OKC Thunder season preview roundtable Q7: Centering on big men Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel

T.I. counts down to the OKC Thunder 2018-19 tip via a preseason roundtable. The focus shifts to the center position and expectations for Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel.

Question 7:

Last year OKC Thunder center Steven Adams looked exhausted by season end, this partially due to Billy Donovan having no backup he trusted. Because of this it led to Jerami Grant playing minutes at center. The signing of Nerlens Noel has theoretically addressed the backup situation. At 25 Adams enters his fifth year as a pro as does Noel, however their first four years were on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Entering 2018-19 what are your expectations for Adams and Noel? Has Noel finally found a team he fits with and can excel (and avoid hot dogs)?  And, will Adams finally get more recognition for his overall excellence?

Lawrence George – @geola388

I spent the entire 2017-18 season clamoring for a back-up center that never came. Now that Noel is here, I am excited to see how he pans out in an offense tailor made for his physical gifts. With Melo gone and the acquisition of Schroder, Adams should see an uptick in points to around 15-18 with 9 rebounds. Envisioning Adams as a double-double machine is difficult because he doesn’t chase defensive rebounds and Oklahoma City prefer the big kiwi to attack the offensive glass. But 15-18 points and 9 rebounds seems about right.

Noel should expect to see 15-20 minutes per game and I expect his impact to be immediate. He is a fantastic rebounder and an excellent rim protector when engaged. On a OKC Thunder squad and a big contract hinging on his 2018-19 performance, I expect Noel to outperform his current minimum contract. With Schroder operating as a his floor general, Noel should finish around 7 points, 8 rebounds with a number of highlight plays.

Its difficult to know whether Adams will get the recognition he deserves. While players and hard core fans laud his blue collar attitude and workhorse mentality, casual fans will miss his contributions because nothing he does is “sexy”. Among players, Adams is recognized as one of the leagues best centers and a team player. All I know is he is the right piece for the Thunder so whether he is universally recognized is hard to say.

Tamberlyn Richardson – @TTOTambz

All kidding aside about hot dogs, the onus is on Nerlens Noel to prove he can be a consistent contributor and a solid teammate. For whatever reason the OKC Thunder have excelled at rehabilitating some of the league’s biggest question marks. For Nerlens the best part of the equation is this is a team (and a system) where his gifts can make a difference.

By virtue of him being able to showcase those skills and having an existing relationship with Grant will help. Once Schroder joins the reserves I think he’ll produce a stat line of 6 to 10 points and 7 to 10 rebounds per game. The real bonus will be his blocks – watch for him to join the league leaders in this area.

As for Adams, you’ve heard my rants repeatedly. He simply doesn’t get the recognition he deserves and I believe this season will feature his coming out party. The stats will improve slightly, but come the playoffs when he’s rested and capable of stopping any center thrown at him that’s when the pundits will finally get on board. With the lights shining their brightest Adams will demonstrate there always was an OK3 – it just included the wrong third party!

Gideon Lim – @GideonLim_NBA

I know this sounds like blasphemy, but I actually think Steven Adams runs the risk of being overrated. Hear me out – I love the Big Kiwi to bits; but I just think this niche third-star, unselfish banger garage dog vibe fits him perfectly.

I think if Thunder fans want to daydream a little, I’d say dream of Steven Adams learning to make passers out of the high post like Andre Drummond. Leave behind those fantasies of Adams posting up consistently or extending beyond the line. For Nerlens Noel, I expect him to improve his defensive awareness and convert more consistently around the rim.

Dylan Huntzinger – @ThunderChats

I think Adams and Noel both have career years. I’m not gonna predict stats or anything, but I think there will be a lot more looks for Adams whether someone creates them, or if he creates them himself off of the offensive glass.

As far Nerlens, he landed in a perfect situation. He plays alongside a former teammate in Grant in which they anchored a top 10 defensive team in Philly, and gets to play with a savvy pick-and-roll point guard in Dennis Schröder. Add the spacing that Alex and potentially one of the other wings provide, and Nerlens could go off at any given moment.

Reid Belew – @UpJimbo

Noel – I’m totally in on the “career revival” possibilities. I’m all there. It makes me tear up. He’s gonna be great. Great bench defense and pick and roll partner for Denny.

