Brooklyn Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Takeaways and Grades
Takeaways
1) The cold never bothered Russ anyway
Like today’s northeast blizzard, Russell Westbrook is a force of nature. Neither snow nor hail nor the Nets’ defense could stop the MVP candidate. In the first quarter, Westbrook assisted on several Thunder fast break buckets. He finished the game with one less assist than the ENTIRE Nets team, 20-19. As the game wore on, Westbrook scored and picked up the pace on the glass, simply out-hustling everyone else on the floor. Westbrook notched his 33rd triple-double of the season, to a standing ovation from the Nets’ home crowd. He’s pretty good.
“Don’t let them in, don’t let them see,
Be the MVP Candidate you always have to be,
Just beat KD, don’t let him know,
Well now he knows, Let it go!”
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2) LeVert is an open door! (to the future)
After a perfect game (4-of-4 shooting for 13 points) against the Knicks, Caris LeVert had another efficient game, scoring 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting. His creativity off the dribble and activity on both ends of the floor were on display all game. LeVert drove into the lane and got fouled, while also mixing in some nice defensive possessions. After a mini shooting slump on the west coast road trip, LeVert seems to have found his place again. “To the pain of the past, we don’t have to feel it anymore! LeVert is an open door!”
“To the pain of the past, we don’t have to feel it anymore! LeVert is an open door!”
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3) Do you want to draft a big man?
“Do you want to draft a big man? Come on, let’s go and scout. We never rebound anymore, we need a five or four, it never goes our way…”
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a huge front line, with Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Taj Gibson and Domantas Sabonis all bigger than any Net not named Brook Lopez. This disparity was most apparent with the Nets’ bench. The Brooklyn bench was outscored 41-20, with several defensive breakdowns. The Thunder’s bigs contributed to a 13-4 advantage on the offensive glass as well. Brooklyn simply could not compete with OKC’s size, with their frontcourt too physical and too big for the Nets’ small-ball lineup.