Westbrook is shooting what percent?
At the beginning of this season, Thunder All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook kept close tabs on each other’s free-throw shooting percentage. At the time, both hovered around 90 percent and Westbrook briefly was the league leader.
Westbrook was asked if he and Durant might start doing the same with each other’s 3-point shooting percentage.
“Huh?” asked Westbrook, utterly clueless his 3-point percentage at the time was just 0.6 percent behind Durant’s (35.8-35.2 percent).
“What did you say?” said Durant, who was within earshot two lockers down inside Oklahoma City Arena. “He’s shooting what?”
A smiling Westbrook covered his mouth with the game notes he was studying, but made sure Durant heard his giggle.
Interestingly, since hearing the update on Westbrook’s percentage, Durant has converted 6 of 11 from 3-point range the last two games while Westbrook has only taken one 3-pointer since hitting 4 of 5 against Portland last Sunday. Durant now leads Westbrook 36.3 percent to 34.8 percent.
When it comes to shooting 3-pointers, Westbrook is under different instructions than Durant, Daequan Cook, James Harden and others.
“I won’t encourage him (Westbrook) to continue to shoot 3s,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said with a smile, “but I always tell him if he’s open, and you’re set, then see how it goes. I give him credit. He has improved.”
Brooks also acknowledged Westbrook still has some work to do on his 3-point shot and Westbrook is either 1½ or 2½ years away, depending on how you digest this quote: “I think in another year, another summer and another year, you’re going to see even a better 3-point shooter out of Russell,” Brooks said.
Westbrook’s new-found prowess has helped the Thunder slowly climb out of the NBA basement in 3-point percentage up to No. 19.
While prominent outside shooters are pretty much given the green light, Westbrook’s permission to shoot comes with a disclaimer.
“I don’t go into a game thinking he’s going to make four out of five, but if he’s open, depending on the situation, I have no problem with Russell taking that shot,” Brooks said.
Westbrook’s improved 3-point shooting is the subject of a Friday feature in The Oklahoman.
Thunder 116, Phoenix 98
Observations from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 116-98 victory at Phoenix on Wednesday night inside US Airways Center, where the Thunder is now riding a three-game winning streak:
* Coach Scott Brooks pretty much is saying the same things in March that he did in October. Now that April has arrived, he no doubt will repeat the same this month.
“Play the right way.”
“There’s still room to improve.”
“Every day is a work day.”
“This is no time to rest.”
“We need to improve on our pick-and-roll and help-side defense.”
Brooks uttered these verses again after his team beat the Suns with conviction. Staying true to your word is fine, I suppose, but this came on a night that warranted at least some kind of appreciation of two impressive feats.
1. With eight games remaining in the season, the Thunder (50-24) already has matched last season’s victory total.
2. March became the most successful month in franchise history — in OKC and Seattle — with a 14-2 record.
Before the game, Brooks said he never has talked to his team about reaching last year’s victory total, nor has he mentioned the possibility of going 14-2 in March.
You figured Brooks probably was trying to keep his team’s private business inside the locker room. If the Thunder was going to celebrate, it would do so in privacy. That, too, would have been fine.
On what would qualify as a significant day in the Thunder’s young history, Brooks essentially shrugged his shoulders at win No. 50.
“It was not brought up,” Brooks said before joking, “Maybe I should go back in there and say, ‘Good job, guys.’ ”
You figured when the Thunder locker room was opened to reporters, there would still be some kind of evidence of recognition — the number “50″ written on a grease board somewhere, perhaps “14-2.”
There was nothing, and when Thunder players were asked about the two achievements, they also might as well have shrugged.
Were the No. 50 and 14-2 discussed before the game? No.
Were they discussed afterward? No.
Was either at least mentioned in passing? No.
Anyone in here have a pulse?
Even after some prodding, the players remained beyond composed.
Thabo Sefolosha: “We didn’t discuss it. Not at all, actually. It shows we’re working hard.”
James Harden: “Nobody even mentioned it. We’re just on a roll. That’s definitely a great accomplishment.”
Eric Maynor: “We’re winning and we know we’re playing good basketball. That’s the main thing. If we keep doing that, we’ve got a shot at winning every night.”
Reserve guard Royal Ivey wasn’t with the Thunder last season.
