Thunder weekly grades: Russell Westbrook blows up, Durant returns, and it's Mitch McGary time

The Thunder finished their week on a high note; which players stepped up the most?

By JuanToribio and Kevin Nesgoda Feb 9, 2015, 8:08am CST

The Thunder finished their week at 3-1, yet were oh so close to taking it 4-0. What happened, and which players got the job done?

Game 1: Thunder control faltering Magic, 107-94

Game 2: Russell Westbrook powers Thunder to shorthanded win over Pelicans, 102-91

Game 3: Anthony Davis happened, and Pelicans defeat Thunder 116-113

Game 4: Thunder destroy short-handed Clippers, 131-108

***

KEVIN DURANT	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	2	36.0	28.0	5.0	5.0	0.5	1.0	2.0	+8.0
JUAN		Kevin Durant is back in the lineup, and that's something everyone should celebrate. But after a little exchange with Chris Paul on Sunday, I'm starting to think KD doesn't like people with "CP" initials.
NESGODA		The Thunder definitely play better when Durant is in the lineup. KD appears to be getting a bit healthier (feet do worry me) and his shot was looking mighty good on Sunday.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	37.5	34.3	9.3	9.0	0.5	2.5	4.0	+10.5
JUAN		Russell Westbrook takes a lot of heat, but when the team needs him most, he's usually at his best. Who knows where the Thunder would be without Westbrook this season, and he was big again this week.
NESGODA		I am notoriously hard on the guy, but when you set two career highs in back to back games in scoring, I'll give you a little love.

SERGE IBAKA	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	36.0	13.0	5.8	0.8	3.8	0.8	0.5	+6.3
JUAN		It's incredible how lost Serge Ibaka looks out on the court most of the time. Can the real Serge PLEASE stand up?
NESGODA		I feel as if Ibaka is lost out there most nights. He used to be money in the paint, but he rarely goes in there on offense anymore, maybe it's because of Steven Adams, but when you have the potential to pull down 15-20 boards a night and block 10 shots, yet play 20+ feet from the basket on both ends... I should probably go lower on the grade.

ANDRE ROBERSON	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	20.0	3.0	4.3	0.8	0.0	1.3	0.0	+6.5
JUAN		Take it away, Nesgoda.
NESGODA		If the Thunder plugged Thabo Sefalosha back into the lineup would anyone notice?

STEVEN ADAMS	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	23.0	8.8	5.5	2.0	0.8	0.5	2.3	+4.3
JUAN		Steven Adams is that guy at the park that is constantly running and you hate to play against, but you would do anything to have him on your team. Come on, we all know that guy.
NESGODA		Adams isn't a great player by any means, but he is always hustling, getting under people's skin and brings a physicality to the game by a ~~white~~ light-skinned, Pasifikan brown center since the days of pasty Bill Lambeer.

REGGIE JACKSON	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	19.5	6.3	3.3	3.0	0.0	0.5	0.3	+3.5
JUAN		Reggie Jackson needs to stop worrying about the offseason and pay more attention to his performances, because without good ones, his offseason is going to be very, very cheap.
NESGODA		He wants a contract, he wants to start and he keeps forcing the issue. He had a solid game against the Clippers, but the other three games has been par of the course with Jackson this year. He's costing himself some cash.

DION WAITERS	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	28.8	13.5	3.5	1.5	0.3	1.0	2.0	+5.5
JUAN		Dion Waiters got the start when Kevin Durant was out, and I think he's starting to find his groove with this team. Waiters is going to be a key piece in the second half of the season, especially if Reggie Jackson can't get it going.
NESGODA		He's still trying to find his groove in OKC, he's a better defender than most think though. Not lockdown, but better.

KENDRICK PERKINS	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	3	20.3	4.7	4.3	1.7	1.0	0.0	2.0	-1.3
JUAN		I'm all for being a tough guy, and cheering your teammates from the bench, but getting suspended is not my cup of tea.
NESGODA		Suspended for a game for head butting Tyreke Evans this past week, other than that, he didn't do much.

NICK COLLISON	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	4	10.5	1.5	3.0	0.5	0.5	0.3	0.3	+4.3
JUAN		I can't wait to see what coach Nick Collison will get to do once his new contract expires. I can't be the only one, right?
NESGODA		I love Nick, his best playing days are well behind him now, he got a sweet new deal that will let him wrap up his career in OKC and then I assume move to the bench.

