Practice Report: Thomas and Collison Provide Punch Off the Bench
Nov 9 2009 3:44PM
Six games into the regular season, and Thunder veterans Etan Thomas and Nick Collison have developed a strong chemistry coming off the bench.
Thomas and Collison, the two front court players in the Thunder’s nine-man rotation, combined for 10 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday’s 102-74 win over the Orlando Magic.
“We feed off each other,” Thomas said. “We’re both physical, we both go to the boards and they’ve got to pick one person to block out. Sometimes I just bang a couple guys and he’ll get the rebound. That’s good for the team. We feed off each other.”
Thomas and Collison have provided the Thunder with a dynamic off the bench that wasn’t there last season. A year ago, Collison played out of position at times at center, while Thomas was still with the Washington Wizards.
Thomas has become one of the Thunder’s most physical players this season, and has brought toughness and attitude to each game. Collison, meanwhile, has been able to play mostly at his regular power forward spot, where he’s continued to do the intangibles.
Both are off to strong starts this season: Collison is averaging 3.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench, while Thomas is averaging 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in nearly 23 minutes a game.
“They always have each other’s back and they know wherever one guy is the other is going to back him up,” Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. “That’s how it has to be.”
STRESSING THE FUNDAMENTALS
There were two key things the Thunder focused on during Saturday’s practice that carried over to Sunday’s strong effort against the Magic.
One would be the passing drill the team went through a day after posting just 15 assists in a loss to Houston. The Thunder had to make 100 consecutive passes while going through each of its offensive sets on Saturday.
“He’s been stressing it since the Houston game,” Thomas said of Brooks, “so that’s all he’s been talking about.”
The end result: 27 assists on 40 baskets against the Magic, and 57.1% shooting from the floor.
Thomas said the second thing the coaching staff stressed was transfering drill work to the games, particularly closing out on three-point shooters.
“Working as a string,” Thomas explained. “One person goes and helps one man, the other person drops back and helps him. We’ve just been goiing through it in drills and he wants us to transfer it to the games. We’re getting it. We’re getting there.”
The end result: the Thunder held Orlando to 36.8% shooting from the field, a season-low for an opponent, and just 3-for-16 from three-point range.The Magic entered Sunday’s game averaging 11.5 three-pointers per game.
Brooks said that when the Thunder plays such a well-rounded game, the effort on either side of the ball is contagious.
“I like to say it’s coaching but with our guys they’ve been working extremely hard snce day one of training camp and we take steps,” Brooks said. “Some are bigger than others. I thought last night was a great step for us, completing the defensive possession with a contested shot, a rebound and offensively we made extra passes all night long.”
THIS AND THAT
The Thunder is headed on its first back-to-back road trip of the season starting Tuesday in Sacramento and Wednesday at the L.A. Clippers. Both teams are 3-4…Brooks said he planned to meet with family from the Sacramento area when the team arrives there on Monday evening…Brooks said the team focused on its mid pick-and-roll defense during Monday’s practice.
Contact Chris Silva
“We feed off each other,” Thomas said. “We’re both physical, we both go to the boards and they’ve got to pick one person to block out. Sometimes I just bang a couple guys and he’ll get the rebound. That’s good for the team. We feed off each other.”
Thomas and Collison have provided the Thunder with a dynamic off the bench that wasn’t there last season. A year ago, Collison played out of position at times at center, while Thomas was still with the Washington Wizards.
Thomas has become one of the Thunder’s most physical players this season, and has brought toughness and attitude to each game. Collison, meanwhile, has been able to play mostly at his regular power forward spot, where he’s continued to do the intangibles.
Both are off to strong starts this season: Collison is averaging 3.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench, while Thomas is averaging 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in nearly 23 minutes a game.
“They always have each other’s back and they know wherever one guy is the other is going to back him up,” Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. “That’s how it has to be.”
STRESSING THE FUNDAMENTALS
There were two key things the Thunder focused on during Saturday’s practice that carried over to Sunday’s strong effort against the Magic.
One would be the passing drill the team went through a day after posting just 15 assists in a loss to Houston. The Thunder had to make 100 consecutive passes while going through each of its offensive sets on Saturday.
“He’s been stressing it since the Houston game,” Thomas said of Brooks, “so that’s all he’s been talking about.”
The end result: 27 assists on 40 baskets against the Magic, and 57.1% shooting from the floor.
Thomas said the second thing the coaching staff stressed was transfering drill work to the games, particularly closing out on three-point shooters.
“Working as a string,” Thomas explained. “One person goes and helps one man, the other person drops back and helps him. We’ve just been goiing through it in drills and he wants us to transfer it to the games. We’re getting it. We’re getting there.”
The end result: the Thunder held Orlando to 36.8% shooting from the field, a season-low for an opponent, and just 3-for-16 from three-point range.The Magic entered Sunday’s game averaging 11.5 three-pointers per game.
Brooks said that when the Thunder plays such a well-rounded game, the effort on either side of the ball is contagious.
“I like to say it’s coaching but with our guys they’ve been working extremely hard snce day one of training camp and we take steps,” Brooks said. “Some are bigger than others. I thought last night was a great step for us, completing the defensive possession with a contested shot, a rebound and offensively we made extra passes all night long.”
THIS AND THAT
The Thunder is headed on its first back-to-back road trip of the season starting Tuesday in Sacramento and Wednesday at the L.A. Clippers. Both teams are 3-4…Brooks said he planned to meet with family from the Sacramento area when the team arrives there on Monday evening…Brooks said the team focused on its mid pick-and-roll defense during Monday’s practice.
Contact Chris Silva
