This team looks like crap.
Westbrook letting people drive by him without even trying. Donovan constantly switching on screens was a killer last night. Donovan still insisting on playing singler and leaving amo on the bench. McBro not getting any minutes.
With all the problems, I really think the main issue is westbrook and durant still haven't understood that it isn't about them. Until this changes, thunder aren't doing anything. And what is up with Augustine? He has been terrible this year and the team looks lost with him running the point. Time to give cam payne a chance?
All excellent points to explain why a championship caliber team like the Thunder lost the last three games.
The key to me, though, is the part I highlighted in bold. Westbrook and KD don't seem to know basketball is a
teamsport. That's especially true in the closing minutes of every game. Billy D has been nothing more than an extension of Scotty Brooks by allowing that to happen. Scotty had no choice last season due to all of the injuries. That's not the case this season. The announcers keep saying the players need to adjust to a "new offense." What new offense? The only thing different is a new coaching staff.
Like you, I'm not impressed with Donovan's substitution pattern so far. Seems to me Kanter would be a better choice at the five than Adams. I also wonder why Singler sees the floor at all, or why the Thunder brass didn't trade him in the off season? With his .143% average from the field and .167% from three, he has yet to prove he can score from anywhere on the court. What can he do? He's definitely not a defensive specialist.
You're right about Augustine. He's not the same player as he was last year. Neither is Nick Collison. He has looked lost so far. Maybe it's because he feels that way sitting at the end of Donovan's bench.
The frustrating part to a casual observer like me is that this Thunder team is as talented as any team in the NBA. Problem is, they don't play like a
team. There are way too many turnovers and lost opportunities to score. The defense has looked good in the last two games...that is, until crunch time when it should be better but actually gets worse. A banged up Rose made Westbrook look bad in the final minutes. No one had an answer for Butler.
If Billy D doesn't fix some of the problems ailing this team, this is sure to be a long season for Thunder fans.
