The Oklahoma City Thunder have been full of surprises lately, turning what many saw as a bench weakness into a formidable strength. Once reliant primarily on Ajay Mitchell for bench scoring, the Thunder faced a potential crisis when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went down with an injury. However, the team's depth has risen to the occasion in a way that few anticipated.
Since SGA's injury on February 4th, the Thunder bench has been lighting it up, ranking sixth in points per game. Their shooting from beyond the arc has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the league with a 47.3 percent success rate during this period. Overall, coach Mark Daigneault's squad has climbed to second in the NBA for three-point percentage since the injury, transforming a perceived weakness into a newfound strength.
The absence of their star has necessitated a shift in play style for the Thunder. Without the isolation prowess of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, OKC has increased their passes per game significantly, from 259.7 to 291.5. This faster ball movement has been evident on the court, with the team embracing a more dynamic and fluid style of play.
Five Thunder players have stepped up to shoot at least 40 percent from three-point range over the past couple of weeks. Key additions to the rotation, Jared McCain and Nikola Topic, have been instrumental in this transformation. McCain's speed and Topic's ability to slash to the basket have opened up the floor, creating confusion for defenders and leading to open shots from the perimeter.
As the return of their core players approaches, Coach Daigneault faces some intriguing decisions. Isaiah Joe has emerged as a standout, becoming one of the league's hottest three-point shooters and a perfect fit alongside McCain. Meanwhile, Kenrich Williams has been on fire, shooting an incredible 63.2 percent from deep since February 4th.
With players like Joe, Williams, Topic, McCain, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams, and Alex Caruso all making strong cases for increased minutes, Daigneault's rotation strategy will be fascinating to watch. Balancing this wealth of talent will be key as the Thunder navigate the coming weeks, turning potential challenges into opportunities for growth and success.