Thunder Blow Out Bulls 92-78

The Oklahoma City Thunder are clearly led by superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They were on top of their games when they played the Bulls, and their play design made it easy for them to excel.

Both Durant and Westbrook are uniquely talented in that they showcase incredible mid-range/three-point range games without needing to receive a pass. OKC then runs simple pick and rolls at the top of the key to get them open mid-range shots.

The key to this play is spacing. In this example, let's assume Kevin Durant has the ball and is guarded by Luol Deng. Kendrick Perkins is setting the pick, guarded by Joakim Noah. Westbrook and Thabo Sephalosha, the two guards, vacate to either corner. Serge Ibaka, guarded by Carlos Boozer then plays near the baseline to free up as much mid-range space as possible for the shooter.

When Durant runs off the pick, Deng fights through it because he knows that Joakim Noah will go under it to prevent the drive. Noah then is unable to get in Durant's face, Deng is unable to fight through the screen, and Carlos Boozer is too worried about Ibaka under the basket to close out on Durant in time. This creates just enough space for Durant to pull up with the shot.

This play is successful not only because of the talents that both stars bring to the table, but also because of its versatility. If shot isn't there, then it becomes a routine pick and roll situation. Oklahoma City can also run it with either Westbrook or Durant (as well as with backup shooter James Harden to an extent), and can set the pick with any of their bigs.

Part of the reason this game was a blowout was because of this play's success. On the game, Durant and Westbrook went 21-34 and shot 62% from the floor.

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Congratulations to Serge Ibaka!

Well before this game was a blowout, the Bulls couldn't get anything going down low. Ibaka's presence down low forced the Bulls to take 24 three pointers, 9 more than their average. The league's leading shot blocker finished with 5 blocks, and was a force down low. Noah, Boozer, Gibson and Asik went a combined 9/26 and shot 35% from the floor. 

Serge Ibaka: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 50% shooting in 21 minutes of play