Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook, coming back late in the third quarter, snatches the ball and turns on the breaks for an easy dunk, tying the game up.
But that happened after Westbrook himself missed a gimme layup that left every OKC fan inside the arena in shock.
Russell Westbrook with the heads up steal and slam!#ThunderUp 92#LakeShow 88
WATCH on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/gRlCqfqHKZ
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2019
Westbrook has been the central part of the Thunder. Not just because he's a triple-double machine, but he has finally figured out how to play engaged defense consistently. Sure, he's always been a great one-on-one defender. But his awareness off-ball was not present all the time. But this season, it's a different story. He's putting the effort in and it has showed positive results.
Russell Westbrook has struggled with his shot, though. He's having the worst shooting percentages of his career and yet is the most impactful he's ever been. He's finally seemed how to figure out to playing within Billy Donovan's system, to not only be a central part of it but to make others around him better. Paul George is having an MVP-like season next to him and Westbrook is helped him grow into his full potential as well.
The Thunder have one of the best overall defenses in the NBA. Each player in their starting lineup is a top defender in the league. Steven Adams has molded into a fierce rim protector and glass cleaner. The team has meshed to the point where it might have peaked. Jerami Grant has even found a niche as their starting power forward and is versatile as a defender.
Hopefully, they'll continue to ride this season's success, one Russell Westbrook fastbreak dunk to the other. They're run-and-gun, but with one of the best defenses in the league. That's gonna be tough to beat in a playoff series.
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