What's going wrong with the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Over the course of this past summer, Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder's front office pulled off a couple of big trades to add superstars like Paul George and Carmelo Anthony alongside their reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. Despite the deals, they had retained players several role players from last season like Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, Alex Abrines and Kyle Singler.
Nobody expected them to win a championship but the expectations were high. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief, with the hope that this team would add to the challenge that the Western Conference could present to the runaway favorites - the Golden State Warriors.
Like many Big 3's of the past and the present, the Thunder are struggling to start this season. Through 11 games, they are 4-7 and are currently owners of a four-game losing streak. Out of the four wins, three have come against last year's non-Playoff teams like the New York Knicks (season opener), the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls.
What's going wrong? We break it down:
#5 The offense is struggling
Usually, all of these recent Super Teams have had early issues on defense. It requires a lot of communication and players need to get used to the habits and tendencies of their teammates. Not the case in OKC.
They are fine on defense. In fact, their defensive rating of 97.6 is second-best in the league, only behind the league-leading Boston Celtics (95.6). They are in the top five for most of the major defensive categories - steals, blocks and opposition's points off turnovers.
Surprisingly their offense has failed to see the light of day. Every major offensive category, they are ranked either in the bottom five or ten in the league: Offensive rating (101.6 - 22nd), field goal % (44.2% - 21st), 3-point shooting (34.2% - 22nd), free-throw shooting (71.6% - 28th) and assists (21.1 - tied 20th).