Chemistry can make or break a team, and the NBA saw plenty of both in 2018-19.
It’s reasonable to believe that with eight new faces on the roster, the team chemistry could take some time for the Thunder.
But from the sounds of it, Steven Adams and Chris Paul are already clicking just two days into training camp.
Adams told Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman that while he and Paul do indeed have chemistry already, it’s not unexpected.
“We’ve been in the league long enough, I mean I’ve watched him play long enough. And we’ve played basketball enough for you to kind of just mesh. You know, you just get the gist of the positions.”
However, that doesn’t mean that the pair is already in mid-season sync.
Adams detailed how the seemingly smallest of things can take good team chemistry and make it elite.
“If you’re trying to get to the elite level reads, that’s more of a body language read, and that takes more time.”
Adams touched on playing alongside the nine-time All-Star during Thunder Media Day.
Adams called Paul a “court general”, saying that Paul’s ability to control the pace of a game is a “huge deal”.
The relationship between Adams and Paul will likely be crucial for the Thunder this season. In his analysis of Oklahoma City’s frontcourt, Brett Dawson of The Athletic pointed out that the duo’s play in pick-and-roll scenarios could actually be better than that of Adams and Russell Westbrook.
“Adams — one of the league’s best screen setters and an aggressive roller to the rim — figures to benefit from Paul’s wizardry. Adams likely will find more room to dive with defenders sagging less frequently off Paul than they did off Westbrook, whose strength is getting to the paint, so much so that last season teams practically dared him to shoot mid-range jumpers.”
Adams has seen his play steadily improve over the last several seasons. Averaging 13.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season, Paul’s play could help push Adams to consistently provide Oklahoma City with a double-double in 2019-20.
