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DENVER — The old trope of “defense travels” applies to the Thunder. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Co. are just as irritating at altitude as they are on the plains.
But 3-point shooting? The Thunder has left that at home. In this series. In these playoffs. Throughout the regular season.
If the Thunder is to close out the Nuggets in Game 6 Thursday night, a little better luck from behind the arc wouldn’t hurt.
In the three games at Paycom Center this series, the Thunder has shot 43 of 102 (42%) from 3-point range. In the two games at Denver’s Ball Arena: 19 of 76 (25%).
Small samples, but that’s all there is in the playoffs.
“I try not to try to explain it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of the home/road splits. “I just try to accept it.”
The only explanation is the obvious one. It’s uncomfortable playing on the road. A different gym with different sight lines. A crowd that’s against you.
“Even if that were true,” Daigneault said, “I’m not sure that would change our approach at home or on the road.
More: How Jalen Williams fought through nagging wrist injury to lift OKC Thunder past Nuggets
Variance is the buzzword you’ll hear from Daigneault and just about every other NBA coach when it comes to 3-point shooting. A team could have back-to-back games with the same looks. One night they’ll fall. The next night they won’t.
But like Lu Dort, you’ve got to keep shooting.
The Thunder is shooting 32.6% from 3 in these playoffs. That’s the worst mark of any remaining team.
OKC has been just fine in five home playoff games, though, shooting 37.3% from deep — right in line with its overall regular season percentage (37.4%). But in four away playoff games? OKC is an abysmal 26.2% from behind the arc.
For the season, the Thunder was almost two percentage points better at home from 3-point range (38.3%) than it was on the road (36.5%).
Dort’s playoff shooting splits are drastic. He’s 16 of 41 (39%) in home playoff games and 2 of 22 on the road (9%). Aaron Wiggins is 50% at home and 29% on the road. Chet Holmgren is 45% at home and 26% on the road.
The list goes on.
“It’s information, it’s a data point, but it’s so interconnected and complex it’s just hard to take anything from that that’s tangible,” Daigneault said.
Whatever it is, the Thunder should win Game 6 if it can buck the trend.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
More: Thunder vs Nuggets report card: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder graded in Game 5
All times are Central Time (CT)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder's 3-point shooting woes have been issue on road, not home
Continue reading...
But 3-point shooting? The Thunder has left that at home. In this series. In these playoffs. Throughout the regular season.
If the Thunder is to close out the Nuggets in Game 6 Thursday night, a little better luck from behind the arc wouldn’t hurt.
In the three games at Paycom Center this series, the Thunder has shot 43 of 102 (42%) from 3-point range. In the two games at Denver’s Ball Arena: 19 of 76 (25%).
Small samples, but that’s all there is in the playoffs.
“I try not to try to explain it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of the home/road splits. “I just try to accept it.”
The only explanation is the obvious one. It’s uncomfortable playing on the road. A different gym with different sight lines. A crowd that’s against you.
“Even if that were true,” Daigneault said, “I’m not sure that would change our approach at home or on the road.
More: How Jalen Williams fought through nagging wrist injury to lift OKC Thunder past Nuggets
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Variance is the buzzword you’ll hear from Daigneault and just about every other NBA coach when it comes to 3-point shooting. A team could have back-to-back games with the same looks. One night they’ll fall. The next night they won’t.
But like Lu Dort, you’ve got to keep shooting.
The Thunder is shooting 32.6% from 3 in these playoffs. That’s the worst mark of any remaining team.
OKC has been just fine in five home playoff games, though, shooting 37.3% from deep — right in line with its overall regular season percentage (37.4%). But in four away playoff games? OKC is an abysmal 26.2% from behind the arc.
For the season, the Thunder was almost two percentage points better at home from 3-point range (38.3%) than it was on the road (36.5%).
Dort’s playoff shooting splits are drastic. He’s 16 of 41 (39%) in home playoff games and 2 of 22 on the road (9%). Aaron Wiggins is 50% at home and 29% on the road. Chet Holmgren is 45% at home and 26% on the road.
The list goes on.
“It’s information, it’s a data point, but it’s so interconnected and complex it’s just hard to take anything from that that’s tangible,” Daigneault said.
Whatever it is, the Thunder should win Game 6 if it can buck the trend.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
More: Thunder vs Nuggets report card: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder graded in Game 5
Thunder vs. Nuggets playoff schedule
All times are Central Time (CT)
- Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119 | Box score
- Game 2: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106 | Box score
- Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT) | Box score
- Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87 | Box score
- Game 5: Thunder 112, Nugget 105 | Box score
- Game 6: OKC at Denver | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15 (ESPN)
- Game 7: Denver at OKC | TBD Sunday, May 17
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder's 3-point shooting woes have been issue on road, not home
Continue reading...
