Injuries strike this team again, as the Oklahoma City Thunder need their second-year guard to step up once more.
Oklahoma City can’t stay at full strength and needs its rising star guard to step up in a high-leverage situation again.
Jalen Williams Out; Thunder Need Ajay Mitchell
After a heartbreaking start to the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder responded to their Game 1 double overtime loss with much better execution. It took control early in a win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 to tie the series at 1-1. Oklahoma City avoided going down 0-2 on their two-game homestand before the series shifts to San Antonio.
While their execution was enough to tie the series, the Thunder still suffered a potentially major blow with Jalen Williams leaving the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. Playing only seven minutes in the Thunder’s Game 2 win, after being out for the last three-and-a-half weeks, due to a left hamstring strain, Williams suffered another left hamstring injury.
Per the Thunder PR, it’s reported as hamstring tightness, and Williams is considered day-to-day. While it’s seemingly much better than a hamstring strain, Oklahoma City will once again look at Ajay Mitchell to step up and fill in as the Thunder’s No. 2 option.
In Williams’ six-game absence this postseason. As a starter, Mitchell averaged 21.2 points on 48% shooting from the floor and 91.7% from the free-throw line, 5.3 assists to only one turnover, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, while having a plus-minus of +17.5 in 31.2 minutes a game.
Throughout the second half of Game 2, Mitchell was thrust back into the role in which he thrived in the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers, delivering moments of that caliber. Including knocking down a mid-range pull-up jumper, late. Finishing the game with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, 4 steals, 2 assists, and a block in 28 minutes.
Unfortunately, with Williams now potentially out for the foreseeable future, those numbers likely won’t be enough as the series now shifts to San Antonio. The Thunder will need Mitchell to be more effective and assertive against a Spurs team dealing with injuries of its own in the backcourt.
Especially with the Spurs deploying a similar defensive scheme as the Lakers against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder need Mitchell to take it up a notch again as a creator. This time, he’s having to deal with Victor Wembanyama in the backline on his drives. However, Mitchell’s craftiness and counters could be used to his advantage. Allowing the Thunder to continue that same rhythm it had against the Lakers in the second round.
Now, the Spurs’ defense is much better than the Lakers’, and there are no clear players to target. The Thunder offense has found some success in this series, particularly in Game 2, shooting 48% from the floor and 36% from beyond the arc, scoring 122 points, and posting a 124.5 offensive rating.
It’s a lot to ask from a second-year guard on its first real playoff run to be the second option and a primary initiator against the level of defense of San Antonio’s. Still, he’s been ready and has checked every challenge Mark Daigneault has given him. Oklahoma City’s title repeat will be significantly dependent on the play of Mitchell, and it’s another opportunity for him to establish himself as a rising star in only his second year.
Main Image: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
