If three-point shooting isn’t your strong suit, then don’t attempt them. Pretty simple, right? Apparently that’s not the case with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC is one of the worst teams in the NBA when it comes to shooting three-pointers. Over the course of the season, they have converted just over 32 percent of the attempts, which makes them the fourth worst team in the association. And yet, playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, they insisted on jacking up 30 attempts from the great beyond – matching their third highest tally of the season.
Cleveland, on the other hand, had great success with the high-volume shooting method, connecting on 16 of their 36 shots from three-point land to give them a healthy 44.4 three-point percentage and prompting some praise from Coach Scott Brooks during the post-game interviews.
“They’re a great three-point shooting team,” said Brooks. “J.R. Smith takes 12 and he can get hot and make a bunch of those. Kevin Love shoots them. LeBron James shoots them. Kyrie Irving shoots them. They spread you out. They make it very difficult.”
So with that in mind, perhaps all these attempts were in response to the 48 points the Cavs got from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, the Thunder only managed to hit 10 of their 30 attempts (33.3 percent).
Serge Ibaka led the team with nine attempts to tie his career-high, then Kevin Durant and Dion Waiters contributed 12 tries between them. Combined, all three players made six of their 21 shots from deep. Meanwhile, Anthony Morrow, the team’s designated three-point specialist, took just two shots and made one.
The only person who had any success with the high-volume shooting was Russell Westbrook. He hit three of his six attempts, although, that’s not to say he had a good shooting night since he went 7-of-26 overall.
While it is true that the three-pointer is basketball’s greatest equalizer, Oklahoma City really shouldn’t resort to such methods. Only Ibaka, Durant and Morrow can make those shots any consistency as illustrated by their conversion rate for the season (40.2, 39.3 and 37.3 percent, respectively).
We could even through in Jeremy Lamb in the mix at 35 percent, although he doesn’t see many significant minutes anymore. Otherwise those are the only players who stroke the three-ball at over 30 percent.
Reggie Jackson (28 percent), Russell Westbrook (26.5 percent), Dion Waiters (25.8 percent); you names them, they all struggle from beyond the arc. And yet every single one of those players attempt more than three three-pointers per game. So based on that evidence, OKC really needs to tone down on the threes — even Serge Ibaka.
Granted, he has improved his outside shooting tremendously and leads the team. However, that often means he is camped outside on the perimeter waiting to shoot the ball, rather than terrorizing defenders inside.
He is 6’10”, 245 pounds of pure athleticism and power. That, combined with his jump shot should, theoretically speaking, make for a nightmare matchup. Yet if he is mostly on the perimeter, waiting to line up for threes all the time, then it’s all going to waste and letting the opposition off easy. Against the Cavs, over half of his field goals came from outside the arc, which isn’t exactly ideal from your big man.
Having said that, Serge Ibaka firing from the outside is somewhat necessary. Shooting guard Andre Roberson is the team’s “designated defender” and he does the job fairly well on that end of the floor as illustrated by his team-leading 98.4 defensive rating. Offensively, though, he struggles. Big time.
In 21 minutes of action, the 23-year-old provides just 4.4 points per game. Then again that’s not really a major issue since the Oklahoma City Thunder already have so much scoring talent and that’s not what he’s in there to do. His poor shooting, though, can lead to some difficulties for the team.
Roberson shoots it at just 21.3 percent from range, so teams can afford to literally leave him wide open on the perimeter. And even if he was to try and force the issue and barrel his way into the lane for fouls, he is also a poor free-throw shooter at 47 percent.
As such, he is not an offensive threat whatsoever. And as a result, teams can afford to use his man as the help, knowing full well that he is scared to even shoot. Then again wouldn’t you be if you risk doing this…
Therefore, Ibaka camping out on the perimeter is actually necessary. At least that way he creates a little space in the middle for Westbrook to attack.
Nevertheless, the Oklahoma City Thunder must address their three-point shooting woes, as 32 percent shooting simply won’t cut it because means teams can afford to sag off and clog up the lanes. And if should they make it to the playoffs, it could be the difference between making a run to the finals or an early exit.
Seven of the past eight NBA champions led all playoff teams in 3-point attempts and makes.
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) October 17, 2014
Perhaps the most worrying thing about it all is the fact that most of the looks they have been getting from long-range have been fairly open. Sure, shot selection has often been an issue for the Thunder, but opposing teams collapse when Westbrook and Co. drive into the lane, and they often find the open man. But they just can’t convert. Going forward, that will certainly have to change.
At least general manager Sam Presti still has Reggie Jackson as a trade chip should the situation call for such measures.
Until then, the 23 attempts per game probably has to come down a peg.