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

2. Make more than 100 3-pointers this season

Patterson will have to help the Thunder from 3-point range. There are not a lot of shooters on this Thunder team. Alex Abrines can make the 3-ball, but he has not shown his true potential yet. It was just his rookie year, so maybe in year two he can show some improvement. In Patterson’s first two years combined, he only attempted five threes and made none.

In 2014-15, he made 105 threes and in 2015-16 he made 106 3-pointers. Last year he made 94 3-pointers. The significance of this is the fact that these past three years are his most made threes ever for his career.

If he can capitalize on this success and hit 100 or more threes, the Thunder will be in a good position in terms of bench production. The only players last year for the Thunder that made 100 or more threes were Victor Oladipo (127) and Russell Westbrook (200). Abrines was the next closest with 94, but the next person was Domantas Sabonis with 51.

This year should be different because Carmelo knocked down 151 triples and Paul George had 195. The 3-point game will be better with the new offensive players that the Thunder have. Look for Westbrook, George, Anthony, Abrines and Patterson to shoulder the load when it comes to threes for the Thunder.

Patterson excels when it comes to corner threes, so look for Felton, who is manning the second unit, to try and find Patterson in the corner. There is more ability to score for the Thunder this year, and if Patterson hits the mark of 100 threes or more, look for the Thunder offense to flourish even when the Big Three is off the court.