Offense’s success not just about more passing
Billy Donovan knows what he wants from his offense. When the Thunder will get there this season is the question.
As Houston’s James Harden and Chris Paul showed off clear chemistry in the Thunder’s first exhibition on Tuesday, OKC wasn’t quite as fluid. Russell Westbrook wasn’t there to spray the ball around to Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, but the duo still combined for 34 points in limited minutes on a combination of isolation offense and spot-up shots.
Donovan's image of ideal possessions and the ball movement he desires isn’t exclusive to passing, however. What Donovan is looking for may reveal itself more in Friday’s game against the Pelicans.
“I think sometimes putting a pass count on ... ‘we want to do this, this and this before we take a shot’ ... we’d like to try to be aggressive early,” Donovan said. “There are going to be some times where Russell may come down the floor and may get into the thick of the paint and they may come over and rotate and it may be one pass to Paul George in the corner, and he’s gotta take that shot. That’s great offense.”
The Thunder has become synonymous with isolation basketball, as it has made the fewest passes in the NBA in each of the last two seasons, and has been in the bottom five in the league since nba.com/ stats started keeping track during the 2013-14 season. A high volume of passes doesn’t automatically equate to success, however. The Rockets made 1,275 fewer passes last season than the season before and improved by 14 wins.
What you’re doing with those passes is more important. Eighteen of Anthony and George’s 34 combined points last night were unassisted, but of the 16 assisted points, 13 came on spotup 3-pointers. The shot selection — 3-pointers, deep paint shots, free throws — fits what Donovan wants from his offense.
Sometimes, the talent of Westbrook, George and Anthony is going to overrule an abundance of passes. Against elite defensive teams, however, the ball needs to move more to move the defense, Donovan admitted. The ball can't get static against Golden State.
Other times, the execution of a play will negate the need for the extra pass.
For the Thunder’s first basket Tuesday, Steven Adams handed off to Raymond Felton at the top of the 3-point line as George cut across the lane to draw his defender to opposite side of the floor.
Felton swayed to his left and looked toward George — who was now on his side of the court — drawing the defense’s attention before firing a pass back to the right. Anthony had curled up to the 3-point line and was wide open, as Adams and Andre Roberson set two screens to provide Anthony with the catchand-shoot opportunity.
“All of that comes into play, moving the ball, moving your body,” Anthony said. “I think Andre does a great job with that. He’s going to do a great job with that when I’m out there on the court with him, being able to play off of us and move without the ball and us finding the open guy.
“But for us, it’s simple: Move the ball, get the ball from side-to-side, make the defense shift, and then we play out of that.”
The play required one pass because the players executed, all five Thunder starters exhibiting the movement and completion of task that Donovan wants from his team.
“I think our guys are trying to move the ball, they’re trying to execute, they’re trying to pass, they’re trying to do the right things,” Donovan said after Tuesday’s game. “Now, I think offensively our execution was just OK, it was not where it needs to be, but it’s something that we can look at on film and get better on. But I think the intention of how they’re trying to play is really good.”