Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
Strength of schedule may not be that refined yet but BRef's calculation has Thunder's SOS as weakest / easiest in league so far.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
John Schuhmann says Thunder has lowest transition scoring rate.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
Nuggets 9W - 10L against Thunder in last 3+ years (including playoffs). Best in their championship 2022-23 season but competitive last season.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
From last regular season to playoffs, Thunder got better on 4 factors, worse on 4.
Better on offensive rebounding, own ft/fga, shot defense and opponent turnovers.
The same factor split and same directional change occurred for every rs to playoff factor on average.
How many of the other 7 of the top 8 playoff teams followed these factor trends would take more digging.
Better on offensive rebounding, own ft/fga, shot defense and opponent turnovers.
The same factor split and same directional change occurred for every rs to playoff factor on average.
How many of the other 7 of the top 8 playoff teams followed these factor trends would take more digging.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
Is that accounting for the strength of opponent in each series?
Playoff teams have up to 4 opponents, each with 8 Regular Season Factors and their relation to NBA averages.
In RS, competition is average; in PO it's typically well above.
It looks like most OKC players picked up their OReb% in playoffs. In RS they often didn't have either Hartenstein or Holmgren; in PO they had both, most of the time. Maybe IH got even more than his usual because of CH being there also?
Min and Mem were both just-above-avg DReb% teams; Den and Ind just below avg.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
I didn't adjust for opponent quality. Better quality is expected. Adjustment would be good for greater understanding.
Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary
Thunder formula for success:
Competitive window design + shedding of higher maxes + acquistion of SGA + tanking + churn almost everything for draft picks + new coach + defensive focus & aggression for turnovers in period of refereeing allowing more contact + cultural focus and player character / leadership + going young + cap management starting with just one 1st tier max+ commitment to depth including moderate vets+ analytics (at least with regard to player acquistion mainly thru draft) + fan support + constant competitiveness & comeback ability + Nuggets lack of an adequate bench & poor shooting + A Edwards not being a superstar & not really that good a design & fit + Warriors 2 timetable debacle + Leonard injuries & not playing + James not fitting with Doncic & overall dubioys playoff lineup management + Rockets poor bench play + Tatum injury + Cavs flop + Haliburton injury + healthy enough at the end, including JDub playing thru injury + recovery in must win games + just good enough overall play including MVP play from Shai= Thunder Championship.
Competitive window design + shedding of higher maxes + acquistion of SGA + tanking + churn almost everything for draft picks + new coach + defensive focus & aggression for turnovers in period of refereeing allowing more contact + cultural focus and player character / leadership + going young + cap management starting with just one 1st tier max+ commitment to depth including moderate vets+ analytics (at least with regard to player acquistion mainly thru draft) + fan support + constant competitiveness & comeback ability + Nuggets lack of an adequate bench & poor shooting + A Edwards not being a superstar & not really that good a design & fit + Warriors 2 timetable debacle + Leonard injuries & not playing + James not fitting with Doncic & overall dubioys playoff lineup management + Rockets poor bench play + Tatum injury + Cavs flop + Haliburton injury + healthy enough at the end, including JDub playing thru injury + recovery in must win games + just good enough overall play including MVP play from Shai= Thunder Championship.