In its second playoff sequence, Chet Holmgren is already engraved its title alongside a few of the largest names in sport.
Thunder protection ⚡
🏀For extra OKC Thunder eliminatory protection, click on right here.
Holmgren has delivered one other nice efficiency in match 2 of the Thunder’s first spherical sequence towards Memphis’s grizzlyats, displaying 20 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 19 -point victory. With this line, Holmgren joins Dwight Howard (twice), Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Amar’e Stoudemire as the one gamers within the historical past of the NBA to document greater than 20 pts, 10+ Reb and 5+ BLK in an eliminatory recreation earlier than it’s 23 years previous.
However that was not all. Holmgren additionally struck three pictures past the arc, placing him in a uncommon air – solely six gamers within the historical past of the NBA have by no means had an eliminatory match of 20 factors, 5 blocks, 3 to a few factors: Dirk Nowitzki, Alonzo Mourning, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid and now Chet Holmgren.
“I am simply making an attempt to learn what the sport offers me,” mentioned Holmgren after the match. “Be sluggish, however play shortly.”
However for Holmgren, it was not solely the figures that stood out – it was resilience.
“They did their race,” mentioned Holmgren after the match. “We weren’t stunned. That is what the suitable groups do. We needed to adapt and reply, and I feel we did a fantastic job. ”
Protection
Holmgren’s defensive timing was masterful – 5 blocks with a single fault – and his feeling for the sport evolves shortly. He credited a cinematographic examine, enjoying teammates like Isaiah Hartenstein, and an rising capability to learn extra shortly: “The extra shortly I could make the choice, the extra I’ve to execute it. I simply attempt to decelerate issues and be slowly, however to play shortly on the similar time.”
The protection of the Thunder as an entire stifled Memphis early, holding their starters at solely 3 out of 21 pictures on the first quarter and dominant in transition with a bonus of 18 factors in speedy rating. Holmgren praised the guards, Lou Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, for having disturbed the purpose of assault: “We have been speaking about it on the bench … We hated enjoying towards our personal protection.”
Offensively, Holmgren continued to stretch the bottom, going 2 out of 8 from three, and famous that he doesn’t hunt however letting the sport dictate his look: “If it offers me eight, I’ll shoot eight. If it offers me 4, I’ll shoot 4.”
With two-digit rebound matches and confidence within the playoffs, the emergence of Holmgren’s playoffs offers OKC a two-way anchor whereas they head for Memphis with a 2-0 sequence advance.
“We put the primary and two behind us,” mentioned Holmgren. “Now it is about making ready the third recreation.”
Forward
Western Convention First Tour – Thunder vs Grizzlies
- Recreation 3: Thursday April 24 – in Fedexforum – 8:30 p.m. (TNT / Fanduel sports activities community)
- Recreation 4: Saturday April 26 – in Fedexforum – 2:30 p.m. (TNT / Fanduel sports activities community)
- Recreation 5: Monday April 28 – at Paycc Middle – The / TV TBD (if obligatory)
- Recreation 6: Thursday Might 1 – in Fedexforum – The / TV TBD (if obligatory)
- Recreation 7: Saturday Might 3 – at Paycc Middle – The / TV TBD (if obligatory)
