OKC Thunder: How to avoid being eliminated from 2018 NBA Playoffs

From here on out, if the OKC Thunder lose they will be eliminated from the 2018 NBA Playoffs. It will take extreme attention to detail and superhuman efforts to be able to come back and win this series.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were not able to tie their first round series against the Utah Jazz on Monday, as they lost 113-96 in Game 4. The Jazz look poised to end the series in Game 5 in OKC.

The OKC Thunder have been in dogfights all series long and they have been struggling to maintain their composure while being physical with the Jazz.

Oklahoma City has not been able to get scoring from the Big 3 and has  not been able to stop star rookie Donovan Mitchell. However, there are still ways to get out of this series with a win. It is improbable, but there is a way.

1. Paul George going into playoff mode

Paul George is a player that can heat up in a hurry. What is the most special about him is the fact that he can be a force on offense and defense. If Paul George can put forth a superstar effort for three games, then the Thunder could still win the series.

Look no further than the 2017 NBA Playoffs when Paul George was with the Indiana Pacers. In Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, George was able to make a deep 3-pointer that helped the Pacers get to within one point.

They did not win the game, but George finished with 29 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

If the Thunder are looking for anybody to take over, then Paul George might be the guy. PG-13 will just have to find a way to win the small battle he has with Joe Ingles. Game 5 will be the biggest game of the year and George has proven when the stage is big that he can deliver.

He has been able to come up big this season, but we can take a look at the past when he played in even bigger games like Game 1 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals.

In that series, George was able to trade shots with LeBron James. George made several floaters and 3s to help send the game into overtime, including a deep, off-balance 3 to help tie the game and send it into overtime.

George was also able to make three clutch 3-pointers to help give the Pacers a one-point lead until LeBron eventually made the game-winning layup. He finished with 27 points.

Paul George could be the offense that the Thunder were desperately looking for.

2. Russell Westbrook playing like an MVP again

While Russell Westbrook has been a triple-double threat last year, this year and in these playoffs, but he has not been able to play well this series. In the three games that the Thunder lost Westbrook was a -14 in Game 4, a -25 in Game 3 and a -5 in Game 2.

In Game 2 he had three turnovers, Game 3 he had eight turnovers and Game 4 he had five turnovers.

More from NBA Playoffs

• Caesars NBA Bonus: Get Ahead of Next Season’s Hype with $1,250 Promo
• How Tyler Herro could impact the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals
• BetMGM NBA Finals Bonus: Take Your Shot at a BIG Win for Game 5! ($1,000 Bonus!) 
• Best NBA Finals Sportsbook Promo Codes: Get $4,000+ in Bonuses in FIVE Minutes! 
• DraftKings and Bet365 GUARANTEE a $400 Bonus on $6 Wager With NBA Finals Game 4 Promo 

Westbrook will have to take better shots and limit the turnovers for the Thunder to get out of this hole. As the floor general, it’s Westbrook’s duty to get the team in the right positions.

Westbrook has been an MVP-caliber player these past two seasons, but that has only resulted in two playoff wins between last year and this year.

Russ has proven that he can win in the playoffs. In the Westbrook era, the Thunder have been the No. 1 seed five times, they have made the Western Conference Finals four times and they’ve been to the NBA Finals once.

Westbrook has played in the Finals, which nobody else on the Thunder except for longtime teammate Nick Collison and Corey Brewer can say. If anybody can lead this team and get them out of this 3-1 hole, then he will be able to do it.

3. Stopping Donovan Mitchell

At this point, a double-team may have to be considered for Mitchell. He has gotten better through the course of each game and as a rookie, he has been the Jazz’s best player on offense all season. Double-teaming Mitchell and completely taking him out of the game will be what the Thunder will have to do.

What Mitchell likes to do that negates the double-team is he makes quick decisions. When he is going to the hole he doesn’t make any extra moves, he goes straight to the hole. When he wants to shoot, he won’t think about it. He will shoot.

When he is driving, the Thunder will have to play help defense. Steven Adams flashing into the lane and other players stopping his penetration will make Mitchell have to pass and will slow down the flow of their offense.

For the quick 3s, the Thunder have to get into Mitchell’s face. They can’t let him dribble up the 3-point line and let him shoot.

The key to stopping Mitchell: Do not let him get a full head of steam.

Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft

Joe Ingles and Ricky Rubio have proved that they can be good supporting players, but the Thunder have to negate Mitchell or else they could be going home again after five first round games for the second consecutive year.