3 Players Who Still Have to Step Up for the OKC Thunder

Optimism surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder is dwindling. The team has cooled down considerably following a hot 6-1 start to the season, as it sits sixth in the Western Conference with an 8-6 record.

The Thunder already have signature victories against two conference rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, but most wins have been hard-fought. OKC has been outscored by 0.2 points per 100 possessions so far, ranking 14th in net rating, according to NBA.com. That’s not particularly encouraging for a team in pursuit of a playoff berth.

Russell Westbrook has been phenomenal, nearly averaging a triple-double (31.6 PPG, 10.4 APG, 9.7 RPG), but his heroics aren’t always sufficient. Even a transcendent superstar needs help, and several players have to step up for the Thunder to establish consistency.

Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo started this season with lofty expectations. After three years of seasoning with the Orlando Magic, the 24-year-old combo guard now fills a crucial void as Westbrook’s sidekick.

Consistency is what separates stars and great players, and that’s where Oladipo still lacks. He’s had some terrific performances, especially lately, but there are games in which he fades, defers to others and is simply too passive. It’s something head coach Billy Donovan noticed and addressed during the preseason.

“When he gets into that point where he’s maybe thinking too much, or uncomfortable, or unsure and he gets passive, he’s not nearly the same player,” Donovan said, according to NewsOK.com’s Erik Horne. “His No. 1 asset in my opinion is his motor, his energy, his passion and his fire.”

The Thunder have been abysmal with Westbrook on the bench, scoring a ridiculous 13.7 fewer points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. OKC had a similar issue last season with both Kevin Durant and Westbrook resting, until Donovan decided to stagger his stars’ minutes. The same approach should eventually be adopted with the current starting backcourt.

However, Oladipo’s numbers haven’t looked promising with Westbrook off the court:

Graph1Create bar charts

Oladipo has seen an obvious and significant uptick in usage rate as the primary ball-handler without Westbrook, but he hasn’t done particularly well with the extra touches. His true shooting percentage and points per possession drop significantly without Westbrook, as defenses generally pour more resources his way.

His assist percentage is significantly higher without Westbrook, but Oladipo hasn’t fully utilized his playmaking abilities, averaging a career-low 2.4 assists per game. He has to bolster that figure by staying aggressive and looking for teammates more than his own shot.

Oladipo has experience running the point as a sixth man in Orlando, so pulling him out of games earlier and allowing him to facilitate for others is something that should be considered. The statistics suggest he can morph into a …

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