The 12-2 Thunder versus the 1-12 Wizards. Last night, this matchup was billed to be the best team in the league steam-rolling over the worst. However, something strange happened along the way and the Wizards claimed a 105-102 victory.

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had a great box score, one of the best among every player that participated in the 11 games being played Wednesday night. He finished with 36 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and only 3 turnovers. But there was something else there with Westbrook, something that didn’t quite fit right within the flow of the team. It was certainly a game that gave away different signs than a simple box score or highlight reel could provide.

The Thunder had it rolling early in the first quarter, playing like their NBA-best record. Westbrook scored 4 points, had 3 assists, and committed 0 turnovers in a four minute stretch that saw the Thunder take a 14-5 lead before the Wizards knew what hit them. As you’ll can see in the following video, Westbrook had his hands all over each scoring opportunity. Whether it was using his speed, his vision or his attacking mentality, Westbrook had it all working early in the contest.

When the second period rolled around, things changed as Washington clawed back in the game with their second unit. The absence of Eric Maynor proved to be a factor as OKC stalled as the second unit seemed to lack leadership on the floor. In a game where a team is struggling and lacking flow, it’s important for the head coach to settle his team down in some form or fashion. Some coaches do this by calling sets that hopefully produce a few good looks at the basket. For the Thunder, that usually means trying to get Kevin Durant involved. Here is what was drawn up for Mr. Durant:

Two. Just two shots for Durant in a quarter that saw the Wizards climb back into the game, giving them confidence when it the Thunder had a chance to put them out of their misery. In same time frame of the second quarter, Westbrook took six. Now Westbrook was playing well but certainly forcing the issue on his own offensive game, proving that free-flowing, on-court decision-making may not be OKC’s strongsuit. In order for the team to grow, Westbrook most consistently be able to understand the flow of the game and get it back on track, similar to what he did so well in the first quarter.

Here is a quick look at a great play ran in the first quarter that the Thunder could have used in the second half, a half that saw them fall apart. In this play, Westbrook sets a down screen to free Durant. Westbrook stays in the post, an area on the floor where he is in the top two-thirds of players with at least 20 possessions. While Westbrook has the ball, a back screen is set on Durant’s defender by Nick Collison. Durant can either cut to the basket if there is no help to slow him down or as he chooses here, he fades on the screen, leaving him wide open for an easy three. Here is the play in real-time:

This type of play has been good for the Thunder this year, having the ability for Westbrook to stay in the post opens up spot-up opportunities or cuts to the basket. According to Synergy, the Thunder are currently fourth in the NBA in all cuts to the basket. The freedom to move without the ball makes the offense come easier as Westbrook is able to see the floor from a different vantage point.

The second half was similar to what we saw in the second quarter, more forced offense by Westbrook. This lead to Durant trying to save the team once again with a last second shot. With Serge Ibaka inbounding, Kendrick Perkins tries to set a screen to allow Durant to catch it clean for an open look at a three. The defense does a great job of forcing Durant under, making him curl back around to the three-point line. Perkins then sets a ball screen to free Durant for an open look. Unlike against Dallas, the shot doesn’t fall. Here is the play:

While the box score suggest that Westbrook dominated the game, his performance caused some of the same problems we’ve seen for quite some time. He set the Thunder up for failure as the game rolled on, by not playing with a pace and control that produces wins. Unfortunately, Durant wasn’t able to stave off the embarrassment of losing to the Wizards.

With the news today coming out today that Westbrook has signed an extension, OKC is certainly committed to the duo of Durant-Westbrook for the future. On talent alone, this is bad news for every team in the Western Conference. However, until Westbrook develops that Chris Paul-like feel for managing a game, their could be issues like this that thrawt the Thunder’s ability to contend at the highest level. And you can bet that there will be plenty of attention paid to how it all plays out.