Five takeaways from the Thunder’s first win of the 2018 Playoffs
By Tony Heim
2. Can’t rely on making tough shots every game
Here’s when I have to present the other side of the story, the one that highlights why this series may not be as easy as it appears. Virtually everybody on the OKC Thunder was on fire last night – we can’t expect that every game moving forward.
Paul George was the story (more on that later), yet as a team Oklahoma City had shooting splits of 48.2%-48.3%-87%. Alex Abrines hit 2-5 from deep. Carmelo hit his ill-advised mid-range jumpers (3-6 from two-point range). THE TEAM AS A WHOLE ONLY MISSED THREE FREE THROWS.
All that’s to say that the Thunder can’t assume that’s going to happen every game. It’s concerning that only 32 of their 116 points came inside the paint. Sure, the Rudy Gobert effect is in place, but that can be negated by putting Steven Adams in more pick & rolls. Gobert was incredibly handsy last night – the Thunder should exploit that and actually attack him to try and get him in foul trouble.
Next: Grading the Thunder's first Playoff win
Either way, Oklahoma City has to do a much better job of attacking the rim. Their shot chart does not indicate a team who should have shot over 48% from the floor. Going back to the very beginning of this post, a lot of that had to do with confidence in each other. I love that they all were feeling it, but that can’t be the recipe in a seven-game series.
Not against this defensively-talented and well-coached team.