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The Oklahoma City Thunder are still very much in contention to win the Larry O'Brien trophy. However, this does not mean that there are no emerging concerns in their roster, rotations, and schemes. They had an easy road during the first two rounds as those matchups ended in sweeps. When they faced the San Antonio Spurs, problems started to surface. It got even worse because the woes involved Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama.
Thunder's Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren get exposed by Spurs in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren had a chance to completely shift the dynamic of this series against the Spurs. If they won Game 4, the Thunder would have a commanding 3-1 lead over Victor Wembanyama and Co. But there is not much use in contemplating about what could have been. Rather the focus should be improving their horrendous outputs.
How bad were the Thunder during Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren's performances?
For starters, the Spurs have forced Gilgeous-Alexander to score way less on a nightly basis throughout this series. During his regular season MVP campaign, the Thunder superstar averaged 31.1 points on 39.2% field goal shooting and a 38.6% three-point percentage. He was also to produce 10 assists with a +16.3 individual net rating.
All of this flipped against the Spurs. His nightly output dropped all the way down to 24.8 points on a 39.2% clip from the field and 26.7% from downtown. Gilgeous-Alexander also only gives the Thunder 6.6 assists as his individual net rating went down to a horrid -4., per Sam Amick of The Athletic.
It is not just Gilgeous-Alexander too. Holmgren is objectively having a worse performance because he gets matched up with Wembanyama or just has to sit on the bench at times. The Thunder big man averaged 17.1 points in the regular season but it dropped to 11.3 points against the Spurs. His 8.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 16.1 net rating that made him an NBA All-Star? All of those took a hit as he now just gets six rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and a gut-wrenching 0.1 net rating.
They are all but lucky that this series is tied at two apiece. But, not being able to score more than 19 points per quarter in a half will be a problem. An adjustment needs to be made as the Thunder go back to homecourt. Can Mark Daigneault help Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander reinvent themselves for a better chance of winning over the Spurs?
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