Not Dead Yet: Can the Thunder’s game 5 adjustments also win them game 6?

You know the story already (if you don’t, read Chris’ post-game Views). The Oklahoma City Thunder were dead midway through the third quarter of Game 5. They were still technically breathing, but they trailed by 25 points in an elimination game. A fair number of people had pronounced them dead before the game even started — Wednesday on NBA twitter was spent tearing down Russell Westbrook — and you couldn’t really blame anyone for that. The Thunder has been soundly outplayed the entire series except for their sole win in game 1. Paul George had been quiet except for game 1. Carmelo Anthony looked washed up. Steven Adams couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. Russell Westbrook had shot the ball horribly and was unwilling or unable to go to the rim against Rudy Gobert. No one could stop Donovan Mitchell.

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