Adams – I think this is the year people realize why Adams has so much value. People generally “know” it, but I think he’ll have a few huge games and some more consistent highlights that raise the everday fan’s awareness.

Jordan Buckamneer – @jbuckamneer

Anyone who underrates Steven Adams clearly doesn’t watch many Thunder games. He was the anchor of the defense last year and did more than his fair share on the offensive end as well. His minutes was a cause for concern given the beating he takes nearly every possession, but Nerlens Noel should be the perfect Robin to Adams’ Batman.

The key, of course, will be for Noel to stay healthy. If he can do that, Patrick Patterson should be better equipped for his role at the four spot with more limited minutes, along with Jerami Grant who can defend multiple positions.

Amy Li – @realkimchiwitch

Steven Adams ranked #32 in player efficiency rating (PER) last season, greater than Paul George‘s #55 rank. He also led as the #1 player (alongside former Thunder player Enes Kanter) in offensive board percentage, securing OKC’s top spot in second-chance points among teams for 2017-2018.

However, Adams’ personal brand is next-level unassuming, so the drama will surround the new players. I think Nerlens Noel will excel as long as he avoids injury. OKC needs to fill a role with his expertise, and he is desperately seeking usage.

Alex Roig – @AlexRoig_NTTB

I expect Adams to continue his dominance on defense, while being more of a staple on offense. And I expect Noel to finally find that team that appreciates him for who he is, instead of trying to transform him into a stretch big.

As far as Adams’ Q-rate score, I think the media knows how good he is and how important he is to the Thunder. ESPN listed him at No. 47 on their yearly rankings, while SI listed him at No. 38.

Austin Sternlicht – @The_Sternlicht

I’m expecting another breakout year for Adams. Without Melo, his defense role should be a lot easier. The same can be said on offense, where he can get more touches down low. As for Noel, he knows he’s on list last strike. I think that will give him the motivation he needs to salvage his career. There was a reason he was the number one player coming out of high school in 2012. He’s never going to be an all-star, but can still be a solid defensive anchor on a great team.

Stephen Dolan – @SteveThunderfan

I think the Adams bandwagon has started to fill recently. He did surprisingly well in All-Star voting last year, and hopefully increased touches this season lead to even more recognition. He’s so smart, and so cautious on offense. If he could lose some inhibitions, this could be a breakout season for him.

As for Noel, I expect him to be good enough not to be on the OKC Thunder next season.

Alex Mcewen – @eflame_717

I have very few expectations for Noel, if he plays bad it was not unexpected. And, if he plays well, he will add depth to the Thunder’s bench. Noel is on a minimum deal, regardless of how he plays his contract will not look bad, at the same time his deal has the potential to be a steal.

Whereas with Adams, my expectations are high. Foremost, Adams should only progress, any sign of regression should be considered concerning for OKC. Taking into account his stats from last season, coupled with Roberson’s absence, Adams will have an opportunity to compete for Defensive Player of the Year.

Bottom line, Adams is a top five center, who has the potential to ascend higher, Noel is essentially an unfinished canvas but, if he performs well, he and Adams could form one of the best center tandems in the NBA. If the tandem is successful, it will surely make former Thunder center Enes Kanter quite jealous.

Asad Ali Jamal – @SuperCyrax98

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I believe the Adams-Noel combination is great for the team for the same reason the Westbrook-Schröder pairing is so enticing: consistency. With Noel being a defensive-minded center (much like Adams), the bench can play a similar system as the starters and Noel can even play time with the starters.

This will lead to Adams being able to put all his energy into his playing time and allow him to rest more, which should lead to better performances from the big man. I think Adams deserved All-Star recognition last year, but I believe he will get it this year and it will come to fruition because Noel should play well behind Adams and even alongside him.

Rylan Stiles – @Rylan_Stiles

Steven Adams will be an All Star this season. He should have been an All Star a year ago. I expect Adams to help Nerlens Noel grow, the same way Kendrick Perkins helped Steven Adams. For Noel, he is saying all of the right things. If any system is going to be fit for Noel, it will be the rim running, heavy pick and roll Thunder system.

This wraps up question seven from the roundtable. Question eight with three days left in the OKC Thunder season tip countdown looks at Dennis Schroder and the writers opinions on what they’ve witnessed from the German so far.