How can a team take an 11 point lead in the middle of the third quarter and turn it into a fifteen point loss? How does a two point lead at the start of the fourth quarter dissolve into a 13 point deficit in a 5 minute 23 second span? Well, as a devout observer of Thunder basketball, it isn't a shocking turn of events. This has been the Thunder way for years. Usually, there is a magic KD and RW that can turn things around and grind out a victory. Usually there is superlative shot making and free throw drawing that can counteract these deficits. With Kevin Durant out and a stark lack of defense in the final 6:37, no victory would materialize. Let's break it down:
The Good:
The minute distributions just don't make sense at the moment. They are obviously rigid, and lack and nuance or in game feel. The desire to use "units" doesn't seem to be a great decision in basketball. Why no staggering of the units? We've all talked about how terrible of a defender Kanter is. Serge Ibaka and Kanter have been paired on the floor for 79 minutes, EK and Adams only 12 minutes, and EK with Nick Collison 65 minutes. I'd like to see some more minutes with Adams. Also, in lineups with no additional big (aka the KD at the 4 lineups) the Drtg is the best of all the Kanter involved lineups at ~94.8. I don't think there is enough experimentation with Kanter. With that being said, there is too much experimentation with DJ Augustine, Kyle Singler, and Dion Waiters. Something has to give with this unit. One can only hope those changes include Morrow, Payne and staggered starter minutes. |
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