Thunder in the News: Focusing on defense in the days off
By Tony Heim
OKC Thunder in the News is easing into the New Year, much like the Thunder themselves.
Enjoying these couple of days off Thunder Nation? Hopefully the team is, because as we’ll get into in just a bit, these rare moments of rest are crucial for teams trying to build chemistry on the fly. That’s why the main theme of today’s In the News is defense. OKC’s defense has slipped recently, even during the recent six-game win streak. We’re going to take a look at why that may be the case and how they can quickly fix it.
Thunder defense key to reversing recent struggles
After maintaining a stranglehold inside the top three virtually all season, Oklahoma City has dropped out of the top five in Defensive Rating. The Andre Roberson absence certainly didn’t help, but this goes beyond losing one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. A lot of that has to do with lack of practice. Billy Donovan and Josh Huestis had some interesting quotes in this quick piece from NBA.com that helps us get in the minds of the team.
"In a 116-113 loss to Dallas to close out 2017, Donovan zeroed in on the Thunder defense’s slippage, an inconvenience just as the offense has found its rhythm."
Opportunity to make some defensive history if so
I wanted to make a bold statement like this a couple weeks ago, but I wasn’t sure how good the argument would be. Well, Fred Katz made a pretty compelling case. Steven Adams, Paul George and Andre Roberson are all having remarkable seasons on the defensive end. Katz notes that because of their performance and injuries around the league, OKC has a chance of doing something few trios have done in League history.
"It’s rare that three teammates make the All-Defensive Team in the same season. The most recent trio to do it was Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups of the 2005-06 Detroit Pistons."
Patrick Patterson gives voice to the fans
To end my first In the News of the year, I want to personally thank Patrick Patterson for speaking out against the poor officiating this season. I’m not asking for the Thunder to get more calls, or their opponents to get less. I just want consistency – that’s something we haven’t gotten this season.
They’ve been SHIT this year. There needs to be some kind of consequence for their downright awfulness rather than pointless apologies from their bosses. #dobetter.
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) December 30, 2017
That’s it for today’s issue of Thunder in the News! Check out our home page for all of our great content, including posts on the Thunder’s charitable work this season and the three moments that changed the course of this season.