Most expected Oklahoma City to rebuild after sending All-Star Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, then Westbrook to the Rockets. The idea was that the Thunder would eventually trade Paul and Danilo Gallinari – the veteran players they got back in those deals – and focus on the future and the whole lot of running picks they got.
Instead, the Thunder did not trade Paul or Gallinari.
Paul returned to All-Star status and embraced his role as team leader. Gallinari had one of the best seasons of his career. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – the young player who got the Thunder in the deal with the Clippers – came out this season as the main scorer of Oklahoma City. And the team, under coach of the year finalist Billy Donovan, actually had a higher winning percentage this season than last.
Now, the Thunder and Rockets will open their playoff series on Tuesday in central Florida after setting matching 44-28 records for regular seasons.
As Westbrook says in his slogan, “Why not?”
Westbrook’s status is unclear. He missed the last two seeding games of the team with a straight quad-strain. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 assists, and 7 rebounds per game this year.
“I don’t think they have a certain amount of time yet,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said Friday. ‘Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later. Of course, we have to keep storage until we get him back. ”
But the Rockets still have James Harden, who leads the NBA with 34.4 points per game this season.
BALANCE vs. VOLUME
Houston focuses heavily on Harden and Westbrook offensively, while the Thunder rely on balance.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team with 19.0 points per game. Dennis Schroder – a finalist for sixth man of the year – averages 18.9. Gallinari averaged 18.7, Paul 17.6 and Steven Adams 10.9.
BACK In the Bible
Schroder left the bubble for the birth of his second child. He came back for the final seeding game and played well with 17 points on shots 6-for-12 in a loss to the Clippers on Friday.
“I felt great,” Schroder said. “I’m gone for six games, it’s always hard, but I kept myself ready and practicing, working out a little bit.”
ADAMS vs. SMALL BALL
Adams, at 7 feet and 265 pounds, will be a factor in the series. He could be a difference maker for the Thunder if the Rockets could run him ragged.
Adams is a potential scorer who shoots 59% of the field and averages 9.3 handballs and 1.1 blocks.
Houston traded big man Clint Capela earlier in the season and now normally places no one higher than 6-8 on the floor. Robert Covington, at 6-8, is the team’s leading rebounder. Harden averages 6.6 and PJ Tucker uses his 6-5, 245-pound frame to average 6.6 boards.
THREES OF HOUSTON
The Rockets led the league in 3-pointers made and attempted per game. Harden leads the league in both markets and trials, while shooting 35.5 percent off the arc.
Chris Paul has a chance to show the Rockets what they’re trading right away, originally appeared on NBCSports.com
