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Five reasons the Thunder’s small lineup is so effective
- Updated: May 26, 2016
3:20 PM ET
Much has been made of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s five-man lineup of Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Dion Waiters, Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka against the Golden State Warriors, and for good reason. That unit is plus-49 in 30 minutes this series, and no other Thunder five-man lineup is better than plus-5.
But why has this lineup been so effective? Really it’s a team effort.
Westbrook and Durant are running wild
Combinations
Thunder lineups in the Western Conference finals
SmallLineupAllOthersMinutes30162+/-plus-49minus-18FG pct.58.342.9Opp FG pct.32%47%
Durant has been 7-of-10 for 22 points with this lineup. He also has 12 defensive rebounds, five blocks and two steals in those 30 minutes.
Westbrook has been more like himself in this lineup. He has scored 33 points on 47.8 percent shooting (11 of 23) with this lineup. He’s shooting 39.7 percent in any other lineup combination.
Durant and Westbrook have combined to score 22 transition points in those …
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