HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball ... [+] during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on November 26, 2022 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Oklahoma City Thunder have ensured consistency all season long due to being committed to defensive success. The Thunder have been a top 10 defense to this point in the 2022-23 campaign, which has proven to be a good foundation to build off of.
What that has allowed Oklahoma City to do is reach an entirely new level of competitiveness as the offensive side of the ball has slowly improved. Since the turn of the calendar year, the Thunder offense has been on fire, which has catapulted the team into the playoff picture in the second half of the season.
Since the beginning of January, the Thunder have put together the second best offense (120.7 offensive rating) in the NBA, as well as the second highest net rating (+8.2).
Over this stretch, OKC has shot the second highest 3-point percentage (40.1%) while producing the eighth most assists (26.6) and fourth fewest turnovers (11.8) per game.
Along the way, the Thunder have reached incredible milestones and broken several franchise records on the offensive end. In a game against the Boston Celtics just over a month ago, they scored a franchise record 150 points in a blowout win.
Shortly after, they broke a Thunder record for most assists in a game with 41 against the Indiana Pacers. Just a week later, Oklahoma City took things even further by setting a new season-high with 43 points in a quarter against the Atlanta Hawks.
Finally, in the Thunder’s most recent game against the Houston Rockets, they scored 153 points, breaking the record for points in a game once again. This included leading by as many as 45 points in the second half.
We’re at the point now where the sample size of offensive excellence needs to be recognized. This is a period of 16 games in which the Thunder have put together a top six record during the stretch.
This span alone has put the Thunder in a positive light offensively, inflating their statistics holistically over the entire season.
Almost 65% of the way through the season, Oklahoma City has removed itself from being in the bottom ten of categories such as field goal percentage, assists and 3-point shooting efficiency. These are all metrics that young teams really struggle with, especially the Thunder last season and early in the 2022-23 campaign.
As OKC enters the final stretch of the season, the team now has a top 15 offense and top 10 defense on the season to go along with the 11th best net rating.
The team overall has turned things around offensively, but there’s been a few key players that have individually contributed to that success. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey have both improved this season, while also figuring out how to best play off of one another. Lu Dort is starting to better understand his role and how he fits into the gameplan on offense with new weapons being added every season. Finally, Jalen Williams has been an instant contributor as a rookie which has allowed the Thunder to play small in many scenarios, which works to their advantage in most cases.
Now that the offense and defense are both ranked in the top half of the league, it will be interesting to see if that translates to the Oklahoma City Thunder being in the top half of the standings and earn a spot in the postseason.
Nick Crain, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2023/02/05/offensive-success-thunder-continue-to-break-records/
By: Nick Crain, Contributor
Title: Offensive Success: Thunder Continue To Break Records
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2023/02/05/offensive-success-thunder-continue-to-break-records/
Published Date: 02-06-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the NBA's best defender ever?
It would be no surprise to anyone who is familiar in basketball to find "The Dream", at the top of this list. Hakeem Olajuwon blocked 3,830 shots throughout his 18-year career, which is more than any other player in the history of the NBA. He was also an All-Defensive player (9 times) and 2-time DPOY (2 times), leading his team to two NBA Championships. He was a great defender. His footwork, timing, and athleticism made him a good shot blocker as well as a rebounder. He was a nightmare to opposing players because he could guard any position on court. Not only that, but he was also one of the greatest offensive players as well. He was a master of agility, speed, and a formidable array spin moves which enabled him to score in post. His versatility and ability to play all positions made him one the most valuable players in the game, not to mention defenders. It is clear that Hakeem Olajuwon should be on this list.
Bill Russell ranks only #2 on this list, with an average of 15.1 points per game. But he was a formidable defender in his era and gave opponents nightmares. Bill Russell is an NBA legend. He has won 11 NBA Championships throughout his career and has the highest defensive win rates in NBA history with 133.64. His defensive prowess as well as rebounding abilities were key to the Boston Celtics' incredible success. Many consider him the most decorated NBA defender. His ability to read and anticipate play made him an intimidating presence on court.
Dennis Rodman is third on this list. He was a pioneer in the NBA's history, and he made an enormous impact whenever he played. Rodman's tough defense, rebounding skills, and ability to score without the ball allowed him to be a consistent winner for his team. Dennis Rodman was a seven time Rebounding Champ and an eight-time All Defensive Player. He was also a 2-time DPOY and a five-time NBA Champion. His defensive end skills were among the most impressive, with his determination and ability to stay in the right position at the correct time. He was also an excellent rebounder, often out-jumping much taller players and snatching boards away from them.
Which is the greatest rivalry within the NBA?
The NBA's largest rivalry is held between the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have met the most out of any teams in the NBA Finals, with 12 times. The Celtics won nine of those meetings. Their first meeting took place in 1959. They both excelled over the next years, especially during 1960s-80s, when they would encounter each other six times and then three times. They still met twice in that same year, despite the fact that 2000 was a new millennium.
