The streak has finally ended. After reportedly never missing a game going all the way back to his high school days, including a league-best 394 straight NBA games, Russell Westbrook will miss today’s Game 3 and maybe the entire playoffs against the Houston Rockets after being diagnosed with a torn meniscus that will require surgery. This leaves the Thunder without their starting point guard and a player who ranks second in the league in usage percentage and has scored or assisted on 29% of the Thunder’s points this year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They will be losing 23.2 points per game along with 5.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game for as long as he is out. That is a lot of production to make up for. Heading into the playoffs most people liked the Thunder to repeat last year and head to the NBA Finals. However, with Westbrook’s injury the Thunder’s playoff fate is in great question.
Russell Westbrook is not your ordinary basketball player. Russell Westbrook plays with a tenacity and nastiness few NBA players bring to the table. He is full of energy from the tip to the final buzzer. Westbrook sets the tone for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Durant is unquestionably the Thunder’s best player, but the Thunder go as Westbrook goes. What he brings to the team cannot be seen on the stat sheet.
So, how far can the Thunder go without him?
Coach Scott Brooks announced today that reserve guard Reggie Jackson will start in Westbrook’s place. Inserting Jackson into the lineup means that the starting lineup for today’s Game 3 have only been on the floor together for 19 minutes the entire season. Jackson is no slouch. He has averaged 7.3 points per game since the All-Star break and in recent weeks has been able to penetrate and get to the basket seemingly at will. He is capable of picking up some of Westbrook’s scoring load, but it is unfair to put the Thunder’s playoff chances on the 2nd year guard out of Boston College’s shoulders.
The other players must play with an extra gear for as long as Westbrook is out. Sixth man Kevin Martin must look to assert himself from the moment he enters the game. With limited backcourt scoring now, he cannot be tentative like he has appeared at time throughout the season. It is his time to prove the Thunder made the right move in dealing James Harden and getting Martin. Veteran Derek Fisher will be looked to contribute big shots and bring toughness on the defensive end as Westbrook did. Thabo Sefolosha will also have to look for his shot more. Players must step up or the Thunder will have trouble even finishing out this series against the Houston Rockets.
But the burning question that everyone is talking about is, what does Westbrook’s injury mean for Kevin Durant?
Will he start looking for 30 plus shots a game and try to win games by himself? Or will he continue to play unselfish like he has to this point in the season?
I believe he will choose the second option. Kevin Durant is as smart of a player as there is in the NBA today. He studies the game relentlessly. He knows what gives his chance the best chance to win. I think if Durant looks for his shot every time down the floor and gets up 30 plus shots tonight, the Thunder will struggle.
However, if Durant lets the game come to him, gets his teammates involved early, and picks his spots to attack the Rockets vulnerable defense, he may very well end up with 30 shots. But if it is in the context of the offense and will keep the Rocket’s defense on their heels then the Thunder should win Game 3.
Rockets Coach Kevin McHale is not going to let Kevin Durant come out and have 50 points on his team tonight. He is just not. He is going to attack Durant with a variety of defenses and double teams to make Durant uncomfortable. This is where Durant must trust his teammates, as he did in Game 2 making the extra pass deep into the fourth quarter to open teammates. McHale is going to dare the other Thunder players to beat his team.
Kevin Durant very well may have a few 50 point games as these playoff continue simply because he is the best scorer in the world and will have more of an offensive load. But, Kevin Durant 50 point games will not be the reason the Oklahoma City Thunder advance deep into the playoffs. Other players stepping up and defense will be the reason. The NBA Playoffs are where you make a name for yourself, and players like Serge Ibaka, Martin, and Jackson will have their chance as the Oklahoma City Thunder look to avoid this minor setback and advance in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
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