The Thunder had another impressive preseason performance, this time against Denver.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are strengthening their reputation as the best team in the Western Conference for the upcoming 2024/25 NBA season. They have strengthened their lineup, which was displayed during the preseason.
OKC's latest preseason game was against fellow West contender, the Denver Nuggets. The 2023 champions might have sat out many players, but the Thunder handled their business and convincingly won the game 124 to 94. It was a well-rounded effort, as six OKC players scored in double digits. Here are some takeaways from the result.
Other NBA teams will hate playing against OKC's defense
The Thunder were already one of the best defensive teams in the league during the 23/24 season, but they have become an even stronger defensive team. Most would attribute this to the arrival of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, but the rest of the team has matured over the summer.
OKC finished the game against Denver with five steals and forced 22 turnovers. Coach Mark Daigneault's positive approach to playing harder on that side amplified this superb defensive performance.
Cason Wallace's encouraging development
Cason Wallace was a standout because he was already a superb defender in his rookie year, but he has become even better with his defensive activity. He led the game with five steals, showcasing he could strip the ball from the opponent and play the passing lanes well.
"Year over year, he's way better. From this time last year, it was a completely different player. Which is expected of a young guy but still impressive," Coach Daigneault said about Wallace. "He's gained weight, he's stronger, and I think confidence comes from that and the work he's put in."
If he continues this trajectory, OKC's guard rotation might be the best in the league. Having a rotation of SGA, Wallace, Caruso, and Lu Dort is a nightmare to play against, as all of them are lockdown defenders with positive offensive contributions.
SGA is committed to taking more outside shots
SGA had an expansive offensive game but has been criticized for his aversion to shooting three-pointers. He was taking them earlier in his career but has matured. He mostly focused on getting to the rim or on his in-between game.
Gilgeous-Alexander is focused on becoming a three-level scorer with his three-point shooting. Against Denver, Shai took six three-pointers and made three of them. An evolution with SGA's bag makes the Thunder one of the most challenging teams to defend because the space is less congested than before.
This was an encouraging game from OKC, which bodes well for their upcoming 2024/25 regular season. Coach Daigneault is prepared for this team to take over the league, but they must maintain their positive momentum during this preseason.
Related: Thunder HC suggests Caruso play off Dort; Wallace can make the defense special
Local News
Comments / 0