If Russell Westbrook isn't great tonight, Thunder may be doomed

[TulsaWorld]

A two-games-to-one series deficit has been common for Oklahoma City Thunder playoff teams.

Since the start of the 2010 postseason, the Thunder has been involved in 18 series. In 11 of those series, there was a two-games-to-one deficit.

With Saturday’s Game 3 loss to Utah – 115-102 at Salt Lake City – the Thunder was dealt a 2-1 deficit in an NBA Western Conference first-round series. It is impossible to overstate the significance of Game 4, scheduled for 9:30 Monday night at Utah’s Vivant Smart Home Arena.

If OKC is beaten in Game 4, there would be a 3-1 deficit. Getting three consecutive wins over Utah would be extremely difficult, given that the Jazz hasn’t endured a three-game losing streak since early January.

It also is impossible to overstate the Thunder’s need for Russell Westbrook to be Russell Westbrook in Game 4.

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[TulsaWorld]

Also a tidbit from Guerin's column:

Russell Westbrook vowing to put an end to Ricky Rubio’s stellar play three games into the Western Conference first round.

“I’m gonna shut that (crap) off next game,” Westbrook spat out after the Thunder’s 115-102 loss at Utah Saturday night in Game 3. “Guarantee that.”

You know something, he probably will. Westbrook will snarl through Game 4, lock up Rubio and lead Oklahoma City to a 2-2 series tie. There is no excuse for him not to.

He is better than Rubio. He is better than pretty much everyone he plays against. When someone of Westbrook’s caliber puts his mind to doing something, there really isn’t much to prevent it from happening.

But man alive, what is it he was waiting for?

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