OKC Thunder film room: defensive keys to shut down Trail Blazers offense

Free throws shouldn’t be so free

The Thunder commit an average of 22.4 personal fouls per game, which is 1.5 more than the league average. This statistic was accentuated in the regular season series against the Trail Blazers as OKC committed 20+ personal fouls per game for an average of 25 per game.

Combine this with Portland averaging 81.4 percent from the free throw line, nearly five percent higher than the league average, and Oklahoma City could be in for a disaster as many of these playoff games will likely be settled by only a handful of points.

The Thunder need to find a balance between maintaining lane integrity and aggressive defending beyond the arc while reducing the number of personal fouls committed to keep the Trail Blazers honest. Portland is sure to test OKC’s known defensive aggressiveness in an attempt to get the Thunder’s key players in foul trouble early.

Oklahoma City should strive to keep the number of personal fouls they commit in the playoffs to below 20 per game. They can do this by coming out with high energy, a fast-paced offensive flow, and maintaining a high field goal percentage to create a comfortable lead that doesn’t force them into taking defensive risks later on in the game.