Previous to Sport 1 of the NBA Finals, this author listed 5 strain factors that might resolve the championship. Some got here to mild 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 would possibly be capable of do to keep away from dropping each residence video games and, greater than seemingly, the sequence to the Indiana Pacers.
Profitable the turnover battle isn’t sufficient
The Thunder’s capability 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 stated 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 most likely ought to have been double that.
Do ‘Plan A’ higher
Broadcaster Richard Jefferson known as Mark Daignault’s determination to start out guard Cason Wallace rather than heart 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 in a position to hunt mismatches, his offense virtually single-handedly conserving Indiana within the contest by the primary half. His top 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 risk.
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 able 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 in and out. But, you may’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 these playoffs however shut the availability for the supporting solid. Dort shouldn’t be prone to hit 5 threes once more this sequence so — to not go all Stephen A. Smith — one (or each) of Williams and Holmgren have to step up.
