NBA eliminating “take foul” helps OKC Thunder more than most

The Oklahoma City Thunder are rebuilding their team in an interesting way. Sam Presti hired Mark Daigneault to become the fourth head coach of the OKC Thunder and launched the team on a new path. Since the hiring, Daigneault has preached about versatility, playmaking, and pace.

The former G-League head coach has passed his first two seasons with the Thunder with flying colors. Despite the record, it is easy to see and get behind his vision for the team. One of his big ideas is having everyone grab and go off of a rebound, push in transition, putting pressure on opposing defenses.

That has shown over his first two seasons, as the OKC Thunder have ranked top-15 in PACE each season, ranking 7th in 2020-21 (101.61), and 12th in 2021-22 (99.39). It is clear, that the idea will be to get out and run.

Not many benefit more from the NBA eliminating the take foul than the OKC Thunder

Since the end of the season, the Thunder have added Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams through the draft. All of whom will contribute to playing faster with their coast-to-coast natures and excellent outlet passes.

Another avenue to improve the pace of play for the league, and the Thunder, is the NBA eliminating the “take foul” or as many call it, the most boring play in basketball.

Gone are the days of getting beat in transition and just grabbing the ball handler to stop the fast break and thus creating a side-out and a chance to set the defense. Now, the league will enforce harsher penalties for that.

Instead of just a simple side-out, if a player fouls in transition with the purpose of stopping the fast break, the disadvantaged team will get a free throw and the ball back. Now, the team defending the fastbreak will see one of their players add to their foul total, give away a free throw, and still give up the possible on the side-out.

We are still a few weeks out of training camp and the start of the 2022-23 NBA season, but close your eyes and dream for a minute. imagine how fast Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and the rest of the Thunder team can play leading to highlight-level rim finishes, wide-open corner threes as Chet Holmgren fills the lane correctly, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives and kicks to the 2nd overall pick, and Josh Giddey’s improved rim finishing and jaw-dropping passes keeping the defense on their heels.

This is a move that few teams are equipped to take advantage of better than the OKC Thunder, and another feather in the cap of Sam Presti and Mark Daigneault who have been gearing the team’s playstyle toward this shift.