Previous to Sport 1 of the NBA Finals, this author listed five pressure points that would resolve the championship. Some got here to gentle even within the sequence opener with one. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder shelved their two-big lineup half-hour previous to tip off!
Earlier than this night’s second contest, let’s check out what the Thunder may have the ability to do to keep away from dropping each dwelling video games and, greater than seemingly, the sequence to the Indiana Pacers.
Profitable the turnover battle isn’t sufficient
The Thunder’s means to show their opposition over was, as anticipated, overwhelming. What was shocking was their incapability to show reside ball errors into transition baskets. Indiana dedicated a daft 20 first-half turnovers in Sport 1, but OKC solely generated 9 factors from mentioned turnovers. A part of that was luck, with 11 of these turnovers being dead-ball and, by definition, stopping Thunder runouts.
The opposite issue was excellent defensive transition from Indiana. Little question Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, whose genius is lastly being acknowledged, had his group prepped to retreat with haste every time the ball was misplaced, however the Thunder merely weren’t ruthless sufficient on the basket, nor did they leak out in numbers usually sufficient. It resulted in a 12-point halftime margin, when it in all probability ought to have been double that.
Do ‘Plan A’ higher
Broadcaster Richard Jefferson referred to as Mark Daignault’s resolution to start out guard Cason Wallace rather than middle Isaiah Hartenstein a psychological win for Indiana, who had already made the Thunder deviate from two-big Plan A earlier than the gamers took to the ground.
The justification for the transfer made sufficient sense, however a crossmatch can work each methods. Whereas Wallace clearly contributed to Indiana’s first-half turnover fest, Pascal Siakam was capable of hunt mismatches, his offense virtually single-handedly retaining Indiana within the contest by way of the primary half. His peak and energy had been merely overwhelming for Jalen Williams, Wallace, and even the cinderblock that’s Lu Dort. It additionally meant that the Thunder didn’t have backline assist with Holmgren having to respect Myles Turner’s exterior menace.
On the different finish, Holmgren was outmuscled by Myles Turner, resulting in an abysmal, six-point (2/9 from the sphere) efficiency. For all his on-ball abilities, Holmgren merely doesn’t have the heft to play on the ring towards behemoths. Hartenstein unlocks a lot of what makes Chet tick. Count on Daignault to place Holmgren ready to excel in Sport 2.
Shai wants some assist
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was excellent in Sport 1, pouring in 38 factors at close to 50% effectivity. He was unstoppable from inside and outside. But, you’ll be able to’t assist feeling like that was the Pacers’ plan.
As talked about within the Stress Factors piece, Indiana has let one participant get theirs all by way of these playoffs however shut the provision for the supporting solid. Dort shouldn’t be more likely to hit 5 threes once more this sequence so — to not go all Stephen A. Smith — one (or each) of Williams and Holmgren must step up.
