Thunder struggling, Jalen Johnson needs to play D, Brooks keeps winning

Welcome to From The Logo, a collection of opinions, analysis, and locker room insights from theScore's lead NBA reporter, Joseph Casciaro.

What's wrong with the Thunder?

The Oklahoma City Thunder's record-setting start has given way to a mediocre stretch of basketball that has some wondering whether the defending champions have lost their edge or their mojo. The Thunder have gone 7-6 over their last 13 games. Their most recent victory was an overtime win over Utah in a game OKC was favored to win by 19.5 points. That nail-biter came 48 hours after a humiliating home loss to Charlotte that the Thunder entered as 15.5-point favorites.

How can a team that looked like the most dominant squad ever through a third of the season suddenly appear so pedestrian?

I wouldn't sweat it. OKC's recent struggles can mostly be attributed to a lagging offense being weighed down by wretched shooting. As many coaches are keen to remind us, it's a make-or-miss league, and the Thunder are simply working through a shooting slump.

The Thunder shot 38.1% from deep as a team through the first 25 games of the season, a fifth-ranked mark that was more or less in line with their 2024-25 success rate (37.4%). However, that's plummeted to 31.8% since Dec. 13, with 27th-ranked OKC getting outscored by 10.2 points from behind the arc during this 13-game stretch. In those aforementioned stinkers versus Charlotte and Utah, the Thunder combined to shoot 18-of-77 (23.4%) from long range.

Dig into their offensive process and you'll find that not much else has changed. Their 2-point efficiency has barely dipped (from 58.7% to 56.6%), their league-best turnover rate has actually shrunk, and their poor offensive rebounding numbers have slightly improved. As a whole, the expected efficiency of Oklahoma City's shot profile during this 7-6 stretch (54.4% eFG) is virtually identical to its location-based effective field goal percentage during its 24-1 start (54.7%), according to Cleaning The Glass.

I've seen some questions about whether Jalen Williams' return might have negatively affected a well-oiled machine, but that doesn't seem to be the case, even if J-Dub has yet to find his groove. I'm sure there are some residual effects, but Williams is one of many players struggling with his shot right now. The numbers and percentages will stabilize soon enough for the 2025 All-Star and All-NBAer - he's simply too good a player and shooter.

On the whole, the Thunder are still playing at a 67-win pace while boasting the best point differential of all time and a dominant defense. The gap between OKC's top-ranked D and second-ranked Detroit (5.0 points per 100 possessions) is bigger than the gap between the Pistons and 16th-ranked Hawks (4.9).

The Thunder haven't been their sharpest, and that 27-point loss to the Hornets was especially jarring, but five of their last six losses came against winning West teams, and three of those defeats were to one opponent: Victor Wembanyama's Spurs. Perhaps San Antonio is a playoff matchup OKC should hope to avoid, but in the grand scheme of things, this stretch can likely be chalked up as, "It happens."

In short, nothing's wrong with the Thunder. I know that's not the answer fans outside of Oklahoma City want to hear, but I'd bank on the defending champs getting back to their dominant ways sooner than later.

The Hawks are Jalen Johnson's team ... for now

The Trae Young trade officially turned the Hawks over to Jalen Johnson, but Atlanta had already become the rising star's team.

Johnson is a terrific young player whose only knock entering the season was that he couldn't stay healthy. Well, he's appeared in 35 of 39 games, averaging 23.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists on 61% true shooting. The 24-year-old's team-friendly contract - he'll earn 16%-18% of the annual salary cap through 2030 - gives the Hawks a tremendous roster-building advantage.

However, the spotlight is squarely on Johnson as a franchise player now, meaning blind adoration will soon give way to more critical evaluation. And more eyes will be on Johnson's defense, which has quietly been abysmal all season - it just got lost in the haze of Young's murky future and the point guard's even worse defense.

Johnson was never exactly a defensive star, but earlier in his career, he was solid enough and always put forth an honest effort. It's one thing for a young player's effort and focus at that end of the floor to wane as he takes on a greater offensive burden, which Johnson clearly has. But his defensive impact hasn't just slipped from average to slightly below that - it's become virtually nonexistent. At least Johnson's head coach believes he's making strides.

"When we're asking about his game and the things he needs to improve on, usually we're talking about offense," Quin Snyder told theScore before a recent Hawks loss in Toronto. "But defensively, you look at how he defensive rebounds and his ability to guard in space with his athleticism. I think continuing to be alert when he's in help-side situations and to make plays off the ball are things good defensive teams spend time working on.

"It's not just, you say you're going to do it and then you do it. It takes focus and concentration, and the will to do it has to be there. I think that's continuing to develop for (Johnson). He's becoming more and more aware of those situations."

I wouldn't go so far as to say Johnson's defense is a critical concern, but it's something to monitor. Remember, the Hawks own the more favorable of New Orleans' or Milwaukee's first-round picks and could add another franchise-level star via the 2026 draft. Johnson's contract means he doesn't necessarily have to be the guy as Atlanta moves forward, but if he wants to be, this level of defense won't cut it.

Is Dillon Brooks a short-term solution?

App user ks48973 wanted to read about Dillon Brooks, whose two-way play has helped the feisty Suns scrap their way to a stunning 22-15 record.

I've always been torn when it comes to the Canadian swingman's game. On one hand, there's a reason his teams win and almost always improve when he arrives. Brooks brings a toughness, swagger, no-nonsense approach, and defensive identity that is contagious. He deserves credit for that, and his teammates usually rave about him. Brooks is also averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game, buoyed largely by an uptick in his midrange efficiency.

However, his shtick can get old after a while, even if it is entertaining to watch without a dog in the fight. His pest-like approach against opponents - which can lead to ill-timed fouls and technicals that cost his team - is one thing, but Brooks' offensive decision-making and shot-selection are far more concerning. Under no circumstances should Brooks be shooting almost as often as Devin Booker or sabotaging crunch-time possessions with heat-check jumpers.

Everything's fine and dandy when Brooks is boosting an overachieving team, but he needs to refine his game on some level if he wants to eventually contribute for a contender. I wonder if he's the player equivalent of the stereotypical hard-ass coach (in any sport) who gets immediate results but whose shelf life often expires before his team gets over the hump.

Player of the Week

Kawhi Leonard: 33.1 PPG, 63.6% TS, 7.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 4.3 STL + BLK, 5-2 record

The holiday break gave us a two-week sample, and no one was better during that time than Leonard, who turned back the clock to breathe life into the moribund Clippers.

Leonard's been unstoppable on offense, where he's once again ruthlessly efficient in getting to his spots and finishing. This seven-game stretch included a 55-point performance on 65% shooting and a 45-point outing on 55% shooting, and he recorded between three and eight stocks (steals plus blocks) in each contest.

Recent history suggests the next obstacle, ailment, or scandal is just around the corner, but it's worth noting that Leonard has suited up for 20 straight games, including two sets of back-to-backs.

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