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Fixing The Oklahoma City Thunder This Offseason In 5 Easy Steps

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OKC's Journey Is Five-Fold

Oklahoma City Thunder 5 Things To Fix
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have experienced a lot of turnover this past year, but things will get much better if they follow these five steps. If they do, the Thunder could find themselves in the Western Conference Finals before you know it.

5. Give Head Coach Billy Donovan What He Needs

Oklahoma City Thunder Coaches
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5. Give Head Coach Billy Donovan What He Needs

Oklahoma City Thunder Coaches
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With rookie coach Billy Donovan soon to be in the spotlight, the Thunder need to do all they can in order to give him the help he needs. OKC did a fantastic job in hiring Monty Williams, but they still have a few vacancies left on the coaching staff. Bringing back the services of Maurice Cheeks has been in the conversation, as well as the Orlando Magic's former interim head coach James Borrego. We'll have to see. Stay tuned.

4. Build Chemistry

Oklahoma City Thunder Chemistry
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4. Build Chemistry

Oklahoma City Thunder Chemistry
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Chemistry is a huge thing that very often overlooked, but OKC needs to gel at the right time in order to move on to bigger and better things. How do they do that? By practicing and playing as hard as they can. They need to show that they want it, but at the same time be patient.

3. Revamp Bench Play

Oklahoma City Thunder Bench Play
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3. Revamp Bench Play

Oklahoma City Thunder Bench Play
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OKC needs to get much better production off the bench next year, and it should start with Dion Waiters. First priority needs to be bring him off the bench. The second priority, however, is drafting well enough in the upcoming 2015 NBA Draft that they fill a necessary void. They need to give Waiters someone he can play at a high level with.

2. Create Better Balance Offensively

Oklahoma City Thunder Better Offense
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2. Create Better Balance Offensively

Oklahoma City Thunder Better Offense
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For the last several years, it's been the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook show. Some of that have been due to injuries, but that way needs to change if they hope to make a serious run at the NBA Championship next year. They need balance, and even though Billy Donovan is the right man to bring that balance, it's much easier to say that than actually do it. If they do achieve this goal, the Thunder could be looking at a very special season.

1. Find A Defensive Identity

Oklahoma City Thunder Defensive Identity
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1. Find A Defensive Identity

Oklahoma City Thunder Defensive Identity
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Defense trumps everything, because after all, defense wins championships. So does shooting actually, but they already have that. Serge Iblaka needs to be the catalyst in this defensive mission, because if he is, his teammates are bound to follow. Defensive hunger is key in any championship quality team. The coaching staff needs to establish that early and often.

Samuel Martell is Oklahoma City’s beat writer at www.RantSports.com. To stay connected, ‘follow’ him on Twitter, ‘like’ him on Facebook, or ‘add’ him to your network on Google.

 

Samuel Martell is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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