U.S. Cellular Thunder Training Camp was an essential learning and training opportunity for the Thunder, but at long last after a challenging October, the Thunder closed the book on its camp practices and started the next chapter of the 2014-15 season.
On Wednesday night the Thunder will square off on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers in its opening game of the season. Head Coach Scott Brooks will unfortunately only have nine healthy bodies to work with during this back-to-back road trip that includes Thursday night’s game at the Los Angeles Clippers, but that doesn’t alter the team’s goals heading into the trip.
Injuries to Kevin Durant, Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Mitch McGary, Jeremy Lamb and Grant Jerrett have limited Brooks’ options, but he is confident in the starting lineup of Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Perry Jones, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams, along with reserves Sebastian Telfair, Lance Thomas, Nick Collison and Kendrick Perkins. Despite the roster being in flux, the Thunder’s standards are identical.
“Nothing changes,” Brooks said. “Whether we have the entire team or we don’t have the entire team, you still have to go out there and compete. All five guys have to compete for one another. We have to take care of the basketball. We have to get back in transition defense. We have to get into our pick and roll coverage. We have to box out at the free throw line.”
There is a certain set of principles that guides the Thunder as a team – free flowing offense that utilizes space, movement and passing along with high-energy, communicative defense. Despite what the outcomes look like on the scoreboard or in the stat sheet, the Thunder will analyze throughout the season how it is playing as a unit on every possession as opposed to looking to the results as the barometer.
As a former point guard himself, Brooks what it takes to manage a team and keep it running even in adverse conditions. He knows what he’ll get from Westbrook and hopes to see the offense and defense maintain its same levels of pace, flow and intensity with Telfair in as the backup point guard.
“Just to run our team, get our guys in sets, get into the ball defensively, try to look for good shots on every possession, not having any negative possessions,” Brooks said of his expectations of Telfair. “With nine guys, we’re going to need play well. We’re going to need everybody to participate and play good basketball.”
The starting lineup featuring Ibaka and Adams is one that saw action last season and at times in the preseason. The two players’ skill sets interlock well on both ends of the floor, as Adams has continually improved as an on-ball and pick-and-roll defender, while Ibaka utilizes his uncanny athleticism to be an incredible help-side defender.
On offense, the roles separate nicely as well, with Ibaka presenting himself as a threat from the elbows, the wings and behind the three-point line, in addition to being a roller to the rim. Adams has good hands and the ability to finish around the rim. In addition, he’s growing more and more proficient as a back-to-the-basket scorer.
“They’re going to complement each other well,” Brooks said. “Serge is one of the best bigs as a shooter in the league and Steven does a great job of rolling and catching around the rim. He’s a developing player and still has his best basketball ahead of him.”
“I’m a lot more comfortable just because we’ve been practicing it a lot and I’ve been put in live situations,” Adams explained. “It’s just being confident in making the moves.”
Adams’ second-year colleague Roberson is also a part of this new-look Thunder starting lineup, and will be called upon to simply play his game and impact winning in the ways he knows how. As an on-and-off ball defender, Roberson uses his natural gifts to bother opponents into frustrating mistakes. On offense, Roberson’s ability to cut and put pressure on the defense in somewhat unconventional ways can allow himself to be a factor. He’s still developing and growing as a player, but he has some unique skills that make him an asset.
“He’s a very tenacious defender,” Brooks explained. “He’s athletic, he’s long and we want him to use that ability every time on the defensive end of the court. Offensively he has to continue to improve that part of his game.”
As the Thunder continues to get healthy over the coming weeks, the lineups and rotations will evolve, develop and gel. For now, the team will focus on playing its brand of basketball on both ends of the floor to the best of its ability.
After a trying preseason, the INTEGRIS Thunder Development Center has been abuzz over the last few days as the team made its final preparations for the road trip that kicks off the start of a brand new season.
“Everyone is excited,” Adams said. “We just can’t wait to get it started.”