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OKC Thunder: Five Stats to Explain Their .500 Record

By Tony Heim

Nov 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. 45.6 Rebounds Per Game

Nov 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) fight for a rebound during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) fight for a rebound during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s reallyyyyyyyyyyyyy hard to critique a team that is sixth in the NBA in rebounding. But than you remember they have a point guard who averages almost 10 rebounds a game. And a backup center who can grab 10 in 20 minutes.

Last season the Thunder were easily the best rebounding team in the league, amassing almost 200 more than the second place Detroit Pistons. They lost Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, but the additions of Joffrey Lauvergne and Domantas Sabonis should have alleviated any loss on the boards.

Like everything else this season, the rebounding numbers have dipped these past nine games. In Wednesday night’s game against the Kings, the 29th-ranked rebounding team beat OKC on the boards 46-38. Like defense, it’s the energy that has killed the Thunder.

The Thunder have to be one of the three best rebounding teams if they are going to revert back to their winning ways. They are at their best when they can control the glass and turn it into easy transition opportunities. Again, they need to play with more effort and intensity for this to happen.

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