Oklahoma City Thunder vs Phoenix Suns - 3/3/2024
Game Breakdown
Suns - 110 - 118 L
Beal, Allen, O’Neale, KD, Nurkic
I absolutely love when this team uses their talent to create WIDE OPEN shots and not just “settle” for relying on that talent to make TOUGH shots
PERFECT EXAMPLE…KD doubled, skip pass, one more to Beal, he attacks closeout, drive and kick back to original side, one more pass to….WIDE OPEN KD C&S 3PM
Especially when the stars get doubled, give it up and then the offense gets it back to them now with the ability to attack a scrambling and unsettled defense
Have another one in the 4th where they pass out of the Beal double team, Nurkic skip, one more, one more and Gordon has wide open C&S 3PM
It started out looking okay but the offense has gone stagnant, turnovers have led to transition buckets for the Thunder and the 3-2 zone has not been effective at all
It is just hard to figure out if the chemistry (or “vibes” as broadcast kept talking about) truly isn’t there or if it simply the fact that they don’t have all 3 stars
I will say that they need to get all of those guys on the floor together for some legit time before the playoffs if they realistically want a chance to make a run
Comeback in the mid to late 3rd shows what they can do when they get some stops and play with some energy and pace
Turnovers showing back up here in the 4th
ALLEN has been such a huge part of this teams success
Making shots this year but showing his defensive impact early in this one
On ball steal with great hands
Stonewalls SGA in an early possession (he definitely had the most “success” of any defender on him)
Block on Biyombo after an OREB
Block on Dort after giving up drive
NURKIC playing really well to start
Defensively he just gets to chill because he is “guarding” Giddey
He LITERALLY has 12 rebounds in the first 6 minutes of the game
27 (with 9:00 in the 4th) is most in a game this season
Finishes with 31
BOL BOL is an absolute fan favorite based off the cheers when he first enters the game
DURANT held in check in the 1st half from the defense of Dort (SGA at times) and the Thunder throwing doubles to keep him off balance
Continuous commentary about how frustrated he was throughout the game…mostly due to the defense of Dort
2nd in NBA in Opp FG% allowed
BEAL was actually the one that was making shots and getting buckets in the 1st half
17 points in 16 minutes
Looks very smooth and comfortable, doing it efficiently
He looks very healthy and spry in this one
Looks like the minutes restriction is going to keep him out for the final 6 minutes of the game
Nope, comes back in a couple minutes later and immediately gets a bucket
LEE coming up with some clutch buckets in the 4th
Baseline reverse layup against Chet and C&S 3PM
Thunder
SGA, Dort, Williams, Giddey, Chet
Youngest team in the NBA when weighted by playing time
I do wonder how much the rebounding stuff becomes an issue in the playoffs
SUNS try to zone them and I just think this Thunder team is way too skilled to zone
Not just the shooting but the cutting and the passing
They are so connected defensively
1 player moves to go double KD and you see the other 3 off the ball all move their positioning at the same time
They are CRAZY active and energetic
Not sure I have seen a team steal as many passes in the passing lane
Reading the ball handler and make the rotations and being opportunistic
This was an impressive response after the run the Suns went on in the 3rd to take the lead
Lineup late in this game is SGA, Wallace, Wiggins, Williams, K. Williams
They do get back to the starting lineup….minus Giddey, add Wiggins
CHET is struggling a bit here at the start with the bully ball from Nurkic
But Nurkic isn’t always able to finish either
Chet gets moved but never backs down and at least contests the attempts
We know he is a nightmare for opposing 5s to guard on on the perimeter but he rips and blows by O’Neale
Has a couple absolute dimes here in the 2nd quarter
Both of these really threaded the needle and he had some zip on them
GIDDEY not getting guarded
I like the idea of using him as a screener
Run an ATO where they set a flare screen for SGA and there is no help because Giddey man is sitting way off
Tries to run the DHO but gets called for an offensive foul
Can he figure out a way to not be a major negative offensively with his passing, cutting and screening….???
Knocks down 2 3PAs and he looks confident, doesn’t look like the “not guarding him” has gotten into his head
BEST SLOB PASSER IN THE NBA?
HAYWARD with a fairly quick sub in for Giddey
DORT already taken a couple shots that I am not a fan of
This is my biggest worry with him right now is the shot selection can be questionable at times
BUT I think he can absolutely make plenty of shots to keep teams honest when he takes the ones he should be
Comes back with multiple knockdown C&S attempts
Has a silencer when his team really needed it late in the 3rd
Again, when they are the right ones…I am ALL IN on him taking shots
He will get up and guard, taking tough matchups and I love his physicality in these matchups
Also just makes some flat out hustle plays
Drew at least 2 off the ball offensive fouls just by being a pest
Looks like he had KD pretty frustrated
SGA is NBA leader in steals AND deflections
Has some really solid on ball possessions vs KD himself
He doesn’t do it with physicality, he’s just locked in and then has aggressively accurate hands
Had some blocked shots as well
The suddenness is just too good, you can’t stay in front because he consistently gets you off balance
AND once he gets to the mid range he has the threat to rise up and knock down a shot at any time (with that expanding to the 3P line)
The mid range is unguardable
He might single handedly ice this game from the mid range as well
The consistency at which he scores 30 points every single game is about as impressive as it gets
40th game with 30-39 points
WALLACE taking the KD matchup now
Impressive for a rookie and this speaks to how much strength he has because of how much size/length he is giving up in this matchup
Not sure he has taken a shot all game long and then hits a shot fake, side dribble, 3PM to tie the game halfway through the 4th
JALEN WILLIAMS is just so smooth
He is never forcing anything but he is always ready to do what the team needs
SGA gets so much love and rightfully so and Chet is getting a ton of attention but this guy just goes about his business
Makes shots when they it, defends, etc etc
He never disappoints in the 4th quarter when I watch a game
Does not matter how the first 3 quarters have gone, he turns on a switch in the 4th
JOE is such a good shooter and it is much more than stand still
WIGGINS with some nice defensive plays and transition offense