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How the OKC Thunder can compete with the Rockets and Warriors this year

By Albert Dadson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 3: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder applies pressure as Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks for a shot during the first half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 3, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 3: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder applies pressure as Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks for a shot during the first half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 3, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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With Paul George coming back, will the OKC Thunder have enough to compete with the likes of the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets?

The Oklahoma City Thunder traded away Carmelo Anthony last month and have just decided to go with two superstars instead of the OK3 of last year. Are the OKC Thunder still one of the best teams in the Western Conference though?

The answer is yes. The West may look dominant and have more superstars, but the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are far more superior than any of the teams in the conference, or the league for that matter.

When you look at the rankings last year, the OKC Thunder, while having a disappointing season since they were booted out in the first round, finished fourth in the standings and had home-court advantage in the opening round. 

This team may very well be a top-four team again this year. The Los Angeles Lakers have LeBron James, so they will be significantly better. They are waiting until next year to really go after free agents and try and do serious damage in the West.

The Portland Trail Blazers are returning their whole core that went third in the West last year. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team to look out for with their young, talented core as well.

It will be interesting to see how the San Antonio Spurs will do with their two best players, DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, both being mid-range snipers.

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans have lost DeMarcus Cousins, but still have Anthony Davis, who is probably the best young talent in the league.

Will Carmelo Anthony make the Rockets better or worse? That will be the key. Carmelo is on the down point of his career and they will miss the defense of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute on the wings, but Chris Paul and James Harden are still going to do their damage.

The Thunder will be able to compete in the West because it will be just like last year. After the Rockets and Warriors in the top-two, it is a toss-up between positions 3-8.

The difference between the Warriors and Rockets and the rest of the West is their ability to shoot the 3-ball and still defend at a high level. The Warriors had two players in the top for in 3-pointers made per game.

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Stephen Curry was first with 4.2 and Klay Thompson was fourth with 3.1 per game. The Rockets had the other two: James Harden was second with 3.7 and Eric Gordon was third with 3.1. 

James Harden was first in total 3-pointers made with 265 and Eric Gordon was eighth with 217 total 3-pointers made.

Thompson was fifth with 227 and Curry was ninth with 212.

The Rockets will be better off down the stretch by having a 1-2-3 lineup of Paul, Harden and Gordon.

The Thunder have Paul George who was fifth in 3-pointers made per game with 3.1, and second in total 3-pointers made with 240. 

Paul George will be key next year because of his 3-point shooting ability. He should take even more 3s next year.

The Thunder do not have any other threatening 3-point shooter in terms of league-wide rankings from last year, but what can you do if you can’t shoot the 3?

You can defend it. 

(Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

OKC has one of the best 1-2-3 punches in terms of perimeter defense in Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson and Paul George. Those players can be called upon to match up with the 1-2-3 threats of the Houston Rockets (Paul, Harden, Gordon) and Golden State (Curry, Thompson and Kevin Durant).

OKC led the league in steals per game and had two players in the top five in steals per game in George and Westbrook. OKC also led the league in deflection per game (16.8) and loose balls recovered per game (9.5).

Westbrook was in the top 25 in defensive rating at No. 22. Paul George was 39th. Andre Roberson would have been high on that list if not for his season-ending injury, as he was 28th in 2016-17, but he will have that chance in the coming season.

Coming off the bench, OKC has Dennis Schroder, who led the Atlanta Hawks in scoring last year with 19.4 points per game. That number compared to the best bench scorers last year would have gotten him the fourth spot after Zach Randolph, Lou Williams and MarShon Brooks (though obviously his scoring came in starter’s minutes last year).

Schroder will not have that kind of production this year, as his minutes will diminish, but he should get close to that mark because he will be the primary scorer coming off the bench.

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The OKC Thunder will not only be able to compete with other teams in the West, but they have enough defense and are a shot creator off the dribble coming off the bench to have enough firepower to compete with Houston and Golden State.

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