No matter what defensive system a team is running, there are a handful of areas in which the team must stay vigilant. First is getting back in transition and matching up to keep the ball away from the rim. Then it’s defending without fouling and eliminating easy opportunities for opponents to knock down free throws. With the way the league is trending, every team must also defend the three-point line, minimizing wide open opportunities to knock down the most potent shots in the game.
The Thunder and Head Coach Billy Donovan have a plan for all that, and it stems from the personnel that exists on the roster.