Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Thunder Game 2 changes have to start with better nights from Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams

June 8, 2025
in NBA
0
Home NBA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Rick Carlisle Doesn’t Hold Back on Free Throw-Heavy NBA Games

Situational Analysis: Dylan Harper – NBADraft.net

Cavs Open To Trading Darius Garland

OKLAHOMA CITY — Any doubts about the Thunder entering the playoffs seemed to have been wiped away before the NBA Finals tipped off. Nobody had really questioned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Thunder defense had more than lived up to its fearsome reputation.

Perhaps the only question not entirely answered this postseason was the one that lingered from last year’s playoffs, when the Mavericks eliminated the Thunder: Were Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren good enough to be the No. 2 and 3 players on a championship team?

They were not in Game 1. They shot a combined 8-of-28, and they had some defensive lapses.

If the Thunder are going to even this series in Game 2 Sunday night, a few things need to improve for them, but that starts with better games from Williams and Holmgren.

“[Holmgren] and [Williams], specifically, obviously they have carved out huge roles on our team,” OKC coach Mark Daigneault said. “Usually, delivering in the Finals is not on the curriculum for third-year players, and they have thrust themselves into that situation, which is a credit to them. And now that they are here, they have to continue to do what they have done all the way through the playoffs…

“They haven’t always played their best game, but they always get themselves ready to play the next one. The last guy I’m worried about that is Chet.”

Williams played down the idea of being a third-year player mattering.

“I don’t ever think that I’m in my third year because then that allows me to make excuses. I should just go out there and play. Pressure is a privilege,” Williams said on the eve of Game 2. “So I enjoy being counted on and doing that, and I just think I’ve been counted on since, I feel like, last year, to be totally honest, just in regard to being there for the rest of the guys. And now we’re here in the Finals.”

Holmgren’s rough shooting night

Holmgren shot 2-of-8 within four feet of the rim in Game 1, finishing the night with six points on nine shot attempts. It was a night where Daigneault leaned more into Isaiah Hartenstein (9 points on 3-of-5 shooting, plus 9 rebounds).

“I feel like I could have slowed down, kind of finished some of those plays at the rim,” Holmgren said. “Obviously, it hurts in a one-point loss. One single difference on one single play could have decided the whole game…

“I’d say [I went] on some of them, too quick. On the ones that involved help side, just slowing down and understanding where they are is a big thing. Some of the one-on-one plays, I wouldn’t say so much slowing down as I’d say kind of just being a little bit more under control, I guess.”

Williams’ rough shooting night

Williams put up better counting stats with 17 points, but was 6-of-19 shooting. He was respectable around the rim, hitting 5-of-9. However, he was 1-of-10 outside that range, including 1-of-4 on 3-pointers.

We’ve seen this before this postseason. Against the Nuggets, Williams showed out with 32 points on 21 shots in Game 3 (an OKC loss), but in the next three games Williams shot 2-of-13, 5-of-14 and 3-of-16, a combined 23.3%.

Williams bounced back in the Thunder’s Game 7 victory, scoring 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. What Oklahoma City needs from him in the Finals is consistency. Williams is an All-NBA player who will be offered a five-year maximum contract extension by the Thunder this summer. These games, however, are where that money and his reputation are really earned.

All playoffs long, when the Thunder have been challenged — individually and as a team — they have responded. Expect Williams and Holmgren to bounce back with better games on Sunday night.

If they don’t, the hole the Thunder find themselves in could be a lot deeper.



Source link

Tags: ChetgameHolmgrenJalenNightsstartThunderWilliams
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Rick Carlisle Doesn’t Hold Back on Free Throw-Heavy NBA Games

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 8, 2025
0
Rick Carlisle Doesn’t Hold Back on Free Throw-Heavy NBA Games

As the Indiana Pacers take a 1–0 lead into Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Rick Carlisle is making headlines off...

Read more

Situational Analysis: Dylan Harper – NBADraft.net

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 7, 2025
0
Situational Analysis: Dylan Harper – NBADraft.net

“Situational Analysis” is a series of articles that seeks to examine the circumstances that most often influence an NBA prospect’s success. Each player will be scored on a...

Read more

Cavs Open To Trading Darius Garland

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 7, 2025
0
Cavs Open To Trading Darius Garland

In a recent appearance on ESPN Cleveland, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst was asked about the Cleveland Cavaliers being active in trade discussions this offseason. Windhorst said he...

Read more

Phoenix Has No Interest In Karl-Anthony Towns

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 7, 2025
0
Phoenix Has No Interest In Karl-Anthony Towns

The Phoenix Suns reportedly have zero interest in acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in a potential Kevin Durant trade with the New York Knicks, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona...

Read more

NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggests league could bring ‘The Finals’ logo back to courts: ‘We’ll look at it’

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 7, 2025
0
NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggests league could bring ‘The Finals’ logo back to courts: ‘We’ll look at it’

The old NBA Finals logo has been missed on the court more than usual this season, as the Indiana Pacers face off with the Oklahoma City Thunder.NBA Finals...

Read more
Next Post
Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez helped off field following apparent injury

Mariners' Julio Rodriguez helped off field following apparent injury

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Estamos completamente acabados / estamos completamente de vuelta

Estamos completamente acabados / estamos completamente de vuelta

May 22, 2025
Drivers drown at Italian Baja, Joao Dias leads survivors

Drivers drown at Italian Baja, Joao Dias leads survivors

July 10, 2024
Tim Henman reveals that Daniil Medvedev was fortunate

Tim Henman reveals that Daniil Medvedev was fortunate

July 13, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Rick Carlisle Doesn’t Hold Back on Free Throw-Heavy NBA Games
  • Tottenham progressing in talks to appoint Thomas Frank as new manager
  • RJ-W vs PW-W Dream11 Prediction Today Match 6 Maharashtra Women T20 Premier League 2025
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.