Special by Bradie Gray
Following their Play In victory against the Sacramento Kings, the New Orleans Pelicans are set to take on the Thunder in round one of the playoffs. Despite being the 8-seed in the West, they do have at least one clear advantage over Oklahoma City in the matchup.
The Thunder have played beyond their years all season. With an average age of 23.4 years old, they’re the youngest 1-seed in NBA history. They were able to achieve such a feat by playing a style of basketball rarely done by players this young, much less whole teams: selfless team play on both ends. Their drive-and-kick offense paired up with a seamless rotation defense, all tied together with a team-first play style has the young squad sitting top three in the league in points, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, assists, steals, and blocks, as well as number seven in turnovers and 11 in assists.
However, the only stat the Thunder have struggle with this year is rebounds. They rank bottom four in the NBA in both total and offensive rebounding.
The Pelicans have a clear advantage in both categories, as well as a slight advantage in defensive rebounding as well. In fact, all major statistical advantages New Orleans has over OKC are rebounding related. In second-chance points, both for and against, the Pels are 20 league spots better or more.
Their bigs even have an advantage in the size department in general. The average size of New Orleans’ main power forwards and centers is 6’9’, 255 pounds. Compared to OKC’s at 6’8”, 221 pounds, it certainly looks to be a physical matchup for the 1-seed. The picture does fog up with Zion Williamson’s unavailability for much of, if not all, this series. After injuring his left hamstring in the first game of the Play In, it’s reported that he will not even be reevaluated for at least another 12 days. Outside of a miraculous game six or seven comeback, his 23 points and 6 rebounds per game this year will likely be inconsequential in round one.
The Thunder have been able to hide their rebounding woes all year with how well they’ve shot the ball and played defense. By taking mostly high percentage shots in the paint or wide open threes outside, they just flat out have fewer missed shots than most teams, and therefore less boards up for grabs. On the other side, their rim protection is top three statistically in basketball, leading to many blocked shots at the rim and long rebounds outside.
Game 1 tips off at the Paycom Center Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. where we’ll see how this young Thunder team’s game transfers to the postseason.
