Oklahoma City is on a critical scorching streak, and it’s extra than simply Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder’s younger supporting forged has quickly improved, too.
The group has began off the New Year profitable six of the final eight, and the buzzing offense is a giant motive why. OKC’s 3-point shooters have stepped up, and roles appear to be forming.
Josh Giddey’s development has been the focus, and rightfully so. The sophomore has been terrific this season. Another piece to the puzzle, Lu Dort, is starting to come back alongside, too.
Dort struggled to shoot originally of the season, however has slowly labored his approach again as much as a really respectable proportion. He’s adjusting nicely to Giddey’s scoring surge and Gilgeous-Alexander’s celebrity ascension, dialing again his personal utilization only a bit. On the season, Dort is averaging 14.1 factors, 4.2 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists per sport.
His protection has been prime notch as ordinary. Dort drew Kyrie Irving in Oklahoma City’s final contest and took him out of the sport. Irving shot simply 7-of-20 from the ground, scoring 15 factors in 38 minutes. In a Western convention loaded with guards nearly as good as Luka Doncic and Ja Morant, Dort’s means to matchup seamlessly with almost any matchup is a large luxurious for the Thunder.
Last summer season, Dort signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract extension to remain in Oklahoma City. So far, his protection has been priceless for a younger group that’s surprisingly within the playoff hunt. He appears to know what Mark Daigneault is searching for on that facet of the ground, and his effort rubs off on the group. His means to attract shifting screens wins the Thunder two possessions alone every sport.
After a gradual begin, his match subsequent to Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey appears to be extra pure. He’s pulling down catch-and-shoot three’s, whereas taking good care of the opposing group’s finest participant. When Chet Holmgren returns to the ground subsequent season, the Thunder’s defensive ceiling is exponentially greater.
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