The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, positioning themselves as favorites to repeat as NBA champions this season. Achieving back-to-back titles would mark the first time since the Golden State Warriors' consecutive wins in 2017 and 2018. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander potentially snagging his second straight MVP award, the Thunder are poised to establish themselves as the next great dynasty in the league.
However, even the mightiest teams have their vulnerabilities. The Thunder have built their success on shrewd, under-the-radar moves and a treasure trove of young talent. Yet, this abundance sometimes results in overlapping skill sets on the roster.
A point of concern is Lu Dort, who some analysts, like Grant Hughes from Bleacher Report, suggest might be the 'weakest link' due to his offensive struggles this season. Known for his tenacious defense and playmaking on the wing, Dort has started all 61 games he's played this season. Despite his defensive prowess, his offensive numbers have taken a hit.
This season, Dort is shooting just 33% from beyond the arc, a noticeable drop from last year's 41.2%. During their championship run, teams had to leave Dort open to contain threats like Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Now, opponents are more willing to take the gamble, confident that Dort is less likely to convert those open looks, which has affected the Thunder's overall performance with him on the court.
Hughes points out that when Dort takes a shot, it means that offensive powerhouses like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, along with sharpshooters like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, aren't getting those opportunities. With Dort shooting well below the league average from deep and just 37.4% overall, defenses ignoring him aren't facing any repercussions.
Statistically, the Thunder are 8.8 points per 100 possessions worse with Dort on the floor. Replacing him in the starting lineup with players like Alex Caruso or Cason Wallace, who offer similar defensive strengths and greater shooting efficiency, could be a strategic move.
While Oklahoma City might argue that there's no need to fix what's not broken as long as they keep winning, the pressure from the San Antonio Spurs could prompt them to reconsider their lineup strategy.