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Enes Kanter: The Oklahoma City Thunder’s New X-Factor

By Tom West

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Enes Kanter has been a double-double machine since joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he’s their new x-factor for the playoffs

Until this year’s nonstop NBA trade deadline, Enes Kanter had spent his entire career with the Utah Jazz, making people scratch their heads. At times, he’s looked like a great center in the making. At others, he looked like someone who could never fully reach his potential. But since joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, Enes Kanter has done nothing other than exceed expectations.

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The Reggie Jackson deal has been a blessing for OKC. He may have been a dynamic scorer at times, but he became a detriment to his teammates and becoming a star player on such a talented team was just never going to be a likely scenario for him. That being said, most Thunder fans could never have expected that the players they acquired in the trade would be performing as well as they have been.

D.J. Augustin has fulfilled his role perfectly as the backup point guard to top MVP candidate Russell Westbrook, and Kyle Singler has (sometimes) performed as another three-point shooter when he’s received solid minutes.

Eyes Kanter, on the other hand, has emerged as the double-double machine that no one could have seen coming.

Apr 1, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (6) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the terror that is Russell Westbrook and his 11 triple doubles, the Thunder have faced more than their fare share of woes this year — with the loss of Kevin Durant being the worst of them all. Due to the absence of their two superstars during the start of the season, the Thunder (42-35) have been demoted to the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture, residing in 8th place with just one more win than the New Orleans Pelicans.

Their current three-game losing streak isn’t helping matters either, but with a relatively easy schedule once they move past the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night, the Thunder can begin to focus on the playoffs. And with no Durant to look to, their new X-factor and potential hero during the end of the season could be none other than Enes Kanter.

In his brief 21 game career with OKC, Kanter has instantly stepped into the starting lineup. The opportunity arose as a result of Steven Adams’ injury, but Kanter has done everything in his power to make sure he won’t be replaced any time soon.

Now, after recording a double-double in 15 of these games, he’s is averaging 18.4 points on 56.4 percent shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Before looking into the ways that Kanter has excelled over the last six weeks, his defense can’t be ignored. His awareness, lacking rim protection (averaging just 0.5 blocks per game) and positioning when defending pick and rolls or edging closer to the perimeter, are weaknesses that other teams can easily exploit.

The offensive efficiency of opponents when Kanter is on the floor is startling; rising to 110.9 points per 100 possessions, compared to just 103.9 when he’s on the bench.

That being said, what Kanter brings to the table is far more valuable than what he takes away.

Mar 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) dunks the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Adreian Payne (3) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

He’s already set a new career high of 30 points after just 21 games with the Thunder. A tally he never reached during four years in Utah. And whilst he may still have some flaws (such as finishing through contact) Kanter has been instrumental to the Thunder offense ever since his arrival. Even now, with the loss of Serge Ibaka for the last month, OKC have still managed to operate without having to rely on Westbrook quite as much.

Well, at least a little less.

The Thunder now have a highly effective group of big men, from young guys like Adams and Mitch McGary, to Kanter and Ibaka. But whilst the others make their impact defensively and on the boards, and Ibaka spaces the floor with his jump shot, Kanter is now the post-up option that they didn’t really have before.

His go-to move in the post is his hook shot (whether that’s a jump hook from the block or by running across into the lane) and he’s now converting 65.8 percent of his field goal attempts from within three feet of the basket. Although, to keep things even simpler, Kanter can simply wait by the basket as a safety option for whenever Westbrook soars to the rim and looks to offload the ball.

Because of the double teams that Westbrook constantly draws when he attacks the basket, Kanter has been a valuable asset in the pick and roll game as well. He’s even been surprisingly efficient as a pick-and-pop option from the top of the key too, making 42.4 percent of his shots from at least 16 feet out.

It’s his ability to score both inside and out that has been so key for the Thunder’s offense lately, and his near instant chemistry with Westbrook has been a blessing for them as they look to put up a fight against the NBA’s best team in a couple of weeks time; the Golden State Warriors.

Kanter is even rebounding at the best rate of his career, averaging 13.5 rebounds per 36 minutes (5.9 of which are offensive boards). This has only made it easier for the Thunder to continue their dominance as the league’s top rebounding team, now leading the NBA with 47.6 boards per game.

So, whilst his defense can leave a lot to be desired at times, you can’t deny that Kanter has been playing the best basketball of his career since he stepped foot in Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Mar 18, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and center Enes Kanter (34) reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

For the betting man, the Thunder — in their current condition — aren’t exactly the safest choice to slow down the Warriors during the first round of the playoffs. But don’t think that they will go down easily. Their young roster will come at them again, and again, and again, until the only thing they have left is a mask-less, agitated, and slightly insane Russell Westbrook.

With no Durant and potentially no Ibaka during the first round of the playoffs, Kanter is now the only man who can prevent Russ from taking 35 shots a night and shooting the Thunder out of the game. Of course Westbrook can take over in a matter of seconds, and if they make it to the playoffs there will be one or two games where his athleticism will prove too much for the Warriors backcourt to deal with.

Not to mention a couple of games where his physical defense is enough to deter Stephen Curry’s barrage of three-pointers.

However, Kanter offers diversity to this offense and is a reliable option inside when Westbrook starts receiving all of the Warriors’ defensive attention. And as Golden State’s main offensive threats come from the perimeter (aka the Splash Brothers) Kanter’s defensive deficiencies should be slightly less exposed.

If he keeps doing what he’s doing, Enes Kanter will be a fundamental player in Oklahoma for years to come. And when looking ahead to the playoffs, he should be just the man that Westbrook needs to give the Warriors something to worry about.

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