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OKC Thunder Series Matchup: The x-factors – Jerami Grant vs. Al-Farouq Aminu

By Noah Schulte

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a call in the second half during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Thunder 96-91 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a call in the second half during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz beat the Thunder 96-91 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder forward Jerami Grant (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Offense

Advantage: Grant

As much as I want to say Aminu for his track record and relative consistency, I have to give it to Grant here. Prior to this season, it would have easily been Aminu, but Grant’s developed so much since then that it’s not even really close anymore. The most valuable – and visible – way that’s manifested is in Grant’s three-point shooting where he’s shooting five percent better on his three’s than Aminu on similar volume and he’s doing so for a team that needs any shooting it can get.

What’s more, his game beyond his shooting is a bit more valuable to the Thunder than Aminu’s is to the Blazers. He’s big enough and athletic enough for the Thunder to use him in the pick-and-roll game where he was at least average for most of the regular season. He can reliably attack closeouts and work well from the perimeter. Aminu, on the other hand, still hasn’t grown a whole lot on this side of the ball.

He’s still the same inconsistent shooter he was two years ago; he’s still the same erratic ball-handler he’s been for most of his career; he’s still the same unreliable option he’s always been. There are always a few two-week stretches every year where he looks like he’s made a mini-leap in his ball-handling and scoring before he regresses back to the mean.

If he can do that against the Thunder this series, it’ll be much more of a toss-up and Aminu might even be able to swing a game or two for the Blazers but unless that happens, it’s Grant’s matchup to lose.

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