Kiwi Steve in the NBA #22: Showers
BOX SCORES
vs SAN ANTONIO SPURS (L 100-95)
35 MINS | 13 PTS (5/8 FG, 3/4 FT) | 7 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 2 TO | 5 PF
vs CHARLOTTE HORNETS (L 113-101)
26 MINS | 2 PTS (1/5 FG) | 7 REB | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 3 PF
vs MILWAUKEE BUCKS (W 110-79)
24 MINS | 9 PTS (4/7 FG, 1/2 FT) | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 TO | 2 PF
at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (W 103-100)
33 MINS | 5 PTS (2/8 FG, 1/3 FT) | 10 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PF
NEXT WEEK
at PHOENIX SUNS, 2.00pm Saturday (NZT)
at DENVER NUGGETS, 9.00am Monday (NZT)
at MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, 12.00pm Wednesday (NZT)
vs DENVER NUGGETS, 12.00pm Thursday (NZT)
The Stache Bros Meet Thunder Claus
vs SAN ANTONIO SPURS (L 100-95)
The Spurs came into this game still nursing the wounds from blowing a 22 point lead to lose to the Golden State Warriors. Both teams had had the day off previous but both also started colder than ice. LaMarcus Aldridge couldn’t hit a damn thing. The first two minutes passed with no points and Steven Adams kicked a ball for a violation. Not much else until Russell Westbrook finally convinced a ball to fall through that round thing with the net.
The Spurs wouldn’t even make a field goal for the first 3:28 of the contest, how about that? Honestly, it was insane stuff. The Thunder were up 14-3 with a Roberson layup. Adams had already tipped in a second chance effort after Aldridge got a hand on Roberson’s first attempt. Plus he picked off Tony Parker, nice job. A few more offensive boards and it was 21-14 when Steve took his rest. What a start!
Amazingly that lead just kept increasing. Victor Oladipo did some stuff with the bench unit and the difference was 13 points when Adams next took the court. OKC had a 26-15 rebounding advantage in the first half and Russ was fast on his way to another triple-double, of course. This coming after his 57 point TD in Orlando his last game. 19 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and shooting 5/10 in that first half while Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge were a combined 5/18 in the same time.
Adams had 4 points and 6 rebounds in that first half. He was playing some solid ball, shifted around a little as the Spurs mixed their options to get something to work but he had a lot to do with that dominating board performance from the team. It was the Spurs he played the best ball of his career against last playoffs, don’t forget. And he came out after the half and immediately slammed one down from Dipo’s assist. Add in some typically Westbrookian basketball and midway through the third they were staring at a 21 point lead against the second seed in the conference.
But then a strange thing began to happen. The Thunder started missing all these shots. The Spurs began making some. Slowly but surely the momentum began to shift in the favour of the visiting team. Roberson and Adams picked up fouls, Roberson had to sit. Westbrook got his shots off but they were tough and they weren’t going in.
Kawhi Leonard exploded for 13 points in the third and this time the OKC bench unit didn’t keep things stagnant. They left the door open (there was no Taj Gibson will illness, by the way) and the Spurs dragged it all the way back to 76-71, putting 30 on OKC in the third. There were still more than six minutes left when Adams got up with a floater to give Russ TD#39 but they were swimming against the tide. Cutting a dramatic story short here, San Antonio took their first lead of the game on an Aldridge free throw with 56 seconds left. Steven Adams dunked to get the Thunder back on top but Aldridge and Leonard repeated the dose and somehow the Thunder had coughed up that 21 point lead to lose in the final minute of the game.
Daily Thunder: “Two Steven Adams free throws with 5:56 remaining the third gave the Thunder a… wait for it… 21-point lead. Less than 18 minutes later, the Thunder were on the losing end of yet another astonishing rally.”
