Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

How OKC Thunder should tweak their identity to better fit modern NBA era

By Tamberlyn Richardson

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Kevin Durant #35, James Harden #13, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Western Conference All-Stars take a photo before the 2013 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2013 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Kevin Durant #35, James Harden #13, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Western Conference All-Stars take a photo before the 2013 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2013 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talks to media (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The new era OKC Thunder:

Analysis of the championship squads of the past decade punctuates just how important perimeter shooting is to the current game. Certainly, playoff basketball tends to showcase more isolation plays but in the past seven years, every title team ranked in the top seven of 3-point efficiency.

Sam Presti consistently focuses on adding long, lengthy athletic players who can defend multiple positions. It’s unlikely that will change and since positionless players are the new desirable that’s wise.

More from Thunderous Intentions

Likewise, the Thunder tends to be among the top pacesetters in the league but without Westbrook will this iteration of the club continue that trend?

If there is one specific area Presti, Head Coach Billy Donovan and the roster needs to embrace its 3-point shooting. Finishing in the top five only once in the franchise history isn’t ideal nor is the past three seasons of ranking in the bottom third of the league.

This season there should be growth in this specific area at least initially given Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari are both capable long-range snipers.

However, with copious draft picks and Presti quite literally reshaping and building for the future his goal should be to accumulate top long-range snipers.

Maintaining the current culture and identity of the organization is smart business. But this one offensive skill set has been missing for far too long and it remains the priority as the OKC Thunder reposition and replenish.

Next. 3 key areas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can improve upon next season. dark

That and maybe Presti will finally invest in a shooting coach to help develop the youthful assets on the team. Losing Adrian Griffin hurt and this season a plethora of assistant coaches exited. The hope is the replacements excel in development however, a shooting coach should be a priority for the club who’ve notoriously had issues not only from deep but also from the charity stripe.

Home/Thunder News