The OKC Thunder will be facing the Phoenix Suns in a first-round showdown, which doesn't seem harsh for the defending champs at face value. However, for veteran Luguentz Dort, this leaves a steep mountain to climb.
With the combination of the Suns' exceptional ability to guard three-pointers and the responsibility of guarding Devin Booker, Dort could find his late-regular-season shortened playing time flowing right on into the playoffs
Suns' prevention of wide-open triples may severely limit Thunder guard
The Suns are among the best in the NBA at limiting wide-open shots. They allow the third fewest attempts per game in that area (17.2), and are at the top of the Western Conference in that category.
This leaves Dort with one of the worst-case scenarios, as much of his offense comes from these looks from behind the arc. He is second on the team in wide-open attempts, with 2.9 of his 5.4 attempts per game coming from this area.
Additionally, he has shot well from here, knocking down over 40.0 percent of these looks, despite the overall down shooting season.
As far as open looks, the Suns are also good at preventing that shot from behind the arc. They rank eleventh in this area, allowing 13.7 shots a night. Almost all of Dort's other threes come in this fashion, ranking third on the team with 2.4 attempts, while shooting just 27.4 percent.
Because of Dort's consistent struggles with shot-creation, ball handling, and movement threes, it's easy to imagine his offense disappearing this series. These significant offensive struggles could force coach Mark Daigneault to continue with his reduced minutes.
Difficult Devin Booker assignment could be the nail in the coffin
Since 2024, Dort has fared well guarding Booker, only allowing 11.2 points and 4.1 turnovers per 75 possessions. But this comes on an efficient 63.5 true shooting percentage, raising the question of whether Booker can increase his scoring as he does so often in the playoffs.
Booker has been one of the best playoff risers in the NBA in recent years. He's averaging 28.0 points per game in his nine career playoff series, shooting 48.6 percent from the field. He is one of the most prolific shot-makers in the playoffs, with an arsenal of mid-range and three-point shots that leave any defender hopeless.
So, with the high-scoring ceiling of Booker and the extreme offensive scoring limitations, Dort's first-round performance could drastically affect his future with the team.
If he plays as poorly as the stats suggest, he could immensely increase the chances of the Thunder using their newfound lottery pick to replace the veteran, causing an abrupt, sour ending to a once prolific OKC legend.
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