Top-10 in offensive and defensive rating doable
The Thunder has a chance to finish the season ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating.
Oklahoma City reached that mark last season, ending up at No. 7 in offensive efficiency (109.9 points per 100 possessions) and No. 9 in defensive efficiency (106.3).
This season, however, the NBA has set a higher scoring standard.
After a breakout offensive performance in January, the Thunder's offensive rating has jumped up to 110.4, which would have ranked No. 7 at the end of last season. But at the All-Star break this year, the Thunder is tied with Minnesota at No. 12.
While t he Warriors have found the key to an exceptionally efficient offense (116.0), there are simply more teams clustered at the top. From No. 2 Houston (114.3) to No. 8 New Orleans (112.3), there are seven teams within two points per 100 possessions of each other.
Still, the Thunder could insert itself in that mix.
From Jan. 1 to the All-Star break, OKC improved its offensive rating by 2.4 points per possession and jumped seven spots. While the Thunder's offensive improvement seems to have staying power, the team is more concerned with shoring up its consistency on the other end of the court.
“I go back to what I've said all along ,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said after the Thunder's 133-122 loss at New Orleans last week, “is we've got to be a team that hangs our hat on the defense because what happens when you don't shoot the ball particularly well on a given night?”
The Thunder's offense may have taken off in January, but its defense — once best in the league — was among the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency in that month. Even so, the Thunder won 11 of its last 13 games, beginning with a win at Philadelphia on Jan. 19. It's defensive rating in that time span (109.4) was tied with Dallas for No.12.
OK Centered the break ranked No. 3 in defensive rating (105.2).
Morris officially signs with Thunder
The Thunder has signed free agent Markieff Morris, the team announced Wednesday.
The power forward was waived by the Pelicans after being traded to New Orleans by Washington on Feb. 7. The move allowed Morris to sign with a playoff contender.
Morris averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in Washington this season but last played on Dec. 26 due to a neck injury. Morris was reportedly cleared to play earlier this month.
“We' re a good group ,” Thunder forward Paul George said last Thursday, after it was reported Morris agreed to sign with OKC. “We got a big piece in Markieff that we're excited for, and we're going to be ready for the second half after this break.”
Morris, 29, has averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 555 career games.
Western Conference battle
There's a path for the Thunder to jump the Nuggets in the standings in the next three games, but OKC would need to win its next three games and for Denver to lose the next three.
The Thunder ( 37- 20) sits in third place in the Western Conference, two games back of the Nuggets ( 39- 18). On Tuesday, the two teams play each other. That game' s bearing on the standings will depend on the two games each will play before then.
As t he Thunder emerges from the All-Star break Friday, it will be greeted by two Western Conference opponents on back-to-back nights. First up is a chance to claim the regular-season series against Utah. Then comes a rematch with the Kings, who reloaded at the trade deadline.
The Nuggets play the 26- 31 Mavericks on Friday. On Sunday, they turn to the Clippers, who would need to tank in order to retain their lottery-protected draft pick.