Stylistically, the Thunder’s offense has been able to put its passes in front of itself in the final games of the series against Dallas, at least according to Mark Daigneault.
After a Game 1 win and two subsequent losses before finding a second win in Game 4, Dallas played sloppy despite Oklahoma City’s generally solid defense – letting their offense overcome the firepower of the Mavericks’ high scoring output. They couldn’t close that gap, and their shooting numbers were respectable at 33.5 percent from three-point range and 44.5 percent overall, averaging over 105 points in six games, but it just wasn’t enough to extend the series to seven.
With the offense not being at its best like we saw in the regular season, it’s safe to say that the amount of energy expended defensively due to the big plays from PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. impacted the flow of the Thunder’s offense.
This offseason, Oklahoma City traded Josh Giddey for defensive stalwart Alex Caruso, while retaining Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins, in addition to adding 6-foot-1 point guard Ajay Mitchell. An already deep backcourt just got stronger, and that diversity and versatility in the lineup can translate positively to both ends of the floor.
Some players expend more energy on defense than offense and vice versa depending on the style of play and intensity, and with the addition of Caruso – who is a skilled two-way player – his contributions will take some of the weight off the other guards on the roster, allowing them to focus on their strengths on the court.
An offensive engine fueled by a concerted defensive effort is bolstered by the next man up. And with the depth the Thunder have this season, that could prove true as Oklahoma City looks to make a run at the title.
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