For Oklahoma City Thunder fans looking for a silver lining from the 104-99 Game 1 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, the answer may be within the defense.
Although it didn’t start off that way on Sunday.
The Thunder trailed 39-25 after the first quarter as they allowed the Trail Blazers to shoot 60 percent from the floor and 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Put simply: The Trail Blazers had their way early.
As the Thunder have shown plenty of times this season, they locked in after that point of the game. Over the final three-quarters of the game, OKC allowed Portland to shoot just 36 percent from the floor and 27 percent (4-of-15) from 3-point range.
An argument can be made that the defense did its part overall during the game but it was the offense that didn’t do its part. Of course, the Thunder shot just 39.8 percent from the field and 5-of-33 from distance — the five made 3-pointers were a season low.
The Thunder held the Trail Blazers to just 15 points in the second quarter. In addition, they forced 16 turnovers after the first quarter while they recorded four blocks and eight steals the rest of the way. OKC held Damian Lillard without a field goal in the second quarter and for much of the third, as well.
While the Thunder certainly locked in defensively after the first quarter, the team just couldn’t overcome their struggles on the other end and that ultimately plagued them in the end. It’s reasonable to believe they will not shoot 5-of-33 from deep again so the shooting figures to improve some.
For the Thunder to even the series on Tuesday, it will take a strong effort on both ends of the floor for all 48 minutes. It may be easier said than done but the Thunder have shown they are capable of doing that.
Their season may depend on it …
