Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 Areas For Improvement From Game 1

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Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Weaponize The Backcourt

When your top two offensive options go 7-for-35, you’re not going to win many games. That’s what Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo were from the field against the Rockets in Game 1. It has to be the worst night the duo can have if the Thunder hope to prevail in this series.

The night was so bad even a career night from Andre Roberson with 18 points and 4-for-6 from the 3-point line barely made a dent in the loss.

Wherever Westbrook went, Patrick Beverley followed — even mimicked at certain points.

Beverley forced Westbrook into a 6-for-23 evening from the field with nine turnovers. Make no mistake that everywhere Westbrook turned, there was a Rocket to meet him, with Beverley not far behind.

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Oladipo was unable to relieve any of the pressure on Westbrook, going 1-for-12 from the field with Harden guarding him most of the evening. Oladipo’s first playoff game was a gigantic flop as a second option.

He was invisible most of the night and when he did shoot, he didn’t do it confidently. Oklahoma City will need Oladipo to play well if they hope to move ahead.

Westbrook needs to make a concerted effort to get Oladipo involved early and often and get him feeling comfortable. Oladipo has proved to need to be in the flow of the offense to feel comfortable, as is with the case with most perimeter players.

He never looked completely into the game, particularly on the offensive end. That’s concerning and needs to change going forward.