OKC Thunder in the news: putting in work for team’s first win

Our beloved OKC Thunder have yet to harmonize the newly constructed roster this season, with obvious holes in their game play. Can extensive film sessions and practice finally make perfect?

Analyzing the losses:

As fans watching from afar, I’m sure we have each compiled lists detailing the errors that have caused the team to come up short in its first three games. Head coach Billy Donovan has spent his off days leading up to tonight’s game doing just the same, according to Thunder digital reporter Nick Gallo.

"He’s writing down notes and analyzing how the upcoming opponent is defending. He’s assessing what offensive actions can be effective, what to make the team aware of and what’s going to happen in certain situations. He determines what match-ups to be aware of and what plays the opponent is running and how his squad can effectively and efficiently guard in the best way."

In his article, Gallo highlights a few key areas the team is focusing on with the Celtics in mind. Boston has a versatile roster, able to “play big, with a traditional frontcourt” as well as a faster paced offense that the Thunder is all too familiar with.  Basically, the Thunder will have to be on their A game the whole game, something they have yet to conquer this season.

This will cause the defense to dial back its aggression and play smarter, cutting back on unnecessary fouls. The Celtics can make their own shots, we cannot continue to give opponents unearned opportunities at the free throw line.

Gallo ended his article with key notes that were worth reading, especially for those of us that have not given up hope after just three games into the season.

We are faced with another experimental start, circulating young players and battling injuries. It’s going to take real game action for these players to find momentum and achieve harmony. I, for one, am excited to see our younger players stepping up when their numbers are called.

The slow start of Terrance Ferguson:

Opinions of Thunder’s recent starting shooting guard Terrance Ferguson has plagued news and social media. His diminishing contributions have ignited quite a bit of criticism, but what is happening behind the scenes has Russell Westbrook feeling differently.

Maddie Lee, a recently added Thunder beat writer for The Oklahoman, took to twitter to show the work Ferguson is putting in to turn his personal game around.

Let’s also take a moment to remember Ferguson has only played 826 minutes in 64 games, averaging only 12.5 MPG last season, according to Stats.nba.com. He’s still a young contributor to this team, now trying to assume a starting position. Okay, moving on.

Captain Westbrook not worried:

At 247sports.com, Michael Boehlin discusses Russ’s confidence in the young shooting guard, as well as Patrick Patterson. An obvious issue with the Thunder’s recent losses is the imbalance between shots attempted and shots made, and the team has tried to cash in these last three days of practice as much as possible.

"Westbrook was impressed by the dedication shown by recent first-round pick Terrance Ferguson and former Kentucky Wildcats standout Patrick Patterson as rather than dwell on the issues they have faced on the offensive end of the floor they are actively trying to do something to rectify the situation by putting in extra work on the practice floor."

More from Thunder News

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• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

I’m sure the team is even more frustrated than we are, but news like this is rather encouraging as we gear up to take on a team like the Celtics. Sooner or later, the open shots will fall. Let’s just hope that happens as soon as tonight and will continue consistently through all four quarters.

Who’s to blame?

The OKC Thunder’s dismal start to the season has given us much to analyze moving forward. Many bystanders have placed blame on individual players, defensive efforts, and dismal shooting; however, for TI writer Alex Mcewen the blame should be on a higher force.

Mcewen successfully backs up her argument that Presti and Donovan deserve more responsibility with hideous statistics. She points out Presti’s philosophy of three-point shooting, while also approaching our lack of successful three-point shooting and offense that may not even be allowing for optimal success.

"Presti is at fault because he constructed a roster full of substandard shooters, who are expected to shoot. And, Donovan did not instill an offense to put OKC’s poor three-point shooters in better positions. A general managers job is to build a competitive roster, the head coaches job is to maximize the players provided to him. As of today, Presti and Donovan are under performing at their jobs thus far in the season."

She included the fact that in three games, we have attempted 109 shots behind the arc, while only sinking 23.9 percent. Presti and Donovan have not cultivated an environment for his team to succeed, though shooting percentage is also greatly effected by the hands attempting.

An ongoing criticism for Donovan is his seemingly nonsensical rotation, that at times is disruptive to the flow of the game.

On that and other tweaks necessary catch the post game 5 takeaways outlining specific problem areas.

All in all, whoever is to blame, with time I believe this team will find its footing. We have seen exciting offense and defense out of new and returning players. Let’s take a deep breath, there’s much, much more to come for this team. More mistakes will be made, but with experience comes lessons-learned. I have faith that this team will work itself out; after all, where there’s a Westbrook, there’s a way.