OKC Thunder will be catalyst to developing the positionless roster
OKC Thunder recognize the advantages of a positionless strategy
A key positionless advantage features the initiation of offensive sets. Most teams use one or two players to handle playmaking or bring the ball upcourt after an opponent’s basket. Typically point guards handle this part of the offense although unicorns like LeBron James or Luka Doncic often take charge in this area.
More and more teams are turning to use their wings and forwards to bring the ball upcourt and initiate the offense but it’s more often used as an occasional tweak than the norm.
Again, in positionless basketball, the team moves the ball through everyone’s hands until they get a clean shot or expose a great matchup.
When your center and power forward can dish dimes with the same ability as your backcourt or at least is an above-average playmaker it makes the offense more difficult to guard. Likewise, when your guards can rebound with equal adeptness as your bigs that presents huge advantages.
Of the skills, players will need to develop to reach a positionless strategy it sure seems like bigs who can play make or handle the ball will be the most difficult to achieve and maybe why Sam Presti at least initially had such interest in international draft prospects because fo the emphasis on skills up and down the rotations.
Some might suggest guards rebounding will also present issues but with guard examples such as Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Marcus Smart, and the rebounding king Russell Westbrook it seems an easier goal to achieve.
The main advantages arise on the defensive end of the floor when point guards can switch onto centers and vice versa. A clear advantage of a positionless team on offense is opponents can’t isolate on an individual or a few in the game planning.
Likewise, teams capable of putting five players on the floor who can guard a point guard’s speed, the range of 3-point snipers, the size of players of Nikola Jokic’s ilk, and show adeptness at defending the pick and roll is the ideal lineup. Granted, there will always be players who are better suited to one side of the floor over the other.
Still, having a team with these developed skills will most certainly provide benefits. During this rebuilding phase, Mark Daigneault will work with the players the OKC Thunder tap to move forward with the core and develop the areas they aren’t as strong.
For example, Luguentz Dort has already demonstrated his defensive prowess so it wasn’t a big surprise to learn he worked on his ball-handling and perimeter shooting this offseason.
Darius Bazley actually gave the best answer when asked what he focused on this offseason — everything!
It’s understandable why teams are moving toward this trend. Scan the records of the early season and dive into the box scores and there is a common denominator from rising teams — balanced scoring mixed with solid team defense.
Each of the Cavaliers, Magic, Suns, and Hawks (as well as the Kings until Haliburton got injured) have all witnessed success early and in their wins utilized balanced scoring and team defense.