What the Thunder needs to repair in match 2 of the NBA final

Oklahoma City – About an hour after the final buzzer struck in the Pacers 111–110 Gable 1 Wins in the NBA financeThunder players made a winding walk to the post-match interview room to try to explain what happened. The answers are not easy. “Honestly,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, “I’m not too sure.” Isaiah Hartenstein pointed out inward. “It sounds weird,” said Hartenstein, “it was not as if he had won the match, but I have the impression that we lost the match.” Jalen Williams offered an blunt evaluation: “I mean, it sucks. I don’t know.”

When Oklahoma City reviews the film 1 film, he will find a lot to love. There were the 25 forced reversals. The Thunder crushed the Indiana in points of the painting (46–34) and ahead of the Pacers in transition. They organized two -digit tracks during most of the match. And A Direct for everything except it all. But they only scored 11 points out of these 25 reversals and forced only six in the second period. They were destroyed (43-29) on the glass. Indiana finished the game game in the 1940s from the ground (47.6%) and the three -point line (46.2%). Oklahoma City did not fall for 40% either.

“The common denominator is them“Said Thunder’s coach Mark Daignault.” It’s a very good team. They had so many games like that which seemed improbable. They just play with a great mind, they continue to come, they made games, made shots. They deserved to win by a point. »»

While Oklahoma City leads its autopsy, any improvement will start internally. Forcing the turnover is great – if you capitalize on them. The Thunder generated 19 reversals in the first half, but only scored nine points. They led by 12 at halftime. It could easily have been 30 years. “I didn’t think we converted a lot of advantageous situations,” said Daigneault. Only nine teams in the history of the NBA won after having committed 25 reversals. Even less has won when the opponent undertakes only seven.

“Perhaps we could have been a little more aggressive to arrive on the edge with the ball in transition after some of those instead of trying to go up and run sets,” said Alex Caruso. “At the same time, it’s a positive note, we have created so many turnarounds. This is something on which you can hang your hat and may not reach this number every night, but it is a positive note to show that we are grouped and that we had a good defense.”

Another priority is cleaning the paint is. Oklahoma City lived In the painting of the match 1. The Thunder could not simply mark in a coherent way there. They pulled 47.6% on five -foot attempts, by NBA.com. From five to nine feet, it fell to 27.3%. “I thought we were a little botched on certain gatherings,” said Daigneault. “They obtained a piece of ball on some of the games. I thought there were that we were probably stuck there, we could have reached two feet or spread the ball. Some of them have not finished, which is part of the game. We don’t have to be perfect, but we have to learn.”

Oklahoma City rocked its starting training in match 1, exchanging Hartenstein for Cason Wallace to better associate with small pacers. Did not work. In the half-COUR, Indiana has intelligently forced inadequacy, punishing thunder with Pascal Siakam in painting. The Pacers were more active than usual from the line to three points, entering an edge of 21 points in three facts. Oklahoma City was particularly vulnerable in the corners: Indiana fired 10 out of 16 from the corners, including an almost impeccable 8 on the left side.

“You must eliminate those we abandon who are out of rotation where we do not succeed in time, or in the first transition where we are not twinned,” said Caruso. “I give them credit. They made big blows. ”

Then there is Gilgeous-Alexander. On the statistics sheet, Gilgeous-Alexander match 1 was solid: 38 points, five rebounds, five assists. Also collected three interceptions. He was aggressive. Maybe Also aggressive. He succeeded in 12 shots in the first quarter, most of them. He collected 10 points in the fourth quarter, but finished less-9 for the period. Overall, he took 30 shots, equaling his playoffs for attempts. With the match at stake, the MVP could not shake Andrew Nembhard, his former Canada basketball teammate, who forced him in a 15-foot Fadeaway.

Okc won’t panic. He has already been here. As, literally. The Thunder lost the semi-finals of the conference in the same way, with Aaron Gordon de Denver playing the role of Tyrese Haliburton. “Strangely similar,” said Caruso. They won the next match by 43. Asked questions about the similarities between the two situations, the players have looked into the comparison.

“The two games, controlling the whole game,” said Hartenstein. “You hate losing like that.”

Said Gilgeous-Alexander: “We have lost the match 1. We have already lost the match 1. On the other hand, we came out of a better team. This is our goal. This is our mentality, to try to learn a lesson in loss, as we always do, and let’s go ahead and be better. ”

Smarter too. Oklahoma City knew that Indiana would never leave. The Thunder watched the pacers Blitz les Bucks, stun the riders and win two games at the Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. They knew that the Pacers were capable of this. Now they have felt it. And they hope never to feel it again.