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Oklahoma City Thunder: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 13, 2016; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) points into the stand in game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) points into the stand in game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Andre Roberson (21) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Key Storylines: 3. Three-Point Concerns

In a pace-and-space league, the Thunder came within one win of a trip to the NBA Finals last year despite sub-par three-point shooting. They ranked 17th in three-point percentage (34.9 percent), three-point attempts (23.7 per game) and three-point makes (8.3 per game).

With the loss Kevin Durant, who is of one of the greatest scorers in NBA history and is also a career 38 percent shooter, the Thunder will struggle to spread the floor in the same way as before. That floor-spacing could become crucial with defenses keying in on stopping Westbrook’s dribble penetration.

Looking up and down this roster, the answer for where Donovan can find that spacing feels elusive.

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    • The most efficient candidates are Ersan Ilyasova (37.1 percent from long range last season) and Anthony Morrow (38.7 percent last year, 42.5 percent for his career), but Ilyasova is currently coming off the bench behind rookie Domantas Sabonis, while Morrow has struggled to find consistent minutes under Donovan thanks to his abhorrent defense.

    Alex Abrines, a 6’6″ sharpshooter who converted 41.7 percent of his three-pointers with FC Barcelona last year, still has to prove himself in his first NBA season. The regulars on the perimeter don’t inspire much hope either.

    Oladipo’s career high in three-point percentage was his 34.8 percent last year. Andre Roberson’s three-point shot is a complete disaster at 31.1 percent. Backup point guards Ronnie Price (a career-high 34.7 percent last year) and Cameron Payne (32.4 percent) can’t be relied upon. Kyle Singler also shot just 30.9 percent from deep last year.

    Finally, there’s Russell Westbrook, an irresponsible gunslinger from three-point range who made just 29.6 percent of his 4.3 attempts per game last year. He’s a 30.2 percent shooter from deep for his career, but despite it being one of the weaker parts of his game, he continues to jack them up.

    The Thunder are going to need three-point spacing now that both Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka are gone. With a bunch of unproven and ineffective long range threats trying to fill the void on the perimeter, Westbrook’s driving lanes may be closed off more than ever before, which may severely limit what was the NBA’s second-ranked offense last year.

    This could very well serve as OKC’s biggest obstacle in returning to the playoffs.

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