What’s next for Russell Westbrook and the Thunder?
They know they can’t play like this, but actually changing their style will be harder.
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook and the Thunder were bounced in five games by James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Man, that’s a loaded sentence.
Everything about the season of Russ and Harden was condensed into those five games. The Rockets were clearly superior and had far more depth. Harden was excellent for the most part, but other Rockets had moments of glory. OKC was thin and too dependent on Russ, who may have tried to do too much.
We get into all that on this week’s Drive & Kick, along with Warriors talk, the carnage that is the Clips-Jazz series, and the Cavs’ inevitability.
Including:
- OKC needs to make fundamental changes to is roster in order to compete at a higher level. It all starts with a possible extension for Russ.
- The good news is they understand that. The hard part is that there’s no clear path.
- Westbrook will probably win the MVP. (He got my vote.) But I’m still conflicted about passing over Harden, and this series gave his supporters ample reason to celebrate The Beard.
- How do you solve the Warriors? You better be able to score a lot of points and defend all over the court. Houston would try to outscore them. Utah would try to bludgeon them. The Spurs are the Spurs. They’ll try to do both.
- As for the Clippers, the roster reckoning is coming. Maybe?
- Let’s all appreciate Joe Johnson. You need Joe Johnson on that wall.
- Meanwhile back East, the Cavs’ way forward is clear. Can anyone offer them a challenge before the Finals?
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