Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 goals for Patrick Patterson in 2017-18

4. Make winning plays down the stretch

In a game in 2014 when he was with the Toronto Raptors, Patterson made a play that won the game for his team.

With 12 seconds left and the Raptors down one, the Brooklyn Nets were inbounding the ball. Patterson stole the inbound attempt and took the ball down the other end of the court. He then faked out a defender and shot the jumper to win the game.

These are the kind of plays that he will have to step up and make. Patterson has proved he can make plays down the stretch on both offense and defense, and that is where he will be needed this season. When you play as many games as the NBA does, your best players will not always be hot. Having a role player that can be an X-factor is crucial. Patterson can be a player to fill that role.

To have a winning season means being versatile. When your strengths are not working for you in the course of a game, you need a backup plan. Having role players step up and make plays during the course of games will be necessary to having a contending season.