After the NBA took Tuesday off to encourage followers to get out and vote, Thunder basketball returns on Wednesday in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks on the Paycom Center. Oklahoma City traveled to Milwaukee final weekend in a shedding effort, however this crew round, the Bucks add former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo again into the lineup.
After a enjoyable begin to the season, rattling off 4 straight wins to a document over .500, Oklahoma City has returned to earth. The crew has dropped three-straight, all by 9 factors or extra. It’s clear that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s heroics have been the principle purpose for the Thunder’s success, and it would simply not be all that sustainable. SGA is sweet sufficient to proceed to get his personal each evening at this level, however groups can now higher scheme for the way to beat the Thunder even on his huge nights.
Outside of Gilgeous-Alexander’s, OKC’s development throughout the board has been barely disappointing. Aleksej Pokusevski has clearly improved as a participant even when the statistics haven’t caught up but and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s 3-point taking pictures spike spotlight two inside positives for the Thunder. Outside of that, although, there’s a lot to be desired.
After the transient NBA pause yesterday, it’s a brand new stretch of video games for the Thunder. All issues thought-about, a 4-6 document might be higher than most individuals anticipated by ten video games in Oklahoma City.
Here are three issues I’ll be expecting on Wednesday that might additionally go alongside approach in Oklahoma City’s path to success:
Jalen Williams’ Offensive Assertiveness
Williams had his full bag on show over the course of Oklahoma City’s summer time league run. He was all over on protection and operating the present on offense.
So far throughout his rookie season, Williams has already acquired heavy taking part in time and even a number of begins. He’s taking part in environment friendly basketball and doing what’s requested of him, however Oklahoma City would profit from an uptick in his shot makes an attempt. When he’s being aggressive on the offensive finish, getting to the rim, his expertise will actually begin to shine by.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 3-Point Shot
SGA has by no means precisely been identified for his outdoors shot, however that’s by no means stopped him from taking triples. Up till final season, Gilgeous-Alexander had a decent 3-point shot percentage-wise, and even after the hunch, it was nonetheless extensively considered as simply that. A hunch.
Now, ten video games into the 2022-23 season, Gilgeous-Alexander is nearly refusing to take 3-pointers. It’s clearly not having a lot of an impact on his scoring means, nonetheless good for a nightly 30-piece, but it surely’s huge for the event of the crew. Gilgeous-Alexander wants to develop a constant 3-point shot in some unspecified time in the future in his profession, and the one approach to do that’s by taking them. And any SGA shot is an effective shot for the Thunder.
The 2021 Draft Class
Oklahoma City’s rebuild has reached the purpose the place it’s straightforward to see the core beginning to kind. Adding one other seemingly high ten choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft, plus Chet Holmgren and every other free brokers, and subsequent 12 months immediately turns into very attention-grabbing.
Playing time is already restricted, however subsequent 12 months a rotation will most certainly be set. It’s time for guys like Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Tre Mann and Aaron Wiggins to separate themselves from the pack. We’ve seen flashes this season, however nothing constant. Oklahoma City is looking for late-game assist for Gilgeous-Alexander, now can be a good time for one of many Thunder’s second 12 months gamers to step into an even bigger position.
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