Three strategies OKC Thunder can use to fix shooting issues
As constructed, expecting Oklahoma City to become an elite 3-point shooting team is a pipe dream, but becoming a serviceable perimeter squad is an achievable goal. To do this, OKC must run plays for certain players effectively selecting who takes those shots.
Oklahoma City has three legitimate 3-point threats – Patrick Patterson, George and Abrines. Each player has their specific quirks and spots on the floor they operate effectively. Billy Donovan needs to instruct offensive sets from the sideline while Westbrook and Schroder must do a better job finding OKC’s best shooters.
Option 3A – PPat needs to shoot more
Despite Thunder fans howling at Patterson about his play (for no real reason), PPat is Oklahoma City’s most reliable threat from deep shooting 38.6 percent on 3.4 attempts. The biggest issue is his number of shots.
Terrance Ferguson (25.6 percent), Jerami Grant (31.1 percent), Raymond Felton (5.6 percent) and Schroder (31.1 percent) all average around three 3-point attempts per game. Ideally, Oklahoma City takes away one shot from each of these players and redistribute them to one of the aforementioned shooters. Pat needs to be the primary beneficiary with his 3-point attempts rising to five or more per game.
Patterson is a corner 3-point specialist shooting 41.2 percent from either side. Westbrook, Schroder and PG put so much pressure on opposing defenses, they need to find PPat as George does on the play below:
More recently, Pat has found his rhythm above the break, shooting 37.5 percent. PG runs a pick and pop set and finds PPat with a wide open triple.
No matter which way you slice it, Pat needs more shots and must continue to fire away unconsciously if he sees daylight.