OKC Thunder continues to struggle defensively and needs to address these three issues
After dropping its fifth game in six outings against the Los Angeles Lakers, we take a quick look at why the OKC Thunder are struggling on the defensive end.
The OKC Thunder are in a funk. Three days removed from dropping two 45-point quarters against the Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City threw away a 17-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers by surrendering 40-points in the second quarter. To make matters worse, LeBron James was in street clothes and isn’t due back from injury until next week.
So how bad is it?
During this tough 1-5 stretch, the Thunder have surrendered an average of 130.1 points per game (29th) with a defensive rating of 119.8 (28th). Keep in mind this does include two overtime games including a double OT loss to San Antonio but the real back breaker was the 142-point dud to the Atlanta Hawks. The Thunder are allowing teams to shoot 50.1 percent from the field and a scorching 43.1 percent from deep. While the 3-point percentage includes a historic shooting performance in the loss to San Antonio (16-19 from three), this simply can’t happen.
While OKC continues to excel with its aggressive defensive style sitting fifth in steals (9.7), its failing royally in two categories – defending the paint and 3-point defense.
Poor execution of defending pick and roll
Much has been made about Steven Adams pick and roll defense with many citing the big man as the primary reason teams are getting easy buckets at the hoop. The truth of the matter is the team’s scheme.
Billy Donovan explains what he has instructed the team to do.
Lot of pick-and-roll talk today for obvious reasons. Billy Donovan again points to issue not being about scheme, but execution. pic.twitter.com/bnNoTcyfnS
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) January 16, 2019
The primary issue is communication. Oklahoma City has the big man hedging high on pick and rolls but the man on the weak side is failing to rotate over to take the lane away. This leaves opposing bigs a free lane to the bucket and its leaving Adams on an island. While the big Kiwi isn’t entirely devoid of blame, the team needs to do a better job of helping.
Oklahoma City is allowing 53.7 points per game (27th) in the paint and needs to sort its pick and roll scheme. Right now, the team is allowing too many easy buckets inside and putting too much pressure on Adams to plug the gaps.
Opponent second-chance points
Oklahoma City has gone from one of the best rebounding squads to allowing 12.2 offensive boards (27th) and 17.6 second-chance points (28th) per game. OKC is getting outworked on the glass, showing a lack of interest hustling for long rebounds and failing to box out. Many kid Russell Westbrook for stat “padding” rebounds but when he’s not rebounding at a high clip, OKC struggle.
Rebounding is an effort play and the Thunder have some of the best rebounders in the game at their respective positions. However, too often do we see players watching and not bodying any players on the block. One of the basic rules of basketball is to find a body and move it out of the paint. Adams is the biggest body on the block but if he is fighting two players for positioning, OKC must come to help.
This issue extends beyond just Adams. Its a team issue that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
3-point defense
As I alluded to earlier, OKC is allowing teams to shoot 43.1 percent from three (28th) during this stretch and if you’re struggling to defend the paint, you MUST defend the perimeter. Right now, OKC is doing neither one and it’s extremely difficult to win any game. Aside from one blowout against Washington, Oklahoma City have been in every game the last six but are just falling short.
Some of this is just NBA players making shots. Marco Bellineli and Davis Bertans morph into Ray Allen every time OKC comes to town. If you look at the video below, San Antonio had two or three wide-open looks. The others were well contested.
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Against the Lakers, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball got hot from outside, both shooting just 30.9 and 33 percent for the year. They landed 11-22 from deep including a 35 footer from Ball in overtime. Despite their percentages, OKC must do a better job containing looks. This is the NBA full of NBA talent. If you give the best basketball players in the world a chance, you must be prepared to live with the result and the Thunder are getting what they deserve by not matching up.
Final Thought
Unlike many fans, I do not believe the team is in any real trouble. The team is still one of the leagues best defensive squads with a defensive rating of 104 (2nd). A string of six games doesn’t discount a 44-game body of work. Ball clubs go through tough stretches all the time and it’s never convenient to watch a team lose a string of games.
Despite losing five of their last six, Oklahoma City still sits third the West and certainly have some issues to work through. Now is not the time to panic.
dark. Next. OKC Thunder: Debating whether Nick Collison deserves to have his jersey retired
It’s just adversity.