The Oklahoma City Thunder have completed back-to-back sweeps, this time in the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers, moving to a playoff-best 8-0.
Credit to Los Angeles for deploying everything it had, with the personnel it had, against Oklahoma City. Still, it didn’t matter, as the Thunder answered the bell, showing why they’re the defending champs, quickly taking control and making it a short series.
Despite not having their All-NBA wing, Jalen Williams, for the entire series, the Thunder had a multitude of players step up, and the offense didn’t miss a beat, posting an offensive rating of 125.4. Here are the Thunder player grades from the second round.
OKC Thunder Player Grades
Starters Grades
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G: C+
The Lakers threw the entire kitchen sink at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by limiting his touches and effectiveness as a scorer and primary playmaker, which is why the counting stats were not the usual — averaging 24.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.8 turnovers per game on 47.1% shooting from the floor. However, Mark Daigneault had excellent insight into the actual impact and gravity he had in the series, which played a major role in his teammates’ success. He saved his best game for the closeout game, scoring 35 points and eight assists on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor.
LA threw every intense defensive coverage at Gilgeous-Alexander. While the Lakers held him below his numbers, he did not force the game, which gave the Thunder the advantage in numbers and established a rhythm for his teammates.
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Ajay Mitchell, G: A+
The national audience came to know Ajay Mitchell as the best player in the series. With the Lakers going all out in containing Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell not only stepped up but excelled as he got to his spots with ease, as he averaged 22.5 points on 56.3% shooting from the floor and a 63.3% true-shooting percentage, six assists while committing just four turnovers the entire series, and 1.8 steals per game.
With Mitchell moving into the No. 2 role, the Thunder offense didn’t miss a beat, posting a 141 offensive rating and a +63 in 121 of his minutes.
Mitchell’s ability to manage the game and ascension as a scorer and decision-maker have contributed significantly to Oklahoma City having a 125.4 offensive rating in this series.
Lu Dort, G: B
Lu Dort’s numbers don’t jump out. However, as the primary defender of LeBron James, he really made his presence felt by making him work on every possession.
Offensively, Dort didn’t go outside his role; he shot 38.9% from three on 4.5 attempts, made timely threes, and, more importantly, his shot selection and process were good.
Chet Holmgren, C: A+
Chet Holmgren continued to elevate his play in the playoffs, remaining a matchup nightmare on both ends in this series, scoring 20+ in two of the four games and posting a +48. He continues to impact winning on the highest level.
Holmgren averaged 20 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals on 61/39/87 shooting splits. If he continues to sustain this level of play, success bodes well in Oklahoma City.
Isaiah Hartenstein, C: B+
Isaiah Hartenstein made his presence felt around the margins. Being the biggest cause for why the Thunder’s offensive rebounding percentage (31.5%) skyrocketed this series. Making his presence felt in the interior and on the glass (2.5 offensive rebounds and 9.3 total rebounds per game). The double bigs synergy was also in top form, which helped Hartenstein shoot an uber-efficient 80% from the floor.
Reserves Grades
Jared McCain, G: A
Jared McCain was the spark plug off the bench in three of the four games, providing a significant offensive boost in key moments, especially in the non-Shai minutes.
McCain’s signature moment came in the fourth quarter of Game 4, scoring 8 points, and he ended up in the closing lineup. He played a big role in his second playoff series, averaging 11.5 points in 14.5 minutes per game, shooting a bolstering 63.2% from three on 4.8 attempts. He provided instant offense as a scorer.
Alex Caruso, Wing: B
Alex Caruso remains a 16-game player. While the efficiency wasn’t there statistically offensively, Caruso’s impact doesn’t always show on the stat sheet, as he once had his imprint all over this series due to his ability to flip the energy and make winning plays, which is contagious among his teammates. He was a +50 in his 84 minutes.
Cason Wallace, G: B
Cason Wallace once again caused havoc on the opposing team’s offense, serving as the main contributor to the Thunder’s dominance in the turnover battle.
Wallace shot the ball much better in this series, scoring in double figures twice, in Games 2 and 3. His efficiency was excellent, as he averaged 9 points on 52% shooting from the floor and 61.5% from three on 3.3 attempts.
Isaiah Joe, G: B-
Isaiah Joe’s three-point shooting hasn’t been consistent from game to game. However, his shot has been effective in moments.
Joe has been more efficient as a scorer, averaging 6.3 points on 55.6% shooting from the floor and 41.7% from three on 3 attempts. Game 3 was his most impactful game, scoring 12 points, knocking down 4-of-6 from three in 18 minutes.
Joe looked more in rhythm compared to the first round.
Jaylin Williams, C: B-
Jaylin Williams finds ways to contribute and make highly positive, impactful plays in low usage. He did so in timely moments as the efficiency was on Williams’ side this series.
Williams shot 50% from three and was a +10 in his 57 minutes this series.
Incomplete: Aaron Wiggins (10 total minutes), Kenrich Williams (7 total minutes), and Nikola Topic (4 total minutes) played only in garbage time in this series, which did not warrant a grade. And Jalen Williams is N/A since he logged a second in this series due to a hamstring strain.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
