4 problems Oklahoma City Thunder must fix to win 2024 NBA title
By Tyler Watts
2. Josh Giddey's shooting
Teams will leave Josh Giddey open in the playoffs and dare him to shoot. The Thunder lead the league in drives, and their other four starters are shooting over 36.7 percent from 3-point range this season. The opposition will prioritize protecting the rim, and Giddey is a career 31.0 percent shooter on threes. He has shown improvement and believes he can make them. It is the key to him staying on the floor.
Giddey has played the fifth-most minutes per game for the Thunder this season. The next four players by playing time have all shot over 40 percent. Daigneault's next two options are 6’4 or under. Size becomes a bigger issue if they replace Giddey with Cason Wallace or Isaiah Joe.
The Thunder leads the league in 3-point percentage this season. Having a 7’1 center shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range is a massive plus. Can they balance spacing and size in their lineups? If Josh Giddey is not being guarded and shooting 30 percent from 3-point range, how do the Thunder adjust and does that create a new set of issues?
Their floor spacing question is based mostly on how Josh Giddey performs in the playoffs. It is something fans will have to see. If the 6’8 guard is shooting 35 percent from three, the Thunder will be a problem, but this issue could become larger when the games matter most.