The Case for Steven Adams to Start over Enes Kanter for OKC Thunder
For the first time in franchise history, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a controversy over who should be the team's starting center.
In one corner, you have Steven Adams, a bruising 21-year-old post defender from New Zealand. Adams opened the season as OKC's top pivot man and held the job for 50 games before suffering a broken hand on Feb. 8. During that stint, he averaged 7.4 points, seven rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He underwent surgery, which has kept him out for close to a month, but is nearing a return, per Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.
In the other corner, you have the recently-acquired Enes Kanter, a talented 22-year-old interior scorer from Turkey. Kanter was brought in (at the trade deadline from the Utah Jazz) to both fill in for the injured Adams as well as give Oklahoma City a weapon down low that the team didn't already have. He has feasted in Adams' absence, averaging 15.8 points and 10.2 rebounds while providing a nice boost on the offensive end, notching a double-double during three of his first five games in a Thunder uniform.
Once Adams is cleared to play, head coach Scott Brooks will have quite the conundrum on his hands. Does he go defense and give the job back to Adams, or does he stick with the offensive boost Kanter has provided since his arrival?
There is plenty of reason to vote for the latter.
Kanter has established instant chemistry with point guard Russell Westbrook, and it has been magical watching the two run pick-and-rolls. Plus, the big fella's presence in the paint warrants defensive attention, which keeps opponents from locking on Westbrook or Kevin Durant.
However, prior to his injury, Adams was making great strides in his second pro season and first as a starter. His toughness gave the team a little edge, and with Kendrick Perkins gone, it needs Adams' defense more than ever. While there is temptation for a Wally Pipp-type situation here, Adams deserves to regain the job he never officially lost.
Defense
There's no question that Kanter is more skilled offensively than Adams. In just a short time with the team, he's shooting 57.7 percent from the field and posting an offensive rating of 123, per Basketball-Reference.com.
His versatility as a scorer has already earned Westbrook's respect, per Mayberry:
“He’s a big fella that likes to roll, and obviously he can finish,” Westbrook said. “He can knock down the 15-footer as well so it’s a double threat for him. And we’re just going to create better chemistry as the season goes along.”
When it comes to defense though, the advantage goes to Adams. The chart below shows the huge gap in defensive numbers between the two young big men. The most galling of the stats is the fact that opponents are shooting 60.3 percent from less than six feet with Kanter defending.
| Name | Defensive Rating | Defended Field Goal Percentage | Normal Field Goal Percentage (Differential) | Defended Field Goal Percentage (less than six feet) | Normal Field Goal Percentage (differential) | Defensive Box Plus/Minus | Block Percentage |
| Steven Adams | 102 | 43.4 | 47.6 (-4.1) | 52.9 | 59.4 (-6.5) | 2.1 | 3.9 |
| Enes Kanter (UTA/OKC) | 108 | 50.3 | 47.3 (+3.0) | 60.3 | 59.9 (+0.4) | -2.8 | 0.9 |
If the Thunder are going to make a spirited playoff run, the team will have to go through some of the best frontcourts in basketball.
You're not getting by teams like the Memphis Grizzlies with a starting center who allows opponents to convert more than half their shots around the rim. On top of that, OKC's loss to the Phoenix Suns exposed Kanter's struggles in thwarting the pick-and-roll, as Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman points out:
"Kanter is an excellent offensive center. But his defensive shortcomings were well-documented before he played his first Thunder game, and while we focused on the giants he would have to guard in the Western Conference -- Marc Gasol/Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge/Robin Lopez, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, DeAndre Jordan/Blake Griffin -- the truth is, pick-and-roll defense is even more important than post defense for a big man.
And Kanter showed that he's deficient. With Kanter in the game, the Suns consistently sent their center, usually Alex Len, to screen Russell Westbrook, with Bledsoe dribbling around the screen.
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The Thunder won't have to worry about these kinds of problems with Adams in the starting lineup. The big Kiwi spent his first year and a half in the pros learning from Perkins, one of the best post defenders in the league. He may not offer as much on the offensive end, but Adams makes up for it by holding his own on defense.
In fact, here is an example of Adams making plays.
The ability to hinder opponents from scoring will be more critical to the Thunder's championship hopes than deciding which center is the better roll man.
Second Unit Would Be Better With Kanter
Hypothetically, let's say Kanter keeps the starting job the rest of the season. Who is going to lead the frontcourt scoring attack in the second unit?
We've established Adams isn't exactly the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon. What about rookie Mitch McGary? With only 12 pro games under his belt, there's neither a large enough sample size nor has there been enough consistency for the team to rely upon him in this kind of role. McGary has also dealt with injuries for most of the year, which has hindered his development.
How about Nick Collison? He's 34 years old and hasn't been an offensive factor in a long time. Does Brooks go small with the seemingly-forgotten Perry Jones or new addition Kyle Singler? How would that work on the defensive end against guys like Z-Bo or Griffin?
The need for Kanter to lead the charge off the bench is two-fold.
First, it gives both units some balance. The team has enough offense on the first string to survive without Kanter. OKC has done without an offensive center for years and has been just fine. The "B" team, on the other hand, has some intriguing options, but nobody who can be trusted to consistently produce up front.
If Adams starts, the reserves would have Kanter working down low with Dion Waiters in the backcourt, Anthony Morrow dropping bombs on the perimeter and D.J. Augustin quarterbacking the offense. That would allow the offense to keep the momentum going, taking pressure off Westbrook and Durant to carry the team.
The second unit could certainly use the boost. According to HoopsStats, Oklahoma City is 13th in the NBA in bench scoring, averaging 34.4 points per game. It's important to keep in mind that Reggie Jackson's production factors into that average, as well. Jackson is now running the show in Detroit.
Sipho Mangoye of HoopsHabit brings up another incentive for Kanter to accept a bench role:
"Furthermore, Kanter’s performances have come at a time when there is plenty of touches and game time to go around since Kevin Durant and Adams are both currently out. Once they return – especially Durant – expect his numbers, namely his points, to drop sharply.
So with that in mind, it is probably best – for both Enes Kanter and the team – he becomes a bench player. That way he can have more opportunities to showcase his skills in hopes for that big day for when he becomes a free agent this summer. Plus, it’ll help make the second unit a force to be reckoned with. Talk about a win-win.
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Since coming to Oklahoma City, Kanter has averaged 10.4 field-goal attempts per game, but as Mangoye pointed out, that's without Adams and Durant. Once those two return, Kanter goes from being Westbrook's roll buddy to potentially the fourth option in the starting rotation. On top of that, Adams will cut into Kanter's playing time regardless of who gets the starting nod.
It is understandable to get excited about what Enes Kanter brings to the table. The Oklahoma City Thunder have never had a center with his scoring potential.
However, while not as aesthetically pleasing, Steven Adams' defensive presence in the starting lineup is more critical to the Thunder's success than having another mouth to feed on the offensive end.
The luxury of having two talented centers to choose from is a nice problem to have, but this should be Adams' job now and going forward.
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