Welcome to Loud City: “Oklahoma City’s second-half meltdown was due in large part to Steven Adams (5 fouls) and Andre Roberson’s (5 fouls) foul-issues, which prevented the pair from continuing to aggressively limit San Antonio’s prolific-frontcourt duo. Largely unencumbered, in a total turnabout, San Antonio outscored OKC 52-26 with 18 minutes to play. This hegemony included a +8 rebounding margin as Oklahoma City (32/14/62 shooting, 6 TO, 10 PF) collapsed from the field.”
All of those things about the Thunder shooting and rebounding? They all stopped happening. And when they did it seemed the team couldn’t figure out how to get the mojo back – they were outdone by 59 points to 41 in the second half. Adams only had one rebound in the second half. It got ugly.
ESPN/Associated Press: “Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points for the Spurs, who didn't lead until the final minute. LaMarcus Aldridge's dunk with 20.7 seconds left put the Spurs up 96-95. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook drove to the hoop, but Aldridge blocked his shot. Leonard then drove the length of the floor, scored and was fouled. His free throw with 5.8 seconds left put the game out of reach.”
vs CHARLOTTE HORNETS (L 113-101)
Don’t give up on the reading yet, the good stuff is still to come. But this one maybe we’ll breeze through. The Charlotte Hornets were 0-8 playing in Oklahoma City all-time and when Steven Adams stuffed one for the opening points (after a Russ turnover and two missed threes from the Hornets) the Thunder looked like they were ready to play. Then Adams lost one for a turnover. And gave up a foul. And another turnover. A Russ three made it a five-point lead before Adams sat early with another foul.
Next thing there were shots falling, Kemba Walker and Frank Kaminsky. The Hornets were out there trying to keep their playoff hopes alive and once they got on top they never surrendered it. Thunder down 31-22 after the first quarter, Steve-o came in and missed three field goals, one of them blocked. This really wasn’t one of his better ones. The fouls weren’t a problem again, he finished with only three, but that opening dunk of the game added up to the only points he’d score.
Having dragged themselves within range during the second, mostly thanks to Westbrook no surprises, the Thunder then slipped back off in the third to trail by 14 and the fourth wasn’t worth much at all. OKC missed their first seven shots of the 3Q and got that frame off to a 0-13 start that they never recovered from. Stevie did get five of the last six minutes but they were 19 down when he stepped in and still 12 down when he left.
One of the issues the lad had was turnovers. Four of them, specifically. Taj Gibson also had three and Oladipo had four. Westbrook had eight and the Hornets had their most steals in a game since 2012 – scoring 35 points from those 18 pick-offs. Bloody ugly, to be honest.
Westbrook did get a 40 point triple double but the hero of the game was Kemba Walker with his 29 points. It does mean the only team Westbrook doesn’t have a triple double against in his career is the Chicago Bulls (who he missed out against by one rebound earlier this season), for what that’s worth. Plus he passed 15000 career points but this is a column about Steven Adams first and foremost and following some good signs against the Spurs he had another slumper here.
Welcome to Loud City: “While the Hornets’ defensive intensity was indicative of an underachieving —yet talented— group clinging to fading playoff hopes, many of Oklahoma City’s miscues were of the unforced variety. On numerous occasions, Westbrook (8 TO), Oladipo (4 TO), and Taj Gibson’s (3 TO) rushed entry-passes bounced off the normally reliable hands of Steven Adams (4 TO) and Enes Kanter (1 TO). From the afternoon’s onset, OKC set a sloppy tone with seven first-quarter turnovers.”
Thunderous Intentions: “Adams’ usage percentage has dropped over two percentage points since the All-Star Break. With the acquisition of Taj Gibson we’ve seen less use of the Adams/Westbrook pick & roll as well as fewer isolation post-ups. Less touches have effected Adams’ play on the defensive end too. The Big Kiwi’s defensive field-goal percentage this season is at it’s highest rate since his rookie season; the 47.7% is over five percentage points higher than last season. The numbers since the All-Star Break? 51.1%. His blocks per game have decreased since the ASB as well, from 1.1 per game to a measly 0.8.”
