“Vital” was the word Kevin Durant repeated on Sunday night after the Thunder’s emphatic victory over the Phoenix Suns. He wasn’t talking about his shooting, the aggressiveness of Russell Westbrook or the Thunder’s tenacious defense. Instead, he was referencing the Thunder’s struggles at the end of the first quarter, and then the way it bounced back.
The Thunder’s lineup of DJ Augustin, Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, Mitch McGary and Enes Kanter didn’t find a rhythm in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, allowing a 15-point lead built by the starters to slip away. Instead of quickly subbing in other reserves or bringing starters back onto the floor to stop the bleeding, Donovan let his guys play through it. Eventually, that group turned things around in the second quarter, and then provided the requisite punches needed late in the third and fourth periods to ensure a Thunder victory.
“I have confidence in those guys,” Donovan explained. “Sometimes it’s hard when you’re yanked in and out of a game. I was giving them an opportunity to bounce back.”
“You have to let them go through some adversity and let them work through it,” Durant said. “That’s what great coaches do. He let them fight through it. It’s easier if you just put your starters back in to try to get the lead back, but that doesn’t help them. He stuck with them and it proved to be right for us. They came out and did a tremendous job for us late in the second quarter and the rest of the game.”
With dynamic stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, who are producing a combined 68.5 points, 22.3 rebounds, 15.1 assists, four steals and 4.14 blocks per game, the Thunder has the firepower to resolve problems. Looking at the 82-game season as a whole and a potential playoff run, however, makes it clear that having a fully developed squad of 15 players who can contribute is essential.
“When you’re talking about something that can be sustained over a long period of time, it can’t be Russell and Kevin to the rescue,” Donovan said. “It’s important that our entire team takes ownership in our roles, responsibilities and things that we need to do.”
So far this season, 12 different Thunder players have played at least 11 minutes in a game, with reserve players mixed and matched into the rotation. While playing more than 10 men in a given game is often difficult when trying to get players into a groove, Donovan has acknowledged that his rotations are far from set in stone.
In fact, the Thunder’s general on the sideline said on Monday that fans should expect changes in playing time for players throughout the year, due to matchups, performance, strategy, injuries, rest and the need for every player on the team to feel confident in their role.
“They’re all going to be important at some point,” Donovan explained. “Nick Collison and Anthony Morrow are consummate pros and they’ve been in a lot of games and have a wealth of experience. For someone like Kyle who came in in a trade last year, we’re trying to help him comfortable and Mitch is coming off a concussion and we’re trying to help him get comfortable, it really has to be a team effort on our bench.”
