Sequels are not often pretty much as good because the originals, particularly when just a few key gamers aren’t in them.
Because the NBA billed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunderthe match in opposition to Cleveland Cavaliers as “The Rematch”, his plans to create hype round their first conflict got here to a screeching halt with the shock absence of Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Thunder introduced that Hartenstein would miss a minimum of per week because of a calf pressure. Already with out Chet Holmgren, OKC will probably depend on the small-ball method it used earlier this season through the first time with out a huge.
Jalen Williams will probably be requested to maneuver all the way down to the beginning heart spot. And in contrast to their early small-ball streak, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are higher ready to lighten the load on the bench.
Whereas the Thunder ought to deal with the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and maybe the Utah Jazz with this method, it is exhausting to see them doing the identical in opposition to the Riders.
The Cavaliers are off to a historic begin. They’ve the very best offense within the league and have established themselves in first place within the East. Cleveland and OKC take pleasure in comparable ranges of dominance. They’re the one workforce to submit a double-digit level differential this late within the season.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen partially dominated Cleveland’s dominance. They went in opposition to the Thunder of their Victory 129-122 final week. Mobley completed with 21 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists; Allen had 25 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
Though Hartenstein had a profession season, it was painfully apparent how badly the Thunder missed Holmgren in opposition to the Cavaliers. A Hartenstein-Holmgren frontcourt duo might have matched Mobley and Allen on each ends of the court docket.
Now that the Thunder will likely be with out Hartenstein and Holmgren in The Rematch, it is a Herculean ask to count on OKC to calm them down for a attainable revenge win. As a substitute, all of the Thunder can do is make the very best of a nasty state of affairs.
If they’ll keep aggressive in opposition to the Cavaliers with out two of their prime 5 gamers, it ought to construct confidence as an alternative of destabilizing them. If they’ll pull out a win, it’s going to shortly climb to OKC’s most spectacular win of the season.
These two video games might have served as a preview of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Thunder and Cavaliers have been profitable machines just like earlier NBA champions. All eyes within the NBA world would have cherished to tune into the heavyweight battles with each groups totally wholesome.
As a substitute, a revolving door of accidents continues to hamper OKC as it is going to be with out Holmgren and Hartenstein for a second stretch this season. The subsequent time Hartenstein and Holmgren might face Mobley and Allen could be in June – which is nicely inside the realm of actuality.
This text was initially printed on OKC Thunder Wire: What can the small-ball Thunder be taught in ‘The Rematch’ in opposition to the Cavaliers?
