OKC Thunder: 5 Deciding factors to win series versus Jazz

Free throw shooting

The Thunder’s poor free throw shooting was a theme all season long that arguably cost the team the three seed. Now, with highest stakes, the Thunder will need to execute at the line more than ever. The good news is that Russell Westbrook knows a thing or two about stepping up in clutch situations.

Westbrook is a career 81 percent foul shooter. In the playoffs, he’s a career 84 percent foul shooter. Paul George on the other hand, is a career 80 percent foul shooter in the playoffs compared to and 84 percent foul shooter in the regular season. George has shown however he can step up his game. During the 2016 playoffs, George went 61-64 (95 percent ) at the foul line.

Utah ranks 16th in the league averaging 19.6 fouls per game. So the Thunder should get the chance to get to the line. What happens when they get there will be the difference.