OKC Thunder: 3 potential playoff X-factors the team needs

Abdel Nader

Silent but deadly, Abdel Nader is a guy opponents can easily forget. Fortunately for Nader, that should make it easier for him to show up and make some unexpected noise in the playoffs. A man of few words, Nader is a great teammate who is simply happy to keep his nose against the grindstone and do his job. His per game statistics for this season are as follows:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/14/2019.

Though his 3-point percentage doesn’t pop off the page as other-worldly, I often catch Nader making his 3-point buckets in timely moments when the Thunder are on a role and looking to keep up their offensive momentum. However, his play within the arc is less impressive.

Frankly, I think he would benefit from learning and implementing former college teammate Deonte Burton’s style of play – eager to fight through contact while driving to the hoop with a vengeance. We’ll call it bully ball. I would like to see Nader drive to the hoop more often rather than settle for pull up mid-range jumpers as it makes him a bit too predictable.

Another way Nader can be more involved in the game and make a bigger contribution is to be a disruptor. Like everybody else on the court Nader starts off with six fouls to give before being out of the game. I would argue Nader could be a bit of a sacrificial disruptor in that he could be thrown in the game purely to interrupt an opponent who is getting hot from behind the arc. He’s strong enough and certainly quick enough to keep up with most guards and interrupt their shooting rhythm.

A few timely (read: strategically intentional) fouls can be used to slow the other team’s momentum to give the Thunder a chance to catch their breath and regroup. Giving up several trips to the free throw line is better than letting the other team continue to dump in 3-pointers. It’s a chance to slow the bleeding, let OKC correct their mishaps, and keeps teammates like Westbrook, Schröder, and Ferguson from getting into foul trouble.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, Nader is a good enough 3-point shooter that he can still go put up 3-10 points rather quickly on the other end of the court. If he pairs his long-distance marksmanship with some bully ball drives in the paint and a willingness to interrupt opponents, then Abdel Nader could be a great asset who hopefully shows up and delivers when called upon.