While the Oklahoma City Thunder proceed to rebuild their squad for the future, there’s one factor they will’t lose sight of, and that’s successful. It’s essential to construct a crew with potential, but in addition figuring out there’s guys on the crew that match a successful mildew.
For the Thunder, they started their rebuild with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the blockbuster commerce that despatched Paul George (and basically Kawhi Leonard) to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since then, the Thunder have paved the approach for Gilgeous-Alexander to grow to be the primary man on the flooring, and he’s accepted that function and excelled in it.
This season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.8 factors per recreation on 50 p.c effectivity from the discipline. He’s the clear-cut greatest scorer and has taken a leap every season in that division.
Jumping in factors per recreation isn’t the solely factor Gilgeous-Alexander has finished, although. His effectivity goes up and he’s attending to the foul line a lot better. It’s been the greatest a part of his leap this season. His capacity to effectively put factors on the board helps him attain famous person standing.
While he’s choosing up on that famous person standing, although, he’s turning into the Thunder’s nearer and clutch man. He has knocked down three photographs in the finals two seconds of regulation or extra time. This quantity is the second most in a single season in the previous 25 years, behind solely Kobe Bryant. First off, that’s an unimaginable comparability and firm for the 6-foot-6 star, however there’s additionally loads of season for him to tie or take the lead.
So, the Thunder have seemingly introduced of their star, nearer, and total greatest participant, which is the hardest a part of the rebuild. Next, they’ll want a deep roster that embodies a “next man up” mentality. Come playoff time, groups are going to gameplan closely round Gilgeous-Alexander, so how will the Thunder fight that?
Well, the Thunder’s second and third greatest gamers could have to have the ability to take over elements of the recreation. Next season, that will likely be Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren. Those two are going to be gifted sufficient to fill voids that Gilgeous-Alexander could often depart.
The Thunder has acquired the potential to be an extremely deep squad too. In the uncommon situation that the Thunder’s prime three gamers all wrestle, it’s not unattainable for Jalen Williams and Lu Dort to choose up the slack and rating 20 or extra factors. Add Tre Mann into the combine, and even Ousmane Dieng. They’ve acquired a great deal of younger expertise that can make for a deep squad that can also be prime heavy, which is a strong mildew for a playoff crew.
Now, the Thunder will simply have to proceed and develop, which might in the end make them some kind of postseason play subsequent season, even when that’s simply the Play-In Tournament.
One factor each Thunder fan can agree with is that the final competing Thunder period lacked capturing, and this time round, it is arduous to think about the Thunder will ignore that. They’ll be capable of scalp a crew that’s constructed for postseason success, and that can result in one other thrilling period for Thunder basketball.
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