“Oh, I noticed it,” Ivey said of reaching the 50-win mark. “This is a tough league, especially in the Western Conference and to do it back-to-back years is quite an accomplishment. We’re playing good basketball and the wins are coming. You can’t take winning for granted. It’s a good feeling to be part of a winning team, or a winning tradition now. The stakes are high, so you’ve got to keep it rolling.”
* As the team’s elder statesman at age 33 and a world champion while with San Antonio, center Nazr Mohammed knows the most important ingredients to succeeding in the postseason.
“Half-court execution,” Mohammed said. “That’s always a key in the playoffs. Also, our half-court defense and defensive rebounding. There are not as many fast-break points in the postseason, so you have to be ready for half-court basketball. Getting stops. The playoffs are more like a fight. There’s a lot of wrestling.”
* Portland (43-32), the Thunder’s next opponent, lost at New Orleans (43-32) on Wednesday night and is on the verge of slipping to the No. 8 seed in the West with Memphis (42-33) on its heels. Friday’s game is big for the Thunder, but bigger for the Blazers.
* The Thunder’s magic number to clinch the Northwest Division crown is now four and it is close to a certainty OKC will face Denver in the opening round of the playoffs. “We’re really not concerned with magic numbers,” Brooks said. “We just want to keep playing well.”
* The same Phoenix fan who incessantly begged Arizona State product Harden to return and play for the Suns was the same fan who also screamed for 54-year-old Thunder assistant coach Maurice Cheeks to enter the game.
* Nick Collison played 25 minutes Wednesday after sitting out of Tuesday’s overtime victory against Golden State with a sprained left ankle. “It feels good,” Collison said afterward. “I didn’t have a lot of pain. We’ll see how it feels (Thursday), but I don’t anticipate there being a problem.”
* Sefolosha is battling a case of plantar fasciitis.
* With 4:55 left in the game and the Suns down 16, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry instructed his team to foul Perkins on every change of possession. The tactic ended 32 seconds later after Perkins had converted 5 of 6 free throws. Perkins entered the contest having made 2 of his last 13 free-throw attempts. Asked about Gentry’s tactic, Brooks deferred. “That wasn’t my decision to make,” Brooks said. “I like the fact that Perk went up there and knocked them in.”
* Phoenix was obviously frustrated, but their behavior at the end of the game – two player ejections and refusing to acknowledge OKC afterward – caused one elderly female fan to say, “You’re embarrassing yourselves.” Then again, she could have been talking about the officiating crew.
* Brooks doesn’t present game balls. If he did, this one probably would have gone to Russell Westbrook (16 points, eight rebounds, three rebounds, two steals), despite having five turnovers. “I thought Russell was really good,” Brooks said. “I thought he showed tremendous leadership. He made the right plays. Defensively, he was active on the ball and guarding one of the best point guards in the game (Steve Nash) and he made it very tough.”
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 6-7 p.m. on The Sports Animal Network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.
Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson
Thunder reserve guard Nate Robinson
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony erupted for 33 points in the second half Monday night during an overtime victory against Orlando inside Madison Square Garden.
During the telecast, one New York announcer asked another to name the last Knicks player to score 30 points in a half. Players who were mentioned included Bernard King, Allan Houston and Patrick Ewing.
The correct answer is Nate Robinson, who was activated for Tuesday night’s home game against Golden State. Robinson has been sidelined since have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on March 4.
On New Year’s Day 2010, Robinson had 41 points (18 for 24 from the field), eight assists and six rebounds in 38 minutes at Atlanta. “Yeah, I can do that sometimes,” the well-humored Robinson said.
On Feb. 23, 2009, Robinson had 41 points (11 for 18 from the field; 15 for 19 from the line) and eight rebounds in 36 minutes against Indiana inside Madison Square Garden.
On March 8, 2008, Robinson had 45 points (16 for 28; 11 for 13), six rebounds and six assists in an overtime loss at home against Portland.
Thunder Escapes Against Golden State
News, notes and observations from Tuesday’s 115-114 overtime win over Golden State.
- I thought tonight’s game would be decent. I didn’t expect this.
- The Warriors always seem to play the Thunder tough, and tonight was no different. Even when the Thunder got up 14, Golden State wasted little time storming back.
- But the end to regulation was just ridiculous. It came out of nowhere. The Thunder looked to be in cruise control after Russell Westbrook made two foul shots to put the home team up six with 13.5 seconds left. Then, things just fell apart.