PERRY JONES III	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	2	4.5	1.0	1.0	0.5	0.0	0.5	0.3	-4.5
JUAN		Perry Jones wakes up every game day knowing that he has front row seats to an NBA game, and he'll occasionally get to play. That's a nice life.
NESGODA		I forgot he was on the team and healthy until he fouled DeAndre Jordan after Adams broke his hand in the second quarter.

ANTHONY MORROW	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	3	25.3	4.7	4.3	1.7	1.0	0.0	2.0	-1.3
JUAN		Anthony Morrow is struggling from the floor recently, but as a guy that used to only shoot in high school, you just have to let him shoot himself back into rhythm. Hopefully he doesn't shoot himself out of the rotation, though.
NESGODA		Here's another guy that I feel has regressed in the Thunder system a bit. He's not contributing like most thought he would this season. Well, you could actually say that for most of the team.

JEREMY LAMB	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	1	9,0	6.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	-9.0
JUAN		I honestly have no idea what to write about Jeremy Lamb.
NESGODA		How many times do you think Presti has been turned down for a trade because he insisted that Lamb be part of it?

ISH SMITH	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	2	4.5	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.5	0.0	-3.5
JUAN		Smith never gets to play. That's that Ish he doesn't like.
NESGODA		He's a better third point guard than Derek Fisher was for the last three years.

MITCH MCGARY	Games Played	MIN	PPG	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-

(Average Stats)	2	12.0	9.5	5.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	1.0	+8.0
JUAN		Mitch McGary wasn't only cheering his ass off on the Thunder bench on Sunday, he was actually carving up and balling all over the Clippers, too. If McGary can get some rhythm and continue to play like this, the Thunder have to feel good about a second half surge.
NESGODA		IF McGary plays like this every night he'll be taking Perkins and Collison's minutes. Fun stat: If McGary played like this on a PER48 basis, he's average 38 points, 20 rebounds on 89% field goal shooting. Let the legend ride!

TEAM GRADE	Record	OffRtg	DefRtg	AstRatio	REB%	TS%	PACE	+/-

(Advanced Stats)	[3-1]	115.9	103.7	17.3	52.1%	58.9%	98.2	+9.5
JUAN		The Thunder were one Anthony Davis godlike three away from possibly ending the week 4-0, but 3-1 is a pretty good week considering you didn't have Kevin Durant at the start of it. The Thunder ended up splitting the games against the Pelicans, but routed the Magic and the Clippers. That's a pretty good week, and the Thunder are in good position heading into the last week before the all-star game.
NESGODA		The Thunder could have been 4-0 this week and 1.5 games behind Phoenix for the eighth seed, but they dropped that heartbreaker to the Pelicans on Friday night.


SCOTT BROOKS	Coaching Grade
JUAN		Coaching grade usually reflects the team's performance, and it's hard to argue with a week like this. Scott Brooks inserted Dion Waiters into the starting lineup in the absence of Durant, and that worked nicely. He also gave Mitch McGary some nice burn on Sunday and that worked out well, too. As long as the Thunder are winning, the coaching grade will always be good. As soon as they starting losing, then..yeah.
NESGODA		Perhaps the best way to say, "good job, Brooks!" is by not noticing him. The moves he made in the line-ups were all natural and obvious, as was his reliance on the Thunder bench in the 2nd half against the Clippers. What really impressed me though was his coaching at the end of the ill-fated Pelicans game, where the Thunder were trailing by 7 points with 2 minutes remaining. Unlike past games, this time OKC didn't panic and continued to play good offense which allowed them to tie it up with a second remaining.

SCOTT BROOKS

Coaching Grade

JUAN

Coaching grade usually reflects the team's performance, and it's hard to argue with a week like this. Scott Brooks inserted Dion Waiters into the starting lineup in the absence of Durant, and that worked nicely. He also gave Mitch McGary some nice burn on Sunday and that worked out well, too. As long as the Thunder are winning, the coaching grade will always be good. As soon as they starting losing, then..yeah.

NESGODA

Perhaps the best way to say, "good job, Brooks!" is by not noticing him. The moves he made in the line-ups were all natural and obvious, as was his reliance on the Thunder bench in the 2nd half against the Clippers. What really impressed me though was his coaching at the end of the ill-fated Pelicans game, where the Thunder were trailing by 7 points with 2 minutes remaining. Unlike past games, this time OKC didn't panic and continued to play good offense which allowed them to tie it up with a second remaining.

*All player images via www.usatodaysportsimages.com

Thunder weekly grades: Russell Westbrook blows up, Durant returns, and it's Mitch McGary time

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