Despite the absences, the Thunder remain steadfast

Double screen for the racket head, one inside that cuts, the other that stays up, good transmissions and a 3-point basket at the finish. Basketball is simple, especially when played well by the Thunder. This action came as half time approached. his matchup against the woeful Pelicans.

Taken together after this double screen, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just found Isaiah Hartenstein in the mouse hole. This one, with a little volley pass, found another memorial and racket partner, Jaylin Williams, left alone behind the arc. The latter, when his shot was converted, could show his big smile.

Established for the first time this season, due to the absence of Chet Holmgren, he was never linked in the five with Isaiah Hartenstein last season. The combination was therefore unique, but the two men seemed to get along well.

« Jay Will’s outside skill and qualities give us this option. He has also improved his defense to the extent that he has expanded the range of opponents he can defend against. And in certain situations it is considered favorable. It was the same tonight, and we think there will be more. It’s another option for us, another tool that we’re trying to develop at the right time of the season. Tonight seemed appropriate », justifies Marc Daigneault.

A state of mind that has been forged

The numbers prove him right. Jaylin Williams shot only 3-pointers and finished with 12 points (4/9), 4 assists and 3 rebounds in 23 minutes. When Isaiah Hartenstein came close to a triple-double in 26 minutes, with 14 points (6/7), 14 rebounds and 8 assists. The coach sees this as a new illustration of the adaptability of his training.

« We have injuries so we had to rely on the depth of our squad and different combinations of players. (…) The perseverance shown by the team in all these situations builds the state of mind throughout the season. You can grow from these experiences and the team has done a good job over seven games, with 75 games remaining », notes Mark Daigneault.

The coach, who also appreciated that his team shot more than 40% from 3 points for the first time this season (20/48), does not forget that the Thunder have been playing without one of the members of his “big three”, Jalen Williams, since the beginning of the season. touched the wrist. OKC, with a target on his back due to his status as a championhe doesn’t stop winning: seven wins in as many matches.

« The first seven matches were not easy. We played a lot of close matches that we had to pull away. We played games in the mud. You have to be able to win in different ways. It’s important to enjoy the game even when it’s not pretty “, concludes the coach, as calm as his troops.