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OKC Thunder: Steven Adams solidifying himself as a good third option

By Albert Dadson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 17: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on December 17, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 17: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on December 17, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Steven Adams has shown consistency in the past few recent games and has solidified himself as a good third option for the OKC Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have experienced complete turnaround since the beginning of the season, when they started 0-4. The OKC Thunder are currently the 3-seed in the Western Conference and were close to seizing the No. 1 spot in the past week.

Paul George has been on fire ever since his 47-point game and is now being considered as one of the top players for the MVP award. He has gone over 30 points three times in the past five games.

Russell Westbrook has been playing exceptionally well also. He has recorded a triple-double four times this month. He is back to his form of the last two years, when he was a force to be reckoned with in almost all phases of the game statistically.

One player in the starting lineup that has not been getting the recognition but has been stepping up is Steven Adams. He has scored in double digits in all eight of the games this month and has gone for 20 or more points in four of those eight games.

Adams’ scoring averages have gone up every year. He’s made a leap from 13.9 points per game last year to 16.1 points per game this year. His rebounding has trended up in the last couple of years also.

He went from 7.7 rebounds per game in 2016-17 to, 9.0 rebounds per game in 2017-18 to 9.7 rebounds a night this year. If his rebounding goes up a notch, he could average a double-double for the first time in his career.

The OKC Thunder are in a tie for second in the league with the Miami Heat in terms of second-chance points with 15.4 per game, and Adams is a big part of that. He leads the team in offensive rebounding at 4.9 per game.

In total rebounding, the Thunder are third with 48.1 per game. Adams has the Thunder as one of the best teams in terms of rebounding. In defensive rating, the Thunder are first with 101.7. A large part of that can also be attributed to Adams, as he is the defensive anchor down low.

The two-man game with Westbrook and Adams is working for the Thunder this season. The pick-and-roll with Adams and Westbrook is something they have developed over time and now Westbrook is leading the league in assists with 10.0 a game. Adams is shooting 81.4 percent on dunks, with 87.5 percent of those looks being assisted.

Steven Adams knows no team but the OKC Thunder, and he, Westbrook and PG are the players the front office decided to keep as cornerstones of the franchise. Adams has been through tough playoff games and big games during them.

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He has developed into one of the best players on the Thunder and is a great third option in the starting lineup. When the one-on-one games of Westbrook and Paul George are not working, they can drop the ball down low to Adams, finding him in the pick-and-roll. He is solidifying himself as one of the best options on the team, and is the unquestioned third member of OKC’s Big 3.

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