Oklahoma City’s regular season surprised both by the excellence of the sporting results and by the feeling of mastery displayed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates. Focus on a group with insolent certainties which offers a model of complementarity, altruism and alchemy.
Luguentz Dort makes no mistake: Mark Daignault’s Thunder has perfectly understood how to set up a collective where everyone seems to know what to do.
“No one complains about shot selection or anything else. We just want to see the team win and be successful. We know who our All-Star is. We know what Chet (Holmgren) can do, what Jalen (Williams) can do, what (Josh) Giddey can do, what I can do.” – Lu Dort
In the NBA, the great success stories of talented groups always begin with the words sacrifice and understanding of roles. Nothing new at this level, but never easy to set up. Combining team balance and accumulation of individual talents is the eternal equation that every contender faces, for better or for worse.
But what is new, and very impressive this season in OKC, is the speed with which the hierarchy has been established. More than that, it’s above all the speed at which it began to win… and to win so much that the second youngest team in the League is currently first in the Western Conference. What is this formidable rise, which began in 2020-21 with an exercise with 22 victories and 250 draft picks in stock, based on?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the undisputed leader
You don’t have to look far to see that the whole group is riding high on the wake of SGA’s sensational season. Second best NBA scorer, best interceptor in the League, and one of the most consistent players on the circuit. If last year had been that of the explosion, these last few months have been those of the perfection of his role. Rare are the evenings when Shai is not there to give the rhythmic boosts as the match goes on. He is the mayor of the city, and he intends to give it back to its inhabitants.
SHAI CALLED GAME WITH 0.9 REMAINING 😱
THUNDER WIN IN DENVER. pic.twitter.com/L4MJxe87fk
— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2023
Beyond his MVP level, the 25-year-old Canadian continues to develop his leadership in Oklahoma. Since the 2019-20 season, where he arrived from the Clippers (with five first-round draft picks, against Paul George) and during which he shared the exterior lines with a certain Chris Paul (who took him under his wing), Shai learns to be the one you can rely on, the one you can trust, the one who often makes the right choices. Mark Daignault (coach) is the first to remind us:
“We talk a lot about his consistency. But for me, what is most reassuring is the effectiveness behind it. Regardless of which possessions he uses almost every night, you are dealing with a player who is very strong (in points per shots) and who has few turnovers. That’s the most reassuring thing.”
SGA laid the foundations for one of the greatest individual seasons in Oklahoma City history, in the spheres of the level reached by Russell Westbrook in 2017 or Kevin Durant in 2014. Even if he doesn’t win a trophy and he will still have to confirm his status in the Playoffs (as if we had any doubts), the group knows who to rely on night after night, regardless of the side of the field.
Jalen Williamslieutenant but future All-Star
The trophy for the greatest revelation on the Thunder side goes this year to Jalen Williams, 12th choice in the 2022 Draft. Even if he finished second in the rookie rankings last year, J-Will shows week after week his ability to become SGA instead of SGA when necessary. And we didn’t necessarily expect that, at least not so quickly.
His usual role is that of perfect lieutenant. And since the beginning of January, J-Dub has posted 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists at an incredible efficiency of 56% shooting and 48% from distance. As a second curtain, it is as surgical as it is generous in energy.
But when the franchise player has to sit down, Jalen Williams picks up the keys to the truck and becomes the team’s first offensive creator without blinking an eye. Even better, he’s able to do it… even while Shai is on the field. And the latter has no problem letting him take control of certain sequences.
Shai has often been – rightly – labeled a very clutch player with the Thunder.
Just wondering if this season it was him or… Jalen Williams the more clutch of the two?
Maybe a false impression, but J-Dub seemed decisive to me so many times for OKC.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) February 11, 2024
Having a second knife capable of replacing the undisputed leader in his presence is a luxury that few teams can boast of having. Particularly in the money-time, Williams shows the composure of a professional assassin. Two for the price of one in OKC, and still there are people behind.