- Reggie Williams hit a huge 3 that pulled the Warriors within three. Then Daequan Cook and Kevin Durant had a miscommunication on the inbounds pass.Monta Ellis stole it away and sank a game-tying three. All that came in 4.2 seconds.
- As I wrote for Wednesday’s paper, three people took the blame for the botched play. Cook, Durant and Thunder coach Scott Brooks. Cook said he made the pass that led to the turnover so it was his fault. Durant said he just stood there and watched without securing the ball as it was being passed to him so it was his fault. And Brooks said he should have called a timeout after Williams’ 3 so it was his fault. Nice show of team unity.
- Here’s exactly what Durant said. “I felt so bad. I caused (Cook) to throw that ball away. He threw it to my hand and I just stood there and watched…I apologized to Daequan. I won’t put him in that position again.”
- For as long as I cover the Thunder, I hope I never see another fadeaway jumper by Durant when he has a chance to win the game. It’s worked, what, once. Try something else!
- No matter what happened at the end of regulation, the Thunder deserves a lot of credit for bouncing back and closing out the Warriors in overtime. This thing could have gone south quick. And it didn’t help that David Lee was wrestling away the Thunder’s lead by getting three-point play opportunities and Ellis buried a huge 3 that put Golden State up two with 1:10 left. Coupled with how regulation ended, those could have been back-breaking plays. But the Thunder never let them be. They bounced back from each of them.
- OKC is now 8-1 in overtime games. The team handed out a neat stat after the game. The Thunder became just the fifth team in NBA history to win eight overtime games. Detroit (8-0) did it in 2002. Sacramento (9-4) did it in 2000. Philadelphia (8-6) did it in 1990. And Milwaukee (8-1) did it in 1977. I’ve got a feeling the Thunder will play at least one more overtime game in these final nine.
- A 5-1 home stand ain’t bad.
- Chew on this. The Thunder has also won six games by one point.
Power Lunch Chat Recap: Darnell Mayberry
Monday Morning Mailbag
Same ol’ computer issues from Sunday night.
So let’s get right to it.
Have you talked/discussed with any of the players on what their plans would be in case of a lockout? — Daniel R.
Daniel, Not really. Kevin Durant jokingly told a reporter during All-Star Weekend that he would take up painting. Earlier that morning, he had just painted a home for the first time as part of a community appearance. I’m sure you’ll see several player-related stories as the season comes to a close and the summer/(potential)lockout wears on about where they are and what they’re doing with their spare time.
I would like to ask you 2 questions about the Thunder players: Why is it that every time a Thunder player at the free throw line finishes his first (shot) Ibaka almost always gets the ball and “Sniffs or Kisses” the ball? Was that a habit by him? Why is it that at the beginning of the game, most of the teams’ players walk to the middle of the long media sport announcers & game officials table & ”Sweep” their shoes on the floor or on a piece of floor mat or something? Game rule? Nothing serious, just wanted to learn and find out why. — David N.
David, Serge recently told me that he does it solely for motivation. It’s a routine he uses to get himself pumped up. As for the players starting the game by coming to the scorer’s table, most wipe off their shoes on a little square sheet of sticky plastic that helps give them grip. It’s just a ritzier way to get traction before the game starts. In open gyms, guys have to spit on the floor and rub it dry with both feet to get that traction. But a lot of players are also applying rosin to their hands or going through their pre-game rituals. Durant, for example, unties and then ties both shoes and says a quick prayer at the scorer’s table before taking the court.
Is there a call-up time when the Tulsa season ends where they can add a few players to the Thunder roster from the successful Tulsa 66er team? There are a few guys that could maybe provide some depth on the bench: Elijah Milsap for one. — Mike F.
Mike, the only “call-up time” is the date the league sets for rosters to be finalized for postseason play. This year, that’s April 14 at 2 p.m. central time. So technically, the Thunder can sign one of its D-League players to a contract any time before then and have them with the team during the playoffs.
This team is set up for Harden to start next year. Could Cook (if re-signed) pick up that bench scoring off his spot-ups, or would we be better served looking for a wing this offseason? — Carey S.
