Josh Giddey's 'Big Week' Is Being Noticed By OKC Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have turned in an impressive 3-1 record this week with their lone stumble being to the Los Angeles Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back.
This has brought the Thunder to 44-19, good enough to earn the top spot in the Western Conference. Throughout the week, the Thunder have seen an uptick in production from Josh Giddey, and they are taking notice.
"[Josh Giddey] has had a great week, he is really competing at a high level. His floor game has had great balance, he is obviously playing with a lot of aggressiveness and confidence...He is having a small breakthrough right now with the way he is playing,” Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault said following Friday's win over Miami.
Daigneault continued by saying, "He has had an up-and-down season which is normal for any professional, especially one that is 21 years old and in their third year. I think some of the pop you are seeing right now is a result of some of the adversity or plateau he has had to overcome."
Giddey's teammate Jalen Williams has also taken note of the third-year guard's week.
"I think teams have been guarding him around the same, so he is getting a steady diet of what he wants to do. Sticking with the work he is putting in behind closed doors, so when you have the combination with that and his confidence as a player, his output is going to constantly go up,” Williams recently said. "I think he is just understanding what the team needs, and how he can be effective with different looks that teams will throw at him. I also just think he is just shooting with more confidence, playing with more confidence, he is not hesitant. He is a really good player, so when he is able to do that which he has been able to do it makes us all tough to guard.”
The former sixth overall pick has scored in double figures the last four games, reaching that feat in eight of the last ten games. His uptick in efficiency and engagement defensively has increased his individual production while making the Thunder tough to deal with.
In the win against Miami, Giddey posted 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists against just one turnover while shooting 55 percent from the floor.
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