BY THUNDER MATCHUPS
Instagram: @thunder_matchups
Twitter: @MatchupsThunder
If there’s one thing I expect from Donovan and the staff it’s a completely different style of play, in my opinion much more efficient than the one adopted so far due to the presence of Westbrook and PG.
You can love Westbrook as much as you like, but we know that unfortunately he’s not one of the most efficient shooters in the NBA, especially in the last quarter.
The Thunder have always been a defense-transition and hero ball team.
In the last year, the Thunders have only made 54% of the baskets after an assist.
( Golden State is first with 66.8% )
Why am I excited? Because of course, our game-plane will have an upgrade:
- Chris Paul, doesn’t have to be the old Paul on his prime, we don’t need a scorer in the pg position, we still have Schroder and Shai for that. Our offense then, will become slightly more European as Paul’s main goal will be to involve his teammates and not necessarily be the first or second option offensively. Paul will also be a good mentor and I hope that, even if
for a few months, he can teach our young players a lot. - Center/Play Axis
Chris Paul with Adams, and Schroder with Noel is a lot of stuff.
Paul’s pick and roll with Adams will surely bring defenses to adapt with systematic changes, so an advantage probably for Adams under the basket, opening the possibility to our shooters. The most careful of the fans will surely have noticed how efficient Westbrook’s pick and roll with Adams was during the first minutes of almost every game. A play style that I don’t know for what reason, was already abandoned in the middle of the first quarter usually.
Now this new system can be the foundation of our game.
Oklahoma will finally, adopt a more efficient style of play in my opinion, similar to the Denver one (unfortunately without similar qualities in shooting from outside). - Triangle Cp3, Adams, Gallo
Chris Paul can call the pick and roll led by Adams (or Noel) with Gallo who can stay in the corner to take the dish for the shot. Gallinari is not only a shooter, but is also very good at
penetrating, concluding or earning foul.
Why should I be happy about this, since Westbrook is stronger than Chris Paul? Because stronger or weaker the defense doesn’t care, Westbrook was never a reliable shooter, the defense could make adjustments to contain this system by passing behind the screens. Now with CP3, this is much more risky because he knows how to score the open shot if the defense leaves him room. With each defense adjustment Oklahoma can choose a
reliable option: Paul’s shot, Adams’ dish, Gallo’s open shots, without considering that we will have Shai and Ferguson in the perimeter. - Adams
With the Westbrook, George and Grant trade, it seems obvious that Adams will receive many more balls inside. Many times I have done posts of “accusation” against the non-
involvement of Adams in the offense. For every 100 possessions, Adams is estimated at 19 points, 13 rebounds (6 on offense), 2 steals, 1.3 blocks per game. Such a player must be involved and facilitated under the basket, to force the defense to collapse inside and then have open shots from outside. Adams is also already very efficient against bigs of the same size, so imagine if we can create mismatches under the basket, could virtually become unstoppable. - Defense
The defense will certainly fall, we lost Grant, Paul George and Westbrook.
Although Westbrook’s defensive rating according to points allowed per 100 possession (nba.com/stats) was one of the worst defenders of OKC last year, he was still a player capable of increasing defensive intensity at crucial moments of the games. Not for nothing he closed with 1.9 steals per game (fifth in the nba).
But there are still players like Ferguson, perhaps the return of Roberson, Noel, the same
Shai, Adams (if he returns the old one on defense) can still keep high enough in the NBA ranking our defense as a team.
6 – Very weak in the position of Small Forward
Unless Nader takes a step up, in the positions of SF unfortunately we have our weak point:
Nader, Roberson, Bazley can’t play important minutes (currently).
Roberson of course, if healthy could contain opponents superstars on offense, but without improvements to his shooting we will play with 4 guys on offense.
7- Unpredictability
is the first time in the history of OKC in which we have a roster to face games in 2 different styles of play:
Team play with axis Play-Center with dishes out for shooters
Lineup: Chris Paul, Shai, Ferguson, Gallo, Adams
Thunder Basketball, defense lead to transition, early shots in the shot clock, defense
Lineup: Schroder, Diallo, Burton, Muscala, Noel
is clear that we are not talking about a contender team, but if Chris Paul is in shape, Ferguson stepped up, if Adams will be consistent on offense and defense, Noel stepped up, Gallo will be healthy and consistent throughout the season, Schroder in sixth man of the year mode and if Shai will be even stronger than how he left Los Angeles after a first round of playoffs, not only will this team be a surprise for many, but we can also fight to hope for a miraculous 7-8 place in the playoffs.
Be careful, this article is about the Thunder’s style of play in 2019/2020. It doesn’t mean I agree to fight for a place in the playoffs. In my opinion the team is made up of 2 players (Paul and Gallinari) who have absolutely no intention ( and age ) of considering our project, but at the same time it’s in their interest to do well to be traded to a contender before the All Star Game. Schroder and Adams are two other players who could be traded also but not necessarily by the end of next season. For 2020 we have 2 first choices, one of our own and one from Denver that will surely be high. it will be necessary to enter the top 10 with our pick in the next draft that seems full of great talent. If we make the playoffs, that hope will be lost.
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