Thunder notebook: Westbrook gets tested

Published: October 13, 2008

Rookie guard Russell Westbrook played extended minutes at shooting guard for the first time this preseason Saturday against Golden State.

Coach P.J. Carlesimo has said he intends to use a backcourt of Westbrook and Earl Watson frequently this season, but Carlesimo wasn’t planning on throwing the rookie in at shooting guard on Saturday. Injuries forced Westbrook to move over.

“We put Russell in a tough situation,” Carlesimo said. “If he’s played seconds at (shooting guard), that’s all it’s been in practice. So it was a tough situation to put him in.”

Westbrook finished with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting off the bench against Golden State.

SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY

Carlesimo called eight days of training camp and the Thunder’s first two preseason games an uphill climb with improvement being shown each step of the way. He said his team took five steps back in Saturday’s game.

“He wants us as a team to put 48 minutes of basketball together and to be able to close out games and not go through what that team went through last year with not being able to close out games in the fourth quarter,” said Desmond Mason. “From a head coach’s standpoint, you just don’t want to see those things happening early. So it’s up to us to fix it.”

M.A.S.H UNIT

Joe Smith, who sustained a fractured nose Friday against Sacramento, will not play tonight against Houston. ... Mason is questionable with a left knee contusion. ... Jeff Green is listed as day-to-day after spraining his left ankle Saturday. ... Robert Swift (hand) and Kyle Weaver (groin) are doubtful and not expected to play.

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