OKC Thunder: Is Paul George message to keep shooting the best strategy?

The OKC Thunder are shooting the worst percentage from the perimeter in playoff history. However, Paul George says keep shooting. Will stubbornness do them in?

An age-old phrase states, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. The OKC Thunder are currently caught up in the madness, as they are the worst 3-point shooting team in the history of the NBA playoffs.

Oklahoma City’s 10f or 61, 16.4 percent accuracy from deep, is the worst percentage from the perimeter to start a series. This is only the ninth instance, in postseason history, a team has launched 50 or more treys while failing to eclipse 25 percent. And, the only instance where a team has failed to connect on 20 percent of their 3-point attempts.

*Minimum 50 attempts.

Among the other eight teams who shot under 25 percent, only two made the second-round, no team has made the conference semi-finals since the NBA expanded to the current seven games series format.

After a debacle in Game 2, where his team lost 114-94 when he was at the podium, OKC Thunder forward Paul George provided a perplexing response to OKC’s historically poor shooting just keep shooting.

Perhaps, George is overly confident in his team’s shooting capabilities, simply stubborn about the question, or maybe, he did not want to reveal too much of their game plan. Whatever the reason, (I believe it was stubbornness) Thunder Nation needs to hope they shoot better in Game 3, the home crowd might be the boost they need right now.

For added perspective, on how bad OKC’s shooting is; Damian Lillard is nearly out-shooting Oklahoma City by himself from the perimeter. Lillard has connected on nine threes, whereas the OKC Thunder as a team has made ten treys.

Key Area to improve

The Thunder began playing their best stretch of basketball during the entire 2018-19 season in January. One area the team began excelling was from the perimeter, one reason the team improved, they started making their open and wide-open threes.

Thus far in the playoffs, while the Blazers defense deserves credit for defending the Thunder from three. The Thunder are shooting 9 of 54 on open and wide-open threes. If the team can begin knocking down those attempts at home the series could shift. The problem is, regardless if they hit shots or not. OKC needs to reduce its perimeter attempts. Because, when they are shooting threes it is a wasted possession.

In conclusion, after the Thunder set a franchise record for made three’s in the regular season finale at Milwaukee, I immediately said that could hurt the team in the playoffs. Due to the fact, their unofficial motto, “if it’s a three it’s for me”  was permanently cemented.

With Game 3 and 4 at home, there is a chance the Thunder shoots better and goes back to Portland with a tied series. It would be difficult for the team to shoot worse. One area is assured, just as George said, OKC will keep shooting.