OKC Thunder routed by the New Orleans Pelicans – 3 takeaways

OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

This frontcourt is going to struggle against the bigger bodies.

To make this perfectly clear, Al Horford can take on most players one-on-one. He is a terrific defender. However, when teams have two big, talented bodies they can send to the offensive glass the OKC Thunder are going to struggle to keep them out.

The Thunder lost the rebounding battle 66-49 which is minus 17. To make matter worse, the Pelicans won the offensive rebounding battle 7-14. There are many factors to this stat but the biggest issue is the opposition perimeter game.

For the Thunder to be successful they need a communal effort on the boards, especially against Steven Adams or other players of his size. When he is left alone against any defender he is simply too big and too strong. Thunder fans have witnessed this for the past seven years and loved it.

However, the younger bodies of the Thunder are able to defend the perimeter and this is where they stay when the shot goes up. If the Thunder pivot has a good position, they should get the rebound even against Adams or someone of his ilk. However, when you add a Zion Williamson style body to the mix, this Thunder unit struggles to get position to box out both big bodies.