OKC Thunder assistant coach Bob Beyer to improve offense

OKC Thunder’s recent hire of Bob Beyer as assistant coach bodes well for the offense. His knack for improving ball movement may just be the key this season.

The past 10 years in Oklahoma City for the Thunder has been nothing short of a roller coaster.  Opportunities to win a championship have come and gone as injuries, super teams and self-inflicted wounds have kept them from getting over the hump.

With plenty of talent on the roster throughout that time, many fans and so-called “experts” have given their opinion on the real issues which have plagued the Thunder. A variety of answers have been given, but perhaps the most reoccurring complaint over the years is the lack of ball movement on offense.

Some people put the blame on coaching and point to Billy Donovan and Scott Brooks, while Russell Westbrook haters claim the fearless leader is too selfish. Regardless which side of the argument you stand, most people can agree the offense has been an issue.

Stagnant offense has been a concern for the Thunder since moving from Seattle. It was understandable with Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden being the dominate scorers they are, but relying solely on isolation and pick-and-rolls isn’t a recipe for long-term success in the league. And it remains a problem to this day, as Westbrook has taken full reign of the team and tried to implement Paul George and Steven Adams into the scoring mix.

Although his effort to change has paid off some, there’s still some work to do in terms of maximizing everybody’s full potential. A quick Westbrook isolation or pick-and-roll with Adams is a great plan B, and an occassional plan A, but it still feels like two or three of the five Thunder players are standing around the perimeter trying to stay out of the way. Enter Bob Beyer.

Bob Beyer spent the past four seasons helping the Detroit Pistons climb out of the cellar and make the playoffs. He was hired on in August as the replacement for Royal Ivey and Adrian Griffin.

As an offensive-minded coach, Beyer preaches ball movement and spacing. His offensive philosophy led to an increase in passing and catch-and-shoot opportunities for the Pistons, with the idea to get Andre Drummond the ball in space.

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This coaching change could be the key, or at least part of the solution, to unlocking OKC’s offense. Oklahoma City is about as good as you could ask for defensively, so finding ways to score consistently is the next step. Westbrook is a highly hot-or-cold shooter, so isolations and pick-and-rolls can’t be the entire offense.

With more passes to go around, expect guys like Alex Abrines, Jerami Grant, Patrick Patterson, and yes, even Andre Roberson to get open looks. Whether or not the shots fall is up to them.

But even if shots don’t go in, swinging the ball around the perimeter will take pressure off Westbrook and George on their way to the rim. Teams can only allow so many open shots before one or two go through the net, which will keep the defense from collapsing on Westbrook when it is time for an isolation.

At the end of the day, an assistant coach isn’t going to be the single reason why Oklahoma City dethrones the Golden State Warriors, but it is a step in the right direction. If Beyer’s impact leads to more ball movement, better shots and fewer turnovers, it would be solving issues the Thunder have struggled with since their inception.