Thunder vs Rockets takeaways: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander efficient in preseason debut

Here are three takeaways from the Thunder's 122-113 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday night in OKC's NBA preseason home opener at Paycom Center:

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An ominous defense brewing in OKC

The preseason is what it is, but this quarter, this unit, didn’t come with a preseason feel. With the way the Thunder was defending in the first quarter, it felt like watching that one AAU team that was far too energized for an 8 a.m. game.

All smiles, swiping at balls that didn’t seem to be in reach, players racing each other in a game of who’ll-get-to-the-spot.

The Thunder finished second in the league in total deflections and deflections per game a season ago (1,328 and 16.2). With the hands that Sam Presti has assembled, it feels like this OKC team could make that seem laughable.

Veteran Alex Caruso has never seen a pass he didn’t like. Guards Cason Wallace and Lu Dort make for overkill. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in steals last season, takes more ownership over the lanes and swapping away shots than players of his stature tend to. Jalen Williams still has freakishly long arms. Chet Holmgren is built like a long arm.

All but Wallace made up OKC’s starting unit, a predictable lineup that’ll widely be speculated as the Thunder’s group for opening night. And why not?

With the way they interchange, sliding into place, providing seemingly unbreakable closeouts, the group was ominous. With Isaiah Hartenstein as the first off the bench, slotting himself beside Holmgren, things remained terrifying.

And Caruso, likely skyrocketing up coach Mark Daigneault’s personal low-men power rankings, unlocks far more possibilities with his help defense. Even more possibilities than Daigneault might've already calculated in Doctor Strange fashion.

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Holmgren tackling the rim

It felt like a 12-minute Drew Hanlen workout. Nothing in his peripherals, just Chet Holmgren, a ball, and whoever stood between him and the rim — which was often not enough people.

Holmgren treated Wednesday’s first quarter like a game of King of the Hill. He slashed, he dribbled through the teeth of the defense, he stretched his limbs past it. At some point, he dove into the key like Evel Knieval in a pit of fire, skying for a lob with little regard for a crash landing.

By the end of it, he’d shot eight free throws (and made five), tied for his fourth most in a game last season.

“I feel like his body control is one thing that looks sharp,” Aaron Wiggins said. “He looks to have his legs up under him a little bit more when he’s driving to the rim. He doesn’t get bumped off his drives or anything. He looks really polished in comparison to his early play his rookie year.”

Holmgren, who didn’t shoot a jumper in his perfect 5-for-5 performance on Monday, went 2 for 7 and ended with 10 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. Wednesday was the second installment of what he’s been trying to prove in the preseason: His eyes are fixed on the rim this season.

He’ll get there at any cost.

Dicing up mismatches. Pushing his dribble forward and between defenders. Catching lobs. Holmgren seems determined in the lane, perhaps in a way he couldn’t be a year ago.

“His work is showing up,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “He looks stronger. I think he’s playing more decisively, which is a combination of his emphasis on it and also the wisdom that comes from a rookie year and some time away from the season.”

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Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and the era of hesi pulls

How could Dillon Brooks have known what was coming?

The half of the summer he spent with the reclusive Gilgeous-Alexander (15 points, six assists) wasn’t the half the All-NBA guard spent honing his pull-up 3. Not his middy, which he’s long mastered, or his stepback, which he unleashed at timely points last season. Four minutes into the game, SGA hesitated twice to his left before he rose up for the shot, perhaps the only thing that has held back Gilgeous-Alexander’s elevation from unguardable to untouchable.

This was SGA’s next step in real time. A legitimate, in-your-face pull-up 3 that you shoot in the park for bragging rights. All one motion, as smooth as most of the things Gilgeous-Alexander can do on the court.

It wasn’t his only, either. He unleashed it again several minutes later, slowly bursting the defense’s bubble that it could be a fluke.

“In my four years here, I’ve seen him work on everything,” Wiggins said. “Like, everyday. So regardless of what shots he shoots, I know he works on it.”

And somewhere in between SGA’s couple of bold 3s, Williams chucked 3 after 3 himself. Not quite such a surprise, since Daigneault expressed a desire for Williams to increase his volume from deep.

By the end of the night, Williams, who averaged 3.4 attempts from 3 last season, had chucked six and made three.

There’s a difference, though, when you see Williams shoot shots he might’ve avoided in the postseason. Or double his looks. Or shoot off the dribble more than ever — a striking reality considering how fond Williams has been of the sidestep.

Brooks was first in a long line of defenders who might not know what’s coming.

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Thunder vs. New Zealand Breakers

TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Thursday at BOK Center in Tulsa (Bally Sports Oklahoma)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder vs Rockets takeaways: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander efficient in preseason debut