There’s no query that Oklahoma City has exceeded expectations to this point in 2022-23. Coming into the season, many thought the Thunder would undoubtedly be one of many 4 or 5 worst groups within the league. Now, by means of their first 20 video games of the common season, the staff named after a sound is beginning to make some noise after profitable 40% of their video games.
Most of the Thunder’s unbelievable success could be defined by a large soar in talent by their now-superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The fifth-year guard is acting at an unbelievable stage. One may say that he’s acting at an All-NBA stage. Either approach, he’s at present main the league in complete factors scored and can also be the present favourite to win the following NBA Most Improved Player Award.
But Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t the one one making a leap. A couple of of his teammates are stepping issues up a notch as nicely.
The Thunder’s third-year ahead, Aleksej Pokusevski, appears to have turned a nook and is offering invaluable minutes as each a connector and roll man on offense and as a rim protector on the defensive finish. Not solely has he been filling up the stat sheet, it appears like he’s getting higher because the season goes on.
In truth, in his final 10 video games, the 7-footer is taking pictures 55.6% from the ground, 47.1% from 3-point vary, and is averaging 16.5 factors, 7.4 rebounds, and a couple of.4 assists whereas producing 3.3 blocks and one steal per 36 minutes. There aren’t many guys of his peak that may do this.
(*20*)Darius Bazley, who’s within the final yr of his rookie deal, has been taking part in extra inside himself and is flourishing in an off-the-bench function as a defensive stopper and transition menace. Although his taking pictures numbers are a barely down, his steal and block charges are approach up and he’s supplied a activate the bench at occasions.
Sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl nonetheless appears a bit out-matched because of his lack of peak and size on the middle place however his taking pictures seems to have taken a step ahead. The Villanova product is pulling down 50.8% of his pictures from the ground and 40.4% from 3-point territory.
Guards Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe have supplied some a lot wanted spacing and playmaking to the Thunder who’ve struggled to shoot the 3-ball thus far.
Wiggins, picked fifty fifth general within the 2021 draft, has been excellent as a complimentary piece to the staff’s primary ball-handlers, discovering lanes to chop to the basket, sometimes dropping dimes, and changing open threes.
After being lower by the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe appears to be like like he could have discovered a house in Oklahoma City. The third-year sharp-shooter has been Mark Daigneault’s go-to weapon when the Thunder want a 3-pointer and Joe has greater than answered, changing a ridiculous 45.2% of his long-range bombs on a Curry-like 15.1 makes an attempt per 100 possessions.
Even with a number of gamers placing their greatest foot ahead for the Thunder, there are nonetheless a variety of questions concerning the staff as a complete and the way it will get higher. But for now, let’s benefit from the positives.
Here are three takeaways from the Thunder’s first 20 video games of the 2022-23 season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Definitely Him
If groups might manufacture level guards in a lab, they’d look quite a bit like Gilgeous-Alexander. Standing at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and an absurd skill to maneuver out and in of house, the Canadian has unreal instruments to work with. When you add in the truth that he has turn into a dynamic ball-handler, has elite mid-range contact and is arguably the craftiest finisher within the league proper now, it’s simple to see why he has turn into a high 5 scorer.
Scroll to Continue
Perhaps the craziest statistic to place issues in perspective is the truth that the one different participant underneath the age of 24 to place up over 30 factors whereas taking pictures lower than three 3-pointers per recreation within the 3-point period is Michael Jordan. He did it twice.
There’s little question that Gilgeous-Alexander’s play has been traditionally nice thus far.
The Defense Needs Work
The Thunder acquired off to an excellent begin defensively, and by the top of October that they had recorded the seventh-best defensive score within the league, holding opponents to 107.9 factors per 100 possessions. Now, nearly on the finish of November, they’re permitting 114.8 factors, good for twenty sixth within the league.
So, what is occurring? The Thunder are getting killed within the paint as a result of they lack a conventional middle that has the scale, energy, and size to successfully and constantly defend the rim and defend the beginning facilities of the NBA. This forces the Thunder’s wings to assist off of their perimeter assignments which provides solution to simpler drives and even simpler pictures from past the arc.
Statistically, Oklahoma City is permitting 31.2 subject aim makes an attempt per recreation within the restricted space, which is the second highest mark within the league. To assist put that in perspective, higher defending groups similar to Boston, Golden State, and Milwaukee enable nearer to simply 20 makes an attempt.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault may need to give a few of his higher defenders extra taking part in time, too. Pokusevski is simply taking part in 23 minutes an evening and Bazley is taking part in just a bit greater than 16. Daigneault might need to shuffle some issues round, however he has the personnel to ramp issues up on that finish of the ground.
Can Shai and Josh Thrive within the Backcourt?
Questions have began to floor about whether or not or not the pairing of Josh Giddey and Gilgeous-Alexander within the backcourt can finally work. Both gamers are at their greatest after they have the ball of their palms and solely is aware of find out how to make it work off-ball proper now. That’s Gilgeous-Alexander.
Sure, Giddey will lower at occasions and you may disguise him on protection on the opposite finish more often than not, however are the Thunder actually squeezing essentially the most out of him by taking part in him alongside Shai? And after all, ideally, you don’t need to take the ball out of your greatest participant’s palms.
According to the NBA’s lineup knowledge, when Giddey and Gilgeous-Alexander are on the ground collectively this yr, they’re out scored by 10.2 factors per 100 possessions. The 118.7 factors per 100 possessions that lineup is permitting is the ninth worst mark when an inventory of duos which have performed a minimum of 300 minutes collectively.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Australian playmaker doesn’t flip 21 till subsequent October and he’s simply starting his first season with the extremely revered Chip Engelland as his taking pictures coach. Also, Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey have solely performed 57 video games collectively. That’s not even three-quarters of a season.
There continues to be a variety of time to determine find out how to make the guards work collectively. But additionally, it’s affordable to have considerations going ahead. Ideally, you’d suppose that the right pairing for Gilgeous-Alexander can be somebody who can deal with the ball slightly, defend at a excessive stage, and a minimum of be an honest three-point shooter. So far, Giddey checks simply a type of bins.
Want to hitch the dialogue? Like SI Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to remain updated on all the most recent Thunder news. You also can meet the team behind the protection.
submit credit score to Source link