The Thunder will be hoping for an increase in offensive production from their second-year guard.
Oklahoma City will be without Jalen Williams for a bit, meaning additional eyes and the spotlight will be on one of its young guards.
On Wednesday night, Oklahoma City defeated the Phoenix Suns 120-107 to take a 2-0 series lead in the first round. Unfortunately, the main focal point was on Williams, after suffering another hamstring injury, clouding another impressive playoff performance at home for the Thunder.
Thankfully, the Thunder got about as good news as they could have hoped for: Williams only suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain. He will be sidelined for a few games. This is where depth comes into play: the Thunder has a next-man-up mentality and is more than capable of holding down the fort in the short term.
Next Man Up for the OKC Thunder
The prime candidate tasked with greater offensive responsibilities and asked to step up and fill the void in Williams’ absence is Ajay Mitchell. Increasing his role and responsibilities isn’t new for him. After the blazing start to the season, Mitchell has taken a slight step back offensively since the Thunder got their full rotation healthy.
However, with Williams now sidelined, it shouldn’t be shocking to see Mitchell take a larger role on that end. With Williams out, it’s a high probability that Mitchell will be inserted into the starting lineup, as Mark Daigneault has shown a great deal of trust in him.
While Cason Wallace has been the fill-in sixth starter and could get the nod for the Thunder, Ajay Mitchell’s importance has been undeniable this season. In any case, Mitchell will be tasked with being the secondary creator alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt and as the primary creator in the non-Shai minutes.
Mitchell has been one of the most improved players this season, showcasing his ability to create for himself and his teammates from all three levels. Jumping from 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 49.5% shooting from the floor, 38.3% from beyond the arc, and 82.9% from the free-throw line as a rookie to 13.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game on 48.5% shooting from the floor, 34.7% from beyond the arc, and 87% from the free-throw line in his second year.
In 27 games in which Jalen Williams was out, Mitchell averaged 14.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. As a starter this season (16 games), his numbers and efficiency increased to 14.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, shooting 49.4% from the floor, 41.4% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% from the free-throw line, in 28.6 minutes a night. Over that span, when the Thunder needed it most, he has seen a significant uptick in production and has shown high efficiency, stepping up as one of the main creators in leading the offense. His production had a huge impact on helping the Thunder shine with a 26-1 record in that span.
Averaging 11.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2 steals per game in the first two playoff games, Mitchell’s production will obviously need to take a leap as the series shifts to Phoenix. However, if any team is equipped to handle sudden shifts in roles and for players to step up on short notice, it’s the Thunder. And Mitchell has excelled at every challenge Daigneault has thrown his way.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
