Danilo Gallinari has Oklahoma City Thunder out of 3-point shooting basement
The Oklahoma City Thunder are now a formidable 3-point shooting team after years of dismal performances.
The Oklahoma City Thunder used to be bad at shooting 3-pointers, but this season looked like things would change with the new additions that they made. The Thunder traded Paul George to the LA Clippers and one of the players Oklahoma City received in return was Danilo Gallinari.
With Gallinari’s ability to shoot the 3 the Thunder looked to have finally fixed a problem that has plagued them for years. OKC hasn’t had the shooters in the recent years to pair with the talent that they have had out on the floor.
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In 2016-17, which was Russell Westbrook‘s MVP year and the first year without Kevin Durant, the Thunder did not have any reliable shooters. OKC was last in 3-point shooting percentage at 32.7. They were 26th in 3-pointers made per game with 8.4.
In 2017-18, the Thunder got Westbrook some help, bringing in George and Carmelo Anthony. George was able to pan out for the Thunder, but Anthony had trouble fitting into a role that would make him productive. Again the Thunder did not have reliable shooters.
OKC was 24th in 3-point percentage at 35.4 percent a game. They were able to move up to 15th in 3-pointers made a game with 11.5.
In 2018-19, they went with just George and Westbrook. That team had players like Terrance Ferguson and Jerami Grant who were able to step it up in terms of 3-point shooting, but they still weren’t one of the best teams at the three.
They were 22nd in 3-point percentage per game with 34.8. They made 11.4 3-pointers per game and were 13th with 932 total 3-pointers made.
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This season they have reached new heights. They have been one of the best teams in terms of efficiency at the 3-point line. They are seventh in 3-point percentage per game at 37.5. They are 16th in 3-pointers made per game with 11.5.
OKC has gone from the basement of the 3-point category to being a top-10 team. Gallinari has been a big part of that accomplishment. Gallinari is tied for sixth in the league in total 3-pointers made with 31 and tied for 12th with 3.1 makes per game.
Gallinari is the best pure 3-point shooter the Thunder have had in a long time. An above-average 3-point shooter shoots 40 percent or more from the arc. Gallinari is shooting 43.7 percent from the 3-point line, which is easily the best percentage for the Thunder since Durant left.
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OKC has to fix its late-game woes, but they have a team with potential. They have seem to have fixed their 3-point shooting problems and we have seen that if you are able to shoot the 3, you can change the course of games in a hurry this day and age in the NBA. Watch out for the Thunder.