OKLAHOMA CITY, (Reuters) – Lost in the flashiness of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offensive fireworks is soft-spoken forward Nick Collison, a steady hand on a young team playing for the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.
The Thunder’s series-opening 105-94 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday in the NBA Finals was vintage Collison: eight points, 10 rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes.
On a night that Kevin Durant scores 36 and backcourt mate Russell Westbrook adds 27, hardly a word was spoken about Collison’s vital contribution off the bench.
“I’m trying to be ready,” Collison said. “In these playoffs I’m telling myself I have the ability to play as hard as I possibly can and trying to focus on just that. Keep it simple.
“I’ve found in my career worry too much about results — Am I going to make shots, am I not? — I don’t play as well.
“So I’m trying to just play in the moment and find different spots where I can help us.”
Many of the things Collison does will not show up in the newspaper, like when he punched a ball out to the top of the circle when he realized he could not grab the rebound himself.
The Thunder retained possession and ultimately scored a three-pointer, helping fuel the fourth-quarter rally that won Tuesday night’s pivotal Game One.
“With experience and playing long enough and being secure in yourself, you’re more concerned that the Thunder score,” he said. “That’s the way I am right now.
“Anytime we get going and make a run, for me personally, that’s the best part about playing. A lot of times if I can’t grab a rebound with two hands, I’ll try to tip it back out.
“Anything, something else to help us win. It went well last night.”