Steven Adams can’t switch everything in crunch-time
The crunch-time deficiencies of the Thunder are well-documented. While the offense is scrutinized the most, OKC’s defense also struggles mightily in the last five minutes. Oklahoma City’s defensive rating drops to an unfathomable 147 in the final 5 minutes of close games. Their switch-everything philosophy deteriorates as teams make it a point to get Steven Adams switched on their point guard.
There’s only so much the Big Kiwi can do on shifty point guards. Give them too much space and they can line up for an easy three. Guard them close and they can easily drive past him for an easy lay-up or a pass to an open man. That’s why Billy has to make a decision soon: either play Grant/Patterson over Adams in crunch-time or force his perimeter players to fight through screens so Adams isn’t left on an island.
I tend to side with keep Adams on the floor. His rim protection and ability to clear space for rebounding is vital to the Thunder’s success in the first 43 minutes of the game. They don’t switch everything at all times of a game either. Just watch this possession against the Milwaukee Bucks from earlier in the season.
Adams hedges on the Thon Maker screen, allowing Roberson enough time to get through and get back in position against Giannis Antetokounmpo. The rest of the Thunder then slides over to cut off any passing lanes for Giannis-to-Thon, giving Adams the necessary time to get back to his original man. That’s the perfect way to guard a pick-and-roll when switching isn’t the plan. And it happened during the seventh game of the season.
Why Billy Donovan hasn’t employed this into his crunch-time gameplan is beyond me. And that’s the perfect segway into our fourth takeaway.