OKC Thunder: Billy Donovan focuses on scoring transition
The OKC Thunder limp to the finish line of a long season, looking for some damage control in the upcoming five-game homestand.
A bad loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday have the OKC Thunder sitting in seventh place in the West after being considered a playoff lock for the majority of the season.
Things changed in mid-February, however, as the Thunder found themselves in a funk which took them from third to fifth and now seventh in just a month’s time. And the timing couldn’t be worse with the season coming to a close.
So what can save the Thunder from a first-round matchup against Golden State or Denver? Simply put – putting the ball in the basket. It’s no secret OKC has issues scoring at times – shooting in particular. The fans know it, the players know it and Billy Donovan knows it.
Prepping for the upcoming 5-game home stand.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 26, 2019
🎥 // Today's Practice Report pic.twitter.com/BETG4tzJHm
What the team as a whole lacks in terms of consistent shooting, Paul George has made up for. But the wheels have fallen off lately, as opponents have appeared to prevent the Thunder from playing through George and forcing the team into difficult shots.
Oklahoma City has been able to mask its shooting woes by scoring in transition, playing downhill and controlling the pace of the game. That strategy has served them well since George has been in MVP form and Russell Westbrook has been able to facilitate to his teammates who score when they’re number is called. Which was great until shots stopped falling.
Last night was Paul George's 11th 30-point, 10-rebound game of the season, more than Westbrook or Griffin this year pic.twitter.com/pbOmOLgEHl
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) March 26, 2019
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The Thunder are dead last in shooting percentage for the month of March at a dreadful 42 percent, which has them continuing to lose winnable games. It may not seem like a significant decrease from their best shooting month, December, at 46.9 percent, but the 4.9 percent is the difference between a top-10 shooting team and league worst.
The decrease in shooting percentage is particularly apparent when watching the Thunder struggle to keep their head above water in otherwise winnable games. Seeing open shots clank off the rim at a league-worst clip is painful to sit through. Especially when the opponent is breaking down the Thunder defense and scoring at will.
An advantage for the Thunder comes in the form of home-court advantage for the next five upcoming games, so familiar surroundings and a welcome crowd might help.
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And with just a one-game difference between OKC and the Utah Jazz who are currently in sixth, the Thunder are potentially a couple wins away from a first-round matchup against the Portland Trailblazers. No walk in the park, but a far cry from the Warriors.