Carey, my money is on Cook stepping into that role next season. It’d be a mistake in my opinion to not start Harden next year. He has earned the starting job with his improvement on both ends of the floor. But to think Cook will make up Harden’s bench scoring would be a mistake. Cook isn’t going to average 10 to 12 points off the bench, especially not as the third shooting guard. But I do think the Thunder would be better off letting him man that spot rather than going out and signing someone else who would probably be more expensive and may not have a clear cut role with ample minutes.
Thunder Beats Portland, Clinches Playoff Berth
News, notes and observations from Sunday night’s 99-90 win over the Blazers.
- For the second straight season, the Thunder clinched its playoff berth in style. With a win. A no-doubt-about-it win. A we’re-not-backing-into-the-postseason type of performance. At the end of the season, it matters not how you got in. You just want to be in. But it’s always nice to control your own destiny and do it in grand fashion.
- With that said, let’s not make too much of clinching a playoff berth. Be happy, no doubt. But that’s what the Thunder is supposed to do. Sure, this is only the second one in this city’s history. But nights like this, when the home team clinches a playoff berth, should be met with something closer to a collective yawn than a celebratory yell. Again, be happy. But deep playoff runs and championship chases are what you really want to get riled up for.
- For what it’s worth, the Thunder clinched its playoff berth on April 3 last season.
- Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook made it a point to call out the media for writing them off as the worst team in basketball history two seasons ago. Like it was the media that went out there and started the season 3-29.
- It’s safe to say this one lived up to expectations of being a big game. The Thunder went up big in the first half. But like all good games, we saw a run. Once Portland closed within five with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the score never grew larger than the final margin. Westbrook likened the atmosphere to a playoff game and said every possession counted.
- All that was missing was Durant matching wits with Gerald Wallace. While Wallace dumped in 40 points, two shy of tying his career high, Durant went just 5-for-18 from the field for 21 points. KD missed all eight of his field-goal attempts in the second half.
- Westbrook made up for Durant’s rough night by closing the game with some timely buckets and some big plays. Westbrook scored 14 of the Thunder’s 21 points in the fourth quarter and essentially rescued the Thunder from what appeared to be headed for a heartbreaking defeat.
- Of Westbrook’s fourth-quarter offense, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said it, meaning I don’t have to: “I’m not going to sit up here and say they were great shots, but they were big shots.”
More Kindess From Kevin Durant
In today’s paper, I wrote about the kindness of Kevin Durant.
One example I had to leave out of the piece was a personal experience. News stories should never be about the reporter, therefore my first-hand account couldn’t be included. But it’s one worth sharing. It’s another tale of how Durant is genuinely caring and considerate of others.
Back in September, my wife, Courtney, and I were returning from a weekend trip to New York. As we walked from the gate toward the exit, we saw Durant, James Harden and Eric Maynor. They were also making their way toward the exit inside the terminal at Will Rogers World Airport. The three were coming back from the final days of their vacation in Washington, D.C. and about to prepare for the start of training camp.
When we got to the baggage claim area, I told Courtney I wanted to congratulate Durant on his gold medal and MVP-winning performance at the World Championship in Turkey. It was the first time I had seen him since his youth basketball camp in Oklahoma City in late June.
After initial shock and a few cracks about running into me at the airport, Durant accepted my congratulations. Not wanting to take up too much of Durant’s time, seeing as how I see him every day for seven months out of the year, I proceeded to walk over to Harden and Maynor, as well as one of Durant’s good friends, to say hello. Again, nothing major. Just a quick ‘what’s up?’
But as I turned to head back to Courtney, I saw Durant standing next to her. As I was walking back, he was extended his hand and a warm smile. Towering over my wife, Durant had introduced himself with a simple, ‘Hi, I’m Kevin.’
As if my wife didn’t know.
But it stood out in Courtney’s mind and in mine. It wasn’t something Durant had to do. No one had asked him to meet someone. He just did it.
As I did the reporting for today’s story, I mentioned that moment to Durant as one of the many occasions that I’ve seen him display a high degree of kindness. It was still fresh in his mind. He told me he remembered that I was getting married in the off-season and wanted to make sure he spoke to my wife.
“That’s just how I am,” Durant said. “I don’t like to be the guy that sees somebody I know and goes over and just talks to that one person and not the other. I think it’s a must that you got to introduce yourself and keep it polite with everybody. That’s how I am.”
-DM-
Thunder Makes Quick Work of Minnesota T-Wolves
Nuggets from my notebook from Friday’s 111-103 win over Minnesota.