Daily Thunder: “Steven Adams has been in a bit of a funk as of late. He only scored 2 points tonight and that’s just not enough offensive production from the second or third best player on the team. He seems to struggle against teams have bigs that stretch the floor. Hopefully Steven Funaki Adams can get something going before the playoffs start.”
vs MILWAUKEE BUCKS (W 110-79)
And now the cool stuff, get it in there.
Steven Adams began the season as an outside chance at the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. He won’t be winning that now, he’s definitely made improvements but nowhere near enough to be challenging for that kinda recognition. His slightly stolid form since the All Star break hasn’t helped that. One guy who is very high in the Most Improved stakes? Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has gone from a good player with big potential to a genuinely great one this season and the prospect of Russ vs Giannis made this some must-watch NBA TV. That Westbrook was poised to tie Oscar Robertson with his 41st triple-double of the season only added to that.
It’s worth wondering if Adams’ lack of touches recently have something to do with Westbrook’s stat chasing. He’s chasing stats, don’t argue that point, but do accepts also that there’s nothing wrong with chasing stats either. Westbrook’s game is built around his scoring, his passing and his rebounding so when he’s filling those columns for double figures that’s just a measure that he’s been effective. Sometimes the shot selection is bad and sometimes he tries too hard to pad up his assists but whatever. Russ is Russ.
Also, some of Adams’ lack of recent touches (first month of the season he averaged 10.8 points on 7.9 field goal attempts – since the start of March he’s averaging 9.3 points on 6.1 field goal attempts) are down to his declining performances, which haven’t really shown through in his shooting percentages even if he’s had a few games like that one against Charlotte. Anyway he got a go a few yards out from the hoop with Aussie Thon Maker on him early here. Adams spun one way and went back towards the baseline, he flipped up the reverse lay-up… but it rimmed out. Then he had a turnover soon after trying to bounce one in to Taj Gibson which was a decent pass, they just weren’t on the same page is all. Maker showed him how to finish on the reverse at the other end, stink.
On the plus side though, he got an assist for a quick flip pass outta the pick to Westbrook who nailed it from three, baddabing. Bloody Russ, man. He had six rebounds in the first half of the first quarter. His assists weren’t so heated given Andre Roberson was airballing threes (though he had two Hollywood blocks on the defensive end, damn son). And Stevie sure looked good throwing down a dunk for his first points.
Neither team was going crazy scoring which meant a slight Thunder lead but nothing dramatic. Then the bench came in and Enes Kanter and Alex Abrines, playing initially with Russ but then on their own, suddenly blew the top off. 4/5 for Abrines from deep in the space of ten minutes and a cheeky 11 points for Kanter as well in the same time. They outscored the Bucks 22-11 with Westbrook on the bench (nursing some hefty ice packs on his knees).
Back into things, Adams had a strong second quarter. He got up with the close bucket to give Westbrook another assist for the tally and looked more comfortable than he has been recently guarding on the perimeter. He got switched out there a few times but stayed on his toes to contest some tough shots. Milwaukee were missing everything anyway – 1/8 from threes in the first two quarters.
Against a young Bucks team, Adams was able to play physically with a bit of success. Those rebounds started to flow, he even tipped one out to Russ which some folks were a little quick to attribute to the dude going after the triple-double. Hey, Russ didn’t need the help – by half-time he already had 12 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds. Steve sorta did though, scrapping for those offensive boards, getting one and then missing the finish, getting another and then missing again through contact. He got the foul but his free throw shooting is why he needs to be able to finish those suckers. Up he stepped and missed both attempts… only for a lane violation to give him another effort which he polished off for his seventh point of the game. Half-time and OKC were up 63-39.
It didn’t take very long after the teams re-emerged from the locker room for this to happen:
Triple-double #41.
And with that the game was pretty much over. Nothing else to see here. Adams added another hoop and they all went through the motions for a few more minutes to keep things stable but both Westbrook and also Steven Adams sat down for good with 2:34 left in the third quarter, game over for that pair. The bench took over from there for both teams in a fourth quarter that… let’s be generous and say it lacked for a bit of polish and intensity. All the young bluds tried their hand at some NBA points and Nick Collison grabbed a few rebounds.
