Time for change: OKC Thunder must play Patrick Patterson

Rotations in the OKC Thunder camp have raised eye brows so far this season. With coach Billy Donovan searching furiously for rotation balance, one player has been on the outside looking in – Patrick Patterson.

Somehow, the OKC Thunder have turned one of the best statistical power forwards into a below average NBA player. When OKC netted Patrick Patterson to a 3-year, 16.4-million dollar contract, it was an absolute steal. For 4-years with the Toronto Raptors, Patterson was the first big off the bench, provided excellent on-ball defense and a nightly threat from deep.

Last season, 2-Pat ranked 25th in defensive real plus/minus (+1.26), 10th in offensive real plus/minus (1.05) and 11th in real plus/minus (2.31) and hit a solid 37 percent beyond the arc. His hustle, willingness to engage on the block and do the “little” things is well respected throughout the league. He is a players-player, a strong locker room presence and will do what it takes to win.

Fast forward 4 months and Patterson is hardly playing. He is averaging career lows in minutes (13.7), points per game (2.6), field goal percentage (38.5) and 3-point percentage (34.4). This notion that 2-Pat is still in “offseason mode” was reasonable to begin with but not after 20 games.

Oklahoma City are currently playing Carmelo Anthony at the 4-spot. While that creates mismatches on the offensive end for OKC, Melo gives it right back on defense. Melo prefers to avoid contact on the defensive end and has lost a step or two. Moving him back to the 3 (small forward)  maybe where he fits best. While 2-Pat won’t dramatically help you on the glass, he will hustle and fight down low. An area the Thunder have been regularly exposed this season.

How he fits:

Bringing the Grind

Patrick Patterson offers some balls to the starting unit. Tenacity, grit and determination are three components the Thunder lack. Loose balls, boxing out and playing opponents physically have disappeared in 2017. While Melo, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Andre Roberson are decent rebounders, none are particularly strong inside. Boxing out and hustling for loose balls are effort plays.

Apologies for roasting Melo but he simply isn’t that guy at the power forward spot. He is a part time 4 but he is predominantly a small forward. After 4 seasons playing alongside Jonas Valenciunas in Toronto, 2-Pat is a master at covering weak defenders. Melo may not be a great defender but he is far better than JV. If called upon however, Patterson will help mask Melo’s shortcomings.

Knows his role

Patterson doesn’t command the ball and stretches the floor. He is a perfect complementary piece for stars Russ, PG and Anthony to operate with. As Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady alluded to on ESPN’s The Jump, less is more.

Patterson understands his strengths, limitations and plays within himself. He is highly coachable and capable of playing within a system. His career 36.7 percent will cause opposing teams to respect him. If defenses converge on Russ, Melo or PG, Patterson will get plenty of open looks.

Team-First Mentality

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The Iso-heavy OKC Thunder offense must change and Patterson’s team-first mentality helps. Patrick Patterson  won’t pout or spit the dummy if he doesn’t get the ball. He will do what it takes to win. Westbrook, PG and Melo have historically voiced their dissatisfaction if they do not take the last shot.

He will screen, take charges, muscle up and pass up open shots to get the best shot available. Quite often, stars are so caught up in themselves they forget about the greater good. 2-Pat’s attitude toward team basketball is badly needed to break the dreaded “your turn, my turn” iso-ball.

To get out of “offseason” mode, Patterson needs to play. Starting or inserting him into the game earlier is a good place to start.