Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fixed assault mode saved Houston on its heels of their semifinal matchup.
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LAS VEGAS – As scrappy, as feisty and as ugly because the second Emirates NBA Cup semifinal recreation was for lengthy stretches Saturday, the league might have a contemporary, grinding rivalry on its fingers.
Oklahoma City and Houston started the day at or close to the highest of the Western Conference. They ranked first and second, respectively, in defensive effectivity. And, as demonstrated within the Thunder’s 111-96 victory at T-Mobile Arena, two of the NBA’s youngest groups could possibly be competing for a similar area within the West for a very long time.
First issues first, although. Before the Thunder and the Rockets can add to their lore (they’ll meet 5 occasions this season, not counting a possible postseason assembly), OKC will tussle with Milwaukee on Tuesday for the Cup championship. Bragging rights and greater than $500,000 per participant on the successful group can be on the road, not essentially in that order.
Here are 5 takeaways from the triumph Saturday that OKC there:
1. Good protection means dangerous offense
We anticipated a duel within the dust, every group scrapping for each shot and feeling contact on each transfer and minimize. Both groups take utmost satisfaction of their protection. But this obtained just a little ridiculous at occasions.
Through the sport’s first 9 minutes, the Thunder scored solely 9 factors. Through 12, the groups mixed to shoot 13-for-47, together with 4-for-22 on 3-pointers. They had 9 turnovers, which weren’t debilitating to both squad as a result of no person was able to turning even the errors into simple factors.
Of course, given the 2 coaches concerned – OKC’s Mark Daigneault and Houston’s Ime Udoka – a bucket saved is price greater than a bucket earned. You might think about each fortunately taking their possibilities with a 0-0 tie that comes right down to the ultimate 24 seconds.
“We’re simply making an attempt to be disruptive and disciplined,” Daigneault mentioned, completely superb afterward with the sloggy first half. “We had been disruptive tonight. We did a very good job on their major guys. … Our shot-contesting was nice. Our assist was nice.”
2. Professional scorer steps up
That type of dirty stymieing can solely take a group to date. The distinction that emerged within the second half was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the slippery Thunder guard who scored 20 of his game-high 32 factors after halftime. He shot 6-for-9 after opening 3-for-12, and his 14 factors from the foul line matched or exceeded all however one Houston participant.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30 factors per recreation for the third consecutive season. These Rockets don’t have anybody averaging even 20. When your high three scorers mix for 73 and the opposite guys’ stall out at 47, the mathematics will get too daunting.
Daigneault praised SGA for his “unwavering confidence,” which is a euphemism for the dearth of conscience and brief reminiscences the elite scorers have.
3. Houston’s failure to launch
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Houston Rockets advance to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.
The Rockets may not be on the “Houston, we have now an issue” stage, however they had been an offensive mess Saturday. And it wasn’t simply to the Thunder’s credit score. They ranked seventeenth coming in, and seemed rudimentary from begin to end.
The beginning backcourt shot 8-for-29, together with 2-for-19 past the arc. Fred VanVleet scored solely eight factors. Jalen Green had 12. Houston ranks 18th in 3-point makes an attempt (35.9) however was decided to stand up 46 this time. On common, it makes 32.2%, higher than solely three groups. This evening, it was 23.9%.
It’s clear Udoka has put his emphasis on protection, with good outcomes. But an offensive order, with go-to scorers and units, is a vital ingredient for which the Rockets nonetheless are looking.
4. Hartenstein stays in his lane
Isaiah Hartenstein’s competitors at heart Saturday was Rockets huge man Alperen Sengun, the extremely expert fourth-year native of Turkey. Udoka has referred to Sengun as a “mini” Nikola Jokić, a nod to his man’s passing and excessive hoops IQ.
But Hartenstein seemed loads sensible in scoring 21 on 9-for-12 capturing, with eight rebounds. A surgical free-agent signing from New York, Hartenstein averages a double-double by rolling and customarily making himself out there to Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and different Thunder gamers.
OKC was undersized final season with slender Chet Holmgren carrying too nice a load, even because the group secured the West’s No. 1 seed. Now, when Holmgren comes again from his brutal hip fracture, the Thunder will be capable of torment foes with appears of each type, together with a legit twin-tower unit.
5. Stars can be out Tuesday
This being Las Vegas, there have been notable personalities in the home from a number of venues (the Strip, Hollywood and many others.) in music, sports activities and naturally the NBA. Legends comparable to Oscar Robertson and Spencer Haywood sat courtside, as did Gary Payton, Rip Hamilton and Blake Griffin. Then there was former Chicago Bulls heart Joakim Noah close to one bench, who needed to be reminded to drag in legs lest he trigger a Shaq-Larry David fake pas.
But the celebrities the NBA is most keen showcase for the Cup finale are Gilgeous-Alexander and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, two guys in Kia MVP conversations once more this season.
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Steve Aschburner has written concerning the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him right here, discover his archive right here and follow him on X.
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