The Oklahoma City Thunder not only clinched the number one seed in the West but also the number one seed overall after their win against the Phoenix Suns. This means they will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, including the NBA Finals. Last year, when the Thunder was the number-one seed, the playoffs didn’t end how they had hoped. However, this year they are hoping for different results that end in a championship banner. Additionally, this year the Thunder have championship pedigree on their side with Alex Caruso, who will be key for OKC in the playoffs.
Caruso this year, is averaging 7.1 points per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 35.3% from three. After his slow start earlier this season offensively he has brought his numbers back up to where the Thunder had hoped for when they traded for him last offseason. However, in the last 15 games, Caruso has taken off for the Thunder averaging 9.7 points per game, shooting 51.0% from the field and 39.5% from three. Let’s dive into why Caruso will be important in the playoffs for the Thunder.
The Importance of Alex Caruso in The Playoffs For The Thunder
Caruso’s Defensive Impact
When the Thunder made the trade this past offseason to acquire Caruso, it was mainly for his defensive presence. This is exactly what he has done for the Thunder from the start, as he turned this defense that was already top-five last year into the best defense in the NBA. This has shown up, especially in their last two games against the Suns and Lakers where he had eight steals and made life difficult for whoever he was covering. The Thunder having the ability to bring Caruso off the bench in the playoffs and the impact he can have on the defensive side of the ball will be a huge advantage.
Lu Dort is the leader of the Thunder’s defense, however, having a guy like Caruso who can replace Dort and bring a similar level of impact will be crucial for the Thunder. Whoever the Thunder play in the playoffs their best guy will be covered by Dort and Caruso for the whole game. This is a luxury that most teams in the NBA don’t have. In addition, if the opposing team has two great offensive scorers, the Thunder can deploy Dort and Caruso on them. Caruso’s knowledge on the defensive side and his communication on that end have made this defense a nightmare to go against whenever this team locks in on that side.
His Improved Offensive Ability
Caruso’s offense was very bad at the beginning of the year and it even got to a point where the Thunder may have been regretting giving him the contract they gave him. However, in the last couple of months, and especially recently he has gotten back to the offensive output he was showing last year with the Bulls. While he may not be the X-factor for the Thunder in the playoffs, his presence and what he brings on both ends of the floor won’t go unnoticed in the playoffs.
Caruso is one of four guys the Thunder have coming off the bench that can go for 20 points on any given night in the playoffs. The Thunder have the luxury of having a lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-Dort-Caruso-Jalen Williams–Chet Holmgren that can suffocate opposing offenses on defense, and the Thunder don’t lose any offensive ability with that lineup. This will allow the Thunder to go on much-needed runs in the playoffs to get back into a certain game or put away a team in the fourth quarter.
His Ability to Find Open Space on Offense/ His Playmaking
One of the things in Caruso’s game that doesn’t get talked about enough is his ability to find the open space on the offensive side for an easy bucket. This will help the Thunder whenever they run into a team playing zone defense against them. Even if he is struggling to shoot the ball, he can still have an impact on offense with his cutting ability or finding the open space for layups. In addition, he doesn’t average many assists but can be a playmaker if he needs to be, especially if SGA is off the floor. Even if Caruso doesn’t get the assist he does a good job of moving the ball around and keeping the offense active and engaged.
The Last Word
Ultimately, Caruso’s championship pedigree will pay great dividends for this young team as he knows what it takes to win a championship. He knows how to navigate the ups and downs of a series and will help this team do that when the ups and downs occur. Then you add that experience to what he brings especially on the defensive side, and also on offense, and Caruso may be one of the most impactful players in the playoffs for the Thunder’s title hopes.
Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
