Most Startling Statistics of Oklahoma City Thunder's Season So Far
It’s been an ugly start to the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and as you might expect, some of that ugliness has spilled over to the box score and the team stats.
For OKC fans hoping to tread water until Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook return, here’s a way to pass the time by looking at some of the more interesting statistics from the Thunder’s underwhelming start to the season.
The offensive struggles were to be expected, but the extent of futility has been a shock and hasn’t reflected well on head coach Scott Brooks. On the contrary, the stats have been friendly to impending free agent Reggie Jackson, as he’s making a case to earn a big payday next summer.
Ranging from the good to the bad to the ugly, here are five of the most startling statistical trends that have emerged.
Note: All statistics are current as of Nov. 20.
Points Scored Per Game: 89.7
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Everyone expected the Thunder offense to suffer without Durant and Westbrook, but the numbers have been downright hideous. OKC is currently scoring 89.7 points per game, which is second-worst in the NBA ahead of only the woeful Philadelphia 76ers (and their status as an “NBA team” is very much in question right now).
That means they’re scoring two points per game fewer than the Indiana Pacers. The same Pacers who have lost Paul George and Lance Stephenson and have played most (if not all) of their games without David West, C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey, which make Roy Hibbert and Chris Copeland their best offensive options.
It is not at all surprising to see the Thunder fall into the bottom third of NBA offenses right now, but it is somewhat shocking to see them struggle as much as they have. Even without Durant and Westbrook, there are talented offensive players on this team.
Reggie Jackson is a starting-caliber guard, and Serge Ibaka is one of the league’s deadliest jump-shooters and has extended his range to beyond the arc. Furthermore, role players like Anthony Morrow and Jeremy Lamb are offensive-minded guys who have been questioned on the other side of the floor over the course of their careers.
Those hoping that the absence of the superstars could potentially lead to an offense with more structure and ball movement have been disappointed. Coach Brooks has done a tremendous job of keeping this decimated team relatively competitive and playing its heart out, but he hasn’t done enough to help put the ball in the hole.
Points Allowed Per Game: 94.3
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Part of the reason for OKC’s offensive struggles may in fact be because Brooks has made sure that the Thunder are still a strong defensive team. They are conceding 94.3 points per game, which is the fifth-best mark in the league.
That’s a very impressive feat considering the players on the court. Durant and Westbrook are obviously better on offense than defense, but both are underrated defenders and tremendous athletes. Even though the team’s defensive scheme has centered on the elite rim-protecting abilities of Ibaka, Durant and Westbrook played a large role in maintaining a stingy OKC defense.
Furthermore, OKC has been forced to play without arguably their two best wing defenders, Perry Jones III and Andre Roberson. This low number is partly due to the Thunder’s slow pace, but also due to the team's tremendous effort on that side of the floor and very sound team defense.
Brooks drew some criticism on the previous slide, but the defensive job he’s done with this team in its current state outweighs the offensive shortcomings.
Reggie Jackson’s Minutes: 40.6 Per Game
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As the team’s only shot creator, it’s not surprising to see that Reggie Jackson is receiving a gargantuan amount of playing time. Nevertheless, playing anybody for more than 40 minutes a game is more than eyebrow-raising. You know it’s special when any player is on the court more than Jimmy Butler.
In fact, Jackson’s 40.6 minutes per game leads the league which makes it a startling statistic in and of itself.
That number is sure to go down back to humane levels once the stars return, but just keep in mind how much of the burden Jackson is shouldering right now. He may have drawn criticism for his outspoken comments about restricted free agency, but don’t question his commitment to this team while he’s in a Thunder jersey.
Reggie Jackson’s Turnovers: 3.3
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Pointing out someone’s turnovers is normally a negative thing, but it’s actually somewhat amazing that Jackson is only turning the ball over 3.3 times per game considering the minutes he’s playing.
You truly get an idea for how “safe” Jackson with the ball when you compare his stats per 48 minutes.
For comparison’s sake, Westbrook averaged a whopping six turnovers per 48 minutes last year, while Durant was slightly better with 4.4 turnovers per 48 minutes. Jackson has been better than both of them so far this season with only 3.9, per Hollinger's stats. Similarly, he’s posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.33, which is better than Westbrook's (1.8) and Durant's (1.56) from last year.
One potential reason that he’s committing fewer errors is his substantially lower usage rate (26 versus 33.5 for Westbrook and 31.2 for Durant last year) but it’s still incredibly impressive given that he’s the only credible threat with the ball in his hands.
Jackson has finally gotten the chance to be “The Man” on a team and has fared very well in the role. It hasn’t resulted in wins, but he’s already earned himself a big payday for next summer according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski who predicts an offer in the $13-14 million range.
Three-Pointers from Unconventional Places
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Getting better from beyond the arc was a priority for OKC this offseason, and signing Anthony Morrow was one step in the right direction. In addition to the traditional gunner, however, the Thunder are getting some floor-spacing from their big men: Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison.
Ibaka has already taken 59 threes on the season, or one less than he’s ever attempted in a full season before this point. He’s on pace to take 372 three-pointers this season, which would have been the 26th-most attempts last year.
His shots are going to decrease when Durant and Westbrook get back, but it’s been a pleasant surprise to witness Ibaka’s range extend beyond the arc. More importantly, he’s connecting on an impressive 39 percent of his long-range shots, making him the deadliest all-around stretch 4 in the NBA.
Ibaka isn’t alone in this newfound skill. His frontcourt partner Nick Collison has already made more threes than he had over his career prior to this season. Collison is also shooting them well, knocking down 36.7 percent of his treys.
That doesn’t mean a whole lot right now, but the additional floor-spacing and added offensive threats could be enormous factors for the Thunder when they’re at full strength.
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