To hear Chris Webber call the Thunder-Spurs game early, you’d think the OKC Thunder was just Russell Westbrook and a bunch of guys off the street. The TNT analyst and former NBA star spent the first quarter saying the Thunder just wasn’t “that talented” and that with Kevin Durant gone, he thought they’d miss the playoffs (a common enough notion). Webber kept saying the Thunder have basically no half-court offense, because they have “nobody” who can knock down shots. Webber then cemented his Thunder thoughts saying that the most surprising thing about Westbrook’s incredible season was that he’d managed to get so many assists, since his teammates allegedly can’t shoot. Then Webber was forced to watch the game, a 102-92 Thunder victory.
Westbrook had more assists, of course — 13 of them. But he needed to score just 23 points to lead the Thunder over the formidable Spurs in OKC. How about this? Thunder guard Victor Oladipo shot 57% from the field and scored 20 points. Enes Kanter shot 60%, scoring 14. Steven Adams shot 62% scoring 11 points. Westbrook himself brought the shooting percentage down, with 33% shooting. But Westbrook’s 13 rebounds and 31st triple-double of the year was good enough to knock off San Antonio. Webber is an astute analyst and he did point out that the Thunder are good at home and dreadful on the road, a fact upheld by this game. But a couple of Webber’s quotes posted in the Thunder locker room will be good fuel for the team’s playoff fire.
