Thunder in crisis

OKC is 6-6 since their 24-1 start had us talking about history. Did Chris Finch really sacrifice himself to stop them? Or is it something else?

Good morning. This is the 1,502nd issue of the newsletter. Let's basketball.

It would be hilarious if this was really the reason that the Oklahoma City Thunder went from historic world-beaters who bestowed widespread nihilism across the rest of the league.

That post-game interview was two weeks ago after the Wolves, sans Finch, beat the Thunder in Minnesota thanks to clutch work by Anthony Edwards. That loss was OKC's third of the season and second in a week after the Spurs knocked them off in the NBA Cup. There's a joke going around that Finch, who was fined $35,000 for the ejection, sacrificed himself to stop the Thunder's infamous foul-baiting.

And in the aftermath, the Thunder are struggling (by their standards). OKC is 6-6 in their last 12 games and 5-5 since Finch's ejection (counting that game). That record includes one of the more improbable results in recent years, from Monday night:

That score is real: Hornets 124, Thunder 97. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat the fourth quarter of a blow-out ... with a twist. Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball shot lights out from deep, Moussa Diabate was active on the offensive glass and the Thunder built a new Bricktown.

Consider this: OKC won the turnover battle by 14 and lost by 27. That's how disparate the shooting percentages were.

It's a low point for the Thunder this season, without question. But is there any truth to the theory that since Finch's lament OKC is getting a tighter whistle? They had 27 free throws in this game, after all.

As a team, there's no evidence of a shift. Per NBA.com, the Thunder actually rate quite low in free throw rate: they are No. 20 on the season and No. 21 in their past 10 games. Shai is really most of their foul-drawing inventory. They are getting called for fouls more recently of late: OKC ranks No. 16 in opponent free throw rate on the season and No. 23 in the last 10 games.

On an individual basis, Shai is certainly averaging fewer FTAs since Finch's lament. There was a stretch before the first Spurs loss where SGA tallied double-digit free throws in eight of nine games. (He had nine in the non-qualifying game.) Shai hasn't had a single 10-FTA game since Finch's lament. He's currently averaging about seven per game over his last 10. When OKC was rolling, that figure was above 11.

So there could be some truth to the matter that Finch highlighted an unfair advantage OKC – possibly the most physical defense in the league for two years running – was receiving due to deference to Shai's herky-jerky tendencies. Certainly, the NBA has proven it will adjust major officiating matters midseason on its own whims – we all remember when the league briefly started allowing more physical defense leaguewide for a few months a couple seasons ago, right?

There is another answer here, though: OKC, a good shooting team, has been cold for a while now. Through December 12, when the Thunder were 24-1 on the season, OKC was No. 5 in three-point shooting at 38.1%. Since then, OKC is No. 24 in three-point shooting at 33%.

Opponents are also shooting the lights out against the Thunder this season, especially since December 13. This is a huge difference from last season, but it was a problem even when OKC was winning every game. It makes sense that the Thunder would give up open threes given their focus on creating turnovers and protecting the rim. But they held opponents to poor shooting last year and it hasn't been sustainable.

All together, there may be some truth to the fact that the officials have been encouraged to bring a more skeptical eye to Oklahoma City, and that Finch's outburst sparked the conversation at the league office. But the Thunder actually do have bigger problems if they can't break out of their shooting slump and figure out what's gone wrong with their perimeter shooting defense. In that way, the disaster against Charlotte is a microcosm of what's going on: Shai only took six free throws, though the team got plenty. But OKC bricked a ton of threes and the Hornets made a ton of theirs. So it goes.

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Scores

Knicks 90, Pistons 121 – That's one helluva statement for Detroit. New York is still missing Josh Hart but had the rest of its line-up, but the Pistons just pummeled them. The New York starting frontcourt – Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns and O.G. Anunoby – combined for 13 points on 3/11 shooting. The team as a whole had 15 assists and 20 turnovers. Towns and Jalen Brunson combined for one assist and 12 turnovers!

The Pistons are realer than real.

Bulls 101, Celtics 115 – Jaylen Brown shot 6/24 from the floor and the Celtics still won by double-digits.

Hawks 100, Raptors 118 – Toronto really might be cooking something. Collin Murray-Boyles looks great starting as a smallball five. Scottie Barnes' versatility is making lots of different lineups work for Darko Rajakovic, too.

Meanwhile, Marc Stein reports that THE WIZARDS have emerged as a potential landing spot for Trae Young, and the Hawks might have to include draft capital to get Washington to bite! (Trae Young: welcome to the Sacramento Kings.) Shams Charania reports that Young and the Hawks are working to identify a trade. This all happened pretty fast.

Suns 97, Rockets 100 – Kevin Durant tells his former teammates to hit the bricks.

It's cliché as hell but that's why you trade for Kevin Durant. Few better shotmakers in the history of the world. Meanwhile, there are also few NBA superstars more willing to be just a little messy and, dare I say, real.

This is charming in its honesty.

Hornets 124, Thunder 97 – What in the hum diddly dee?

Nuggets 125, Sixers 124 (OT) – This is arguably a worse loss than what OKC suffered given that Denver didn't play any opening night starters. Philadelphia was at home and had all their main characters (just missing Kelly Oubre). And yet! Jalen Pickett.

Two really bad shots for Philadelphia at the end of overtime.

Joel Embiid came so close to getting that Bruce Brown lay-up clean.

Warriors 102, Clippers 103 – Do you want to watch Snoop Dogg narrate a Steve Kerr ejection?

Celebrity commentators don't always hit the mark. But that one works. Bring Snoop back anytime, NBC.

Anyways, Steph Curry fouled out in 33 minutes and shot 4/15 from deep. The Warriors offense is really, really bad.

Jazz 117, Blazers 137 – Utah has lost four straight and is slipping away from the play-in race without having to trade or bench anyone.

Schedule

Oh gods no, they put the Kings on national TV. On NBC nonetheless. Please don't ruin the memories of C-Webb and Peja and Vlade on NBA on NBC for me! Cancel the game!

All times Eastern.

Cavaliers at Pacers, 7
Magic at Wizards, 7
Spurs at Grizzlies, 8
Heat at Timberwolves, 8, NBC for some/Peacock for all
Lakers at Pelicans, 8
Mavericks at Kings, 11, NBC for some/Peacock for all

Be excellent to each other.