Adams’s unsung play sparks Durant in Thunder’s win over Spurs

Kevin Durant scored 41 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 to tie their series at two.

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Steven Adams had work to do on Sunday. The San Antonio Spurs had made a habit of, and built a scheme around, paying little attention to the whereabouts of the Thunder center over the course of this second-round series. Whichever defender was technically assigned to Adams was instead occupying driving lanes that would have been valuable to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. No matter how Oklahoma City seemed to position its players, the lane appeared to fill with defenders.

“They were obviously trying to shut down KD, or overload on him as they do,” Adams said.

The paint only cleared when Adams began to speed up his segue from pick to roll. Some screens he slipped outright, diving toward the rim without ever really making contact with a defender. In other cases he quickly spun his way into open space, surprising the back line of the Spurs’ defense that may have otherwise rotated into his path. By shorting the pick-and-roll process by even that single beat, the Thunder stretched the window in which Adams found himself open and honed in on ways to exploit it.

• MORE NBA:Spurs’ center trio complementing Leonard and Aldridge

Oklahoma City came out of timeouts with lobs set up for Adams and started quarters with designed rolls to get him the ball in their 111–97 series-tying Game 4 victory. The Thunder creators, and Westbrook in particular, were privy to notice the overcommitting defense they would encounter and sought Adams out quickly. Game planning was bolstered by situational awareness. So long as the Spurs committed so much attention to Durant and Westbrook as they came around every screen, Adams could be found for quick dunks at the defense’s expense. Westbrook was resolved to find his open teammate after glossing over the same opportunity time after time in Game 3.

“[Adams] had one shot last game,” Westbrook said. “And that was on me.”

He finished with eight shots from the field (and six free-throw attempts) in the Game 4 win, all while creating enough leverage to force the Spurs into defensive adjustment. Adams didn’t just wreak havoc on pick-and-rolls, after all; when setting off-ball screens for Durant, Adams poked at the same structural vulnerability from a different angle. San Antonio eventually resorted to switching on those picks as a direct response to the shots that Adams had created.

That David West ended up guarding Durant on so many possessions down the stretch was not some random glitch. Adams would set a down screen (one facing the baseline) for Durant and trigger a switch in the process. Then the Thunder would clear out to allow one of the game’s most potent isolation scorers to cook against a shorter, slower player out of his element and eight years his senior.

“That’s what the difference was,” Adams said. “[Before], my man just leaves me and I’m just wide open. They just double Kevin or Russ. All [the change] does is keep them honest so my guy doesn’t actually go. They ended up switching that down pick on Kev, so we just went from there. That’s our advantage.”

• MORE NBA:Thunder’s rotations being tested against versatile Spurs

Rare Photos of Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

Michael Dann

As a high schooler, Durant possessed the skills to be a superstar. He earned the 2006 All-Met Player of the Year Award at Montrose Christian after a season at Oak Hill, and was rewarded with a scholarship to the University of Texas.

Chase Budinger and Kevin Durant

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Durant shined during the 2006 McDonald's All-American Game, tallying 25 points while splitting MVP honors with Chase Budinger. Here, he takes his triumphant photo with fellow stars John Wooden, Budinger and, of course, Ronald McDonald.

Texas Longhorns

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Durant leads an emboldened Texas squad into the finals of the Big 12 Championship against Kansas in 2007. While Durant dazzled -- he racked up 32 points and nine rebounds -- his Longhorns fell short 90-86.

Kevin Durant and Candace Parker

AP

Durant poses with Tennessee's Candace Parker after the two were named winners of the 2007 John Wooden Award presented to the most outstanding players in college basketball. During his breakout freshman season, Durant averaged 25.5 points and 11.1 rebounds while leading the Longhorns to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Kevin Durant, Michael Conley, Jr., Greg Oden and Joakim Noah

Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Durant stands among his fellow prospects before the NBA Draft on June 28, 2007. While all were selected in the first round, it's hard to dispute that anyone's had a bigger impact than the former Texas small forward. He finished second in MVP voting in 2009-10.

Kevin Durant and fans

AP

Durant smiles for the camera with some of his littlest admirers during the NBA's Media Day in 2007. The photo was part of the Sonics' campaign to encourage children to read.

Kevin Durant

John W. McDonough/SI

Durant slips on his jersey before a matchup with the Nuggets in the Pepsi Center in 2007. Much like with LeBron in his rookie season, opposing crowds relished the opportunity to watch the youngster play.

Kevin Durant and Family

AP

Durant proved he was worthy of the second overall pick during his prodigious 2007 campaign, shooting over 43 percent from the field though Seattle stumbled to a 20-62 record. Here, his entourage (from left to right: grandmother Barbara Davis, friend Cliff Dixon, mother Wanda Pratt, father Wayne) helps him accept the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award.

Kevin Durant

AP

Durant endears himself to the Seattle fans after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Sept. 29, 2007. He immediately became a fan-favorite following his selection in the NBA Draft and posted 20.3 points per game in his rookie season with the Sonics.

