In Game 1, they set a smattering of eye-opening low marks against their opponent. The team registered only 13 assists, marking their lowest assist total in the playoffs and falling well below their previous low of 19 assists. Their recent issue with floor spacing, ball movement, and overall teamwork has created distress over how bad their offense has been. First and foremost, they don’t want to go down 2-0 in the series.
In this case, the Thunder’s performance was especially highlighted by their struggles to turn turnovers into points. Even after forcing an incredible 25 turnovers, they still scored just 0.4 points per steal in Game 1. This statistic starkly contrasts with their season average of 1.4 points per steal, indicating a significant decline in efficiency when capitalizing on defensive plays. As the team goes into Game 2, maintaining more effective offensive execution and making the most out of their forced turnovers will be key.
Assist and Passing Woes
In Game 1, the Oklahoma City Thunder made only 13 assists, a franchise low for the playoffs. Their previous low during the playoffs had been 19 assists, as their regular-season low was just 16. This decrease in ball distribution has raised red flags among analysts and fans alike, leading to concern about the team’s offensive identity.
This absence of assists underscores the personal failings of each player involved. More than that, though, it points to a much greater chasm at the roots of the team’s relationships. The low mark for any team this season was 208 Thunder passes, which came during the game against the Predators on April 27. This concerning trend is a call to action that requires immediate response. The team’s offensive struggles to be unfixed may cost them an opportunity to win important home games in the Finals.
And the atrocious officiating that nearly overshadowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s amazing 38 point outburst. He struggled to find a place within the offensive flow of his new team. While individual scoring can lead a team, basketball is fundamentally a team sport that thrives on collaboration and sharing the ball to create scoring opportunities.
Struggles at the Rim and Beyond
That’s the Thunder’s shooting from Game 1, which they very much struggled with. Combined for 11-for-31 shooting at the rim and 2-for-9 shooting from mid-range. They were just 20-for-36 at the rim, putting them in the 14th percentile of all games played this season. Their inability to shoot well in floater range was even more alarming. The team ranked in the 2nd percentile on those attempts, shooting a paltry 3-for-18 from that area.
Jalen Williams struggled in Game 1, making just 6 of 19 attempts. He was especially bad in his long-range shooting, hitting only 1 of 10 attempts outside of the rim. On the other end of the court, somehow, Chet Holmgren scored six points on a hugely disappointing 2-for-9 performance. This combination of poor shooting percentages has forced the Thunder to rethink their shot selection and execution going into Game 2.
On defense, the biggest worry has to be the fact that the Thunder by far gave up the most corner three-pointers of any team this season. Their biggest issue were their defensive lapses, which they were punished for on a few occasions against teams that took advantage. For Oklahoma City to have a chance at turning the series around, addressing both offensive inefficiencies and defensive breakdowns will be crucial.
Capitalizing on Turnovers
As bad as the Thunder may have been on offense, they were phenomenal on the other end, forcing 25 turnovers in Game 1. In fact, it was the most turnovers forced by any team in an NBA Finals game this century, an incredible accomplishment for such a monumental achievement. Turning these turnovers into points turned out to be Oklahoma City’s biggest challenge.
The team is one of the worst at converting turnovers into points efficiently. This points to a key area of concern as they prepare to host Finals games in the coming weeks. They averaged 1.4 points per steal in the regular season. This production was over three times greater than their performance in Game 1. In order to make the most of their defensive strength, it’s vital for them to turn these chances into scoring opportunities.
While they figure out what went wrong, the Thunder is drawing up plans for Game 2. They need to improve their offensive flow while continuing to play strong, determined defense. All they have to do is turn defensive stops into points. This strategy will be a key ingredient in turning the momentum and keeping them from going down 3-0 in the series.
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