12p/13r/13a for Russ in his final line, shooting 4/12. Adams scored 9 points with 5 rebounds and a +/- of +21. Enes Kanter scored 17 points in 15 minutes off the bench and Alex Abrines, who injured himself and wouldn’t return trying for a loose ball, scored 12 in 12 minutes. For the Bucks, Giannis could only muster 11 points (3/10 FG) with 10 boards and 4 dimes and there’s not much else to mention there. 14 for Mike Beasley maybe. This was the biggest win of the season for OKC and the spectacle will have done Russ’ MVP chances plenty of good.
NewsOK: “Westbrook’s on-court interview with ESPN was interesting, and not just for what Westbrook said. How his teammates reacted. While being interviewed by ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth, Westbrook was subjected to a series of indignities by his teammates.
Enes Kanter sauntered by, talking nonsense. Steven Adams and Andre Roberson came, pouring water over Westbrook’s head, and Victor Oladipo and Norris Cole were with them, rubbing Westbrook’s head. Oladipo somehow circled back around, with Jerami Grant. Oladipo tossed a towel over Westbrook’s head while Grant tapped Westbrook’s head. Finally, Gibson came by with a bear hug.”
at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (W 103-100)
There was only one thing on anybody’s mind here, regardless of the playoff implications. That was number forty-two and whether or not it was happening here, on the wrong end of a back to back against a very good defensive team. Yet while the Thunder got themselves a rapid-fire 6-0 lead, Russell Westbrook had nothing to do with it (aside from one assist). Adams did, but only as he missed a couple early shots in the paint. The Grizz then put a run on for the lead and then Russ hit on a pull-up three.
Adams loves a bit of the Grizzlies and they absolutely hate him. Past happenings being what they are, most of it comes down to that time Zach Randolph got suspended in the playoffs for elbowing Steve in the head. Z-Bo plays off the bench now but Marc Gasol started this one opposite the Big Kiwi and that was something to watch, those two tangling up. Gasol got the best of the early stages, throwing Adams to the ground in a lil hustle tussle (no foul, right call) after draining a three over him as Steve played conservative at the top of the key.
That was the trick for Steve here. He wanted to guard the rim but he was being dragged out by the threat of Gasol’s range, Marcy hit another one with Adams switched inside just as a reminder and when he did drift out they looked for the cheeky pass in behind him where danger loomed. Adams did get his hand on three early defensive boards though, not exactly in his usual form lately, as well as a tip-in shot from a Russ miss that rimmed achingly back out. The first timeout of the game came with OKC down 21-17.
Next thing Steve and Marc were scrapping for a loose ball, the ball actually coming off Dougie McBucket’s foot, and Gasol sat down on the bench. Up came Z-Bo and Adams stayed in for the next possession to take care of him but took his rest after Enes Kanter drew FTs.
The other thing about playing away from the hoop is that there’s room to play in and Adams was harshly reminded of that when Andrew Harrison blew by him on the drive for two. This was after coming back in and again the subs were staggered to give Adams and Kanter some time together against Z-Bo and Gasol – Kanter making a couple nice offensive plays too. Meanwhile Steve tipped in a Taj Gibson miss for his first points. Two fouls, both on Marc Gasol though. Both followed by long discussions with the refs. Steven the Orator.
Gasol had 14 points but a better than 50% shooting effort had the Thunder in a slight lead for most of the first half. Plus Russ was starting to get his buckets on the way to 16 points by HT. 5 assists too but the problem was he wasn’t getting any boards against these big Grizzlies. Just the 3 in the first two quarters. Probably because Kiwi Steve was hogging them all – a game-high 9 at the break as OKC led 57-50. Westbrook’s triple-double was actually closer to happening in steals with 4 of them (and 5 turnovers) in an entertaining couple quarters.