What is a Bird Rights in NBA?
In the NBA, "Bird rights" refers to a rule which allows certain players to be re-signed by their current team for more money than any other team can offer. The rule was named after Larry Bird, a former Boston Celtics player who was the first one to take advantage of it. The rule allows a team to exceed their salary limit and re-sign a player, provided they have that player on their roster at least three years. Bird rights permit players to stay on the same team and get a better salary than any other team.
Which is the greatest NBA dynasty?
It is a controversial topic that has been debated for many decades. The "showtime Lakers of 1980-1989" held the league's crown for almost a decade and won five championships. They were led by Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, Kareem A Abdul-Jabbar, and Kareem Abdul–Jabbar. During this period, the Lakers featured stars such as James Worthy (Byron Scott), and Kurt Rambis.
From 200 to 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers, later called the Shaw and Kobe Lakers became a force to reckon with. They were held by Shaquille Bryant's dynamic duo, Kobe Bryant and Kobe O'Neal, both Hall of Famer. They won three championships consecutively from 2000 through 2002.
The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s were also a dominant force in their era, winning six championships under iconic head coach Phil Jackson and led by Michael Jordan, who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. The Chico Bulls 1995-1996 are one of the most iconic teams in NBA history. They won the first three consecutive NBA championships, and also set a record 72 wins. In 2015-2016, the Bulls' regular season record of 72-10 was broken by the Golden State Warriors.
The 1960s Boston Celtics were perhaps the most famous dynasty of the NBA. They won eight consecutive championships and eleven titles under Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. Legendary players like Sam Jones, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek led the Celtics to a winning culture that has lasted for decades.
The San Antonio Spurs are also a top contender for the best NBA dynasty. From 1999 to 2007, the Spurs won 4 championships, and had one of league's greatest runs. Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Manu and Manu Ginobili, all future Hall of Famers, helped improve the team's basketball style, emphasizing a team first mentality that led to their success.
With four NBA Championships in the past decade, the Golden State Warriors have been one of the most successful basketball teams. Steve Kerr and superstar players Stephen Curry (Kevin Durant), Klay Thompson (head coach) lead them. The Warriors have a unique brand of basketball that has won over fans all over the world. They are also considered to be the greatest NBA dynasty.
In conclusion, picking one team as the greatest NBA dynasty of all time isn't easy. Each team had its own group of players and coaches who made them successful. But some teams were more notable than others because they were dominant. The Lakers, Bulls Bulls Celtics Spurs and Warriors could all be considered the greatest NBA family.
Statistics
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
External Links
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- Which NBA Team Will Participate In the Victor Wembanyama Tathon?
- News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
twitter.com
- Tweet / tweet
- Sam Amico on Twitter: "Timberwolves Waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and AJ Lawson - Hoops Wire https://t.co/xKu1ZTuQZN" / Twitter
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How To
Which is the best way for you to get drafted in the NBA?
There are two ways to become a NBA player: high school or college.
NCAA schools are available to college students, such as Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Kentucky. These schools offer four years' education and training. Players develop ball handling, shooting, and rebounding skills during this period. They also learn how to manage an offense and defend. They learn mental skills that are essential for professional athletes.
Prep schools in other states are available for high school students. These schools are focused on talent development and provide athletes with personalized attention. Players are taught academics, character development, and sportsmanship.
Both types must pass the same physical exams before they are allowed into the draft. The test consists of running 40 yards, jumping over a 5'6" box, standing on one leg, and throwing a football through a tire.
The NBA invites players who have passed these tests to join in on workouts with other teams. Their height, weight, wingspan and speed are the criteria for evaluation by teams.
Also, teams look at the player's previous experience. A player who has played AAU basketball will be given preference.
A lot of players who are too small to play professionally are considered "one-and-done" prospect. These players are usually chosen by the second round.
Some players skip college to join the NBA. These players are called "prospects." Prospects don't need to wait until the end of the year to declare themselves eligible for the draft.
They may apply for an exemption in order to be permitted to join the draft earlier. If a prospect does, he will be eligible to compete with other prospects during pre-draft.
Participation is an option for prospective players who want to increase their chances in getting selected. Summer leagues are held in July, August.
These events enable scouts see players in action without worrying too much about injury risks.
June marks the start of the NBA Draft. It's when the 30 NBA teams evaluate all the top prospects. Each team receives a set number of picks in each round.
In this example, the 15th overall pick is the first pick of the first round. In the third round the 20th selection will be the 60th.
After the draft, teams trade to make their rosters complete. Mini-camps are sometimes held by some teams to allow potential draftees to come train with them.
It's exciting to draft day! What happens next?
The draft is over once it begins. There's no waiting for your name being called. Each NBA team picks a player from the pool.
Once a team selects a player, it sends him a contract that outlines his salary, playing time, and benefits. He is now a member.
He also receives a jersey with his name on the back and a uniform with his new nickname.
Finally, he signs his contract. This means that he has officially joined the NBA.
