Thunder: OKC needs to start games the way it ends — playing good defense

In the third and fourth quarters of games last season, opponents shot 43.6 percent and 42.3 percent from the field. That's extremely good.

Overtime was even better, when opponents shot 37.1 percent against the Thunder.

If OKC can maintain its defensive course in the second half and find its path in the first half, a world title might be in the offing.

“Stats don't lie,” said veteran power forward Nick Collison, who has taken 108 defensive charges the last two seasons, more than any other NBA player. “I think the last 11 champions have averaged fourth in field-goal percentage defense. Defensive field-goal percentage means you're making them take difficult shots.”

Last season, Thunder opponents shot 45.8 percent from the field, which ranked halfway down the league list at No. 15.

Chicago, Boston, Miami, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers – all elite teams – occupied the top five spots with opponents shooting between 43.0 percent and 43.7 percent. NBA champ Dallas ranked No. 8 at 45.0 percent.

“The first half (of games), we were really bad,” Collison said. “The thing with us is inconsistency. I think the frustrating thing at times last year was we knew we were capable of being really good defensively, but we didn't have the focus to be able to do it for 48 minutes. So that's going to be the push for this year, to have longer stretches of really good defense and being locked in.

“If we want to compete for a championship, we've got to be one of the best in the league in defensive field-goal percentage.”

At the outset of training camp last week, Brooks shared his team's defensive stats with his squad and no doubt will remind his team whenever necessary. Defensive positioning and slide drills have been in vogue throughout camp.