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OKC Thunder: What we learned in the second preseason game

By Rylan Stiles

Justin Robinson #55 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during a preseason game at Fiserv Forum on October 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Justin Robinson #55 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during a preseason game at Fiserv Forum on October 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Darius Bazley #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on February 19, 2021, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

OKC Thunder defense will take some time to come around

Defense is typically the last to round into form for a young player and a young team. This team specifically is also behind the eight ball with their small-ball style.

While OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and General Manager Sam Presti think it is the way of the future, in the interim, it will look messy, chaotic, and downright bad until they get the perfect pieces in place.

The issue with playing small is along with not having any rim protection, your rotations have to be perfect, you do not have that true anchor and your lone advantage is being able to switch everything. If you lose your only advantage and have such a glaring disadvantage it ends up like tonight’s 130-110 loss.

For now, the small-ball style will be easy for teams to beat. The OKC Thunder are young, they do not fully understand their rotation responsibilities so head-spinning ball movement along with no rim protection will lead to quality looks for the opposing offenses.

Once the younger players understand their responsibility within the defensive scheme, this style will look better. They will contest more shots, play the passing lanes, come away with more steals, and oh yeah, not play a team as big as the Bucks.

Mark Daigneault has improved his team’s defense every step of the way, even dating back to his G-Leauge squads. Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder contested the second-most shots per game in the NBA (58.8). The team will not lack defense for long, but it will take some growing pains, especially when matched up with the top one percent of this league.

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