The thunder's defense concerns me

[Hambombs]

They give up way to many 3's. They pack the paint to avoid easy buckets but that's problematic against the great 3pt shooting teams. Also I think not having thabo is hurting the defense

 

[bksballer89]

It shouldn't concern you....You should be licking your chops at a possible playoffs matchup with them

 

[Hambombs]

It shouldn't concern you....You should be licking your chops at a possible playoffs matchup with them

That would be a great series

 

[HammerDown]

What defense?

 

[MarkOU]

Ain't scared.

 

[Brahmsian]

They give up way to many 3's. They pack the paint to avoid easy buckets but that's problematic against the great 3pt shooting teams. Also I think not having thabo is hurting the defense

Keeping teams out of the paint is the 1st rule of good defense.

The more often the opposition settles for straightaway 3s the more fast-break dunks your team will get.

The opposition will have some hot streaks with those shots but not many.

The Thunder keeping their cool when those streaks happen is a STRENGTH,not a weakness!

 

[Hambombs]

Keeping teams out of the paint is the 1st rule of good defense.

The more often the opposition settles for straightaway 3s the more fast-break dunks your team will get.

The opposition will have some hot streaks with those shots but not many.

The Thunder keeping their cool when those streaks happen is a STRENGTH,not a weakness!

That's true. It can work against clippers or Houston but against tens like San Antonio, golden state, and suns it could be bad

 

[Hambombs]

Keeping teams out of the paint is the 1st rule of good defense.

The more often the opposition settles for straightaway 3s the more fast-break dunks your team will get.

The opposition will have some hot streaks with those shots but not many.

The Thunder keeping their cool when those streaks happen is a STRENGTH,not a weakness!

This tweet is what made me watch the suns be OKC and OKC vs lakers today.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

What defense?

You took the words right out of my mouth - lmao. I was about to say the same thing

 

[True Lakers Fan]

That would be a great series

That would depend - don't forget that the first year Lebron went to the finals on the Heat - they busted up by the three point shooting Mavericks.

 

[Shanemansj13]

It's weird that OKC with basically no defense got beat by LA that literally has NO defense.

Meeks had the game of his life...LOL

 

[gordontrue]

 

[trojanfan12]

Keeping teams out of the paint is the 1st rule of good defense.

The more often the opposition settles for straightaway 3s the more fast-break dunks your team will get.

The opposition will have some hot streaks with those shots but not many.

The Thunder keeping their cool when those streaks happen is a STRENGTH,not a weakness!

Pretty spot on. Plus, a team may be able to win a game or 2 in series vs. the Thunder by relying on the 3. But they're not going to win the series that way.

 

[thunderc]

OKC can play defense with pretty much anyone in the league when it matters. Their 2 best defenders are out right now. Let's face it, they don't have to play stellar defense to win because of how efficient the offense is and that gets them in trouble. They will be fine, go back and watch tapes of what they did in Miami and agains the Pacers.

 

[wildturkey]

OKC can play defense with pretty much anyone in the league when it matters. Their 2 best defenders are out right now. Let's face it, they don't have to play stellar defense to win because of how efficient the offense is and that gets them in trouble. They will be fine, go back and watch tapes of what they did in Miami and agains the Pacers.

I hope you aren't including Perk because damn near every analytic out there shows he's a marginal at best player. The "issue" is on the perimeter, not the interior. And you're right in that respect because of who isn't playing, Thabo Sefolosha. He's asked to do a ton schematically for the Thunder on defense and he's really the only good wing defender they have. Lamb is still too inexperienced, Jackson and Westbrook are prone to reckless swiping, and Fisher is...Fisher. They'll balance back out once Thabo comes back.

No one should worry about the Thunder's D. I still say their biggest weakness is being too reliant on KD/Westbrook offensively. Schematically, its a simple offense that often turns into isos. They're superior talents and that will win a lot of games. But in the playoffs, if you run into a team with a high talent level with good schemes, they'll break them down.

 

[Hambombs]

OKC can play defense with pretty much anyone in the league when it matters. Their 2 best defenders are out right now. Let's face it, they don't have to play stellar defense to win because of how efficient the offense is and that gets them in trouble. They will be fine, go back and watch tapes of what they did in Miami and agains the Pacers.

Thunder will be fine once thabo comes back