New Year’s Resolutions: Oklahoma City Thunder Edition

The brand new yr is upon us. It’s a time of remembrance, of recent beginnings, and constructive change. As 2023 approaches, there are a couple of resolutions that the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder would possibly need to think about.

A decision is a promise to your self to do or to not do one thing in hopes of bettering oneself. The phrase descends from the Latin phrase, “resolvere,” which means to loosen or launch.

These guarantees are normally accompanied by objectives – objectives designed to loosen or launch a person, or on this case, a franchise, from undesirable penalties.

Listed here are three resolutions Oklahoma Metropolis can undertake in 2023.

Get One other Massive Man

Do you know that the Thunder have allowed essentially the most rebounds per 100 possessions? They permit the eighth-most factors within the paint, too. This can be a byproduct of getting ill-equipped and undersized facilities on the roster whereas enjoying within the Western Convention.

Aleksej Pokusevski is a real seven-footer, however he weighs in at simply 210 kilos. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is listed at 230 kilos however is simply 6-foot-9, doesn’t have loads of size, and lacks the best mobility to defend perimeter gamers. Jaylin Williams is a rookie that has an intriguing offensive sport and brings an unimaginable mixture of dimension and intelligence to the desk however is proscribed by his dimension, relative lack of athleticism, and inexperience.

Mike Muscala is much like Robinson-Earl however is the higher flooring spacer and is taller, however simply doesn’t reduce it on protection and at 31 years outdated, doesn’t match the Thunder’s timeline long-term. And the Thunder appeared to have already moved on from fourth-year mission, Darius Bazley. Sure, a completely wholesome Chet Holmgren might be becoming a member of the group subsequent yr, however it’s by no means clever to imagine and it by no means hurts to make upgrades to a struggling frontcourt.

So given the totality of the circumstances surrounding Oklahoma Metropolis’s frontcourt, the addition of a extra formidable huge man may assist the Thunder squeeze essentially the most out of their present season. It’s been some time for the reason that franchise has had an impactful heart that might rim-run, seize boards, and shield the paint.

Play Each Quarter Likes It’s the Third Quarter

The Thunder are placing up the fifth-most factors per 100 possessions within the third quarter, however rank within the backside 10 in factors scored in each different body, time beyond regulation excluded. If Head Coach Mark Daigneault can bottle no matter magic is occurring and solid that very same spell on the remainder of the sport, the Thunder may actually take an enormous leap as a group.

Per sport, Oklahoma Metropolis is scoring 30.7 factors within the third body, which ranks second proper behind the Memphis Grizzlies. That is because of an energetic protection and an emphasis on rebounding that’s giving the Thunder further possessions. The Thunder are additionally capitalizing on their alternatives as nicely, taking pictures 48.9% from the sector, 37% on 8.5 3-point makes an attempt, and changing 83.2% of their 5.5 journeys to the free throw line.

Unleash Tre Mann

After a formidable run of video games to cap off 2021-22 that showcased all of what Tre Mann needed to provide, you’d suppose the Thunder would have tried to faucet into {that a} bit extra this season. That hasn’t been the case.

Sure, the 6-foot-5 ankle-breaker is averaging over 20 minutes per sport this season, however has a utilization price of simply 21.1% and is taking simply 9 photographs per sport. Simply 9. A rhythm shooter like Mann wants extra of a runway to interrupt his sport open.

Mann has poured in 17 factors for the Thunder in every of his final two contests and is coming off of back-to-back monster video games he performed within the G League. On December twenty first, Mann scored 35 factors and went 7-for-11 from downtown. The following night time, Mann dropped a cool 40-piece on the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Because the Thunder inch nearer to the top of the season and into Mann’s third yr within the NBA, it could be a disgrace to not discover all of his potential and stifle his growth. So let Mann fly and see what he might be. Which means giving him extra minutes and an even bigger function this season and the entrance workplace could should make some modifications for that to occur, however he might be an enormous a part of the way forward for this franchise.

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