5 Adjustments That OKC Thunder Need To Make To Be A True Contender
In Paul George's first game back at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the arena where he was loved and adored, he was booed with every touch. The Oklahoma City Thunder held off a streaking Indiana Pacers riding high on the play of Victor Oladipo, their newest All-Star-in-the making.
Also read: 5 Trade packages for Carmelo Anthony
The manner of the victory was not quite what the Thunder must have planned for, as their Big Three of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony combined to shoot just 10-of-45 from the field. In fact, the trio was so bad offensively that Steven Adams, a limited offensive player serving as their 4th option on offense, had more field goals than all three of them combined (he went 11-for-16 from the field in addition to grabbing 9 offensive rebounds).
Clearly, this franchise has been underachieving this season, as evidenced by their 13-14 record despite boasting a top-three defense.
Here are 5 adjustments that the Thunder could make to give themselves a shot in the arm.
#5 Run more pick-and-rolls with Carmelo and George
Both Hoodie Melo and PG-13 are large physical specimens who can efficiently set big-man screens in much the same manner that currently, only Steven Adams is setting when he shares the floor with Westbrook.
Involving these two elite scorers in pick-and-rolls as either the ball handler or the roll man will help to get them into the paint area, giving them a volume of easier looks that they haven't had this season.
Anthony, who has consistently been one of the most effective scorers in the paint through the course of his career, is not able to pick his way there. Making him a secondary pick-and-roll option should help him get over his shooting woes.