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Lowe's 10 things: Luka, a lost Bull and a rookie unicorn
He talks about Jerami at #3. I will copy the text here for those who don't want to visit the site, but there are some videos incorporated into the article you may want to see.
3. Jerami Grant, rounding out the Thunder
More than with most players, the league (and media) have defined Grant against his theoretical apex self. If only he could shoot 3s, he would be the ultimate switch-everything stretch power forward. Maybe just corner 3s?
The Thunder ditched that experiment last season, and transformed Grant into a rim-running center next to Patrick Patterson on bench units. He fared well, but that role put a low ceiling on Grant's playing time; Steven Adams works in the same habitat, and Grant obviously wasn't stealing any of his minutes. That was fine as long as the Thunder had a real starting power forward.
Carmelo Anthony wasn't it. They tried Patterson, but he hasn't been the same since 2015. Good thing Grant is amenable.
In Year 5, the game is starting to click for him. He's shooting 36 percent from deep on a career-high number of attempts (by far), and he's actually been much better on longer, non-corner 3s -- probably an encouraging sign. We can't assume Grant will keep hitting at that pace. We shouldn't assume otherwise, either.
Grant is playing with a new calm and feel. The bricky Thunder navigate thickets of bodies, but Grant is good at spotting narrow corridors, and slipping into them for floaters:
He still gets to screen-and-dive some, with Adams lurking under the backboard, and Grant finds him with quick-hitting interior passes.
He's more opportunistic and under control off the bounce:
His turnover rate remains minuscule -- crucial for fourth and fifth options. There is less jolting violence in Grant's game, and more fluidity. That's not as fun, but it makes for a more polished complement to the ferocity of Russell Westbrook and Adams' pointy-elbowed brutality.
Grant has rounded out the league's hottest team. Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by almost nine points per 100 possessions with Grant, Adams and Paul George on the floor.
Grant is as versatile as ever on defense. He holds up well in the post against behemoths; opponents have scored about 0.75 points per possession when they post up against Grant, per Second Spectrum tracking data.
The playoffs will be Grant's ultimate litmus test. The pace will slow. Teams will stray an extra step or two away, and dare him to shoot. If he fails early, it might test Billy Donovan's patience.
He talks about Jerami at #3. I will copy the text here for those who don't want to visit the site, but there are some videos incorporated into the article you may want to see.
3. Jerami Grant, rounding out the Thunder
More than with most players, the league (and media) have defined Grant against his theoretical apex self. If only he could shoot 3s, he would be the ultimate switch-everything stretch power forward. Maybe just corner 3s?
The Thunder ditched that experiment last season, and transformed Grant into a rim-running center next to Patrick Patterson on bench units. He fared well, but that role put a low ceiling on Grant's playing time; Steven Adams works in the same habitat, and Grant obviously wasn't stealing any of his minutes. That was fine as long as the Thunder had a real starting power forward.
Carmelo Anthony wasn't it. They tried Patterson, but he hasn't been the same since 2015. Good thing Grant is amenable.
In Year 5, the game is starting to click for him. He's shooting 36 percent from deep on a career-high number of attempts (by far), and he's actually been much better on longer, non-corner 3s -- probably an encouraging sign. We can't assume Grant will keep hitting at that pace. We shouldn't assume otherwise, either.
Grant is playing with a new calm and feel. The bricky Thunder navigate thickets of bodies, but Grant is good at spotting narrow corridors, and slipping into them for floaters:
He still gets to screen-and-dive some, with Adams lurking under the backboard, and Grant finds him with quick-hitting interior passes.
He's more opportunistic and under control off the bounce:
His turnover rate remains minuscule -- crucial for fourth and fifth options. There is less jolting violence in Grant's game, and more fluidity. That's not as fun, but it makes for a more polished complement to the ferocity of Russell Westbrook and Adams' pointy-elbowed brutality.
Grant has rounded out the league's hottest team. Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by almost nine points per 100 possessions with Grant, Adams and Paul George on the floor.
Grant is as versatile as ever on defense. He holds up well in the post against behemoths; opponents have scored about 0.75 points per possession when they post up against Grant, per Second Spectrum tracking data.
The playoffs will be Grant's ultimate litmus test. The pace will slow. Teams will stray an extra step or two away, and dare him to shoot. If he fails early, it might test Billy Donovan's patience.
