NBA: Westbrook after fourth bankruptcy: “No reason to panic”

The false start of the Oklahoma City Thunder is perfect: Russell Westbrook and Co. had to accept a defeat also in the fourth game, in the 95:101 against Boston Celtics OKC even lost a 16-point lead. The Point Guard is not worried about his team yet.

“We’re okay, everything’s going to be fine,” Westbrook said after the bitter defeat against the Eastern Conference’s top favourite. “It’s still early. I have a lot of faith in my boys. I have faith in myself and in my ability to ensure that we have a chance to win the game.”

OKC had this possibility also against the Celtics. In the second quarter the Thunder had already gained a 16-point lead, and even after the Celtics’ race to catch up, who won the third section with 40:23, the Thunder were well positioned in the final minutes to clinch the first success of the still young season.

But Westbrook shot one ticket after the other during this phase. While Dennis Schröder had to stew on the bench after a solid performance (10 points, 4/10 FG, 6 assists) in the Crunchtime, the 29-year-old wanted to seize the game.

But with uninspired pull-up jumpers from downtown (0/5 three in total) or from the middle distance he did not succeed. Westbrooks balance in the final section: 0 of 7 from the field and 3 Turnover.

“That’s on me,” said the point guard referring to the weak fourth quarter of Thunder. “I take full responsibility. We have to do a better job bringing the game home, it’s on me.”

Billy Donovan defended his protégé against it. “I don’t think that was a terrible throw,” said Thunder’s head coach about a hurried Westbrook triple a good 26 seconds before the end at 95:98 from OKC’s point of view. But the litter wasn’t good either.

“It’s my responsibility to get a good throw,” Westbrook stressed again. “It won’t happen again, we’ll move on to the next game.” This takes place for the Thunder in the night from Sunday to Monday.

Against the Phoenix Suns, the first, long-awaited victory might not be a thing of impossibility. At the same time, however, OKC is directly under great pressure. “There are 78 games left,” Paul George knows. “We’ll play one game at a time. Tomorrow, after watching the movie, we’ll leave this game behind and prepare for Phoenix.”

However, Donovan’s team must definitely not afford a defeat against the Suns. A 0-5 start with bankruptcies against the Kings and Suns, which were actually planned as compulsory victories, would not read well at all. However, the Thunder are not worried at the moment.

“There’s no need to panic,” Westbrook said. “Of course, we didn’t make the start we wanted, but we’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of that.”