Great moment towards the end of the half too as Russ missed a three and Adams was able to rise above the crowd for the offensive board. He shifted for room and flipped up a backhanded lay-up falling away from the hoop after some heavy jostling and unlike a mirror-image earlier attempt, this one rolled through for points. Funaki loved it, he was fist-pumping and everything. Made his free throw for the icing on the cake as well.
Russ hit from 19 feet to tie the Thunder’s biggest lead of the game at nine points but the Grizz started chomping back into that lead as turnovers became an issue. Adams had one, losing the handle on a direct pass from Westbrook on the roll and he also missed a couple shots. This was a quality performance from Steve but he needed to make a few more of those shot opportunities count to really cash in. Nice block on Harrison off the drive though.
A theory about the jump in production:
If the sleeve’s going on and coming off then it’s not a fashion statement, it’s there for a reason.
WTLC: “In fact, the Grizz were mostly effective on the interior for much of the night. Marc Gasol (23-5-5-4-2) and Zach Randolph out-muscled the Thunder in the paint, with Steven Adams and Enes Kanter frequently frustrated.”
Westbrook and McDermott hit threes, Gasol hit back with more points of his own. As was the case all game, the score was swinging in small spurts. OKC then took a blow when Andre Roberson was ruled out of the rest of the game with knee soreness, a big difference maker on defence out of there (it helped that Oladipo was scoring points). By the way, Russ scored 15 points in the third. The lead was cut to five points overall, 79-74, but Russ was playing superbly. Five triples plus with 8 assists and 6 rebounds the TD was still a possibility.
Yet when Adams came back into the game he did so after watching Zach Randolph drill a three pointer to give Memphis their first lead since late in the first. Yo but almost the first thing that Stevie did was haul in a huge board after two missed free throws from Westbrook and Russ… of course he gave them three on the second chance. Actually traded up and OKC were again in the lead.
Picking up a clever pass under the hoop from Russ, Steve was unable to finish through the contact. With his free throw shooting lately, he really has to find a way to get those orange round things through the hoop and turn two free throws into and-one oppos. Naturally he missed both attempts, although the second was written off because of a Dougie lane violation. Funny thing is he got back to the line in the dying stages and the same thing happened again – he missed two and the second didn’t count because Gibson stepped in early. Must be a Chicago thing.
So Westbrook hit a few threes and the Grizzlies couldn’t quite keep up. It was magnificent stuff from the Thunder point guard, who might just be edging in front of James Harden now in that MVP race. Frantic as things would get, OKC took the biscuits and stunning as Russ was, he ended one rebound short of a triple-double. However his fingerprints were on everything, the man was outstanding here. Which is decent proof that the TDs are overrated – it’s the overwhelming impact he has that’s his real booster. The rest is all twisted numbers. 45 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 5 steals. 8/13 from three point range. Outstanding.
Daily Thunder: “Steven Adams may have only scored 5 points on 2-of-8 from the field, but he grabbed 10 rebounds. 5 of those rebounds were offensive rebounds and winning the rebounding battle is a big deal against a team like Memphis.”
ODDS & ENDS
Danny Chau/The Ringer: “Once airborne, Westbrook leans in to split the difference between Elfrid Payton and Terrence Ross, but immediately starts drifting right, because he’s actually in the presence of a third defender, his own teammate Steven Adams, who is late trying to set a screen. Russ, as always, is a step ahead, and rises up to fire a beat before Adams gets in position; by the time Adams slips the play, Westbrook is already on his way down. He was flanked by two guards on each side of him, but really, he was shooting over a 7-footer to tie the game. In real time, Westbrook animated the most persistent argument for his claim to the highest individual award in the league: he’s doing it all in spite of his teammates. An MVP moment was born.”
Here’s the thing about Westbrook rebounding, and why Adams doesn’t have the best numbers there despite boxing out really well. Russ doesn’t contest opposition shots much because he likes to slide to the hoop for those boards. Adams then drags the oppo big guy away from the hoop for Russ to swoop and there you go. Westbrook then uses that early ball to get running downhill which leads to heaps of fouls drawn – it’s not a bad thing. Just a scheme thing.
