News - A deeper look into Thunder's offensive struggles

The Oklahoma City Thunder face persistent challenges that have hindered their success against the San Antonio Spurs this season. A significant factor in these struggles is poor shooting, which may improve over time, but lingering offensive weaknesses continue to sap their performance. One critical issue is the scarcity of effective ball handlers and drivers. The absence of reliable creators means OKC is often compelled to settle for less effective shots. Ajay Mitchell, sidelined for recent games, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and Jalen Williams, are the most dependable drivers and ball handlers. Both SGA and J-Dub feature prominently in league drive statistics, creating crucial access to open shooters or free-throw opportunities. The Thunder suffers in free-throw attempts due to their lack of consistent penetration, evidenced by a 77-59 disadvantage in the series against the Spurs. Without strong driving threats on the floor when SGA rests, the team frequently resorts to jump shots, lacking creators who can generate better opportunities within the arc. The half-court offense also falters significantly without SGA, failing to meet the standards of championship-level play, a problem exacerbated by Jalen Williams' lackluster return post-injury. His shooting percentages have dropped, undermining the team's effectiveness and increasing the burden on Ajay Mitchell for playmaking. Compounding this challenge are Williams' struggles in shooting, particularly in his career-worst performance at the rim, and just 36% accuracy from three-point land. This inadequacy places undue pressure on Mitchell, who must now shoulder primary shot creation and pick-and-roll responsibilities in SGA's absence. The impact is stark: with Gilgeous-Alexander off the court, and J-Dub on, Oklahoma City's offensive rating plummets from a robust 123.2 to 112, revealing the severe dependency on their primary stars for offensive output.