- Sort of a predictable game. The Wolves stayed close. The Thunder went up big. Minnesota battled back. And OKC ended up blowing them out before it got respectable by the final buzzer.
- That third quarter was disturbing, though. The Thunder was up 16 before the Wolves mustered a 22-8 run and pulled within 82-80 with 33 seconds left. Minnesota made made 10 of 13 shots while the Thunder missed eight of 11 and turned it over three times.
- Kevin Durant’s two 3-pointers turned the tide. KD was 4-for-13 before hitting two 3s in the final 11 seconds of the third quarter. But those were big-time shots. They helped the Thunder lead by six going into the fourth.
- Nazr Mohammed picked it up from there. His contributions in the fourth quarter came out of nowhere and maintained the momentum that Durant’s shots had created. His defense (the charge he took, the deflections and steals he came up with, the interior resistance he supplied) we’ve come to expect. But his offense (10 fourth-quarter points) was unexpected. Nazr scored 10 of the Thunder’s 13 points during a 13-5 run in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter that bumped OKC’s lead to 101-87. Ball game.
- The entire bench played beautiful basketball tonight. Eric Maynor, James Harden, Mohammed and Nick Collison played their roles to perfection. They shared the ball on offense and created turnovers on defense. At one point in the second quarter, the starters had scored 29 points and the reserves had 27 points.
- Collison was scary good offensively. He made his first six shots before missing his final attempt. But Collison wasn’t just scoring. He was scoring at will. He had a sick crossover on Anthony Tolliver. He hit mid-range jumpers. He scored on running hooks and finished feeds with dunks.
- Kendrick Perkins, for one, thinks Collison should be more assertive on the offensive end. “One thing about Nick that I’ve been telling him a lot lately is I don’t know why he don’t be being aggressive a lot,” Perkins said. “He can play offensively. I think sometimes he gets a little passive and gets caught up in his role, which is good. But he can put the ball in the basket and he can make plays. And I think going into the playoffs we’re going to need everybody. Every night in the playoffs, it’s a certain guy that wins games for you, that has a big night.”
- Perk had his best scoring game since joining the Thunder, chipping in 13 points on 6-for-6 shooting. He said he’s been working on his offense a lot lately and it’s starting to pay off. “I’m starting to feel a little bit better out there on the court,” Perkins said. “I’m starting to get my rhythm back.” Perk also said he was upset at himself for how he played Wednesday against Utah so he used that performance as motivation to have a better showing offensively tonight.
Thunder Gets Back On Track Against Jazz
Nuggets from my notebook from Wednesday’s 106-94 win over Utah.
- This is what the Thunder needed. A game that never was close. An outcome that was never in doubt. Sunday’s loss to the Raptors is over and done with. But tonight’s win is what that game should have looked like. Give the Thunder credit, though, for coming out and doing what it needed to do tonight.
- The Thunder did everything tonight that they couldn’t do Sunday. They made shots. They protected the paint. They scored in transition. And they never let Utah rally, gain confidence or momentum.
- The only thing the Thunder didn’t do tonight was share the ball much. Through three quarters, these guys had eight assists. And it didn’t look like they had that many. There was not a lot of ball movement tonight, and that is never a good sign. But when you get away with it and win by 12 it’s no big deal. The Thunder might not want to play that way against, say, Portland on Sunday.
- Most important thing that happened tonight was Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant finding their shooting strokes. After combining for 42 points go 13 of 40 shooting Sunday, the two netted 60 points on 19 of 29 shooting tonight.
- Can’t say I was a fan of Westbrook’s shot selection tonight. Many of his attempts came on either pull-up jumpers in transition within four or five seconds of the shot clock or on explosive drives to the layup where he calls his own number. It was hero mode without the Thunder being down. Some would call it, well, selfish. But the guy scored 31 so what do I know, right? I was just more of a fan of how KD got his. In the flow. In rhythm. In an incredible display of efficiency. Durant let Westbrook do his thing in the first half, taking just three shots to get his 12 first-half points. KD never demanded the ball and never forced anything. Not many guys can get 29 on 12 shots.
- KD had 12 points on three shots in the first half. That’s because he made 10 of 11 free throws in the first 24 minutes. That’s a good three games for most players. Durant did it in 19 minutes! He finished 13 of 15 from the stripe.
