep the squad sharp & in focus….
Playing with fire can be invigorating until you get burned….
Everyone just needs to relax….dont start with people trying to get on the “Thunder cant win now” bandwagon. I would imagine after the game and today in practice there will be some things explained to Westbrook about “team play” and not forcing shots. That was a must win for the Nuggets @ home, the Thunder didnt play well, and they still only lost by 3….come back to OKC and refocus and end the series at home!
You’re an idiot! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You think the Nuggets whine? The Thunder, who will win the series, are the biggest whiners since the Spurs. Westbrook is the biggest baby in the league! You guys will win this series but you’ve got one fan in denver who now hates everything about your team!
Joe
GO NUGGETS!
Uh, Sonic 4 ever: Dream on, buddy…OKC is up 3-1 with two of the last 3 games at home…I guess you’re still pouting about Mr. Starbucks kicking your Sonics to the curb.
Joe, I wouldn’t call Westbrook a baby. I’d call him an All-Star. He plays with emotion – you play with emotion. That’s a good thing – we care. You can hate us if you like. We still like your mountains and your beer.
Berry, it’s a rarity for me to disagree with you, but in this instance, I must do so vehemently. Westbrook is starting to think he’s Batman. He’s Robin, and if he plans on staying in OKC he always will be. I think he’s starting to get a little too confident in himself and his jumpshot. Charles Barkley nailed it on the TNT postgame last night, which is another rarity, Chuck is usually way off. I feel like we should be ripping Westbrook for that performance last night, as well as his argument with Durant on the sidelines. ALWAYS defer to Durant.
westbrooke is a gunner. they need him to look for the best shot for the team. he needs to rethink what he s doing. he will cost the team if he doesnt.
Berry’s Boomer references have nothing to do with the University of Oklahoma and has everything to do with the first settlers in the Oklahoma City (and even stillwater) area. However, I don’t agree with his usage of the term because the Boomers were kicked out several times and we all know the Thunder aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Go THUNDER!!
Mike Krzyzewski for Kevin Durant:
I’m not sure a U.S. player in the last quarter century maybe performed better under pressure,” Krzyzewski said. “Usually you have two, three, four scorers that you depend on. For us, he was the guy that we depended on. For him to come up with almost 70 points in the final two games, what a magnificent performance from a great kid who is pure. And he’s really humble.
“He’s as good as anybody in the world right now as a basketball player.”
The entire responsibility is of the coach! Coach K would never have allowed such nonsense! Can you imagine in World Cup finals Westbrook to take 30 shots and Durant only 18? USA will lose final! With Durant the leader they blow up Turkey and all world! Both played for the USA but Westbrook was bench player! Why under the leadership of coach K Westbrook knew his role! In the final of the World Basketball Durant rulez and make the U.S. world champion and he was MVP! Sam Presti to wonder whether it’s time to hire Mike Krzyzewski to coach!
“I’m afraid RW is auditioning for a job with the Lakers.”
I’ve thought that since the All Star game, in fact questioned Darnell about it. He said not to worry about RW leaving us. But I still think that’s his ultimate goal. If I was 22, probably would feel the same way.
[...] article Thunder: Not enough shots for Kevin Durant was about how Russell Westbrook took too many shots against their lost to Denver Monday night. He [...]
I don’t have a problem with Westbrook either; but I do have a problem with many of the shots he took in the forth quarter. Down the stretch it looked like he was forcing everything. If that was what Denver was giving the Thunder, so be it, but the Thunder need to find a way to get more players in the offense, especially KD.