Recent OKC Thunder losses highlight positional disadvantage
Forwards and Wings who can score are a problem for Thunder:
Notably, the ease with which Christian Wood scored on the Thunder doesn’t isolate them from how the forward is feasting in general, this season. What it does highlight is the need for a better wing defender. After a loss the night prior to the Clippers and if you run through games this season small forwards and wings with scoring panache are the most difficult position for the Thunder to deal with.
The club is solid defensively and matchup up well to stop guards and big men. That said, there aren’t too many teams in the association who excel at stopping wings and forwards and it’s why two-way wing players are in such high demand league-wide.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James are arguably all top five players in the Association. But again examine the teams who’ve given the Thunder problems and the majority feature a scoring forward (like Woods last night).
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Of the 24 losses the OKC Thunder have amassed 12 occurred in the first 20 games. This was the segment of the schedule while the team was still finding chemistry and perfecting their systems. The other 12 losses have occurred in double that time through the last 42 games.
A deeper dive into those losses points to commonalities of lengthy teams especially in the frontcourt like the Lakers, Bucks, Nuggets, 76ers and certain Spurs lineups (when Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge are both on the court). Positionally, teams with scoring wings or forwards like Pascal Siakam (Raptors), and Jimmy Butler (Heat) present problems.
Other losses came versus teams with stars and unicorns like Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Giannis Antetokounmopo (Bucks), LeBron James (and even Kyle Kuzma was an issue), Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown (Celtics) and Kawhi Leonard (Clippers).
The only losses which didn’t feature lengthy frontcourts, unicorns or scoring wings/forwards came against the Kings and Grizzlies.