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The offense
Here's where the Paul George show begins. Westbrook has apparently taken a back seat after struggling with injuries and establishing rhythm, and has started becoming a pass-first guard rather than shouldering the burden himself.
But George has been a revelation. This season, his first long term season in Oklahoma, he's posting career highs in the following: points (24.3), rebounds (7.3), assists (4.3), 3 point attempts (8.9), steals (2.2) and blocks (0.8). Oh, and he's 38.8% from behind he arc.
For all his heroics and Adams' underrated double-double (16 ppg and 10 rpg averages) nights, Oklahoma's offense withers away behind the arc. Westbrook is shooting a truly ghastly 24.3% from 3 point land, well below his already low career average of 30%.
Roberson, the teams best defender, is also a nonshooter. Incorporating him will make the team more lopsided. Steven Adams has shooting woes, experienced best while re-watching last season's playoffs against the Jazz: Gobert feasted on both Adams and Westbrook because neither are significant threats outside the paint. The Thunder's entire pick'n'roll play collapsed against the soon-to-be DPOY of the year. Abrines is their best shooter, but he's also the team's worst defender.
The Thunder rank 16 in 3 point attempts and 29 in 3 point makes in the league. That's out of 32 teams. They'd be dead in the water if they didn't have an elite defense that can score off steals and turnovers and Paul George going off for 40 when he has to.
Either way, the Thunder are about Westbrook, and for all his faults there's one thing he does really well: drag multiple defenders into the paint and score above them. With such a freak of nature on their side, OKC should pack their roster with 3 and D players and let them hoist from behind the arc without inhibition a la the Rockets. Instead, they have the defense and barely any shooting. This team is meant to win now, but there's only so much a lopsided roster can handle.
