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OKC Thunder: Winning streak gets them out of early hole

By Albert Dadson

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 02: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on November 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. 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 Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 02: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on November 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. 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 Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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After going 0-4 the OKC Thunder have ripped off four straight and are now at .500. The Thunder look to get back on track after a slow start.

The Oklahoma City Thunder started the season with promise. That promise quickly evaporated for the OKC Thunder when they started the season 0-4.

The 0-4 start was due to the Thunder having to face good teams. The combined record of those four teams right now is 26-10. The combined record of the four teams that they’ve beaten since then is 11-23.

The schedule helped the Thunder get back on track. There is cause for concern when you think about the Thunder not being able to beat better teams and what that means down the road in terms of the playoffs.

The Thunder were so good against good teams last year and that was their story the whole season. When you take a closer look at those losses it is not that bad.

The loss against the Golden State Warriors was the first game of the season and they only lost by eight to the championship favorite for this year. They were also without Russell Westbrook. The Los Angeles Clippers loss was also without Westbrook.

The Sacramento Kings are an improved team and the Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the east. The Thunder only lost by six against the Celtics.

A lot of the Thunder’s problems are being fixed when you look at the stats.

After the Celtics game, OKC was 28th in points per game, last in field goal percentage, last in 3-point percentage, and 29th in assists per game.

Now after the four-game winning streak, they are 15th in points per game (112.1), 20th in field goal percentage (44.4 percent), still last in 3-point percentage and 22nd in assist per game (22.0).

Except for 3-point percentage, the OKC Thunder have improved their game. OKC doesn’t really have 3-point shooters so it isn’t a surprise that they have struggled but the other improvements show promise.

OKC is now trending towards where they want to be. That is near or around the top of the league in every category including the standings.

The next four teams have a combined record of 9-23 so there is an opportunity to improve even more in the next slate of games.

Looks can be deceiving though. The New Orleans Pelicans were without MVP candidate Anthony Davis for some time but now he is back. Also, the Houston Rockets should have James Harden back by the time the Thunder face them.

Dennis Schroder has improved his play during the four-game winning streak. He is a big factor to OKC’s success this year.

In the first four games, he had a total of 43 points. In the last four games, he has a total of 64 points. He is averaging 16 points per game during this four-game winning streak compared 10.7 points per game in the four losses.

Schroder is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate and will be looked upon to provide scoring off the bench.

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The OKC Thunder will look to keep their winning ways going in the next four games. They have improved on what was a disaster to start the season.

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