OKC Thunder: 3 potential playoff X-factors the team needs
Nerlens Noel
Paul George recently cited Jerami Grant as the Thunder’s X-factor. I agree the growth and performance of Grant is a welcomed addition to the team’s starting lineup, but Grant is a starter quality player, i.e. he is supposed to perform the way he has this season.
Standing two inches taller than grant at 6 feet 11 inches, Nerlens Noel has the potential to be OKC’s wild card in the playoffs. Combining the taller stature of Steven Adams with improved agility to match that of Jerami Grant, Noel has the height, length, and quickness to protect the paint and defend the rim as well as anybody. His per game statistics during his first and only year with OKC are as follows:
| Season | MP | FG% | 2P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 13.7 | .587 | .587 | .684 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 4.9 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/14/2019.
You’ll notice Noel does not attempt 3-point shots, and that’s okay. He just needs to accentuate what is already in his skill set. Specifically, I would like to see Dennis Schröder and Nerlens Noel become a better knock-off version of the Russell Westbrook-Steven Adams tandem than they already are.
In other words, I would like to see more pick-and-roll scenarios that see Noel getting increased alley-oop lobs. Westbrook finds Noel for long-distance alley-oop lobs one to three times per game, and Noel capitalizes on those chances more often than not, but I would like to see more of a concerted effort to actively seek those chances with his second unit point guard in Schröder.
Furthermore, Noel could do a better job of crashing the paint and following up to get the trash buckets when his teammates drive to the rim. Adams is a master at that technique, and I believe Noel misses out on 2-6 points per game by doing a little too much ball watching. Furthermore, a little more misdirection player movements with fellow big men inside the paint would help Noel break free to use the length and quickness advantages he has over many opponents’ slower forwards and centers.
If Noel can figure out how to become a bit more active, then he would likely make closer to 10 or 12 points per game. In doing so, he would draw a little pressure away from teammates like Schröder and Ferguson, allowing them to take those extra microseconds to line up their 3-pointers for a balanced attack.