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STEVE
Lv 7
STEVE asked in SportsBasketball · 5 years ago

Why do the Thunder have trouble closing out games lately?

Just this week, the Thunder gave away games to the Clippers and Warriors.

Every team gives away games now and then, but this seems like a growing trend.

4 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    I think they haven't scripted the game-plan for late-game situations properly, especially when a team comes back, after the game was already won.

    Against the Clippers you could see the Thunder first under-estimate how quickly the Clippers came back(they brought back the starters late), and once the starters were back, Durant, and Westbrook struggled to find the right positions(3 Turnovers off stepping on the line), and struggled to have the energy-level needed to protect the lead(because at that time they were still leading).

    The Thunder are very much still a College team(in the NCAA this happens all the time, a team recovers momentum, and just steamrolls back from a 15-20 pts deficit to take a win), they can't stall, and control like a pro-team, an NBA team should be capable of doing.

  • 5 years ago

    The Thunder's offense relies too heavily on Westbrook and Durant. Clutch time, you know they're basically going to hand the ball to one of them and get out of the way. When you know what someone will do like that, it's easy to game plan for it, and good teams like the Warriors will make you pay.

    Also, Westbrook has the Mamba blood or whatever it's called. He has the drive to get the ball late and games, and take the last shot, despite the fact he isn't very good at making it according to the clutch time numbers.

    The Clippers seemed to be more than that though. I don't know what, but there seems to be a disconnect going on between everyone. It's hard to put a finger on, and it could just be a one time thing, but it worried me.

    The Thunder need to mix things up. They need to get the role players more involved in the offense, and they need to start letting their coach do his job and coach them.

  • 5 years ago

    They are poorly coached.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Y

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