The OKC Thunder ran the Denver Nuggets off the floor last night with a combination of quality depth and relentless defense, two qualities the Detroit Pistons should be trying to emulate.
It looked like the Thunder had 10 defenders on the floor at times on their way to 16 steals and 20 Nuggets’ turnovers that led to 27 fast break points and a 64-42 advantage in points in the paint.
The Nuggets ran out of gas against a Thunder team that just keeps coming at you with relentless defense and quality depth behind a very talented starting five.
The Thunder bring waves of defenders off the bench that allow them to play at a defensive pace that is hard to match, something the Pistons did at times this season and need to continue to build around.
Detroit Pistons should follow the OKC model
OKC mostly built their team through the draft and then added the right impact role players in the offseason to take them to another level.
The Pistons are doing the same, building around a young core that they supplemented with quality veterans that pushed them into the playoffs.
When you look at the Thunder, they clearly have a talented starting five that matches up against anyone, but what really sets them apart is their depth.
OKC has been bringing Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace off the bench as their primary backups, three players who get after it defensively.
When the first wave of Thunder defenders is getting a rest, OKC just brings in three more who are arguably even better on that end.
We saw the effect last night, as they wore down the Nuggets, forcing them into bad turnovers and shots that led to easy buckets for the Thunder. OKC only shot 30 percent from 3-point range but made up for it with a ton of layups in transition.
The Pistons were at their best this season when they were playing the same way, flying around on defense, forcing turnovers and bad shots and getting out on the fast break. Detroit was second in the league in fast break points per game, which made up for their mediocre shooting from long range.
When the Pistons are looking for free-agent and trade additions this summer, they should target players who play this relentless style and fit into the defensive culture they are trying to build.
That might mean passing on one or two of their own free agents, as Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway Jr. are not great defenders even though they do give effort. Upgrading one of them with another guy who can come off the bench and get after it on defense should be the goal here, and I have one in mind.
OKC is the envy of the league right now, as they are young, talented and deep, qualities the Pistons should be trying to replicate by adding quality depth with players who can defend.