Oklahoma Thunders 23 wins to 50 (1 year)

[Twin Towers]

Oklahoma Thunder only won 23 games this season. The following season they won 50 games.

So what changed over a 1 year span in over all team statistics. They went all young right from a the get go. So it might I thought it might be interesting to see why they sucked so bad 1 year than became a 50 win team.

23 win season rankings


50 win rankings


Durant didn't improve that much. Field gold% stayed about the same. Points went from 27 to 30. Turnovers about the same.
He improved getting to the foul line from 7 a game to 10.
Rebounds a little but overall he didn't change much.

Westbrook his field goal percentage barely improved. and everything else stayed about the same except his assists went from 5 to 8.

Ibaka and Harden came into the 50 win year. Harden played 22 minutes a game and Ibaka played 18.
Hard to pick out what exactly it was to be honest but I figured somebody else seeing this might see something I am not in terms of individual stats.

Team stats that had big changes

Opponents Field goal %
47.5% to 44.8%

Free throw attempts
12th to 3rd in the league

Rebounds (not big but I think rebounds are important)
6th to 3rd in the league

Steals
13th to 6th in the league

Blocks
22 to 1st in the league

Turnovers
30th to 23rd in the league

Fouls
23rd to 11th in the league

Points
24th to 14th

Opponents points
23rd to 11th


My personal belief is we will do well with holding teams to a lower than average field goal percentage. I think we have a lot of guys who can get to the free throw line.We will be a really good rebounding team. Blocks I think we will be really good as team also. Field goal percentage we will probably do pretty well with Kanter and Favors scoring a lot(middle of league). Points I am not as worried as most people (A little below average though).

We will probably struggle with fouls, steals, turnovers and a few other things.

I could totally be wrong but i honestly see us doing a lot better than most think. I know this will probably bother people wanting to tank but I don't see us getting a top 5 pick in the draft.
What is your take on this coming year when you compare us to how the Thunder started out?? And please don't give me we don't have Durant or Westbrook. There stats didn't change much. It was team effort that accomplished this.


References
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2009.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2010.html

 

[Jazz4ever]

Don't undersell Durant's improvement. He went from an all star to superstar in that time (20.8 to 26.2 PER). Outside of that, their team defense as you can see in opponent field goals and blocks is the next biggest factor. Our defense won't be in the same ballpark. We do have Favors and Gobert down low, but on the wings Thabo, Westbrook, and Durant trounce Burks, Hayward, and Burke. I'm not sure how high you are predicting the Jazz, some on this forum are actually pretty optimistic. I am currently in the 6-8th worst ballpark.

 

[The Midnight]

I do think our young guys will improve and play better team basketball overall.


However, fundamentally it's a fact that we just won't win too many games:

- We're still missing a legit starting SG

- Burke the rookie will likely start

- We have no bench to speak of

- John Lucas III is back up PG

- Burks is 3rd PG

- Gobert/Bierdrins/Evans will fight over the 3rd big responsibility


In conclusion, I think the jump between 23 wins and 50 wins you're looking for is likely to come from next year, not this year.

 

[vegas]

I can't believe you missed that they got rid of Earl the Pearl and picked up Maynor. Zero to hero baby!

 

[Twin Towers]

Don't undersell Durant's improvement. He went from an all star to superstar in that time (20.8 to 26.2 PER). Outside of that, their team defense as you can see in opponent field goals and blocks is the next biggest factor. Our defense won't be in the same ballpark. We do have Favors and Gobert down low, but on the wings Thabo, Westbrook, and Durant trounce Burks, Hayward, and Burke. I'm not sure how high you are predicting the Jazz, some on this forum are actually pretty optimistic. I am currently in the 6-8th worst ballpark.

I think we will have about 35-40 wins. I think too many people are undervaluing this team. When we got rid of the bad interior defense last year. And got rid of the the ball hog Mo Williams......... I see more ball movement and more assists and better defense but more turnovers and fouls.

 

[Stifle Tower]

I do think our young guys will improve and play better team basketball overall.


However, fundamentally it's a fact that we just won't win too many games:

- We're still missing a legit starting SG

- Burke the rookie will likely start

- We have no bench to speak of

- John Lucas III is back up PG

- Burks is 3rd PG

- Gobert/Bierdrins/Evans will fight over the 3rd big responsibility


In conclusion, I think the jump between 23 wins and 50 wins you're looking for is likely to come from next year, not this year.

This. I'm not saying this will be a 23-win year. Most of our young guys have more experience than did the Thunder. They've been in the league for a few years; Hayward is a solid starter already, Favors has been a rotation player. But our starters are going to struggle, especially at the outset and especially at PG. It's going to take time to define roles and build chemistry. I think a better comparison might be to the Blazers last season. Portland had great starters, including the ROY at PG. But their bench was absolutely horrible. The subs turned many leads into deficits. AS a result, Portland only won 33 games - even with Lillard. Matthews, Aldridge and Batum. I'd say that's about the upper-end projection for Utah with their current roster.