Injuries, stagnant shooting, and fierce competition reveal critical weaknesses. Discover the four key issues plaguing the OKC Thunder's recent struggles.
Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti once said that the sky falls on every NBA team at least two times a year.
For a fair amount of Thunder fans, the here and now is one of those times.
Oklahoma City has lost three of their last four games. One of those losses was to the Indiana Pacers, the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Another of the losses was to the Toronto Raptors, a very good and overlooked team, but one most thought the champs would beat at home. The latest loss was in blowout fashion to Western Conference Finals foes the Minnesota Timberwolves.
To make matters worse, the schedule is only getting tougher.
OKC's next six games are a gauntlet of contenders. First up is a road trip to Denver to take on the Nuggets, who just happened to announce the return of Nikola Jokic. Then a home game against the Orlando Magic, a road back to back for Thunder vs Spurs Part V, a home matchup against the Houston Rockets and a West Coast trip to face the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Ideally, the Thunder can at least split those games, take care of the spiraling Milwaukee Bucks at home and rest and reset during the All-Star Break.
But what is it that's causing the sky to fall on the Thunder at this particular time? There are four specific issues OKC is struggling with during this recent stretch.
1. Secondary Creators/Playmakers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite offensive engine as a primary scorer, creator and playmaker. The Thunder have an elite secondary creator in Jalen Williams and an elite third creator in Ajay Mitchell. Shoot, OKC may even have a top tier fourth creator in Nikola Topic. The problem is that with Williams, Mitchell and Topic out, teams are swarming Gilgeous-Alexander with defenders. Another problem is the MVP can't play 48 minutes a night.
2. Three Point Shooting. When Oklahoma City is hitting from deep, the champs are nearly unbeatable. But when they are cold, the margins for errors get slimmer and the team has to play its usual brand of elite defense and generate offense in transition and in the paint to overcome the dry spells. Those tasks become much more difficult without two of their All-Defensive Team players and two secondary creators.
3. Matching Every Team's Intensity. That whole preseason talking point of taking every opponent's best punch because everyone wants to take down the champs has turned out to be a real thing. Or having a target on their back or being the hunted instead of the hunter, whichever phrasing you prefer. But it's crystal clear the Thunder are circled on every team's calendar. And while OKC typically out-efforts and out-fights most teams on most nights, it's certainly challenging and grueling to bring that intensity every single night through the dog days of January and with an incredibly shorthanded roster.
4. Injuries. The running theme throughout the previous three bullet points. Bottom line, it's tough to win night in and night out in the NBA when a team is down so many of its best players. The creation and playmaking would look better with Williams and Mitchell. The 3 point shooting looks better with those two and Alex Caruso. The energy likely goes up with known juice-bringers Williams and Caruso.
OKC has a few things to wrinkle out as they march towards the postseason in hopes to win back to back titles. Health being the top priority and likely the biggest difference maker. Ultimately, despite the recent struggles and injuries, OKC still has the best record in the NBA and a 5 game lead in the West.
Not bad for a falling sky.