The Race for Next Year’s Starting Lineup Has Begun

As many what-if video games occur this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder can solely think about what this season may appear to be if Chet Holmgren was wholesome for his rookie marketing campaign.

Unfortunately, Holmgren’s debut will wait till the 2023-24 season, however the Thunder get extra alternatives to proceed and see who would be the constant starter alongside Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort.

With the names listed, it seems as if the Thunder will attempt to place an influence ahead into that slot, leaving the job up for grabs between Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Now, there’s going to be moments the place one participant matches the matchup higher than the opposite, and Head Coach Mark Daigneault will make that adjustment accordingly. Consistency goes to be big for the beginning lineup, as they’re going to wish to have as a lot burn as potential as a lineup in the event that they’re planning on making a play-in push.

Pokusevski and Robinson-Earl have eerily comparable stats, as each gamers have began 17 video games this season. Pokusevski is averaging 9.3 factors per recreation in 22.3 minutes per recreation, whereas Robinson-Earl is averaging 8.8 factors per recreation in 21.5 minutes per recreation.

Depending on the largest weak point from the beginning lineup subsequent season, there’s no true reply as to which participant deserves the beginning spot extra. Not to say, it is going to be price having a look at Jalen Williams beginning on the energy ahead spot to see what a possible small ball, flooring spacing lineup may appear to be.

Nonetheless, there isn’t any proper or incorrect reply this far forward of subsequent season, but it surely’s an fascinating state of affairs to observe because the season progresses.

The id of the squad also needs to be taken into consideration when pondering of what participant may begin alongside the opposite 4 starters. Will the Thunder wish to play sooner, larger, or with extra spacing?

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