Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Has a Boogeyman They Have to Shake
A constant hurdle throughout this successful Thunder season has been adjusting to different start times. It affects players' routines and rhythms and, to this point, has left the Thunder looking sluggish and lacking defensively.
In afternoon tilts this season, the Thunder have tripped up to the tune of a 1-3 record, and they have not played coy with the fact that switching tip times has thrown them off.
"Obviously it is different, you do not have the full day for your normal routine,” Thunder rookie center Chet Holmgren said. “Shoot around time, film time, might be different, or might not have shoot around. That is no excuse, we have to have the same preparation and mindset coming into every game, no matter what time it is," the 7-foot big man said earlier this season following an afternoon loss to the Mavericks.
"It is an afternoon start time for the opponent, too," Mark Daigneault said when asked about the shifting times potentially impacting the Thunder early in the season.
On Tuesday, the Thunder will have yet another obstacle. While not an afternoon game, the Thunder will see their clash with the Rockets tip-off at 9 p.m. CT.
This will set every part of their game day routines back, which is a barrier the team must overcome.
When the postseason rolls around, the NBA is prone to shifting games to the afternoon or late window to ensure every game is on National Television and in a prime slot for National viewers. It is rare that games tip off at a status quo start time of 7 p.m. CT, especially when competing with at least one East Coast tip each night.
This young OKC roster has to learn to deal with the fluid start times if they want to survive the abnormal postseason schedule. Tuesday against a lousy road team in the Houston Rockets gives them a chance to clear this hurdle.
Stiles Points
- Following the Thunder's comeback win over the Rockets on Sunday, Ime Udoka touched on what makes the Oklahoma City offense so tough to contain.
- Chet Holmgren showed maturity following one of his best outings against the Houston Rockets, saying of heat checks, "Just because you hit a few shots now to take a bad shot. The goal at the end of the day is still to get the best look," That mindset has taken Holmgren to the next level as an efficient contributor to a winning team.
- Keyontae Johnson continues to produce at the NBA G League level, running the floor in transition, being a plus-rebounder for his size, and finishing at the rim. On Monday Night against the Spurs, Johnson finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. With Oklahoma City owning a roster spot, and how good the Kansas State product has been, Johnson could be beating down the door at more NBA opportunities.
- Olivier Sarr did not participate in Monday's tilt with the Austin Spurs because of an ankle injury. However, he is not listed on the Thunder's initial Tuesday injury report. This ankle injury is described as minor. On Friday, Sarr posted 21 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, as many steals and a block. In that game, he stepped on Spurs' forward Dominick Barlow's foot and came up lame. He has not registered a minute since that game.
- With the OKC Thunder unveiling their "Legacy Wall," who did not wear a Thunder jersey but deserves to be on the wall? A few ideas: Michael Cage, Nick Gallo, the shirtless Free Throw Man, and Matt Pinto.
- The L.A. Clippers released a new set of logos, uniforms, and organizational branding material ahead of their move to their new arena, the Intuit Dome. Perhaps Oklahoma City can follow their lead before opening up their new arena in 2029-30. As most clamor for a fresh paint job for the organization, that would make sense for timing wise if a change was going to come.
- The over/under on coffee consumed tomorrow is set at 6.5; if I were a betting man, I would take the over. It will be a late night at the Paycom Center, but the Inside the Thunder crew will have wall-to-wall coverage of the contest.
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