Week in Review: Fine margins

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This season, the Thunder have been one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. (The Thunder are second in the NBA in rebounds per game, averaging 49 per contest). That rebounding ability has helped the Thunder grab the second most offensive rebounds per game in the league (12.6).

Unsurprisingly, then, the Thunder are one of the better teams in the league at grabbing available rebounds. The Thunder are first in the league in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 29.7% of available offensive rebounds; eighth in the league in percentage of contested rebounds collected, pulling down 31.5% of contested rebounds; and second in the NBA in adjusted rebound chance percentage, collecting 70% of available rebounds within 3.5 feet of a player (subtracting out the times a player lets his teammate grab a rebound).

That being said, if you want to point to one critical issue in the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 17, it was rebounding. Although the Thunder are fifth in the league in defensive rebounding (as measured by adjusted defensive rebound chance percentage), they repeatedly failed to keep the Cavs (namely Tristan Thompson) off the offensive glass. In fact, Thompson alone pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, including four in the final frame.

Now, the Cavs are a decent offensive rebounding team (ranking 11th in adjusted offensive rebound chance percentage), but part of the blame falls to poor execution by the Thunder. Take a look at this GIF below, where three Thunder defenders are near the paint with inside position on Thompson.

While Adams at least makes an attempt to block Thompson out, Ibaka drifts around while Thompson gets himself into prime position to grab the rebound (in the middle of the paint). Not only does Thompson beat Ibaka to the spot, but he out-muscles Adams for position. Thompson went on to grab yet another offensive rebound in this possession, and the Cavs put up three shots on the basket (mercifully missing all three opportunities).

The failure to secure defensive rebounds is most frustrating because the Thunder otherwise played a solid game. They shot the ball okay (47% FG%), passed the ball (23 assists on 35 made baskets), limited turnovers (just 12 turnovers), blocked shots (7 blocked shots), and got to the free throw line (28 attempts). But, largely due to 16 offensive rebounds, the Cavs took 14 more shots the Thunder. In what was functionally a one-possession game (the Cavs made it a four-point game on a meaningless free throw), letting your opponent have 14 more scoring opportunities is a significant difference–in this case, the difference between a win and a loss.

THE GAMES

• 106-90 win vs. the Portland Trail Blazers on December 16
• 104-100 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 17
• 118-78 win vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on December 19
• 100-99 win at the Los Angeles Clippers on December 21

THE BEST PLAYER

Serge Ibaka. Ibaka has felt the brunt of significant criticism to start the season. Questions about his defense and his role in the offense have fueled speculation whether Ibaka is on the decline or being misused by Billy Donovan. That being said, Ibaka quietly had an excellent week of basketball. In addition to scoring 16.3 points per game, Ibaka shot 54% from the field and 44% from three (on over 2 attempts per game), nabbed 2.3 offensive rebounds per game and 7 total rebounds per game, and swatted 1.3 shots. In fact, Ibaka had the highest net rating of any starter over the last four games.

Honorable mention: Steven Adams. Speaking of being quietly excellent, Adams is quickly becoming the perfect center to compliment Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Adams does the little things so well–he sets good screens, he rebounds, he plays solid defense–which is exactly what the Thunder need to balance a lineup featuring offensive forces like Durant and Westbrook.

THE WORST PLAYER

DJ Augustin. As the backup point guard playing almost 16 minutes per game, Augustin delivered very little. He didn’t shoot well (16.7% FG%, 30% TS% in the last four), his passing was average at best (Nick Collison had a higher assist percentage this week), and he didn’t play defense worth a lick (Augustin is sixth-worst in the league DBPM among minutes qualified guards).

Which leads me to the most important question of the week: Where is Cameron Payne? The highly-coveted 14th overall pick of the 2015 draft has been relegated to bench and mop-up duty except in rare circumstances in favor of Augustin, the disappointing veteran. I know it’s the D-League and all, but in two games, all Payne has done is score 23.5 points per game (on 44/43/83 shooting splits) to go along with 7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Is Payne not worth a look?

THE BEST PERFORMANCE

Russell Westbrook against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a losing effort, Westbrook gave a stirring effort. Westbrook scored 27 points, dished 10 assists, grabbed 3 rebounds, and came up with 3 steals in 35 minutes of run. Even more positive, Westbrook was efficient scoring (56% FG% and TS% of 65.4%), and even better passing (assisting on 58.8% of his teammate’s baskets while he was on the floor). It’s disappointing, though, that Westbrook’s game was squandered.

I hate playing revisionist history (okay, I lied, maybe I like it a little), but if the Thunder could’ve kept the Cavs off the offensive glass, I’d like to believe the Thunder are riding a 9-game winning streak, with the chance to make it 10 in a row against the hapless Los Angeles Lakers.

THE WORST PERFORMANCE

Dion Waiters vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. In what was bound to be an emotional return to Cleveland, the team that drafted Waiters fourth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Waiters gave the home fans exactly what they wanted. Waiters scored just 4 points on 1-7 shooting, including 0-3 from three and 2-4 from the free throw line. Waiters was pressing so much that Billy Donovan went to Kyle Singler in the closing lineup, over Waiters, who until then, was Donovan’s favored choice at SG in fourth quarters.

THE BEST PLAY

Kevin Durant completes a floating reverse layup. I’ve watched this GIF about 40 times now. It’s absolutely stunning watching Durant seemingly floating up and under the basket before laying the ball in with a one-handed scoop.

THE WORST PLAY

LeBron James walks his way to two points. I’m going to let this GIF speak for itself.

Dishonorable mention: A DailyThunder poster compared Enes Kanter, and his full-court heave into the stands, to Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. With Kanter’s current mustache, the comparison is spot on.

WEEK IN PREVIEW

• At the Los Angeles Lakers on December 23 at 9:30 p.m. (NBATV). Well, the last time the Thunder played the Lakers, the Thunder cakewalked to a 40-point win over the Kobe-less Lakers. Maybe Kobe Bryant will play this time to make it a little more interesting, if nothing else but to watch the farewell tour.

• Vs. the Chicago Bulls on December 25 at 1:30 p.m. (ABC). Back on November 5, the Thunder fell to the Bulls 104-98 in a frustrating loss that left the Thunder just 3-3 on the year. In a nationally-televised Christmas day matchup, the Thunder have a chance to give their fans the gift they’ve always wanted: a win.

• Vs. the Denver Nuggets on December 27 at 6:00 p.m. (FSOK). Somewhat surprisingly, the Nuggets are just 1.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the best. That doesn’t mean they are very good, though.