Chet Holmgren, the difference-maker
The rookie – 2nd pick in the 2022 Draft – can boast of being the missing piece that propelled a 40-win team to the top of the Western Conference. It is obviously not the only element to take into account, but its immediate impact is close to what has not been seen in 25 seasons.
Among rookies who have played at least 30 minutes per game since 1999-2000, only Jayson Tatum (53) and Ben Simmons (51) have won more games than Chet (46) according to StatMuse. And there are around fifteen matches left this season. Comparison isn’t right, but if Holmgren can become the highest-earning rookie with a major role in 25 years, it’s anything but a coincidence.
The Thunder version 2022-23 was missing a protective circle pivot, and why not capable of shooting from afar. Every wish was granted, and more. Holmgren is simply fundamental.
On defense, he is the interior in charge of rim-protection (almost single-handedly) and posts 2.5 blocks per game, second best average for a rookie since 2000-01 – behind the alien Victor Wembanyama. In attack, with 54% skill and 39% (!) from distance, the 2m16 interior suggests incredible potential. He even showed that he could take control of the end of the match, the Warriors remember that.
And the alchemy in OKC’s Big 3, like their relationship to their respective roles, is once again exemplary.
“Every team has to make sacrifices, so it’s not just us. I think it’s just: in what way? There are times when someone is not going to touch the ball much. I think Chet has figured out that he can compensate defensively and one of the things I’m learning is how to get him involved offensively” – Jalen Williams
While each element is set to progress even more, everything already seems so well-oiled that one wonders where the ascent can stop. The irony in all this? Thanks to the talents of manager Sam Presti, OKC could well have two new picks in the lottery this year.
The collective, the young people, the insolence
And then there are everyone else. Numerous, complementary, and all precious.
Josh Giddey (6th choice in the 2021 Draft), despite a difficult start to the season and his shooting limitations, maintains an important creative role behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Lu Dort was able to find a formidable long-distance weapon in addition to his defense on the already elite man. The essential sniper Isaiah Joe regularly comes out of his box, while the carefree attitude of Cason Wallace (10th choice in the 2023 Draft) always brings more freshness to this group. Small mention also to soldiers Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams and Jaylin Williams.
The major five is in place, the rotations too, and the good atmosphere accompanies the evenings of stringing together victories. The holders are all between 21 and 25 years old. The two players who play the most off the bench have 20 and 24. Not even afraid.
The major five of the evening: pic.twitter.com/Z4GGfYIlhc
— Oklahoma City Thunder France (@OKCThunderFR) January 14, 2024
In the cabin of the captain of this ship, Mark Daignault. He knows a lot about youth.
When he was named head coach at the end of 2020, he was the youngest coach in the League. And before that, as a member of the Thunder development program, talent development was his daily life. The coach was able to evolve at the same time as his group, and compete all year round with the biggest teams in the West. It’s no coincidence that he is – once again – one of the favorites for the title of Coach of the Year.
Mark Daigneault has the Thunder pointed in the right direction, which is why he’s currently the favorite to win NBA Coach of the Year honors. But a few worthy candidates provide good value as well. @Kkylewood checks in with the updated odds.
— SI Sportsbook (@SI_Betting) February 17, 2024
At the start of the season, we tried to imagine the Thunder’s dream season, and it resulted in a regular 48 victories (4th in the conference), before exiting in the conference semi-final against the Suns. Today, it’s almost ground level. Oklahoma City is at the time of these lines the fourth NBA offense and the fifth defense. This kind of team – equally efficient on both ends of the field – usually finds itself in the last four of the Playoffs, with a real chance of winning the title.
Even if half the squad can barely buy alcohol legally, and the Thunder’s inexperience could theoretically cause problems in the Playoffs (despite the recent arrivals of Gordon Hayward, Bismack Biyombo and Mike Muscala) , the Oklahoma City Thunder surprises with its consistency and its veteran team habits. Can he go all the way to the conference finals, or even more, this season?
Source declarations: The Athletic
2024-03-15 18:19:00
#Thunder #draft #picks #top #West
