https://newsok.com/okc-thunder-how-...orking-on-the-defense/article/5450474/?page=2
On the offseason checklist of things Thunder players needed to work on, Enes Kanter's must-do wasn't hard to figure out.
Kanter himself knows that list started with the D-word, and the Thunder has his back.
The Thunder is committed to helping its newly-minted $70-million-dollar man become a better defender through a team approach. And Kanter has put specific focus on his lower half this offseason in an effort to get better on the defensive end.
“I think my teammates have really tried helping me out,” Kanter said Wednesday. “Also, my coaches, too. We've really been focused on the defense and trying to get it done as a team, not just player-to-player.”
When Kanter was asked what he worked on most this offseason, he said his legs — specifically his leg strength and lateral movement — important considering he didn't participate in any offseason activities for a little over five weeks. After the end of the regular season, Kanter underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April.
Kanter didn't use his knee as an excuse for his defensive play in 26 games with the Thunder last season. He said it didn't bother him during the season.
“On defense, the most important thing was the legs,” Kanter said. “My main focus was on my legs this summer, and I was just trying to lose weight at the same time.”
A myriad of factors played into Kanter and the Thunder's struggles on the defensive end last year. He was traded by the Utah Jazz to a Thunder team 54 games into what ended up as an injury-riddled season for Oklahoma City. The Thunder's defensive rating (opponents' points per 100 possessions) was nearly seven points worse with Kanter in the lineup (110.4) than without (103.6). Meanwhile, Utah's defense improved, allowing the fewest points per 100 possessions (95.3) in the NBA in its final 28 games following Rudy Gobert's insertion into the starting lineup.
Those numbers don't tell the entire story, but they oppose the beauty of Kanter's offensive production. On Wednesday, Kanter said his variety of moves on offense is mostly natural, cultivated from playing soccer growing up. Like a few well-known NBA players from overseas — Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo, among others — Kanter is an import whose footwork was forged kicking a ball instead of bouncing it.
You'd think Kanter's natural gifts on offense — the smooth interplay with Russell Westbrook in the pick-and-roll last season, the ability to grab 277 offensive rebounds — fourth in the NBA in 2014-15 — would translate to the defensive end more than they have in his young professional career. But entering his fifth season as a pro, the Thunder isn't asking for Kanter to do what Hall of Fame statistical and physical anomalies at center have accomplished.
That's where the help comes in, be it through matchups or simply via player health.
“At 23 years old and four years of experience, he's shown a high level of productivity,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said last week at his season-opening press conference. “And we have players that I think compliment the areas in which he needs to improve.
“He's gonna have to do a lot of work, there's no question, but I really like how he fits with our group of players.”
How Kanter fits defensively will be largely based on the team's health as well. After the Thunder traded for Kanter in February, he and defensive ace Serge Ibaka only played together nine times before Ibaka was ruled out for the season with a right knee injury. On Tuesday, Kevin Durant called Ibaka “the key” to the Thunder's success.
“We lost Serge for a month and a half,” Kanter said. “I think Serge is one of our best defensive guys, obviously, so that really hurt us.”
As limited experience Kanter has with Ibaka, he has even less with Durant, having played zero games with the All-Star forward. Kanter was dealt to Oklahoma City on Feb. 19, the day after Durant played what ended up being his final game of the 2014-15 regular season. Kanter says working against Westbrook and Durant has made him better defensively.
At media day this week, Kanter jokingly admitted: “I hate to play against him (Durant),” but also said Durant has given him confidence with an occasional “I've got your back” during open court sessions.
Durant's words to the big man are indicative of the approach the Thunder is taking together with Kanter.
"It was a different system for him coming in. He (was) playing in Utah, where we played a totally different defense than they played last season, so of course there's gonna be some growing pains,” Durant said. “Now, he's focused, he's locked in a little bit more, and he's learning just as quickly as we are.”
