Why Kanter has thrived in OKC

— -- Oklahoma City Thunder big man Enes Kanter raised eyebrows around the league when he made critical remarks about his former team, the Utah Jazz, prior to his first matchup against them since being traded to OKC on Feb. 19. Among the more noteworthy comments were the sentiment that he "never liked playing basketball" while in Utah, and that he sees "how NBA teams are" now that he's in Oklahoma City.

The recurring theme in Kanter's comments has been the rediscovered enjoyment of the game that had eluded him for three-and-a-half years in Utah. While we can't measure "fun per game" or "enjoyment ratio" to compare and contrast Kanter's tenures, we do know one thing for certain: He is performing at a much higher level since making the switch, averaging three more points and three more rebounds per 36 minutes, and upping his field goal percentage from 49.1 to 56.5 in a Thunder uniform. With those numbers, it's easy to surmise why he's having more fun in OKC. A more interesting question is why Kanter is playing better after the trade.

The general scouting report on Kanter early in his NBA career was that while a talented, mobile big with quick feet and decent touch around the basket, he was somewhat of a "space cadet" when it came to basketball IQ and attention to detail. In other words, he's a gifted player, but has problems thinking the game. The biggest difference between OKC and Utah is that the Thunder have Kanter playing to his strengths.

Offensive improvement

Looking at Synergy play-type breakdowns, we can identify three major differences between Kanter's offensive involvement in Utah and OKC:

1. Fewer spot-up opportunities in OKC

Kanter's offense from spot-up opportunities has declined significantly, dropping from 17 percent of his offensive situations to only about 7 percent. The deep reduction has also corresponded with a modest increase in efficiency, although that's probably random and does not translate to an improvement in play (he has only been involved in 20 spot-up opportunities in OKC). This decrease has, of course, come with a shift in shot selection, as Kanter has gone from attempting 55 percent of his field goal attempts around the basket in Utah to 73 percent in OKC. In other words, Kanter is getting almost a quarter more shots in the part of the floor where he's most efficient, even though his efficiency in that area has remained mostly stable.

Why was he shooting so many jumpers in Utah, despite connecting on only about 32 percent of his attempts away from the rim? Much of it was personnel-driven. The lack of shooting bigs on the Jazz roster made Kanter the default stretch-big in most of his minutes on the floor. In fact, 86 percent of his time was spent alongside either Derrick Favors or Rudy Gobert, neither of whom are known for their prowess from anywhere other than point-blank range. As such, Kanter was being forced into a role that did not suit him. Since coming to OKC, he has only played 33 percent of his minutes with a non-shooting big ( Steven Adams), as Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka are much more competent perimeter threats, and he hasn't clocked a minute with Mitch McGary.

2. More offensive rebound opportunities

The majority of those lost spot-up opportunities have been transferred to offensive rebounds and putbacks. Offensive boards now comprise more than a quarter of Kanter's offense, the most frequent offensive play type for him according to Synergy (almost a 10 percent jump from his frequency in Utah), and an area where he's excelled. He is grabbing nearly 18 percent of Thunder misses while he's on the floor, and converting at a rate of 1.135 points per possession on those plays. Being a less-involved party in the team offense (more on that in a bit) allows him to spend significant time on the baseline, waiting for failed Russell Westbrook forays that draw a ton of defensive attention, and crashing the boards hard afterward. It's a simple case of recognizing a strength and putting him in the position to take full advantage of that strength.

3. Much higher pick-and-roll efficiency

Surprisingly, one of the major criticisms of OKC's offense has been the saving grace for Kanter, namely the simplicity of the offense. As a player who struggles to remember more complex play sets, being able to focus on one specific action has reduced the amount of processing time devoted to decision-making, allowing him to play more freely and to react.

Most of Kanter's pick-and-roll opportunities come out of the "Horns" set (a staple in practically every NBA coach's playbook), and he's able to screen and roll hard to the basket (occasionally he'll engage in some high-dribble handoff action). Once he reaches the baseline, Kanter basically lurks the short corners for offensive rebound opportunities and cuts into space, if not requested to rerun a pick-and-roll by Westbrook. There are hardly any weak-side screening responsibilities, or plays that require a lot of timing with off-ball movement to prevent spacing issues for the primary point of attack (Westbrook). It's a stark contrast to his responsibilities in Utah, which included several San Antonio-style play sets (like the ever-popular "Strong" set. It makes life a lot easier for Kanter to know he can go into the pick and roll, roll more often than pop, and finish at the basket.

Continued defensive struggles

It is easy to see why Kanter is happier in OKC: He is allowed to play to his strengths offensively, he has less to remember on the offensive end, and, for the time being, he isn't having his defensive shortcomings held against him. For a Thunder team limping into the playoffs, any healthy talent on the floor is considered a win. As a restricted free agent, Kanter is likely looking at the playoffs as an excellent opportunity to continue to post gaudy numbers and reiterate his love for playing for the Thunder. There is no better infomercial for a free agent than a strong showing in the postseason. It will be interesting to see how much OKC (or any other team) will be willing to invest in Kanter's talents this summer.