The Thunder finished a successful preseason finishing 4-1. Unfortunately, the Thunder did lose one of their key players — Isaiah Hartenstein, for around five to six weeks. With the preseason over, their season begins tonight in a highly anticipated matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
Coming off a record-setting season, the Thunder strengthened their roster by trading for Alex Caruso and signing Hartenstein. However, they will face challenges as they will be without key players in Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Kenrich Williams due to injuries. It’ll be interesting to see if and how Coach Mark Daigneault adjusts his strategies and schemes as the team navigates their first game of a long 82-game season.
Here are a few keys to watch for in tonight’s game against the Nuggets.
What to Watch in OKC’s Game vs Nuggets
Battle of the MVP Candidates: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nikola Jokic
The headline matchup for the Thunder’s season opener is without a doubt Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus Nikola Jokic. Both players are among the best in the league and they will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on national TV. Jokic is the reigning MVP, and SGA is the MVP runner-up. The NBA is a star-driven league, and more often than not, whether you win or lose depends on which stars play better.
SGA seems to add another element to his game — his jumper from deep looked improved in the preseason we’ll see if it translates to the regular season. Regardless, this should be a fun matchup.
How the Thunder Defends Nikola Jokic
A huge storyline to watch in their season opener will be how the Thunder defends Jokic. With Hartenstein and both Kenrich and Jaylin Williams out, the primary defender will most likely be Chet Holmgren. Last season, there were times when Holmgren struggled with Jokic’s physicality, which defending Jokic one-on-one is something nobody in the NBA can do at the moment.
The loss of Hartenstein and Williams really affects the Thunder against teams like the Nuggets — as the Thunder would have run a two-big lineup throughout the game to help bring the physicality against Denver’s front court and help take the pressure off of Holmgren.
Kenrich Williams, who the Thunder used as a small ball five in previous seasons is not an option for this game as well. There will be no backup five for Holmgren — which will be a challenge for this game.
Defensive Impacts of the Perimeter Trio — Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace
The Thunder were a top-five defensive team last season and improved with the addition of Caruso. With Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace, the Thunder arguably have the best set of perimeter defenders in the NBA. They will most likely be matched up against Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. throughout the game.
Depending on how much of a defensive impact this trio can make, this matchup will likely determine who wins this game. If the Thunder can contain Murray and Porter Jr. and force turnovers, then the Thunder have a good chance of winning this game. If not, then the Thunder are in for a long night.
Year 3 — Jalen Williams and Year 2 — Chet Holmgren:
A huge factor for the Thunder’s success depends on whether Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren take the next step. Last season Holmgren was fantastic as a rookie in the regular as well as Williams who was in his second season. However, we all saw that both of them had their ups and downs in last year’s playoffs.
Now, with Jalen Williams entering year three and Holmgren entering year two, the Thunder are confident in both of them taking the next step. They will have a prime opportunity to display their talents on national TV. The Thunder have the ideal “Big Three” — a lead guard, a wing, and a unicorn type of big. We will see if Jalen Williams and Holmgren turn into legitimate championship-level secondary options. If both players prove themselves, the Thunder will have all the pieces to win the championship.
Main Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
