Long Range Shooting Critical in Thunder's Playoff Push

With the All Star break in the rear view mirror, the Thunder’s full attention turns to the playoff chase down the stretch. At 28-29, Oklahoma City currently occupied the No. 10 seed in the West, the last play-in spot. The conference is such a mess, though, that OKC is just three games out of home court advantage in the playoffs.

If Oklahoma City wants to sneak into the play-in tournament, the team must continue its hot shooting stretch from 3-point range. The long range success has been one of the most surprising aspects of the Thunder’s season and has been a big part of the offensive attack.

Since the new year, the Thunder have flipped a switch offensively. In January, OKC recorded the highest clip in the NBA from 3-point range, shooting 40.7% as a team. In February, it’s been more of the same as the Thunder is shooting 37% from distance, good for No. 8 in the league.

On the entire season, Oklahoma City is No. 11 in the NBA in 3-point percentage. It’s a testament to the player development going on within the organization, and also the attention that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws in on the floor. The team is still earning long-range respect from opposing teams, which in turn creates wide open shots for the Thunder.

One of the biggest reasons behind Oklahoma City’s turnaround from behind-the-arc is the addition of sharpshooter Isaiah Joe. The Arkansas product is quickly turning into one of the franchise’s most valuable free agent signings of all time, shooting 45.2% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game. Joe is averaging 8.3 points off the bench for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City has been known for its chaotic defense under Mark Daigneault, but the hot shooting 3-point stretch has powered the Thunder’s turnaround. For a playoff run, OKC must maintain the same shooting clip over the last few months.

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