Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault hasn’t misplaced confidence in struggling stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams forward of Sunday’s NBA Finals Recreation 2 towards the Indiana Pacers.
Whereas MVP level guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered with a game-high 38 factors in Recreation 1, Holmgren and Williams weren’t components, combining to shoot an unsightly 28.6 % (8-of-28), scoring 23 factors.
The Thunder blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead and misplaced on a last-second Tyrese Halliburton jumper, 111-110.
Daigneault was unconcerned with the duo’s disappointing NBA Finals debuts, though his feedback current an issue Oklahoma Metropolis may not be capable to resolve.
“Normally delivering within the Finals will not be on the curriculum for third-year gamers,” Daigneault stated. (h/t ESPN)
The Thunder added Holmgren (No. 2 general) and Williams (No. 12 general) within the 2022 NBA Draft, and each had been key to the franchise going 68-14 this season, one of the best in its historical past.
Nonetheless, as Daigneault alluded, their age and inexperience could possibly be a problem. It should at the least be one thing to observe till both (or each) make a optimistic influence within the Finals.
The five-year Thunder coach would not seem to suppose will probably be problematic, pointing to the group’s run via the Western Convention this postseason as proof.
“Now that they’re right here, they must proceed to do what they’ve carried out all through the playoffs,” Daigneault added, emphasizing they have to “go on the market, totally compete, be taught the teachings and apply it ahead.”
“And so they have carried out an amazing job of that,” Daigneault continued. “I believe you’ve got seen that over the course of the playoffs. They have not performed their finest sport, however they all the time get themselves able to play the following one.”
Throughout a tightly-contested second-round collection towards the Denver Nuggets, Williams struggled in Video games 4-6, averaging 11.3 factors per sport on 23.3 % taking pictures, together with 14.3 % on three-point makes an attempt.
He bounced again in Recreation 7, taking pictures 10-of-17 (58.8 %) and scoring 24 factors in a 125-93 blowout win.
Within the West Finals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, Williams responded to a 3-of-9 efficiency in a 143-101 Recreation 3 loss with a playoff career-high 34 factors in a Recreation 4 win.
Holmgren was 3-of-7 with 10 factors in that Recreation 3 laugher and averaged 21.5 factors on 63 % taking pictures (17-of-27) over the following two video games because the Thunder eradicated the Timberwolves.
Oklahoma Metropolis has wanted its younger stars to play older than their age all through its playoff run, and up thus far, they’ve delivered.
However as a lot because the Thunder’s youth has been as asset, it could possibly be a legal responsibility within the Finals. If Oklahoma Metropolis desires to win its first NBA title, Holmgren and Williams might want to develop up in a rush.
