The swarming and chaotic defense that OKC imposes on opposing teams has been the biggest contributor to the team’s success so far this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently number one in DRTG at (103.7). The Thunder have one of, if not the best, defensive units in the NBA. From top to bottom, the Thunder cause havoc on the opposing team, whether it’s their versatility and switch-ability, in the paint, on the ball, or jumping passing lanes. A big part of their success is due to their ability to force opponent turnovers.
How OKC is Turning Defense into Offense
Forcing Turnovers
The main cause behind the forced turnovers is the amount of defensive disrupters OKC has on the roster. The Thunder have the best set of perimeter defenders in the league — Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Then the Thunder have Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the backline of their defense when fully healthy.
From a statistical standpoint, the Thunder defense ranks as one of the best statistical defenses in quite some time. The Thunder leads the league in turnovers forced per game at (19.2) and points-off-turnovers per game at (22.2). The Thunder are generating 19% of its points off-turnovers.
Organized Chaos Defensively
The Thunder arguably have the most complete defensive unit in the league. OKC certainly passes the eye test, and the numbers back them up, but what they do the best doesn’t appear in the box score. In terms of how hard they constantly play and how they are always active whether it’s on or off-ball. They have active hands which is menacing for opposing teams, and most importantly, it’s clear they have a high understanding and feel for one another as they are on a string and on the same accord as a team.
Setting Records Defensively
Earlier in the week, against the Utah Jazz, the Thunder forced 29 turnovers, and they also set a franchise record as they scored 45 points off turnovers.
The Thunder would follow up, against the Toronto Raptors by forcing 19 turnovers and scoring 28 points off turnovers.
Winning the Turnover Battle
The Thunder has won the turnover battle in 21 out of 22 games thus far. When winning the turnover battle this season, the Thunder are 17-4.
Winning the turnover battle and forcing turnovers at such a high rate has masked the Thunder’s early season deficiencies, specifically their size — due to multiple injuries in their front court and their offensive struggles. It has allowed OKC to turn their defense into offense by generating easy baskets and upping the pace which is the way the Thunder wants to play.
Offense into Defense
OKC leads the league in turnovers forced, points off turnovers, and steals by quite a good margin. The Thunder’s defense has allowed them to catch a rhythm offensively, as they are now 7th in ORTG, after a slow offensive start to the season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have the best net-rating in the NBA and currently have the 2nd best net-rating in NBA history (+12.0). The team above them is the 1996 Chicago Bulls.
If OKC stays at this level of defensive intensity and activity, then the Thunder will be hard to deal with in the regular season and beyond.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams -Imagn Images
