On Monday night, the Thunder took a step forward. On Tuesday, it hit the practice floor to ensure that it keeps moving that direction.
The Thunder looks at each game, practice, shootaround and film session as an opportunity to grow and improve as a unit. After the team’s win over the Orlando Magic on Monday, it wanted to make sure the good habits that helped build a 22-point lead and put Orlando away late get carried over into its next challenge, a home-and-home set against the New Orleans Pelicans. While the Thunder has developed over the years and evolved as a unit and individually, there has been a general code that Head Coach Scott Brooks’ squad has lived by on the offensive end.
“We have to continue to trust each other and trust the system,” Brooks said. “It’s important that we continue to follow that game plan of trusting your teammates and expecting them to make the next pass or make the next shot.”
The key to facilitating that offensive system is to set it up from the very beginning of each possession. Players can trust each other much easier when teammates are in the spots where they expect, move quickly through the sets and cut quickly and assertively.
As the Thunder continues to grow as a unit, understanding that every second of the shot clock is valuable and that every movement on the floor must be precise in order to generate a basket will be crucial. The ideal possession for the Thunder maximizes each man’s impact on the floor, forcing the opposition into difficult positions and decisions as the Thunder creates, attacks and shares the ball.
“It’s getting to our spots quickly and then the ball starts moving with some action and then keeps moving until we get a good shot and the defense can’t catch up to it,” Collison explained.
Collison Signs Extension
The news of the day at the INTEGRIS Thunder Development Center was that the organization and forward Nick Collison agreed on a contract extension, meaning that the longest-tenured player on the roster will continue to hold that title. Collison has spent every minute of his 12-year NBA career with the organization, and has helped define the standards, principles and core values that the team holds itself to on a daily basis. Alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Collison is a leader who wants to leave his mark on Oklahoma City.
“It’s something that I’m really happy about,” Collison said. “I felt like this is where I want to be. This is my team.”
“I’ve been treated really well here, I really like the people I come to work with every day and I really had no reason to try to go anywhere else,” Collison continued.
Not only was Collison thrilled to remain with the Thunder for the foreseeable future, his teammates and the coaching staff were pleased by the mutual decision to keep one of the pillars of the Thunder program with the organization. Collison’s impact on the floor is apparent in his effort, energy, preparation and selflessness. Off the court, his ability to be a positive force is even more integral to team success.
“It’s a great day for our organization and for Nick,” Brooks said. “He means a great deal to all of us. He does everything we ask on the court and off the court. He’s a true professional. He’s somebody who gives our younger players an example of how to prepare, how to be a pro and how to be a great teammate. He’s going to go down as one of the best teammates of all time.”
McGary Assigned to Blue
Thunder rookie forward Mitch McGary has had a tough first season in the NBA, battling two separate injuries. The strong, burly forward played in one preseason game and one regular season contest for the Thunder before Monday night’s home victory over the Orlando Magic, when he saw action late in the contest. On Tuesday, the Thunder assigned McGary to its Development League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, in order to get more opportunities to rehab, get into game shape and develop as a player.
“He’s working his way back,” Brooks said. “That’s the next part of the rehab, to get onto the practice court and then get onto the game court. He’s going to have some time in the D-League so it’s going to give him a great opportunity to get some extra work in.”