Areas of Improvement for Key Thunder Summer Leaguers

Through 5 video games in a number of Summer League stops, the Oklahoma City Thunder boast a 3-2 document, with some of the extra enjoyable gamers within the occasions.

But with a workforce so younger, there’s nonetheless loads of room for enchancment. And that is precisely what gamers and coaches alike are eager to get out of the summer season video games.

Here’s just a few highlights from Summer League that OKC’s key younger gamers can work on within the offseason:

Josh Giddey — Tightening Handle/Limiting Turnovers

Giddey has seemed a tier or two above most of his competitors within the NBA Summer League, however there’s definitely nonetheless room for enchancment.

While outdoors taking pictures could be the obvious workable ability for Giddey, his dealing with and carelessness with the ball has been a little bit whelming via 5 video games.

Most of it has come on the price of attempting new stuff — superior dribble strikes, flashier passing and top-tier self-creation — however there’s nonetheless loads of work to be achieved in all these areas. And it begins with limiting turnovers.

Chet Holmgren — Conditioning

Firstly, this isn’t about energy or lifting. Holmgren has been profitable in any respect ranges of basketball and can possible proceed to be regardless of his skinny body.

This anecdote is solely about conditioning. In practically each recreation, Holmgren has had durations the place he appears to be like gassed, fingers on hips or knees, and shifting at a slower tempo than regular.

It’s to be anticipated making the bounce from offseason straight into the next degree of play. But the NBA common season will probably be a grueling one, and Holmgren will possible have to be in the very best form of his life to be productive for 82 full video games.

Tre Mann — Getting Back into Rhythm

It’s no secret Mann hasn’t precisely had the begin to Summer League he wasn’t anticipating. In his two Vegas video games, Mann is taking pictures 14% from the sector on fairly just a few less-than-clean shot makes an attempt.

But this isn’t one thing we haven’t seen earlier than. Mann struggled in his preliminary Summer League as a rookie earlier than going onto have a reasonably profitable rookie marketing campaign that confirmed loads of room for progress.

While it’s clear there’s nonetheless loads of room to develop, Mann may simply take a bit extra to get going than others at this level in his profession. A number of dangerous video games received’t derail a possible profitable profession, however just a few good video games might get him again into the correct headspace.

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