The Average Joe's Notebook: One man’s opinion on fixing the Thunder

Thoughts on where the Thunder can improve this offseason

Guest Article written by the as yet unnamed ‘Average Joe’

The season has ended and it is clear that the Thunder need to play better basketball going forward to take the next step. It is great that the Thunder have tasted postseason basketball but I think the Thunder are well poised to make a big leap next season

The team can get better in three ways; a talent infusion, internal development and a consistent focus on winning (as opposed to a development focus). I think all three can and will come to fruition beginning next season.

But as it stands today, the Thunder just are not yet playing a high level brand of basketball. Or more appropriately, they are playing a middling and mediocre game. Cool. We are all happy that we don’t suck. But I think we all want our team to crush our opponents. And to be the baddest (goodest) team out there right?

So I have some ideas about how to play better. Just my ideas. I am just a guy with opinions. I am not an expert or a high level player.

It needs to be acknowledged that Jaylin Williams is a stud and is an incredibly likable guy. He plays with great energy, and puts his body in harm’s way on defense. And, J-Will can hit that 3 ball! However, I think his ceiling is as a fringe rotation big man on a great contract. He is not a starting calibre player on a great team. The Thunder can get better by protecting the basket.

As a team, the Thunder allow 50.1 points in the paint per game. Which is about 16th, or again, middling, mediocre. The Thunder do an admirable job playing “team” defense, but when it all breaks down, there is no bruising anchor in painted area to block shots or alter shots. Jaylin allows the opposing player he is defending to shoot a not cool 71% within 6 feet of the rim. That’s really bad.

Just how bad? I took a peek at a sample of other bigs in the NBA, and so as to not cherry pick, they are different guys in different roles, with different body types and skill sets, but all are NBA big men. Draymond Green allows 52.9%, Steven Adams allows 52.5%, Brook Lopez allows 51.7 %, Nic Claxton 56.2%, Rudy Gobert 56.6%, notable disinterested defender Karl Anthony Towns 58.9%.

As you can see, Jaylin’s 71% is no bueno. As for erasing shots from the opponent through shot blocks, Jaylin is just not adequate. His block rate is a mere 1.2%. I will not bore you to tears with Steven Adams’ block rate, or Nic Claxton’s, especially not Rudy’s. Trust me. Jaylin is not good here in this regard. His total rebound rate is acceptable and comparable to the others though, and did I mention I thought he seemed a cool dude and that he can stroke a three?

The five man lineup that the Thunder closed the season with Jaylin, Jalen, Giddey, Dort and Shai was -2.3 points per 100 possessions. I would be remiss if I did not mention that as the games became more important, the defense wilted over the last 20 games of the season.

The EFG% allowed was .56.4%, which would be 28th in the league for the season. The offense went similarly stagnant, the EFG% was only 51.9%. Good enough for….yeah, 28th.

However, we have this dude named Chet who is bursting at the seams to get on the court in a real live basketball game. In college, he was an elite shot blocker, rebounder and such. He altered shots. He has a nasty streak. I think he will be good medicine for better Thunder basketball going forward. Oh, and he can stroke it too!

Another way the Thunder can play better basketball is to get the current players into their optimal roles for team success, and not for just development. I could ramble on and on about this, but I will posit one key change which I think would generate improved basketball. Send my boy Lu Dort to a bench role.

I think he needs to be a solid contributor to the rotation, but I want him to come

off the bench, and shoot less. Post All Star Lu is shooting 34.2% from the field, and 28.3% from three. His ORTG is 105 and his DFRG is 118.

I still want him to guard the opposing best guard, but I want him to do it from the bench, once that starting opponent is a little tired. I would prefer Aaron Wiggins to start (51.8%/38.1% ORTG of 115 and DFRG of 117). The starting unit sample size with Wiggins in lieu of Lu is small, just 24 minutes, but it’s an encouraging +13.7 points per

100 possessions.

I would also be happy with Isaiah Joe in that role as well if not Wiggins. He has shown some very complete basketball and a willingness to defend. If not Wiggs or Joe, maybe some wizard that Presti drafts?

I would love to see Presti get a rim runner/shot blocker energy guy to play center for all of the non-Chet Holmgren minutes, perhaps in the Draft this June? This type of player? They do not grow on trees. You know the type. The dude who hauls arse down the court on defense, and gets nasty with rebounds and blocked shots. And on offense, always outrunning the opposing big and getting 2 or 3 lob dunks a game? Easy points.

Remember Serge Ibaka in his first few years with OKC? Yeah. Like that. I think that perhaps Dieng, if given a shot to play the above role, has the body for it. Maybe his energies could be directed such?

Just some random thoughts man. Let me know what you think.