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OKC Thunder: Abdel Nader can provide scoring off the bench

By Albert Dadson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound from Abdel Nader #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center on January 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound from Abdel Nader #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center on January 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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After a great game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Abdel Nader could turn into one of the best scorers off the OKC Thunder bench.

The Oklahoma City Thunder started 2019 with a 107-100 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. The OKC Thunder are currently second in the Western Conference after the Golden State Warriors dropped their game against the Houston Rockets.

OKC knows what it’s going to get from Russell Westbrook and Paul George. George had an MVP-caliber December where he scored 30 or more points eight times. Westbrook is leading the league in assists per game with 10.1 and steals per game with 2.7.

Those two superstars combined efforts have the OKC Thunder looking like a contender in the crowded West.

OKC doesn’t have a great bench. They are 26th in the league in bench scoring with 31.8 points per game. That could improve with a player that they acquired in the offseason.

On July 23, OKC traded Rodney Purvis to the Boston Celtics for Abdel Nader. Nader was the G-League Rookie of the Year in 2016-17 and he is looking like a player that could help the Thunder offensively down the stretch.

Dennis Schroder is one of the best sixth men in the league and he has fit well the OKC lineup. He has helped the Thunder create depth when Westbrook has been out and he helped the Thunder get a big win against the Golden State Warriors back in November.

While Schroder has been a big bright spot coming off the bench they haven’t gotten much from anybody else.

Nader has shown the ability to be a scorer off the bench recently for the Thunder. In the game against the Lakers Nader took a rebound and went coast to coast for a layup. He was able to drive to the hole and knock down an open three.

Those buckets came when it was a close game in the fourth. For a player that has not played much that is a good sign that he can produce when the game is on the line. He ended the game scoring 10 points.

To start the season Nader was not in the rotation very much. His first points came in early November when he scored two points against the Dallas Mavericks.

He has been able to catch on recently. He scored 18 points against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 28 and had another 10 point game in the game against the Mavericks in the game before the Lakers game.

There is always space on your team for a player that can put his head down and get a bucket by driving to the lane and can knock down open shots. Nader has the ability to be a good option off the bench for the Thunder.

Nader should look to build on the recent success and give the Thunder a good wing backup. For a team like the Thunder who are contenders in the West this year and look to go deep in the playoffs, it is good to know that they have players on the bench that have the ability to score.

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It will be interesting to see how the Thunder will use Nader for the rest of the season after he has shown the ability to be able to produce recently.

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