Oklahoma Thunder: Challenges on the Road to the Championship
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a learning phase, adapting to the demands of being contenders and champions. After a promising season, led by their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team seeks to consolidate its dominance in the NBA. The start of the season was impressive, with a 24-1 record, matching the best start in league history. The possibility of surpassing the Golden State Warriors’ 73-9 record in the 2015-16 regular season generated great expectation.However, the team has faced difficulties. The Spurs defeated them three times in two weeks, including a 15-point loss on Christmas. The most recent defeat, against the Hornets, with a score of 124-97, highlighted the need for adjustments.
Despite a 30-7 record and a 98-21 mark since the start of last season, the team has received criticism. After a strong start, their performance has been 6-6, which brings them closer to the rest of the teams. Coach Mark Daigneault believes these games are an opportunity for the team to understand what it means to be a target for their rivals. “It’s a competitive privilege to be a team that other teams want to play against,” he said. One of the most notable situations is the decrease in effectiveness since Jalen Williams returned from injury. The team has an 18-2 record without him in the starting lineup and 12-5 with him. Despite this, the team leads the league in net and defensive efficiency. Gilgeous-Alexander was named Western Conference Player of the Month in December, and “Chet Holmgren” was the Defensive Player of the Month. The team has dealt with several injuries, including Holmgren’s absence in several games. In the match against the Hornets, starting center Isaiah Hartenstein and key players such as Alex Caruso and Jaylin Williams were missing. The Thunder, with a deep roster, usually finds solutions in other players. When this doesn’t happen, the team reflects.There are many games to play. We have won a lot. We have lost a lot. Some nights will be bad. Some nights will be great. But regardless, you have to try to get better the next day. I think that’s what allows you to, I guess you could say, be resilient. It’s difficult, obviously, but the best teams do it, and that’s what we’re trying to be.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Daigneault remains optimistic.You have to approach it with the right level of seriousness. You can’t just ignore it and erase the film and say ‘on to the next one’, but you also can’t overreact and allow the emotions of losing a game, obviously, nobody likes to lose, you can’t let that dominate you either and drag you in the wrong direction.
Chet Holmgren
