San Antonio Spurs: 5 Keys To Beating The Thunder
4. Put Green On Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is the NBA’s most dangerous triple-double threat since Magic Johnson. Tony Parker was once capable of checking more athletic point guards, but he’s no longer that guy. With Andre Roberson being a complete non-factor on the offensive end, there’s really no reason for Danny Green to guard anyone other than Westbrook.
At age 33, Parker’s spin cycle is still as unstoppable as anyone’s in the NBA. To his credit, he also put up some good fights against Stephen Curry in a few regular season matchups this year. But in a seven-game series against a workhorse like Westbrook who never stops coming, the Spurs would be far better off hiding Parker on Roberson and tasking Green with trying to contain OKC’s star point guard.
Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists last night. Joined LeBron and MJ as only guys to do that in playoff game since 1993.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 26, 2016
Green is not going to stop Westbrook, but if it weren’t for Kawhi Leonard, we’d be appreciating just how impressive his perimeter defense has been over the last few seasons. Green’s three-point struggles have been well documented this season, but the Spurs don’t need him to be a high usage sniper to win this series; they just need him to bother Westbrook as much as humanly possible.
Westbrook averaged 27.0 points and 8.3 assists per game on 47 percent shooting in three meeting with the Spurs this season. He’s sliced and diced this team in the past and he’s coming off a series in which he shot an efficient 37.9 percent from three-point range. If Green can slow him down and prevent him from leaving an imprint on this series, the Spurs should win in a landslide. That’s a tall task, but it’s far better suited for Green than TP.
Next: No. 3