OKC Thunder 3 takeaways: Sweeping OT classic in Portland

OKC Thunder play to their strengths

Looking back at the three previous meetings between the squads despite the wins there were specific areas the Thunder needed to improve.

Painting a win:

Scoring in the paint was one of those key areas. In the first meeting on January 4, the Blazers outperformed the Thunder in points in the paint scoring: 54 to 46.

The second meeting on January 22 was a wash – repeat as the Blazers once again owned the paint 52-44. On the third occasion on February 11, another carbon copy as Portland won the paint battle 50-42.

And while each of these games resulted in a victory for the OKC Thunder that eight-point PIP differential hung in the air. With the addition of Enes Kanter, the thinking was Portland would potentially have a greater opportunity to own this area of the game.

Well, surprise – the Thunder absolutely dominated the Blazers in Thursday’s overtime win by almost 20 points (70-48).

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1103819303344918528

Glass Cleaners:

The boards remained a Thunder strength although the teams split this battle over the four games with the Blazers winning the middle games and OKC taking the first and last game’s board battle.

Something I did note in this game is the quickness with which the Thunder moved the ball from the point of the rebound. And this wasn’t isolated to George, Adams or Morris (who grabbed 10 rebounds). Whoever grabbed the defensive board immediately passed out to initiate the offense swiftly getting up court.

Another notable is six different players grabbed at least five boards including every starter.

Perimeter Prowess:

The other common theme through the four games is whether it was perimeter defense or cold shooting the Blazers have not shot well from deep versus the Thunder.

January 4: 29 percent (9 of 31)

January 22: 27.8 percent (10 of 36)

February 11: 37.9 percent (11-29)

March 7: 22.0 percent (9-41)

Coincidentally, the Blazers rank ninth in the league shooting 35.7 percent from deep versus the 24th ranked OKC Thunder who shoot the long ball at 34.8 percent. Yet, the Thunder won the perimeter battle in all four games lighting it up in the middle games to the tune of 47.8 percent and 45.7 percent!