3 things OKC and Cavs need to adjust before battling against playoff regulars

Young league leaders Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers will enter playoffs with targets on their backs.

3 things OKC and Cavs need to adjust before battling against playoff regulars

Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are favorites to reach NBA Finals

This NBA season, two young teams have replaced the usual suspects have been replaced by at the top of the leaderboard. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are head and shoulders above the rest of the league. Some believe both teams will continue their dominating regular season form to the playoffs.

Usually, that would be a scary proposition considering both teams are good offensively and defensively. They do have a few veterans, but their core is made up of young and hungry players. The prospect of facing that generally would not scare veterans.

YouTube video

But these two teams have deep rosters, are athletic and intelligent, and at the same time, are savvy enough in clutch moments. Those attributes usually result in a deep playoff run. Some analysts believe these two will meet in the NBA finals come June.

On the other hand, some analysts and fans believe the Thunder and Cavaliers have some flaws which could go against them. With a month remaining in the regular season, both teams can look to employ some adjustments to their style of play. These three adjustments can help them play each other in the finals.

Reduce reliance on free throw

The narrative running around the league recently has been about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s foul baiting. Recently two head coaches have spoken out about the issue fans have been talking about all season long. In the playoffs, that tactic will not work.

The game slows down and officials generally allow physicality. That means an intelligent team can make it difficult for Gilgeous-Alexander to perform at the rate he is currently doing. Last season, they exited the playoffs in the second round.

This season, they have a team that can play until the final season whistle. But to reach that spot, they have to find ways to score. Free throws do not work in the playoffs and if Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s leading scorer continues to try that route, they might be in for a rude awakening.

Other players on the Oklahoma City Thunder are not hell bent on finding fouls. But the Cleveland Cavaliers as a team collectively are. Donovan Mitchell and his teammates attempt enough as a team that it could work against them in the playoffs.

Intelligent defenses can take out one player if that player is using fouls to score. But if a team collectively resorts to fouls, officials will not allow it, and they might start calling flopping fouls, effectively undermining their own efforts. Both teams can start adjusting their play to avoid resorting to foul calls.

Start practicing schemes in regular season games based off on scouting reports and film

By now, all teams will have enough game film and scouting reports about their opponents. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers can study the film and start game planning. They also have enough games to start practicing those schemes.

When playoff time comes, they might not have enough time to practice. They both have clinched playoff spots and have rosters capable of keeping them at the top of their respective conferences. Now they can run some schemes to see how they are comfortable with it.

Mind you, when the postseason comes around, veteran teams have a major advantage over the Cavs and Thunder. They can use their experience and intelligence to turn games around. Both the league leaders do not have that luxury. Therefore, they can only resort to understanding and practicing what they will likely face.

Use load management to get OKC and Cavs bench ready

In the playoffs, usually the primary core play. Bench players do not get playing time if games are close. They only get some garbage minutes at best. But injuries are a part of any sport and that is where the bench needs to be ready.

Being this far out in front means both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers can afford to take their foot off the gas pedal. Placing their starters on minutes restrictions can help conserve energy. On top of that, they can hand bench players crucial rhythm building minutes.

That rhythm is important as in the event of an injury, the replacement has to be ready to battle. If the said player is not, then it can jeopardize their game plan. OKC and the Cavs each have at least fourteen games left in the regular season.

That is enough time to get their bench players in motion. When the heat of the battle starts in April, those OKC and Cavs benches will go a long way to back up their starters. Moreover, those starters will not be exhausted, which will help when going up against playoff veterans.