All season long, the Oklahoma City Thunder have struggled whenever Russell Westbrook has gone to the bench. This trend has continued in the playoffs as well and was a key reason the Thunder lost, 113-109, in Game 4 on Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
The Thunder's lack of firepower off the bench is the main reason why Oklahoma City hasn't played well with Westbrook on the bench. But wanting to know the players' feelings about their struggles when Westbrook is resting, The Oklahoman‘s Berry Tramel poised the question to Thunder big man Steven Adams after the game. Adams though, never answered the question as Westbrook jumped in and vehemently defended his teammates and didn't want there to be a split between him and the rest of the team.
“Hold on Steven,” Westbrook interjected. “I don’t wan’t nobody to try to split us up, we all one team. Regardless if I go to the bench, if Steven is on the floor, if I’m off the floor, we in this together. Don’t split us up. Don’t try to split us up, make us go against each other.”
Westbrook then kept repeating “next question,” as Tramel tried in vain to get an answer from Adams. But Westbrook wasn't having it and so Adams didn't utter a single word during the whole exchange.
You can understand where Westbrook is coming from. He is a team-first type of guy and as the leader of the Thunder, he wants to ensure that there is no animosity in or around the team. Yet it's a bit strange that Westbrook wouldn't even let Adams answer the question, especially since Tramel wasn't being antagonistic in the least bit.
Maybe Westbrook's frustration with the Thunder being down 3-1 in the series factored into his passionate interruption. But even still, it was a fair question that, despite what Westbrook may think, was needed to be asked. And if the Thunder don't figure out how to play better when Westbrook is on the bench, their postseason could end in Game 5 on Tuesday.
Follow Us
Subscribe