Kevin Durant

AP

Decked from head to toe in light sensor technology, Durant handles the basketball while EA Sports captures his moves in its Burnaby, British Columbia studio. Durant is compiling quite the video game resume. After serving as the cover athlete for NCAA March Madness '08 , he was placed on the front of NBA Elite 11 . Both are EA Sports titles.

Kevin Durant

AP

Embracing their new hometown hero, Oklahoma City Thunder fans greet Durant following an open practice. Formerly the SuperSonics, the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.

Team USA

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Durant eyes the hoop in a Team USA basketball tuneup on July 23, 2008 in Las Vegas. While he didn't make that year's Olympic roster, he'd pioneer the so-called "B-Team" to a FIBA World Championship just two years later.

Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Yi Jianlian

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Equally helpful on and off the court, Durant volunteers during the Day of Service during the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2008. He was joined by teammate Jeff Green and Bucks' big man Yi Jianlian.

Kevin Durant's Trophy Case

Simon Bruty/SI

A legend during his basketball adolescence as well, Durant is honored in this trophy case at Seat Pleasant Activity Center, where he developed as a youth. Team photos, an autographed shoe and a spattering of articles are among the memorabilia honoring the Maryland native.

Kevin Durant and Jeff Green

AP

Ever the handyman, Durant fixes a chandelier at an Oklahoma City resident's home in April 2009. At 6-foot-9, Durant didn't need a ladder, something that clearly was amusing to teammate Jeff Green (back).

Kevin Durant and Lebron James

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Two of the new generation of superstars in the NBA, Durant and LeBron James take a picture at the 4th Annual Two Kings Dinner on Feb. 13, 2010. While LeBron generated more hype, it was Durant who led the league in scoring, averaging 30.1 points over an 82-game season.

Kevin Durant and Presidential Guard

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Durant engages in a staring contest with a presidential guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Athens. The guard was able to maintain focus as Durant towered over him, but the Grecian National Team wasn't as lucky. He netted 15 points en route to a 87-59 victory.

Kevin Durant's Sneaker

AP

Durant's sneakers during the World Basketball Championship served as a reminder of his motivations, as he honored many of his deceased friends by writing their names across his shoe tops. He also included a reference to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by inscribing the date prominently over his left toes.

Team USA

AP

Durant leads the United States team in acknowledging the crowd after a 89-74 win over Lithuania in the World Basketball Championship semifinals. Durant would follow up a 38-point performance in this game with a 28-point outing in a victory against Turkey in the gold-medal game.

Kevin Durant

John W. McDonough/SI

Durant celebrates after clinching a victory over Memphis in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Kevin Durant

Greg Nelson/SI

Durant skies for a breakaway dunk during a Feb. 2012 game between the Thunder and Mavs.

Kevin Durant and Wanda Pratt

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Durant hugs his mother Wanda Pratt following Oklahoma City's victory over the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Kevin Durant and Lil' Wayne

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

All-Star MVP Kevin Durant celebrates with hip-hop artist Lil' Wayne during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando.

Kevin Durant

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Durant stands with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following the Thunder's victory over the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

When Durant let loose the barrage of shots that ensured the Thunder’s Game 4 win, he stood on the legwork that Adams had established throughout. This wasn’t hero ball. It was a beautiful solo with a fully articulated prelude—structurally sound and melodically complete. Durant knew the collective effort it had taken to produce that kind of opportunity.

“My teammates did a great job of sticking with me, finding me, and giving me easy baskets and screening for me and sacrificing their bodies for me,” Durant said. “I’m definitely grateful for it. So after they do all that, it’s on me to finish a shot and just stick to the fundamentals that I have been practicing since I was a kid.”

Durant finished nearly everything in the fourth, dropping 17 points in that frame to bring his total to 41 overall. He towered over every defender the Spurs threw at him and flicked his wrist above their desperate contests. There wasn’t much more to be done. One of the best shooters in the world was in fine form and his team had done everything necessary to ensure quality looks.

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“We created a lot of open shots for each other,” Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said. “That’s what you want to be able to do.” Donovan was speaking to the way that Durant and Westbrook trusted in players like Adams, but could just as well have been praising the way Adams came full circle to facilitate for Durant. His screens, and the shots that became of them, changed the game for the Thunder. So, too, did the extra possessions Adams created out of thin air. 

Over the course of just two minutes in the fourth quarter, for example, Adams helped to create three extra scoring opportunities. First he fought through West and Kawhi Leonard to pull down a rebound off a Durant free throw. Durant went on to hit a three-pointer after the kick-out from Adams. Two possessions later, Adams occupied West and Boris Diaw once the ball went up, allowing Enes Kanter to gain favorable position and a put-back layup. The next trip down the floor, Adams drew a loose ball foul from a crowd of three Spurs on a wild Westbrook miss. 

To generate new possessions and make the most of them represents a profound influence, and that’s before accounting for the versatile defense that helped to keep the Spurs at bay. Adams was magnificent. His play registered in a way that fueled the Thunder’s home crowd, filled the box score and even populated highlights. Watch any big, signature play of Oklahoma City’s win and you’re likely to find Adams off to the side and nearly out of frame, having set the screen or triggered the roll that made it all possible.