Oklahoma City Thunder Rumors
Westbrook was clearly overmatched in the series and often played into the Trail Blazers’ game plan by attempting so many jumpers. Lillard, who is perhaps the best point guard in the league not named Stephen Curry, said he wanted to dominate his position, but he never wanted to go outside of the team’s scheme to outplay Westbrook. “I took it personal from the jump, but not in the sense of a one-on-one battle with Russ,” he told Yahoo Sports. “Throughout the series, I never bought into the discussion of what people on the outside were saying about our so-called beef. It was never personal with me. I wasn’t going to come down and try to match him shot for shot. I was trying to win. And it’s not hard because it’s OK to embrace the battle. But I wasn’t emotional about it. It’s cool because I know the game is still going to be the game regardless of what he’s saying or doing. My team needs me to keep my cool and lead the right way. Nothing was going to get in the way of that.”
17hr
Ben Golliver: Paul George on exiting in first round for second straight year with Thunder: “Very disappointing. Simple as that. Very disappointing. We let this one slip away. It is what it is.” pic.twitter.com/2NKHgiuSrp
Jordan Schultz: #Thunder move to 4-12 in the playoffs since Kevin Durant left, with Russ shooting 38 percent. Offense remains the same iteration: No side-to-side movement, bail-out hero ball, no shooting. Paul George was awesome in this series — didn’t get enough touches.
Royce Young: Paul George on his shoulder said he’ll “address it this summer and come back next season healthy.” Wouldn’t say if surgery was in the plans or not.
“The series was over. That was it,” Lillard said. “After Game 3, (Thunder guard) Dennis Schroder was out there pointing to his wrist. They was out there doing all these celebrations and doing all this stuff. After one win. We was like, ‘Okay what we want to do is win four games. When we win those four games, there’s not going to be nothing to talk about.”
