Lightning Report: Analyzing why the OKC Thunder offense is exploding

Diversified fastbreak strategy

Perhaps most importantly, the Thunder have started to add some different dimensions to their already-potent transition offense. Prior to this tear, they were one of the harder teams to guard in transition because they have some of the most dynamic athletes at their respective positions in the NBA. All they had to do to score was fill their lanes and sprint to the bucket and they would almost always get a bucket.

And while they’re still making plays like that on a fairly regular basis, they’re starting to have more and more shooters slip to the corners for open threes.

It’s a pretty common thing across the NBA but what makes their attack so different is that the transition defenses teams have gravitated towards this year to stop three’s on the fastbreak doesn’t work too well on the Thunder.

This is where Russ’ value this season has really shown through. If defenders pack the paint too aggressively, he can kick out to an almost-assuredly open shooter in the corner:

Even when the defense sends back three or four defenders like teams are starting to do now, Westbrook is such an elite playmaker that he can still generate open looks from the perimeter:

When defenses try to stop both the shooter in the corner and Westbrook, someone else can walk right into a three like Grant does here:

None of this would have been possible if defenses were fine leaving shooters open in the corner and selling out on Russ–which is why it hasn’t worked at all in years past. Now that they have a more diverse attack, it’s made them that much more dangerous.