Sometimes in the NBA, the best defense is a good offense. Analysts across the league evaluate how well teams fare after missed shots versus makes by their opposition, and the Thunder knows that offense is always much more difficult when you have to pull the ball out of the net.
Head Coach Billy Donovan knows that his team has struggled with some shooting woes this season, but with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns up next on the schedule there is a chance for his squad to get right by doing something crucial on offense: getting the ball as close to the rim as possible. It sounds simple, yet getting into the deep paint is annually the best predictor of high level offense, and it’s the top priority of every defense.
1-on-1: Jerami Grant
In today’s NBA, getting downhill to the rim on pick-and-rolls, attacking converging help defenders and then kicking out to shooters is the normal diet. When that’s not working for the Thunder and shots aren’t dropping, Donovan has utilized Steven Adams as a source of offense as a post-up man. Adams’ skill level, heft and height all help him be a formidable presence in the paint, and the Thunder can initiate offense from there, particularly against a rookie, albeit a very talented one, like DeAndre Ayton.
“You’ve got to put some pressure at the basket,” Donovan began. “If you’re not putting any pressure at the basket, I think it’s really difficult to have a good offensive night because if there’s no threat to go to the rim, everybody’s just kind of spread out, staying at home.”
“Those guys can a lot of times create opportunities for the ball to move or find the open man, and I think Dennis (Schröder) and Paul (George) are guys that are capable of doing those kinds of things in terms of their skill level and their vision, to be able to make plays from their positions,” Donovan noted.
While the Thunder is aiming for a higher-octane offense on Monday against Phoenix, it also knows that it will get nowhere in its quest to return to the win column if the defense doesn’t hold up. The Suns offense hasn’t been prolific as of yet, but the team is chock full of players who can go for 20-or-more points on any given night.
Ayton comes in averaging 16.1 points on 60.4 percent shooting, while Devin Booker is averaging 20.0 points per game over his career, let alone the 24.9 he’s putting up this season. With sharpshooters like Trevor Ariza and TJ Warren flanking the wings, the Thunder’s perimeter defense will have to be sharp all night to limit those pesky catch-and-shoot looks that can sink an otherwise stout effort.
“They’ve got some veteran guys too with them – Ariza, and obviously Warren has been around. He’s a good scorer,” Donovan said. “We’ve got a chance to see them once and we’ll get a chance to kind of look at our game film again as a team. But those guys are good players.”
Thunder Investing in Youth
Throughout this season, the Thunder has gotten contributions up and down the roster, though not always from the same guys every night. Part of that is natural – these Thunder players are human after all – but another is the continued growth and development that is required of youngsters. The Thunder is starting second-year guard Terrance Ferguson and bringing rookie guard Hamidou Diallo off the bench, while also playing 25-and-under players like Dennis Schröder, Steven Adams, Alex Abrines, Nerlens Noel and Jerami Grant significant minutes.
Watch: Donovan on Young Players
Donovan laid out a detailed, dynamic explanation of what it’s like for young players in this league, and why results can be inconsistent from game to game:
“Sometimes it’s easy for a coach to take things for granted when you have Paul (George) and Russell (Westbrook) and Steven (Adams), and you just think this young guy is that far and that advanced. And sometimes it takes a little time to explain. It takes a little bit more time watching film away from the court, before practice.”
“What they can never get enough of is actual in-game experience. When they’re in games experiencing things, the hard part for those guys is a lot of times it can be really up and down. You can see them have a really good game and then the next game come back and say, ‘Jeez, what happened?’ Then another good game. That’s part of developing consistency is them being inconsistent. The inconsistencies a lot of times are things that they’re learning that they can be better from, which then enables them to be more consistent as players in terms of doing their jobs.”
“This is their job, this is coming to work, this is what they have to do. That’s why it’s great having a guy like Russell around. Because I don’t think for Russell his job ends when he leaves here. He studies film, he watches tape, he tries to get with those guys and communicate with those guys. He’s an incredible role model for a lot of younger players of why he’s gotten to the level he’s gotten to.”
“A lot of times young players rely on their talent so much, but what happens is when they get up to this level, the talent gap has totally evened itself out. Now you’re looking for the margin to create and advantage: watch a little more film, study a little more personnel, come in and shoot free throws, come in and get extra shots, get in the weight room, take care of my body, eat right. There’s so many more variables that they probably didn’t even think about when they were playing in college.”
Shootaround Notes
- For the Suns, young sharpshooter Devin Booker is one of the most difficult covers on the roster. With his ballhandling he can get around screens and into the lane, but also can bury three-pointers off the bounce too. He’s a player that most defenses will pursue over the top of screens to contest a shot attempt, rather than going under them to prevent a drive. As a result, the other four Thunder defenders must be in perfect harmony on the back side to prevent easy Suns buckets.
- “As much as Book can see bodies, as much as Book can see the floor shrunk, the better for us,” said George. “He’s a really good talent. He can really shoot the ball. He has range really deep outside the three-point line. As much as we can shrink the floor and have him see bodies, the better for us.”
- So far this season Paul George is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, which would tie a career-high and is nearly two full rebounds per game more than he averaged last season. With the way the Thunder wants to play and the evolution of the game towards small ball, George understands that he and his fellow wings must help centers Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel to clear the glass.
- "Just making an emphasis of getting down there, trying to help out Steve,” said George. “We have a chance to be a really good rebounding team with our length and quickness.”
- Adams returns the favor from the Thunder’s perimeter players by being the general on the defensive end, surveying the field and giving out instructions. It’s Adams upon whom the Thunder guards and forwards rely to know exactly what kind of pick and roll coverage to be in and where to direct the ballhandler.
- "Steve-o is there to call out coverages, call out actions. He’s good with that,” said George. “We know our principles, but a lot of times we just don’t know what’s going on behind us and he’s the voice to let us know what’s going on. We just honor his call.”
News & Notes
- 12 is Russell Westbrook’s birthday, but the Thunder point guard will not be in the lineup on Monday night to celebrate. He’s still day to day with a sprained left ankle.
- If Westbrook cannot go, it will be Dennis Schröder as the starter and Raymond Felton as the Thunder’s backup point guard once again. While Felton didn’t shoot it well against the Mavericks, Donovan is confident that his 14-year NBA veteran can get the job done this season because of his ability to attack the rim.
- "You’re going to have to have guys who are going to break somebody down off the dribble to get someone else a shot. Raymond is really good at that,” said Donovan. “That’s what he’s been his whole entire career. He’s obviously been able to score from his position, but he can generally go around and get by people and create some level of penetration and help. But when the ball does get kicked out and his shot gets taken away, we’re going to need that next guy on a close out situation to be able to attack and get in there again.”