Breaking Down How Reggie Jackson Can Get Back on Track for Oklahoma City Thunder
If the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to make the playoffs this season, they will need Reggie Jackson to return to being a vital part of the second unit.
Jackson hasn't been the same player since Russell Westbrook's return sent him back to a reserve role. The Boston College product's confidence took another hit when the team acquired Dion Waiters, a guy with similar talents, in early January.
Since Waiters' arrival, Jackson's minutes have fluctuated on a game-to-game basis. As a result, he's struggled to find a rhythm and his production has suffered. After averaging 19.5 points in November and 12.4 in December, the 24-year-old's scoring dipped to 9.4 in January. That's his worst monthly output of the season.
Jackson appears to be on borrowed time in Oklahoma City. He's a restricted free agent after this season, and Waiters has already taken over his sixth man role. RJ seems to understand the odds of him wearing the same jersey his entire career aren't in his favor, per Sam Amick of USA Today.
"You just watch around the league, and you start realizing that it's more often that players move vs. guys that are fortunate enough to say that they were with one team their whole career." Jackson said.
Of course, there's still time for Jackson to turn things around. When his mind is right, he's one of the few guys on the roster who can create offense for himself. There are just a few improvements he needs to make to get his game back on track.
Better Shot Selection
Much like Westbrook, Jackson is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. He has the ability to get others involved but tends to create for himself more often. This wouldn't be nearly as big of an issue if Jackson took better shots.
Of his 546 field-goal attempts this season, 109 have come within 16 feet and just below the three-point line, per Basketball-Reference.com. That's about 20 percent of his takes. Out of those 109 long jumpers, he's knocked down just 39 (35.8 percent). In these situations, it would be wiser to make the extra pass or move in a little closer instead of firing from a range he struggles to hit from.
According to NBA.com, Jackson does a better job of scoring the basketball when he takes his time. He has an effective field-goal percentage of 50.4 percent when he holds the ball for two to six seconds before shooting. When he puts it up in under two seconds, that number drops to 42.5 percent.
Furthermore, when RJ takes three to six dribbles, he nails 52.6 percent of his shots. Even when he takes more than seven dribbles, his conversion rate is a respectable 43.8 percent.
Jackson has also had moments where he seems conflicted between being a facilitator and wanting to be the hero. A good example can be found in the team's recent loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Toward the end of the first quarter, Jackson couldn't decide whether to take a last-second heave. So he froze, which seemed to draw the ire of superstar Kevin Durant.
He would later redeem himself by knocking down a third quarter buzzer-beater, but it was interesting to see Jackson hesitant. You have to wonder if he would have still been that way if there wasn't so much uncertainty surrounding his role and future with the team.
Jackson could alleviate any fear of a quick hook by being a more efficient scorer. Much like a quarterback in football, the point guard orchestrates the offense. In either case, if the leader is forcing the action, the offense isn't as effective.
Reggie has to prove the team is better with him on the court. Per ESPN.com, he's posting a real plus/minus of -0.12, which ranks 148th in the NBA. Real Plus/Minus determines the value of a player via the net change in score when he's on the floor.
Play Better Defense
Under head coach Scott Brooks, the ability to defend has been more important than any offensive contributions. That's why defenders such as Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha and Andre Roberson have earned starting nods over guys like Steven Adams (last year), James Harden and Anthony Morrow during Brooks' reign.
Unfortunately for Jackson, defense isn't his strong suit. Per Basketball-Reference, he has a defensive rating of 105. Among Thunder guards, only Anthony Morrow (107) ranks lower. Opponents are also shooting 45.5 percent with Jackson defending, which is better than the 43.9 percent they shoot normally.
The chart below shows how R-Jax stacks up against other perimeter players in the Thunder's rotation.
| Name | Defensive Rating | Defended Field Goal Percentage | Normal Field Goal Percentage (Differential) | Defended Three-Point Percentage | Normal Three-Point Percentage (Differential) |
| Reggie Jackson | 105 | 45.5 | 43.9 (+1.6) | 37 | 35.3 (+1.7) |
| Dion Waiters | 104 | 46.1 | 43.9 (+2.2) | 40.2 | 36 (+4.2) |
| Andre Roberson | 102 | 37.4 | 45 (-7.6) | 29.1 | 36.7 (-7.6) |
| Kevin Durant | 102 | 39.5 | 44.8 (-5.3) | 37.2 | 36.4 (+0.8) |
| Russell Westbrook | 101 | 44.6 | 44.7 (+0.2) | 33 | 35.9 (-2.8) |
| Anthony Morrow | 107 | 44.2 | 43.6 (+0.6) | 34.9 | 34.8 (0) |
Defensive improvement would help Jackson retake his old role from Waiters. Brooks noted Waiters' ability to stop the ball as one of the chief reasons the Syracuse guard has played over Jackson, per ESPN.com's Royce Young.
"Going forward, minutes are earned," Brooks said. "Those bench minutes are going to be very competitive. But I like [Waiters'] intensity, I like his commitment to stopping the ball. That's been a problem of ours, and we have to get better with that."
According to 82games.com, the Thunder allow 106.2 points per game when Jackson is on the court. That number falls to 102.8 with him on the bench. As for Waiters, OKC gives up 103.3 points when he's on the floor, compared to 104.9 off of it.
Jackson has the physical tools to be a solid defender. He has good size (6'3", 208 pounds), long arms and is deceptively quick. It's just a matter of putting in the effort.
Improve Three-Point Shooting
Even with the recent dip in production, Jackson's per-36 numbers are nearly identical to last season's. The biggest difference is a drop in three-point shooting. He's shooting 27.9 percent from behind the arc, which is better than Westbrook (26.1 percent), but still pretty dreadful.
| Year | Field Goal Percentage | Three-Point Percentage | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game |
| 2013-14 | 44 | 33.9 | 16.6 | 4.9 | 5.2 |
| 2014-15 | 42.7 | 27.9 | 16.7 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
Coincidentally, three-point shooting has been one of the Thunder's biggest problems this season. Durant, Morrow and Serge Ibaka are the only players in the regular rotation shooting above 30 percent from downtown. As a whole, the team is converting a putrid 31.9 percent.
Jackson has never been a particularly great outside shooter. For his career, he's shot just 28.8 percent from three. However, last year's 33.9 percent mark is proof he can at least be passable from deep.
This is a scenario where improving from long-range helps everyone involved. The Thunder need another shooter to space the floor. Jackson needs more playing time. If he can find a groove from outside, Oklahoma City would have more of a reason to send him out there.
If nothing else, becoming a better three-point shooter will make Jackson a more well-rounded offensive weapon. As a result, his value will increase when he hits the open market this summer. For now, he can carve his niche as a guy who can beat defenses off the dribble or by spotting up.
Currently, Reggie Jackson is more valuable to the Oklahoma City Thunder as a trade chip than as a weapon off the bench. The acquisition of Dion Waiters has made Jackson's skill set redundant. It's also worth noting Waiters is under contract for another year on his rookie-scale deal, and that could have an impact on Jackson's future with the team.
To get back in the club's good graces, Jackson will need to improve nearly every facet of his game. He will have to focus less on a potential payday this summer and commit himself to being a better teammate.
If he doesn't buy in to what the Thunder are selling, he'll continue to see his minutes dwindle and will almost certainly find himself playing in a different uniform next season.
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