1. Rebounding
The Thunder’s lack of size shows up on the glass. They are 27th in rebounds per game and 28th in rebound percentage this season. Only the rebuilding Wizards and Hornets rank worse, and it has bitten Oklahoma City a few times this season.
The two teams OKC is battling for the top seed in the Western Conference both have massive centers who rank in the top four in rebounds per game. The Thunder can force Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert to guard Chet Holmgren on the perimeter but expect those big men to dominate the paint.
Oklahoma City has to make a team effort on the glass. They are not the biggest team, but those extra possessions can be back-breaking in the playoffs when defenses tighten up. The Thunder will try to balance it out by making more threes and being more efficient, but grabbing even two extra boards per game would vault them into the middle of the pack and alleviate the issue.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are serious contenders, despite their youth and size. They will continue improving and have the assets to significantly upgrade their roster. The Thunder are in a fantastic position, but what can they do in 2024? Stay tuned because it promises to be an exciting ride that fans won’t want to miss.