Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Zenger
Zenger
Sport
Mark Schindler

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Emerging Defensive Identity

All five Oklahoma City Thunder defenders, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shrink the floor. They almost operate like a slinky, capable of consistently compressing and stretching to adapt to the action presented to them. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

I have a particular affinity for whiteboards. My thoughts are pretty unorganized and the most random thoughts about Jalen Duren’s potential as a short-roller or Chimezie Metu’s face-up game will come to me at any odd hour of the day. Expo markers and whiteboards all around me are an absolute must and godsend. I have three in my room, one dedicated strictly to future story ideas and league wide trends I’m curious about. One constant on that board since mid-November; Why are the Oklahoma City Thunder good at defense?

The defense has been above league average for the majority of the season, they have length and athleticism, and a few defenders who routinely stand out in watching. Yet, I couldn’t really point my finger as to why.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.