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OKC Thunder Lightning Report: Film breakdown on why Patrick Patterson shouldn’t start

By Noah Schulte

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Patrick Patterson #54 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on prior to Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz on April 27, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Patrick Patterson #54 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on prior to Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz on April 27, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Patterson effort and skills show decline:

Throughout this early part of the season at least, he looks like he’s lost a few steps and can’t really keep up anymore. There have been more than a few instances of Patterson either being blown by because he can’t move his feet quick enough or letting up easy shots at the rim because he just doesn’t have the bounce to contest.

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As the year progresses, those problems are only going to get magnified and, if they aren’t solved, it’s going to be pretty hard for OKC to justify keeping Pat Pat on the floor especially with his middling offensive value.

Sure, he’s a decent shooter from downtown who can create some level of gravity for the Thunder and he’s an adequate finisher around the rim, but he doesn’t do either effectively enough to make much of a difference for Oklahoma.

Here’s yet another area where his inconsistent effort level has put the team as a whole in some tough situations. Watch in the possession below as his lackadaisical screen totally fails to create adequate separation for Paul George and he’s forced to shoot a tough pull-up jumper which inevitably clanks off the iron:

That’s not happening every time, but it’s happening enough that it has the potential to become a real problem down the line.

Proof is in the numbers:

When Sam Presti brought Patterson to OKC last year, the general consensus around NBA circles was that he would be able to add to the already-versatile defense and fit right into their offensive system, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case so far.

We’re still in the early stages of the year, but the initial returns aren’t great; the OKC Thunder are performing 13.7 points better per 100 possessions defensively with him off the court and 6.8 points better overall with him on the bench.

It makes sense for the OKC Thunder to consider the idea of putting Patterson back on the bench, not only because he’s on the decline but also because his backup, Jerami Grant, is such a clearly better option.

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