OKC Thunder: Second-chance points ‘killing’ team in 2020-21

The OKC Thunder have managed to surprise the masses throughout their first 24 games of action.

Though they may be boasting a sub-.500 record of 10-14, the team has found themselves competing from tip-off to final buzzer, displaying the “never say die” approach that fans have grown to love over the Thunder’s 13-year existence.

There’s a lot to love about this early portion of the 2020-21 campaign for Oklahoma City, such as the continued ascension for 3-and-D extraordinaire Luguentz Dort, the surprise second-round rookie that has been Theo Maledon, and the All-Star bound season that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has put forth.

However, even with these positive turnouts to the year, there have still be some areas of the team’s game that has somewhat held them back.

The OKC Thunder have one particular aspect to their play that has ‘killed’ them

According to Bleacher Report, there is one particular aspect to the Thunder’s game that has been ‘killing’ them all season.

That aspect: second-chance points.

"The Thunder are No. 2 in second-chance points allowed and dead last in second-chance points of their own. Poor board work is mostly to blame; OKC is in the bottom five in rebound percentage.To give the Thunder some credit, part of this seems to be intentional. Oklahoma City gives up the fewest fast-break points per game in the league because it’s abandoned the offensive boards in the interest of getting all five bodies back on D. As for the other end, well…the explanation is less flattering. OKC just isn’t any good at securing the defensive glass or getting stops."

Writer Grant Hughes started this section off by stating that, though this area of their game has been underwhelming, it’s ultimately “a good thing”, as they are “in a race to the bottom.”

Though we disagree with this mindset, as the hope is the OKC Thunder opt to make a trade — potentially for a disgruntled star — and bypass the who tankathon in pursuit of their sixth consecutive season, their efforts to stop second-chance points have been detrimental to the team so far.

If they wish to improve their record moving forward, a lot more work has to be done on this aspect of their game.