Through nine weeks of action, the Oklahoma City Thunder are 22-5. They just wrapped up a long nine-day road trip and had three games in four nights including the NBA Cup Finals in Vegas. The Thunder lost in embarrassing fashion against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup Finals. Good news, this game doesn’t count in the standings. OKC would bounce back, picking up two impressive wins in a back-to-back against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, to technically finish (2-0) for the week.
The Thunder continue to show their guts, character, pride, and unity as they continue to rack up victories (currently on a seven-game winning streak) despite not playing a single game fully healthy together.
Here’s my Week 9 — Thunder Player of the Week:
OKC Player of the Week
Isaiah Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein continues to be the stabilizing force for the Thunder and was the most consistent player for them throughout week nine. Hartenstein was the lone bright spot in the NBA Cup Finals versus Milwaukee, putting up: 16 points and 12 rebounds. In the two games that officially counted in the standings, he averaged 12.5 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.5 steals while shooting 60 percent from the floor. Those numbers do not fully indicate how impactful Hartenstein was for the Thunder this week.
https://shotcreator.com/player/nba/xFZ8CiRyCUK
Hartenstein continues to be a game-changer for the Thunder, as he has nine double-doubles in 12 games this season. Hartenstein is setting career numbers across the board, as he is averaging 12.5 points, 12.8 rebounds (currently 4th in the NBA), 3.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1 steal, on 58.2% shooting from the floor on 9.6 FGA per game.
Defensive Impact
Through 27 games, the Thunder are statistically a historical defense. They have held their opponents to under 90 points four times and under 100 points 14 thus far (both most in the NBA) and are leading the league in DRTG (103.5), points allowed (103.1), opponent field goal percentage (42.6%), 3-point percentage (32.9), forced turnovers (19.1), and steals (12.1). Since his debut, Hartenstein deserves more credit in this area of his game and has been incredible anchoring this swarming Thunder’s defense.
Mark Daigneault on Isaiah Hartenstein
Here’s head coach Mark Daigneault earlier this month breaking down — how impactful Isaiah Hartenstein has been for the Thunder and how he’s continuing to elevate his game. Plus, how it affects the Thunder moving forward.
“He brings a certain layer to our team, that’s very impactful, that we haven’t had on our team, the point of attack defense, the pick-and-roll defense, the rim defense, rebounding. Not only his rebounds, but his block-outs, keeps other guys off the glass, allowing guards to clean things up. And now offensively, he’s dynamic as a 5-man, great screen-setter, great pocket player, great finisher, great offensive rebounder. He checks a ton of boxes. He’s a great player but he’s a player that can gain more chemistry with our team and he can improve on some of his fundamentals. He’s not a finished product, and he’s somebody that has a runway to improve, he’s still a young player,” Daigneault said.
Takeaways
Through nine weeks of action, the Thunder have a record of 22-5 (currently on a seven-game winning streak). Despite not playing a single game with a fully healthy team, the Thunder are beginning to separate themselves, as they are 3 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the number one seed in the West. The Thunder just went through a long nine-day road trip and had three games in four nights including the NBA Cup Finals versus Milwaukee in Vegas, and then a back-to-back in Orlando and Miami. Since the NBA Cup Finals does not count in the standings, the Thunder finished their week (2-0).
Wins: @ Orlando (105 to 99), @ Miami (104-97)
Loss: vs Milwaukee (81 to 97) in Vegas *Does not count in the standings*
Note: The Thunder lost in the NBA Cup Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Alex Caruso has agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the Thunder.
Injury Update: Ousmane Dieng (finger) off the injury report on Thursday (Dec. 19th). Jaylin Williams (hamstring strain) is now available to return to action.
Main Image: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
