Time to Thunder Up

I had the bulk of a post written about how exciting a rematch of the 2012 NBA Finals would be.  I have been titillated by the idea of LeBron James and Kevin Durant establishing a Magic Johnson/Larry Bird type rivalry.  Aside from being the clear cut best players currently in the NBA, they both play for excellent franchises with tremendous teammates capable of competing for championships in the foreseeable future (cap space and Miami contracts aside).  Multiple Finals meetings is not out of the question for these two stars.

I was set to publish before the Oklahoma City Thunder were decimated in the first two games of their series against the San Antonio Spurs.  I'm certainly not ready to back off my previous post in which I postulated the Thunder would win the series even without Serge Ibaka, but it's not looking good at the moment.

Two years ago the Thunder were in the same position they find themselves now.  After losing the first two games against the Spurs, the Thunder rallied to win four straight games and the Western Conference.  Just like this year, the Spurs looked invincible the first two games in San Antonio.  So it's not time to panic in OKC, but it's close...

Ibaka's injury appears to have devastated the Thunder.  The team on the floor Wednesday looked like they gave up once the Spurs built a lead at the end of the first half.  Russell Westbrook had one of his erratic games and Durant spent the majority of his second half hiding in the corner (he actually reminded me of James in the 2011 Finals against the Dallas Mavericks).  They are getting no offensive help from any of the perimeter players and the Spurs have been sizzling from beyond the arc.  Arguing calls, turnovers and poor shot selection all conspired to create a blowout.

There weren't many positives to take from game two, but one I saw was a competent interior defense when Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins were on the floor together.

So how will the Thunder get back in this series?

1. Enjoy being at home.  They will need all the energy they can glean from the sixth man in game three.  It probably feels like a month since the Thunder have been in OKC.  The familiar confines can help struggling players get back into rhythm.
2. Stars have to play like stars.  Durant has to be more aggressive and Westbrook has to play smarter.  The team will go as they do (as they should) but they have to play with a better mindset.  Even if their shots aren't falling, they have to make positive contributions.  Durant has to play like the MVP for the rest of the series for the Thunder to have any chance.
3. Someone else has to step up.  Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Caron Butler, Derrick Fisher (who played well game one), or someone unexpected has to make a contribution.  After the first quarter it didn't look like a single player had confidence in their jump shot.  Reggie Jackson has played decent but he needs to be a difference maker off the bench the rest of the series.
4. Play team defense.  To this point, Ibaka's absence has been felt greatly.  Instead of moping, the Thunder need to rally around each other.  Defense is 90 percent effort and it simply hasn't been there.  The whole teams needs a gut check about the type of consistent effort they are prepared to give on the defensive end.
5. Scott Brooks has to coach better.  It is way too late to create a new offense, but when OKC's stars aren't making amazing individual plays, the whole offense falls flat.  As a coach, Brooks has to counter with some set plays when he sees the offense breaking down to take some pressure off of Westbrook and Durant.  He also needs to set the tone for their defensive effort.  He can't give minutes to players that are unwilling or unable to give defensive effort.  I think Collison should resume his standard role off the bench replaced with Adams.  Collison hasn't looked like himself as a starter and Adams size disrupted several possessions, especially against Tim Duncan.  Whatever Brooks decides to change or whatever message he tries to sell, it is his job to find the answers.  Luckily, he gets three days to get his guys ready.
6. Relax.  Take it one game at a time.  The Thunder have come from behind in this series against this opponent recently.  A Thunder win in OKC will restore balance in the series.  Two wins would put the pressure back on the Spurs.  Even though things look bleak, a win in game three can erase that. They know they're good.  It's time to relax, set the tone and play Thunder basketball.

I am still hopeful that James and Durant can will their teams to the Finals again.  What an amazing rivalry it would become if  Durant blocked James' attempt at a three-peat.  Or if Durant lost to James in his first two trips to the Finals, further cementing his disgust for second place.  Whatever the outcome, the intrigue would rival the golden age of 1980s NBA basketball when Magic and Bird reigned.

Before any of that can happen, both stars have an emotional series to win.  No one outside of Indiana and San Antonio wants to see a Spurs/Pacers Finals.  I hope the two best players in the game can save us from that torment and help write a much more interesting NBA future.