Talked About How Chet Holmgren Is Instrumental In Thunder's Title Hopes
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06.03.2026 14:55
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Talked About How Chet Holmgren Is Instrumental In Thunder's Title Hopes
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The Thunder Frontcourt Adds Versatility Few Teams Have
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Despite the injury woes continuing, Alex Caruso (left hip contusion) and Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf tightness) did not return
The Thunder continues to get it done in the clutch as of late
To finish 3-0 on their road trip to improve to 49-15, to maintain the one seed (3.5 games up on the Spurs)
To this point, the Thunder not only held the Knicks to (40-first-half points) but held the starters to 12-of-36 shooting from the floor
The strides SGA has taken in handling “hard doubles” as a playmaker are night and day
Reflecting on his seven assists to one turnover ratio in the first half
The biggest beneficiary: Chet Holmgren — who's been in a shooting slump is leading the way with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting + 6 3PM
OKC's defense is on point so far in the first half — holding the Knicks to 13/37 FGA than points (34) and has kept Jalen Brunson in check (2 points) — on 1/6 shooting from the floor
11 early points for Chet Holmgren in the first six minutes — he's 4/5 from the floor + has 3 rebounds
Three catch-and-shoot threes: No hesitation on any of his three so far
Big bounce back game from Aaron Wiggins, who's been in the roughest stretch of his career
18 points on 8-of-17 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 stocks, and a game-high +17
Despite struggling with his three- ball. Played with great energy & activity on the glass and hit some tough mid-range shots
Jared McCain has scored 10+ points in 8 of the last 9 games
McCain continues to be a MASSIVE spark for OKC's bench
Game-high 20 points (3rd 20-point game with OKC) in 25 minutes on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 4-of-9 shooting from three
Jaylin Williams was the most impactful player tonight: 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in 33 minutes off the bench tonight
Including shooting 3-of-7 from three
The COMFORTABILITY that I continue to see Jared McCain to play with, early in his OKC tenure, is so impressive
He's scored 18 points in 18 minutes so far on 7-of-11 shooting
Will certainly impact & swing a playoff series
9-straight points for Isaiah Joe at the midway point of the 2nd quarter
Team-high *15 points* in the first-half
But the activity from J-Will (8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) on both has stood out the most, here in the first-half
Thunder starters/reserves 1st quarter splits:
Starters: 10 points on (2/12 FG)
Reserves: 16 points on (6/12 FG)
- J-Will: 8 points & 5 rebounds
- McCain: 6 points in 6 minutes
Different energy and flow from the reserves in the first quarter
*11-3* Thunder run in the latter parts of first quarter, sparked by Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, and Jared McCain
Thunder's defense has also held the Bulls to 2/16 from the floor to start
Not ideal. The NBA has to do better with the schedule moving forward
The Thunder have the 3rd toughest remaining schedule *Per Tankathon
W/L Predictions for the final 20 games?
- (10) Home Games
- (10) Road Games
- (4) Back-to-Backs left
And will OKC maintain the No. 1 seed?
Him immediately scoring his season-high and looking this good. After being “sold high.”
Jared McCain is bolstering OKC’s bench in his early Thunder tenure: Making franchise history
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In 10 minutes of action. The McCain-Caruso-Joe-Hartenstein-Holmgren lineup. Bolstered an 163.2 ORTG, 117.6 DRTG, and a +45.5 NET!
Favorite non-Shai lineup from yesterday’s game: ⬇️⬇️
McCain-Joe-Caruso-Chet-Hartenstein lineup
I-Hart-McCain-Joe = free flowing + infinite movement offensively
Having Chet & Caruso on defense alongside I-Hart make it viable to play McCain & Joe together and not worry about the lineup defensively
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now has the most consecutive 20+ point games on the road EVER (59)
The epitome of CONSISTENCY
Knew what the Thunder were getting from McCain as a three-point shooter + movement shooter + upside as a secondary playmaker
But McCain’s utilization in the mid-range has exceeded expectations
It’s a legit weapon for him
36-point 1st quarter with Chet Holmgren leading the way: 10 points (4/6 FG) & 4 rebounds
OKC with 9 assists on 15 FGM
Cason Wallace leading with 5 assists
Five Thunder players scored 5+ points
*12-0* Thunder run through the first four minutes of the 1st quarter
OKC getting into its defense to offense flow with great efficiency: 7-of-9 shooting from the floor + five assists so far
March Madness is approaching, and here’s the beginning of my case study on potential prospects for the OKC Thunder
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Favorite play from Chet last night…
The feel and amount of space covered for this recovery block is SPECIAL
Only a handful of players can read and react and make this play
Small sample size, but the results of their first minutes together:
6 minutes
158.3 ORTG
69.2 DRTG
+89.1 NET
Exactly, and this is why you trade for him
Can't say enough about J-Will’s impact tonight, outstanding Jokic defensive game
& Chet just brings winning impact. The offense has a long way to go, but got it done in the trenches — 21 rebounds (career-high) + 3 blocks
Can't teach HEART. Combine that with next-level defensive feel & IQ = one of the most disruptive defenders in quite some time
Absolute GAME-CHANGING sequence from Caruso
The amount of ground he covered. His defensive feel & IQ can't be teached
