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OKC Thunder need star play from Westbrook and George to close out season

By Albert Dadson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand for the National Anthem before the game against the LA Clippers on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand for the National Anthem before the game against the LA Clippers on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The OKC Thunder are currently in the fourth place in the Western Conference. To move up or even maintain their play, they will need Russell Westbrook and Paul George to play well for the rest of the season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder won their recent game against the Utah Jazz on Monday in a much-needed win. After all, the OKC Thunder as they have dropped six of their last 10 contests.

The Thunder have lost the third seed to the surging Houston Rockets. They are currently fourth in the West and have the same record as the Portland Trail Trail Blazers at 41-26.

OKC has the toughest remaining schedule. They have to face teams like the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in the coming weeks.

They face the Warriors on Saturday. The Thunder have beaten the Dubs once already this season, and Golden State is looking weak recently after losing to the Phoenix Suns, who are the worst team in the West.

With the way OKC has played this year, it should be in all of its remaining games. The Thunder need their best players to block out the distractions and play well to close the season.

Russell Westbrook made headlines when he got into a shouting match with a Jazz fan and his wife.

As difficult as it might be considering what the fan said, the Thunder need Westbrook to block out that kind of negativity and focus on the remaining schedule. They don’t want to fall to the fifth spot, since that result in losing home-court advantage in the first round.

Russ is known for his drive and relentless play on the court. That will have to be channeled into his game more than ever over these next weeks, given how the schedule is about to ramp up.

Paul George was in the headlines saying the Thunder are officiated poorly after a game where Westbrook and George fouled out against the Los Angeles Clippers. This is not the first time George has brought this up. Last year he said the same thing, via ESPN:

“It’s bad officiating…somebody has to look into this. It’s getting out of hand.”

For now though, George will have to focus on sliding his feet and not trying and reach for the ball. That’s a difficult ask because George is leading the league in total steals (142) and steals per game (2.3), but they will need to be on alert with playoff basketball on the horizon.

PG is one of the best defenders in the league, so he should be able to adjust to how the refs are calling the game, but the distractions can’t come at a time like this.

The Thunder are getting good play from their role players, as Jerami Grant has been able to string together some standout games and Terrance Ferguson has been able to knock down his 3-point looks this year.

Dennis Schroder has been great off the bench and has given the Thunder the sixth man they needed last year, while Abdel Nader has been a bright spot at the wing position.

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This could be OKC’s season where they can do damage in the playoffs. They do not want to be kicked out in the first round this year again. It would be a shame to see their chance of making some noise in the postseason ruined by off-court distractions.

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