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Mark J. Terrill / AP
Thunder players Steven Adams, left, and Darius Bazley take control of a rebound during Game 7 against the Houston Rockets.
Steven Adams’ strong contract has been challenged again after the Oklahoma City Thunder crashed in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The great Kiwi and the Thunder were outscored 104-102 in a thrilling game seven against former teammates Russell Westbrook, James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday (Thursday New Zealand time).
The Thunder set up the final play of the game for forward Danilo Gallinari from the inning pass, but it was a double and he couldn’t get the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instead sent the ball to Adams, who was briefly wide open, who was unable to control it under pressure from PJ Tucker. The Rockets deflected the ball to time out and clinched the series 4-3, advancing to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
Adams was solid but unspectacular throughout the series, averaging 10.1 points and 11.6 rebounds in all seven games.
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SPORT OF HEAVEN
A failed pass to Steven Adams ends the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hopes of the NBA Finals.
Against the small-ball Rockets, who started Tucker (1.96m) and Robert Covington (2.01m) as their greats, it was expected that the 2.13m Adams would have had a greater impact on the series in both ends of the court.
Adams makes $ 26 million (NZ $ 38 million) per season, the second-highest for the Thunder, and whether his playoff performances coincided with that big deal is already generating debate.
Earlier this week, The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo described Adams as “deceptively disappointing” and “soft.” He said Adams hadn’t physically imposed himself on the series as a player his size should.
“Steven Adams’s usage rate, and sometimes it’s due to lineups, but he gets a couple touches before and then they never look for it,” Russillo said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
“But it’s a bit disappointing because he forgets how big he is. Sometimes he plays small.
“He’s a big guy from New Zealand with this big family, and he tackled an ox during quarantine in New Zealand, and we’re like ‘big tough Steven Adams’ and no one would fight like him.
“Then play like this. He plays soft.”
“He’s one of those guys, you almost need him for the series where the other team has an incredible center and Adams can just punch bodies with him,” said podcast host Bill Simmons.
“For a series like this [against the smaller Rockets]I just don’t know what his role is. “
Adams is entering the final year of his contract with the Thunder and is expected to earn $ 27.5 million (NZ $ 42,553.87) in 2020-21.
Mark J. Terrill / AP
Thunder center Steven Adams shares a hug with former Rockets teammate James Harden after his first NBA series ended on Thursday.
His name swirled in discussions about the February trade deadline before Covid with the struggling Atlanta Hawks mentioned as a possible destination. However, the typical rumors of the trade deadline were nothing and Adams remained with the Thunder.
The 27-year-old has been with the Thunder since 2013, when he was selected 12th overall.
Despite being eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference Finals for the fourth year in a row, the Thunder will reflect positively on their season interrupted by Covid-19.
Kevin C. Cox / AP
Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder crashed in the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets.
Many thought it would be difficult for them in the ultra-competitive Western conference, following the offseason outings of superstars Paul George and Westbrook.
Led by veteran point guard Chris Paul, they performed above expectations, finishing fifth after the regular season with a 44-28 record.
